Events & AwardsDec 04, 2025
CBG Announces Speaker Lineup for 2026 Miami Event Events & AwardsDec 04, 2025
AGA Announces 2026 Tucson Speaker Lineup
The association’s annual conference and gala will take place Feb. 4, 2026, during the Tucson gem shows.
Ahead of its 2026 conference and gala, AGA has announced the speaker lineup, as well as early registration discounts.
Tucson, Ariz.— The Accredited Gemologists Association (AGA) has announced the details of its annual conference and gala in Tucson, Arizona.
The event is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026, at the Tucson Marriott University Park hotel and will feature a full day of presentations followed by the evening gala and award ceremony.
The conference will offer six sessions led by experts in gemological science and education.
Gemologist Sarah Caldwell Steele, director of The Ebor Jetworks Ltd and doctoral researcher at Durham University will present “The Death of 'Organic': Why Gemology Needs a Scientific Revolution.”
Gemologist and Gemmology Rocks founder Kerry Gregory will lead “Play Along Polariscope,” a hands-on interactive demonstration.
Damien Cody, president of the International Colored Gemstone Association and managing director at Cody Opal Australia Pty Ltd, will present “From Rough Edges to Radiant Brilliance: Defining the Future of Gemstones.”
Dr. Clemens Schwarzinger, owner of Clemens Schwarzinger Gemstones e. U. and associate professor at Johannes Kepler University Linz in Austria, will reveal new research findings in his presentation titled “Green Grossular Garnets from Kenya and Tanzania.”
GIA research scientist Dr. Aaron Palke will present “Behind the Scenes of the Gemological Laboratory: Practical (and Impractical) Gemology in the Modern World.”
Related stories will be right here …
The event is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026, at the Tucson Marriott University Park hotel and will feature a full day of presentations followed by the evening gala and award ceremony.
The conference will offer six sessions led by experts in gemological science and education.
Gemologist Sarah Caldwell Steele, director of The Ebor Jetworks Ltd and doctoral researcher at Durham University will present “The Death of 'Organic': Why Gemology Needs a Scientific Revolution.”
Gemologist and Gemmology Rocks founder Kerry Gregory will lead “Play Along Polariscope,” a hands-on interactive demonstration.
Damien Cody, president of the International Colored Gemstone Association and managing director at Cody Opal Australia Pty Ltd, will present “From Rough Edges to Radiant Brilliance: Defining the Future of Gemstones.”
Dr. Clemens Schwarzinger, owner of Clemens Schwarzinger Gemstones e. U. and associate professor at Johannes Kepler University Linz in Austria, will reveal new research findings in his presentation titled “Green Grossular Garnets from Kenya and Tanzania.”
GIA research scientist Dr. Aaron Palke will present “Behind the Scenes of the Gemological Laboratory: Practical (and Impractical) Gemology in the Modern World.”
Geologist, gemologist, and editor Brendan M. Laurs, the recipient of the 2025 Antonio C. Bonanno Award for Excellence in Gemology, will also give a presentation.
Laurs is the editor-in-chief of The Journal of Gemmology, which is published by Gem-A in London.
He will discuss the behind-the-scenes of publishing the resource.
Laurs will formally receive the honor at the AGA gala, directly following the conference.
The gala will also feature a cocktail reception, silent auction, dinner, and dancing.
The 2026 AGA Tucson Gemological Conference and Gala is set to be “an exceptional experience, promising unparalleled opportunities to learn from some of the world’s leading gemologists, engage with the global gemology community, and enjoy a memorable evening of celebration,” said incoming AGA president and education committee chair Dr. Çiğdem Lüle.
Gemology professionals, researchers, and enthusiasts from around the world are invited to attend, AGA said.
Registration is open now, and early bird pricing is available through Dec. 31.
Visit the AGA website for more details and ticketing options.
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
More on Events & Awards
The Latest
PodcastsMay 20, 2026
Episode 5: Sotheby’s Frank Everett Puts the Auction Market in PerspectiveEverett covers colored stones’ surging popularity, the mellow return of the “Mellon Blue,” and his “The Devil Wears Prada” doppelgänger.
CrimeMay 20, 2026
NYPD Warns of Jewelry Swap Scams Targeting SeniorsThe NYPD is warning elderly New Yorkers to keep their jewelry hidden when walking outside to avoid being a target.
IndependentsMay 20, 2026
Adornment & Theory’s New Store Feels Like Home Designer Viviana Langhoff has realized her dream of owning a space for her Chicago jewelry store that looks and feels like her brand.
Brought to you by
All Eyes on Gold Prices. Alternatives to Look For. And What to BEWARE of in VegasAs gold prices rise, today’s retailers are looking for alternatives at prices that will appeal to wider audiences.
Lab-GrownMay 20, 2026
Savannah Friedkin Jewelry Names New CEOFormer Stephanie Gottlieb Fine Jewelry executive Morgan P. Richardson is joining the lab-grown diamond jewelry brand.
