27 Can’t-Miss Converge Sessions, Events

Carlsbad, Calif.—The American Gem Society (AGS) and the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) are about to kick off their inaugural Converge event.

The event will be held Sept. 7-10 in Carlsbad, California, at GIA’s headquarters and the Omni La Costa Resort.

Converge is a combination of AGS Conclave, the group’s annual education and networking event, and GIA’s Symposium, a research and education event held every five to seven years.

From educational breakout sessions to networking opportunities, these are 27 sessions and events to check out.

Sunday, Sept. 7 

The event begins on Sunday with pre-booked excursions to Ocean View Mine, a whale watching tour, or a vineyard.

While the excursions are nearly sold out, there is still availability for GIA’s Open House, as of press time, which runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. local time.

The event features a lineup of tours, talks, and hands-on learning opportunities, including a talk by GIA Distinguished Research Fellow James Shigley and a tour of GIA’s laboratory.

Attendees can visit a new exhibit featuring South Asian gems at the GIA museum.

There will also be a GemKids experience for young attendees to create a piece of jewelry.

Shuttle service to and from the Omni La Costa and GIA World Headquarters will run every half hour.

There will be two networking events in the evening.

The GIA CEO Meet & Greet will be held from 5 to 6 p.m. at The Parlor at the hotel.

Attendees can meet GIA’s newly appointed CEO and President Pritesh Patel, GIA Strategic Consultant Susan Jacques, and other GIA leaders.

From 6 to 8 p.m., guests are invited out to the Legends Lawn and Edge Pool for the “Converge and Mingle!” event.

The opening event is a prime networking opportunity with members of the GIA Alumni Collective, the AGS Young Titleholders, and the AGS Guilds expected to be in attendance.

Monday, Sept. 8

The first event of the day on Monday will be the Jewelers for Children Rings of Strength event, held from 6 to 7 a.m.

Attendees can register here, opting for a 5K walk, jog, or run to raise money for the charity organization.

The breakfast and opening session, held from 7:30 to 10 a.m., will feature neuroscientist and perception expert Beau Lotto as the opening keynote speaker.

Lotto's presentation will be “an immersive exploration of perception, reality, and change,” said organizers.

Lotto will also hold a breakout session, titled “Dr. Beau Lotto: A Deeper Conversation,” from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. alongside Mark Smelzer, vice president, business development, at Jewelers Mutual Group.

“Convergence of Crime and Luxury Retail: Protecting Your Business from Organized Threats” will be held from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., led by Howard Stone, vice president of asset protection at Jewelers Mutual, and Scott Guginsky, executive vice president at Jewelers Security Alliance.

The hour-long session, held in the “Poinsettia 3” room, will discuss the latest crime trends, the threat of organized crime, and how to best protect your business.

This session will be repeated on Tuesday from 4 to 5 p.m.

Next up on Monday, Aaron Palke, senior manager of research of GIA, will host “Colored Stone Treatments in the 21st Century: A Review and Current State of Research” from 11:30 a.m. to noon in the “Luna 5” room.

He will discuss the latest research on colored stone treatments, including those that are increasingly difficult to detect, like low-temperature heat treatment, chromophore diffusion, and artificial irradiation.

“Differentiating Natural Diamonds – The Power of Purpose and Storytelling” will be held from noon to 1 p.m.

The session, held in “Luna 7,” will dive into how the natural diamond industry can differentiate itself through storytelling, responsible sourcing, and community impact.

It will feature Mark Klein, vice president of Julius Klein Diamonds, Nancy Orem Lyman, vice president and executive director of Diamonds Do Good, and Marcus ter Haar, executive director of Five6 Consulting.

Also set for  noon to 1 p.m., “The Biggest Issues Facing Jewelers Today: A Star-Studded Editorial Panel” will take place in “Poinsettia 3.”

Led by Howard Hauben, president of The Centurion Jewelry Show, the panel discussion will feature Michelle Graff, editor-in-chief of National Jeweler, and Rob Bates, news director at JCK.

Discussion topics will include inflation, tariffs, diamond price, sanctions, the lab-grown diamond market, and more.

From 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., John Bradshaw of John J. Bradshaw will host “Rare Gemstones: The Other 175” in “Luna 6.”

Only 200 of the 6,000 mineral species described to date have been faceted, with only 25 regularly seen in the gem and jewelry trade, according to Bradshaw. This session will explore where the other 175, like carletonite or nifontivite, fit in.

Jeffrey Rolands, assistant special agent in charge at the Detroit FBI, will host “FBI Insights: Strengthening Industry Security, Crime Trends, and Collaboration Strategies” from 4 to 5 p.m. in the “Iris” room.

Rolands will give attendees an insight into the FBI’s role in combating jewelry crime by leading them through the investigation of a Detroit-based smash-and-grab robbery crew that was responsible for more than $15 million in losses across 14 states in just three months.

The first evening event of the day will be the AGS Suppliers' Showcase and Reception, held from 6:30 to 9 p.m.

