AGS Confluence Returns with AI, Sustainability Sessions
Rob Bates of The Jewelry Wire will also moderate a panel on the state of the jewelry industry during the virtual event.

Confluence will be held Wednesday, April 22, from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. PDT.
The virtual, half-day conference offers practical education tailored to jewelry professionals.
Industry experts will lead three sessions, covering AI, sustainability, and the state of the jewelry industry.
Michael Magee, senior subject specialist, jewelry manufacturing arts research and development at GIA, will present “Beyond the Prompt: What’s New in AI Design for 2026.”
The presentation will dive into how generative AI tools are impacting concepting, merchandising, client communication, and regulatory requirements.
Brandee Dallow, chief communications and sustainability officer at Grandview Klein Diamond Group, will present “Communicating Responsibility with Clarity and Credibility.”
Dallow’s session will provide a framework for businesses to understand and communicate responsible practices in a clear, consumer-friendly way.
"Turning Diamond Knowledge into Sales: Free, On-Demand Training with NDC's Diamond Learning Center" will be led by Grace Isley, head of retail strategy and partnerships at the Natural Diamond Council.
The session will guide attendees through the Diamond Learning Center, a free, self-paced training platform that helps jewelry professionals bolster diamond storytelling, support more effective customer interactions, and grow natural diamond sales.
Rob Bates, founder and news director at The Jewelry Wire, will moderate “Hot Topics in the Jewelry Industry,” looking at retail and wholesale trends, global influences, and the economic factors shaping the jewelry market.
Panelists include Johanna Levy of GIA, Morgan Waters of Stuller, Sara Yood of the Jewelers Vigilance Committee, and Abe Sherman of Buyers Intelligence Group.
There will also be bonus sessions on sustainability and the debut of AGS's newest educational series, "Members Teaching Members," where AGS members share real-world strategies they use in their businesses.
Registration is free for AGS members. Non-members interested in attending can contact membership@ags.org.
The event will be available to watch on-demand through July 31.
For more information or to register, visit the AGS Confluence website.
The Latest

The “What’s Your Signature?” campaign invites women to think about how they see themselves.

The big diamond’s sale added to the company’s revenue though the market remains “challenging” overall, particularly for smaller goods.

With their durability, brilliance, and beauty, diamonds are the perfect stone for everyday birthstone jewelry.

You deserve to know what you are selling–to protect your customers as well as your business and your reputation.

The retailer failed to file its annual report on time and said it may issue a going concern warning.


Smith recounts a recent trip to the post office that included an uncomfortable, embarrassing, and public exchange between two employees.

John Cowley, who has more than 30 years of experience, is succeeding Tearle as the lab’s chief financial officer.

Every jeweler faces the same challenge: helping customers protect what they love. Here’s the solution designed for today’s jewelry business.

Founder Erica Silverglide has designed 35 colorful pieces set with fluorescing gemstones for the brand's first finished jewelry offering.

“Ukrainian Jewelry | Contemporary Jewelry and Art Jewelry from Ukraine” features 33 contemporary Ukrainian designers and studios.

“The Golden Now” campaign celebrates the here and now with the brand’s signature styles and a selection of its new pieces.

Signet confirmed that Caffie, president of Zales and Banter, and Bentzen, who headed Blue Nile, have left the company.

The antique jewelry dealer talks about the importance of including Black Americans in jewelry history and preserving their stories.

Both its mines faced challenges last year, from operational issues to disruptions in the market.

Iconic pieces, like the Mike Todd Diamond Tiara, appear in the superstar’s new music video for her song inspired by the actress.

The luxury retailer, which went Chapter 11 in January, announced Thursday that it has secured $500 million in exit financing.

The one-of-a-kind locket, our Piece of the Week, opens to reveal three hidden images to keep close to your heart.

The new facility was also designed to better serve its growing customer base in Canada.

The campaign is a tribute to the year 1893, when Kokichi Mikimoto created the world’s first cultured pearl.

It is the only GIA school to offer the GIA Graduate Gemologist program in Chinese.

The initiative connects veterans and parents returning to the workforce with careers in jewelry retail.

The wholesale manufacturer and precious metals refiner has appointed Michael Angelo as its new national sales representative.

Foundrae also accused the jewelry giant of copying its mood board style of marketing.

A Patek Philippe for Tiffany & Co. timepiece owned by the American businessman who died on the Titanic will be offered at Freeman's Chicago.

The Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index edged up, with optimism about the present outweighing worries about the future.

The retailer’s Zach Bear gift comes to life in “Zach Bear and the Window Necklace,” which centers on curiosity, bravery, and helping.

Applications are open for the AGA Gemological Scholarship Program through May 15, and until June 2027 for the Gemological Research Grant.


























