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.
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