NAJA Announces Its Mid-Year ‘Ace It’ Conference
The conference will focus on the “practical ‘how to’ of appraising gems and jewelry,” said NAJA Executive Director Gail Brett Levine.

Slated for Aug. 10 to 12, the “Ace It” conference will take place at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Ill.
It will focus on the “practical ‘how to’ of appraising gems and jewelry,” said NAJA Executive Director Gail Brett Levine.
The mid-year event follows the association’s winter conference, its annual gem market-focused event that took place earlier this year in Tucson.
It will include hands-on workshops, presentations, and exhibits. A mock auction at Heritage Auctions’ Chicago location also will take place.
There will be a total of 10 presentations at the conference, each provided by experts from appraisal and related fields.
“Fakes, Counterfeits, Frauds, and Misrepresentation” will be presented by Duncan Parker, an FGA, and vice president and jewelry specialist at Dupuis Fine Jewellery Auctioneers.
“NAJA’s Report Writing Standards: A Usage Guide” will be hosted by Deborah Finleon, a GIA graduate gemologist (G.G.) and CMA at DJF Appraisal Services.
“The Cost Approach: A Basic Tool” will be held by Dave Atlas, CSM, a GIA G.G., and DGLA-DACO.
“Watching the Market: Current Trends in the Watch Market” will be presented by Reginald Brack, senior vice president and head of the watch department at Freeman’s | Hindman Auctions.
“A Practical Approach to Building a Pricing Database During Trade Shows” will be hosted by Stuart Robertson, a GIA G.G. and president of Gemworld International.
“Power Search Tips: Finding and Refining the Best Comps” will be co-hosted by Jessica DuBroc, a GIA G.G. and director of fine jewelry at Heritage Auctions New York, and Gina D’Onofrio, an FGA and the director of fine jewelry at Heritage Auctions Beverly Hills.
“Deaccessioning a Collection: Preparing Your Clients for Success” will be held by Vera Prather, a GIA G.G. and director of fine jewelry at Heritage Auctions New York, and Ana Wroblaski, a GIA G.G. and director of fine jewelry at Heritage Auctions Beverly Hills.
“Driehaus Museum: A Jewel Box of a Museum” will be presented by Lisa Key, executive director of the Driehaus Museum.
“Review of Ethical Standards and Their Application in Our Daily Practices” will be hosted by Steve Turner, CSM, a GIA G.G., and the president of Gemcorp.
“Appraisal Software Solutions: Exploring Their Use, Benefits, and Limits” will be moderated by Lance Nygaard, a GIA G.G., and Robertson. The three panelists are: Raphael Bovin from Instappraise, Richard Drucker from GAS, and Thom Underwood from QL2.
There will also be an optional workshop on Saturday titled “Decoding the Intangible Value Factors of Colored Stones” with Cigdem Lule, Ph.D. and FGA.
To attend this session, there is an additional fee of $200.
The conference will be co-located with the Instore show.
“We are excited to present this conference in connection with Instore. Access to the Instore Show provides an excellent opportunity for us to integrate mid-level market research into the conference agenda as well as for attendees to expand their network of established trade resource,” said Levine.
Registration for the conference is $425 for NAJA members before July 15 or $525 after; $600 for new members, including fees plus the conference; $650 for nonmembers before July 15 or $750 after; or $50 for vision screening on Sunday only.
For more information on the conference and to register, contact Gail Brett Levine by phone at 718-896-1536 or by email at office@NAJAAppraisers.com or naja.appraisers@netzero.net.
The Latest

Up for auction at Sotheby’s, the collection of Tempelsman’s personal effects includes a Cartier Tank watch Jackie O. gifted him.

The Miami-based fine jewelry brand will host its first summer residency in the Colorado mountain town from June 5 to Aug. 23.

The organization also announced its international board of directors for the 2026-2027 term.

As gold prices rise, today’s retailers are looking for alternatives at prices that will appeal to wider audiences.

Saks Global confirmed the closure this week, spelling the end for a store that’s been part of downtown Dallas for more than 100 years.


Smith discusses how managers should handle a top performer's exit, warning that a poor response could have a lasting impact.

The Gemological Institute of America is now a 30 percent stakeholder in Tracr, the De Beers-backed blockchain for diamonds.

With the trade and customer trust in mind, GIA® developed NextGem™ – on-demand training designed specifically for retail.

The retailer is bringing Rolex Certified Pre-Owned watches to five U.S. cities in 2026 for collectors to see, try on, and purchase.

The actress and entrepreneur stars in the jeweler’s new campaign that celebrates life’s quiet moments.

The price of gold has risen, affecting the number of pieces designers make, the materials they use, and how they position themselves.

The jewelry retailer is zeroing in on Zales, Jared, Kay Jewelers, and Blue Nile as it looks to create unique brand identities for each.

Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, a development economist, will head the fund created to help Botswana diversify its economy.

Sotheby’s has appointed the former Phillips executive as its global head of private sales and retail in its watches division.

A private collection of five Paraíba tourmalines also will be up for sale at Sotheby’s High Jewelry auction in New York, scheduled for June 16.

From Gen Z’s view of luxury to “doom spending,” these are the six consumer trends to note this year.

The revamped online diamond marketplace will feature pricing intelligence and data-driven tools for more efficient buying and selling.

The miner said demand for higher-quality emeralds is stable, but there is notable caution in the market.

The “River of Heaven” necklace, our Piece of the Week debuting at Couture, combines 26 salt and pepper diamonds spaced by Tahitian pearls.

This year’s inductees include second-, third-, and fourth-generation jewelers.

Three-time Grammy award-winning artist Nelly is set to perform at the annual event at Tao Beach on Sunday night.

Signet will integrate the online-only, natural diamond-focused jeweler into Blue Nile, which it wants to position as a higher-end retailer.

These up-and-coming jewelry brands are bringing their distinct aesthetic and unique point-of-view to the Design Atelier for the first time.

The lab’s proprietary diamond cut grade has been expanded to include the popular fancy shape.

This year, it’s what could happen outside of show hours that worries JSA Executive Vice President Scott Guginsky.

High-end fashion houses know how to emotionally connect with customers online. Retail jewelers should take note, Emmanuel Raheb writes.

The designers are the third cohort of mentees from the show’s Belonging @ Couture mentorship program.



























