This year’s honorees include a Midwest retailer and two multi-store independents, one in New York and the other in New England.
Titanic jewelry among topics for Gem-A conference
The Gemmological Association of Great Britain has confirmed 13 speakers for its upcoming annual conference, which will include a presentation on the jewels recovered from the wreck of the famed RMS Titanic.
London--The Gemmological Association of Great Britain has confirmed 13 speakers for its upcoming annual conference, which will include a presentation on the jewels recovered from the wreck of the famed RMS Titanic.
Gem-A’s annual conference is scheduled for Nov. 1 to 4, returning to the former Royal Agricultural Hall in London, now known as the Business Design Centre, as it changes its program to make it more interactive for members.
There, the organization will welcome a number of speakers from across the globe to provide the most innovative and relevant gem-related topics, Gem-A said.
The speakers confirmed for the conference is as follows.
Saturday, Nov. 1
Bruce Bridges; “The History of Tsavorite and Legacy of Campbell Bridges”
Edward Boehm; “Analyzing Gems on the Go: Tips from the Field”
Thomas Hainschwang, FGA; “The Challenges Faced by Green to Greenish Blue Diamonds Colored by Natural or Artificial Irradiation”
Alan Hart, FGA DGA
Ulrich Henn; “The Different Types of Moonstone”
Brian Cook; “Paraiba Tourmaline: An Update. Bahia Golden Rutilated Quartz: The Introduction”
Vincent Pardieu; “From Jedi to Windex: A Quest to the Origins of the Ultimate Red and Blue Spinels”
Sunday, Nov. 2
Craig Lynch, GG; “The Recovered Jewelry of the Titanic”
Chris Smith, FGA; “Ruby and Sapphire Source-Type Classification: An Objective Approach to Help Make Country of Origin Determinations More Consistent”
Terry Coldham; “Australian Sapphire--A Forgotten Foundation Stone of Thailand’s Gemstone Industry”
Menahem Sevdermish, FGA; “Further Developments into Digital Color Analysis, Grading, Pricing, and Trading of Gems”
Richard Hughes, FGA
Laurent Cartier, FGA; “An Update on Worldwide Cultured Pearl Production”
Monday, Nov. 3
Mikko Åström, FGA, and Alberto Scarani, GG, from GemmoRaman; “Gemmological Applications of Raman & Photoluminescence Spectroscopy”
Monday night’s programming also will include the Gem-A Graduation Ceremony, hosted by JTV CEO Tim Matthews.
Tuesday, Nov. 4
This day will include a private visit to the mineral collection at the Natural History Museum, hosted by Alan Hart, FGA DGA, from 9:45 a.m. to noon.
In the afternoon, Greg Valerio and Vivien Johnston will lead a discussion about global ethical challenges within the industry from 2 to 4 p.m.
“Gem-A’s 2014 conference promises to be one of the best yet,” said Gem-A CEO James Riley. “Continuing from last year’s successful anniversary conference, the 2014 conference will build on the positive feedback received from our event at Goldsmiths Hall in 2013. We understand that the best way to keep
The Latest

As an homage to iconic crochet blankets, the necklace features the nostalgic motif through a kaleidoscope of cabochon-cut stones.

Discover the dozen up-and-coming brands exhibiting in the Design Atelier for the first time.

When investing in your jewelry business, it's important not to overlook the most crucial element of success: the sales associates.

The “Royal Ruby” Collection is a quintet of untreated rubies curated by collector Jack Abraham.


The entrepreneur and “Shark Tank” star will share his top tips for success.

Two existing executives have been given new roles.

More shoppers are walking out without buying. Here’s how smart jewelers can bring them back—and the tool they need to do it right.

Meredith Tiderington, an electrical engineering student, was selected for the award.

It will quit assigning the stones specific color and clarity grades in favor of applying “new descriptive terminology.”

From design trends to sustainability, here’s a roundup of can’t-miss education sessions at JCK Las Vegas.

The Jewelers’ Security Alliance offers advice for those attending the annual trade shows.

Her new role is director of strategic initiatives.

The designer is embracing bold pieces with weight to them in “AU79,” a collection she celebrated with a creative launch party.

On an earnings call, CEO J.K. Symancyk discussed what’s working for the company and how it’s preparing for the potential impact of tariffs.

The index partially rebounded after months of decline, due in part to the U.S.-China deal to temporarily reduce import tariffs.

The actress stars in the latest campaign set in Venice, Italy, and is set to participate in other creative initiatives for the jeweler.

The company has joined other labs, including GIA and Lotus Gemology, in adopting the Chinese term for "jadeite jade."

The large stone will be offered at its June sale along with a selection of secondary-type rubies from a new area of the Montepuez mine.

Located in Bangkok, the laboratory is Gemological Science International’s 14th location worldwide.

Those born in June have a myriad of options for their birthstone jewelry.

The diamond industry veteran has been named its senior sales executive.

The company plans to raise the prices of select watches to offset the impact of tariffs.

Between tariffs and the sky-high cost of gold, designers enter this year’s Las Vegas shows with a lot of questions and few answers.

Designed by founder Renato and his daughter Serena Cipullo, it showcases a flame motif representing unity and the power of gathering.

However, the tariffs remain in effect in the short term, as an appeals court has stayed the U.S. Court of International Trade’s decision.

The pop icon is one step closer to launching her “B Tiny” jewelry collection, a collection she first began posting about last fall.