Weekly QuizMay 14, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
WatchesMay 19, 2026
Here’s the AP x Swatch Pocket Watch That Caused PandemoniumThe $400 pocket watch is a blend of Audemars Piguet’s iconic eight-sided Royal Oak and Swatch’s unserious Pop watches from the ‘80s.
CollectionsMay 19, 2026
Chris Ploof’s New Collection Makes an Ancient Medal ModernWith gold prices on the rise, the “Modern Electrum” collection uses an alternative, non-tarnishing metal alloy composed of gold and silver.
Brought to you by
How Modern Training Is Becoming a Competitive Advantage for Jewelry RetailersWith the trade and customer trust in mind, GIA® developed NextGem™ – on-demand training designed specifically for retail.
IndependentsMay 19, 2026
Ellen and Michael Fruchtman Retire, Sell Marketing Agency Fruchtman Marketing has new owners, Erin Moyer-Carballea and Manuel Carballea, and will relocate to Miami.
ColumnistsMay 19, 2026
Peter Smith: The (Mostly) Immutable Sales TruthsIn a column for the 2026 State of the Majors issue, Smith lists 10 time-tested principles about sales that still ring true.
ColumnistsMay 18, 2026
Edahn Golan: What a K-Shaped Economy Means for Fine JewelryIn a column for the 2026 State of the Majors issue, Golan spells out how the growing economic divide in the U.S. is reshaping the market.
CollectionsMay 18, 2026
Foundrae’s New Collection Taps Into JoyThe “Limitless Expansion of Joy and Hope” collection evokes summer through colored gemstones and motifs of butterflies and florals.
CollectionsMay 18, 2026
Hancocks London Acquires Historic ‘Inchiquin’ EmeraldThe jewel, circa 1890, is from the late Victorian era and was owned by descendants of the last high king of Ireland.
AuctionsMay 15, 2026
American Collector Ponies Up Almost $17K for John Wayne’s RingThe Western star’s 14-karat gold signet ring sold for six times its low estimate following a bidding war at U.K. auction house Elmwood’s.
Events & AwardsMay 15, 2026
JA, MJSA To Sponsor Roundtable at TJSThe discussion, "Rebuilding the Jewelry Workforce," will take place on Saturday, May 16, in Troy, Michigan.
SourcingMay 15, 2026
State of Diamonds: The Way Forward for Natural DiamondsThe jewelry industry is reassessing its positioning as Gen Z reshapes the retail landscape and lab grown continues to gain market share.
AuctionsMay 14, 2026
White Diamonds Lead Sotheby’s Auction, Blue Diamond Does Not SellA matching pair of 18.38-carat, D-color diamonds from Botswana’s Jwaneng mine sold for $3.3 million, the top lot of the jewelry auction.
Supplier BulletinMay 14, 2026
A Diamond Is Forever Continues Desert Diamonds – Bridal ReinvigoratedSponsored by A Diamond Is Forever
SourcingMay 14, 2026
State of Colored Stones: The Spirit of Young American Gemstone CuttersThe next generation of lapidarists are entrepreneurial, engaged online, and see the craft as a means for artistic expression.
AuctionsMay 14, 2026
‘Ocean Dream’ Makes Waves at Christie’s, Fetching $17MIt was the second auction appearance for the fancy vivid blue-green diamond, which sold for $7.8 million at Christie’s Geneva 12 years ago.
CrimeMay 14, 2026
Second Man Arrested in Florida Pawn Shop Shooting Members of the U.S. Marshals Task Force took a 22-year-old man into custody. He was charged with tampering with evidence.
CrimeMay 13, 2026
JSA’s 2025 Crime Report Shows ‘Concerning’ Rise in ViolenceWhile the overall number of crimes was down, there were more incidences in which robbers pulled out guns, mace, or rammed cars into stores.
IndependentsMay 13, 2026
New Orleans Jeweler Closing Canal Place StoreJack Sutton Fine Jewelry is closing its store inside the downtown shopping center after 40 years in business.
SourcingMay 13, 2026
Smithsonian Acquires ‘Winston Red’ Diamond PaintingReena Ahluwalia’s painting of the rare red diamond is the first contemporary painting to join the National Gem Collection.
TrendsMay 13, 2026
State of Design: Only the Innovative Will SurviveThe price of gold has risen, affecting the number of pieces designers make, the materials they use, and how they position themselves.
ColumnistsMay 12, 2026
It’s Official: We’re Getting ‘Brain Rot’ From Watching Short-Form Videos Peter Smith gives tips on leading meetings, developing marketing, and making trade show appointments in the age of short attention spans.
CollectionsMay 12, 2026
Jessica McCormack Debuts Antique Coin-Inspired Medallions for SummerThe 11-piece “Medallions” capsule collection features five motifs: a crying eye, a heart on fire, a spiral, a flower, and a swallow.
