Alexis Padis Re-Elected AGS Board President
She’ll lead an executive committee consisting of President-Elect Bryan Moeller, Mitchell Clark, Bill Farmer, and Larry Rickert.

Alexis Padis, president of San Francisco-based Padis Jewelry, was elected to lead the board again, serving her second and final term as board president.
She took the reins from Lisa Bridge last April at AGS Conclave 2024 in Austin, Texas.
There was no Conclave this year, as AGS is co-hosting an event with the Gemological Institute of America later this year instead.
Called Converge, it is scheduled for Sept. 7-10 in Carlsbad, California.
Padis called it a “true privilege” to work alongside the other members of the AGS board.
“Their passion for our mission and the richness of their diverse perspectives gives me profound confidence in the future of the American Gem Society,” she said.
“I look forward to all we’ll accomplish together in the year ahead.”
Padis leads an executive committee that consists of the following.
President-Elect: Bryan Moeller
Secretary: Mitchell Clark
Senior Advisor: William Farmer Jr.
Treasurer and Chair of the Finance, Audit & Legal Committee: Larry Rickert
Rickert succeeds Sumit Dangi as board treasurer and head of the Finance, Audit & Legal Committee.
The committee chairs for the 2025-2026 terms are as follows.
Education Committee: Kevin Mays
Conclave Subcommittee: Denise Richards
Gemological Sciences Committee: John Carter
International Guilds Council: Amanda Coleman-Phelps
Membership Committee: Sarah Person
Young Titleholders Committee: Dave Bindra
The AGS membership also approved the appointment of eight directors-at-large for the organization.
They are as follows.
Chris Anderson
Sarin Bachmann
Ryan Berg
Brecken Farnsworth
Brad Hampton
Kendra Lindell
David Mazer
Melissa Quick
Anderson, Farnsworth, and Lindell are new to the board, while Niveet Nagpal of Omi Gems just concluded his board service.
Padis thanked him for his support and dedication to AGS.
She said, “Niveet’s deep expertise and generous contributions of time and energy, whether in board meetings, volunteer initiatives, or committee work, have enriched our community in countless meaningful ways.”
The call for individuals to serve on the 2026–2027 AGS International Board of Directors will take place in early 2026.
Anyone interested in volunteering for an AGS committee or learning more about AGS membership can email membership@ags.org.
The Latest

Guthrie, the mother of “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie, was abducted just as the Tucson gem shows were starting.

Butterfield Jewelers in Albuquerque, New Mexico, is preparing to close as members of the Butterfield family head into retirement.

Paul Morelli’s “Rosebud” necklace, our Piece of the Week, uses 18-karat rose, green, and white gold to turn the symbol of love into jewelry.

Launched in 2023, the program will help the passing of knowledge between generations and alleviate the shortage of bench jewelers.

It is believed the 24-karat heart-shaped enameled pendant was made for an event marking the betrothal of Princess Mary in 1518.


The AGTA Spectrum and Cutting Edge “Buyer’s Choice” award winners were announced at the Spectrum Awards Gala last week.

The “Kering Generation Award x Jewelry” returns for its second year with “Second Chance, First Choice” as its theme.

Criminals are using cell jammers to disable alarms, but new technology like JamAlert™ can stop them.

Sourced by For Future Reference Vintage, the yellow gold ring has a round center stone surrounded by step-cut sapphires.

The clothing and accessories chain announced last month it would be closing all of its stores.

The “Zales x Sweethearts” collection features three mystery heart charms engraved with classic sayings seen on the Valentine’s Day candies.

The event will include panel discussions, hands-on demonstrations of new digital manufacturing tools, and a jewelry design contest.

Registration is now open for The Jewelry Symposium, set to take place in Detroit from May 16-19.

Namibia has formally signed the Luanda Accord, while two key industry organizations pledged to join the Natural Diamond Council.

Lady Gaga, Cardi B, and Karol G also went with diamond jewelry for Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show honoring Puerto Rico.

Jewelry is expected to be the No. 1 gift this year in terms of dollars spent.

As star brand Gucci continues to struggle, the luxury titan plans to announce a new roadmap to return to growth.

The new category asks entrants for “exceptional” interpretations of the supplier’s 2026 color of the year, which is “Signature Red.”

The White House issued an official statement on the deal, which will eliminate tariffs on loose natural diamonds and gemstones from India.

Entries for the jewelry design competition will be accepted through March 20.

The Ohio jeweler’s new layout features a curated collection of brand boutiques to promote storytelling and host in-store events.

From heart motifs to pink pearls, Valentine’s Day is filled with jewelry imbued with love.

Prosecutors say the man attended arts and craft fairs claiming he was a third-generation jeweler who was a member of the Pueblo tribe.

New CEO Berta de Pablos-Barbier shared her priorities for the Danish jewelry company this year as part of its fourth-quarter results.

Our Piece of the Week picks are these bespoke rings the “Wuthering Heights” stars have been spotted wearing during the film’s press tour.

The introduction of platinum plating will reduce its reliance on silver amid volatile price swings, said Pandora.

It would be the third impairment charge in three years on De Beers Group, which continues to grapple with a “challenging” diamond market.