Attendees can visit suppliers’ booths in the resort’s Costa Del Sol ballroom while enjoying live music, buffets, and a hosted bar that will include non-alcoholic options.

After the showcase, there will be an after-hours reception and a trivia night, hosted by The AGS Young Titleholders.

Tuesday, Sept. 9

After breakfast, one of the first breakout sessions of the day will be “Appraisal Basics and Responsibilities for the Retailer,” held in the “Luna 7” room from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Joel Hassler, owner of Von Hasle Jewelers, will discuss the fundamentals of appraisals, highlight common misconceptions, and clarify the responsibilities of retailers and appraisers.

Also in this time slot, Parlé President Jonathan Farnsworth and Parlé Vice President Brecken Farnsworth will host “The Art of Curation: Crafting Collections That Captivate” in “Poinsettia 1.”

The presentation will explore how to curate jewelry collections that feature gemstones by blending aesthetics, market trends, and business strategy.

From noon to 1 p.m., GemWorld International President Emeritus Richard Drucker will host a “Colored Gem Grading and Pricing Workshop” in “Luna 6.”

Drucker will guide attendees on how to use the World of Color system to grade gems for color, clarity, and cut, with gemstones provided by the instructor for hands-on grading.

There is a limit of 20 people, and the session will be repeated later that day from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.

In the same noon-1 time slot, guests can visit the “Poinsettia 3” room to attend “Selling Bigger Better,” which will explore how to sell big-ticket items.

The discussion will feature Briana Gartin, store manager at Ben Bridge Jeweler; Jessica Harmison-Olson, owner of Maxon Fine Jewelry; Brandon Heller, director of business development at Heller Jewelers; and Adam Graham, director of sales, West, at Joshua J Fine Jewelry.

From 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., Jeffrey Bolling, jewelry designer and owner of Jeffrey B Jewelers, will lead “DEI as a Competitive Advantage: Thriving in Today’s Market” in the “Poinsettia 1” room.

Bolling will guide attendees interested in honing and protecting their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts. He will share actionable steps one can take and discuss how these efforts can be reframed as a growth strategy as well as a moral obligation.

This repeat session is also taking place on Monday, Sept. 8, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.

To close out the day, organizers will host the Robert M. Shipley Award and Reception from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the ballroom.

The winner of the Robert M. Shipley Award will be announced during the event. There will be hors d’oeuvres, wine, beer, and soft drinks.
 

Wednesday, Sept. 10

Attendees can start off Wednesday on a peaceful note with “Sunrise Yoga: Morning Movement & Mindfulness at Converge” from 6 to 7 a.m.

The complimentary outdoor sunrise yoga session will feature a vinyasa flow and stretching session suitable for all levels. Organizers recommend dressing in layers due to the cool morning air.

The closing keynote and breakfast will take place from 7:30 to 10 a.m., featuring poet and entrepreneur Sekou Andrews.

Andrews blends inspirational speaking with spoken word poetry, coining a speaking style called “poetic voice,” which incorporates theater, comedy, strategic storytelling, and thought leadership, said organizers.

One of the day’s first sessions will be “Preserving Artistic Integrity in the Age of Mass Production - The Goldsmith's Process and The Handmade Jewel,” led by Vanessa Fernández, jewelry designer and owner of Vanessa Fernández.

The presentation, taking place in “Luna 6,” will dive into the process of creating a handcrafted piece and the importance of honoring the art of jewelry making.

From noon to 1 p.m., Sara Yood, president, CEO, and general counsel of the Jewelers Vigilance Committee, will lead “Gold, Gems, and Global Headwinds: Trade and Tariffs in Focus” in “Poinsettia 2.”

The session will discuss tariffs, international supply chain disruptions, and the cost and availability of fine jewelry, gemstones, and precious metals, as well as how they affect pricing, sourcing, and inventory planning.

In the same time slot, attendees can head to “Poinsettia 3” for “Capturing Gen Z: The Engagement Ring Trends & Marketing Strategies Jewelers Need to Know,” which will explore the digital marketing strategies, shopping priorities, customization trends, and authentic storytelling that appeal to Gen Z shoppers.

Led by Jen Cullen Williams, founder of Jen Cullen Williams Communications, the discussion will include Olivia Gonzalez, manager of Blue Marlin Jewelry; Tyler Hyde Underwood, creative director and designer at Underwoods Fine Jewelers; Tanya Parikh, owner of Janvier; and Molli Botnick Schiffer of Worthmore Jewelers.

From 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., attendees can head to “Luna 7” for “The Status of the Global and U.S. Watch Industry: A Discussion,” which will focus on the evolving new and pre-owned watch markets and changing consumer habits.

The session will feature Jason Champion, education director at the American Watchmakers-Clockmakers Institute (AWCI); Jason Ziegenbein, watchmaking instructor at AWCI; and Justin Shiver, watchmaker at Underwood Jewelers.

To celebrate the end of Converge, guests can attend “Converge and Celebrate!” from 6:30 to 10 p.m.

The networking event will feature live music, dancing, interactive food stations, and drinks.

For the full schedule of events, visit the Coverge website.