Events & Awards

IAC’s Gold Conference Returns Next Month

Events & AwardsMar 28, 2018

IAC’s Gold Conference Returns Next Month

The final speaker schedule has been set for “Gold: Vortex, Virtues, and Values,” happening April 12 and 13 in New York City.

20180328_Wendy-Brandes.jpg
Jewelry designer Wendy Brandes will be a part of two panel discussions at the upcoming gold conference in New York—“A Rising Tide: Women and the Jewelry Industry” and “Who’s Got the Power? Influencers, Ethics, and the Regulation of Social Media.” Pictured here is a ring Brandes designed featuring yellow, white and black diamonds and rubies set in 18-karat gold.

New York--Initiatives in Art & Culture has released the final schedule for its eighth annual gold conference happening next month.

The event is slated for April 12 and 13 and this year will be held at a new location in New York City: Bohemian National Hall.

“Gold: Vortex, Virtues, and Values” will explore a range of topics relating to the precious metal, from responsible business practices in the global supply chain to new trends in jewelry manufacturing, design and apprenticeship.

It also will cover social media and government and legal affairs, as well as presentations by some of goldsmithing’s top artists.

Some of the highlights of the first day include “Valuing Gold in an Age of Uncertainty” from Jeffrey Christian, founder and managing director of CPM Group; and “Moda Operandi: A New Business Model for Jewelry,” featuring CEO Deborah Nicodemus and Mickey Alam Khan, founder and editor-in-chief of Luxury Daily.

It also will include a panel on “Sustainable Beauty: The Pursuit of Ethical Jewelry,” “Blockchain Technology is Here,” and a panel discussion on “A Rising Tide: Women and the Jewelry Industry.”

 Highlights of the second day of the event include a panel called, “Full Steam Ahead: The Journey Towards Ethical Sourcing, Transparency, and Responsible Practice” from a number of industry experts on the topic; “Artistry and Variety: The Glories of Enamel,” featuring Jane Short, enameller and creator of the Millennium Bowl for the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths in London; and a panel on “Cultivating and Perpetuating Old World Skills” from a number of jewelers, designers and goldsmiths.

Attendees of the event also will be able to purchase books related to gold and jewelry—and get them signed—during conference breaks.

“Each year, the IAC Gold conference stands out as the premier event for all things gold. The breadth of the 2018 offering and depth of experience of the presenters is without compare,” said Richline Group CMO Mark Hanna, who will be a part of the blockchain conversation.

“From looking at value, both intrinsic and emotional, to challenging the sources and uses from an ethical and responsible perspective, to exploring design with the masters, to educating and engaging the gold consumer, this event sets the standard. It should be on everyone's calendar.”

For more information, the full schedule or to buy tickets to the event, visit ArtInitiatives.com.

Brecken Branstratoris the senior editor, gemstones at National Jeweler, covering sourcing, pricing and other developments in the colored stone sector.

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