Mason-Kay Jade to Hold Inaugural International Jade Summit
The event, which will co-locate with the Monterey Bay Jade Festival, will bring education sessions focused on jade to the United States.

The new professional jade conference will comprise a full day of education sessions tailored to jade enthusiasts and gemologists, a “first-of-its-kind” jade-focused education event for the United States, Mason-Kay Jade said.
It is slated for Saturday, June 14, in conjunction with the annual Monterey Bay Jade Festival, which will run from June 13-15 at Custom House Plaza in Monterey State Historic Park in Monterey, California.
The summit will be held at the nearby Monterey History and Art at Stanton Center.
Throughout the four sessions, a jade miner, jade discoverer, gemologist, and geologist/geophysicist will present on the two jades, Jadeite jade and Nephrite jade.
Mason-Kay Jade invites gemologists, jewelry appraisers, and retail jewelry sales staff to attend the summit and expand their knowledge of the colored gemstone and its market.
The event is also open to customers and enthusiasts.
Summit organizers encourage attendees to take time between seminars to explore the Georg Schmerholz Jade Carving Exhibition located next door to the event and to visit the more than 40 Jadeite and Nephrite jade vendors at the festival.
The summit will begin at 10 a.m. with a welcome breakfast offering networking opportunities.
The first education seminar will run from 11 a.m. to noon with Mary Lou Ridinger, an archeologist, owner of Jade Maya, and the discoverer of the Guatemalan Jadeite jade deposits, presenting on “Guatemalan Jadeite Jade.”
Lunch will be from noon to 1:30 p.m.
From 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., Eugene (Lou) Blanck, a geophysicist, geologist, and vice president and chief financial officer of Earth Design Inc., will present his seminar, “Nephrite Jade Formation.”
Kirk Makepeace, owner of Jade West Corp., one of the largest producers and exporters of nephrite jade in the world, and an expert in Canadian nephrite jade history, geology, and value, will present “Canadian Jade Mining” from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.
The day’s final educational seminar will run from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., with gemologist Jeff Mason, owner of Mason-Kay Jade and one of the nation’s leading experts in Jadeite jade testing and valuation, presenting “Natural Vs. Treated Jadeite Jade.”
Tickets to the summit include all-day access to the seminars, the welcome breakfast, and a voucher for lunch.
Admission is $60 and can be purchased through Mason-Kay Jade’s Eventbrite.
For more information on the Monterey Bay Jade Festival and the 2025 International Jade Summit, visit the festival’s website.
The Latest

“Shell Auranova” is the next generation of the brand’s bridal line, featuring half-bezel engagement rings with bold and fluid designs.

Boucheron and Pomellato performed well in an otherwise bleak quarter for Kering amid struggles at Gucci.

Designer Deborah Meyers created her birds from oxidized sterling silver, rose-cut diamond eyes, and Akoya Keshi pearl feathers.

Six new retail businesses were selected for the 2025 program, which began in January.

Sponsored by the Gemological Institute of America


Simon Wolf shares why the time was right to open a new office here, what he looks for in a retail partner, and why he loves U.S. consumers.

A third-generation jeweler, Ginsberg worked at his family’s store, Ginsberg Jewelers, from 1948 until his retirement in 2019.

The risk of laboratory-grown diamonds being falsely presented as natural diamonds presents a very significant danger to consumer trust.

The company failed to file its quarterly reports in a timely manner.

Charms may be tiny but with their small size comes endless layering possibilities, from bracelets to necklaces and earrings.

Located in Valenza, the now 355,000-square-foot facility includes a new jewelry school that’s open to the public, Scuola Bulgari.

Paola Sasplugas, co-founder of the Barcelona-based jewelry brand, received the Fine Jewelry Award.

A platinum Zenith-powered Daytona commissioned in the late ‘90s will headline Sotheby’s Important Watches sale in Geneva next month.

The basketball stars wear men’s jewelry from the “Curb Chain” collection.

The Signet Jewelers-owned retailer wants to encourage younger shoppers to wear fine jewelry every day, not just on special occasions.

The 21 pieces, all from a private collector, will be offered at its Magnificent Jewels auction next month.

Lilian Raji answers a question from a reader who is looking to grow her jewelry business but has a limited marketing budget.

GCAL by Sarine created the new role to sharpen the company’s focus on strategic partnerships and scalable expansion.

The Indiana jeweler has acquired Scottsdale Fine Jewelers in Scottsdale, Arizona.

“Cartier: Design, Craft, and Legacy” opened earlier this month at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

Van Cott Jewelers in Vestal, New York, is hosting a going-out-of-business sale.

Industry veteran Samantha Larson has held leadership roles at Borsheims, McTeigue & McClelland, Stuller, and Long’s Jewelers.
The two organizations will hold the educational event together this fall in Mississippi.

The entrepreneur and “Shark Tank” star will share his top tips for success.

The Ukrainian brand’s new pendant is modeled after a traditional paska, a pastry often baked for Easter in Eastern European cultures.

The jeweler has announced a grand reopening for its recently remodeled location in Peoria, Illinois.

The “Strong Like Mom” campaign features moms who work at Tiffany & Co. and their children.