Gem-A Confirms Expert Speaker Line-Up for 2023 Gemmology Conference in London
24 Oct 2023
The Gemmological Association of Great Britain (Gem-A) is preparing to welcome gemmology professionals, jewellers, retailers and scientists to London this November for its annual Gem-A Conference, incorporating expert speakers, a networking dinner, workshops, city-wide tours, and its Graduation Ceremony for emerging gemmologists and diamond specialists.
The highlight of the three-day programme of events is a busy day of networking and learning led by six cross-industry speakers on Sunday, November 5. Each will deliver a talk based on their respective fields of expertise, including alluvial diamond deposits, laboratory-grown diamond growth methodology and technology, the international auction market, colouration in zoisite, machine learning algorithms in gemstone provenance, and the laws of crystal growth.
This year’s speakers and the titles of their talks are outlined below (in alphabetical order by surname):
1. Economically Important Alluvial Diamond Deposits with a Focus on South Africa – Dr Mike De Wit, Research Fellow at the University of Stellenbosch, South Africa.
2. The Gem Factor: Why Are Some Minerals Gem Quality? - Dr Emmanuel Fritsch, Professor of Physics at the University of Nantes, France.
3. Laboratory-Grown Diamonds: Established Technology and New Horizons - Dr Sally Magaña, Senior Manager, Diamond Identification at GIA, Carlsbad, California,USA.
4. It Does Not Always Have to Be Blue: Zoisites - Chemistry, Colour and Cutting - Dr Clemens Schwarzinger, Associate Professor of Chemistry at the Johannes Kepler University Linz, Austria.
5. Application of Machine Learning Algorithms in Gemstone Provenance Research - Professor Andy Shen, Doctor of Philosophy at China University of Geosciences -Department of Gem Sciences.
6. Enjoy or Invest? Gemstones Under the Loupe in the Post-Pandemic Auctions - Wenhao Yu, Chairman, Jewellery & Watches, Asia, Sotheby’s Hong Kong.
The Gem-A Conference 2023 is supported by Gold Sponsor Fuli Gemstones, Silver Sponsor Marcus McCallum, and Bronze Sponsors the Canadian Gemmological Association (CGA), The Curious Gem, the National Association of Jewellers (NAJ), Gemworld International, John Bradshaw and the Jewellery Valuers Association (JVA).
Fuli Gemstones CMO and Executive Director, Pia Tonna, comments,
“Fuli’s objective has always been to further educate the industry and consumers on peridot and its by-products. It is imperative that Fuli collaborates with bright minds to help the furthering of geology and gemmology education, sharing its findings with specialists who can communicate discoveries with the next generation of our industry - the Gem A conference is the perfect platform to help Fuli achieve this.”
The Gem-A Conference also includes a Gala Dinner on the evening of Sunday, November 5, which will take place at the iconic Tower of London for 2023. Guests will be seated for a three-course meal alongside members of the Gem-A team and representatives from Gem-A Conference sponsors. This occasion provides more opportunities for networking in an informal setting alongside evening entertainment, which will be a surprise for attendees on the night.
In a change to previous years, the Gem-A Conference 2023 will incorporate not one but two days of workshops and tours, giving national and international members of the Gem-A community the chance to visit key London landmarks and learn in a small group environment. Highlights of this year’s schedule include a private viewing of the Crown Jewels at the Tower of London, a behind-the-scenes tour of the Natural History Museum, and a guided tour of the Gems and Jewellery Gallery at the Victoria and Albert Museum. Workshops at Gem-A London include sessions on imitation jade, identifying mounted stones, screening coloured gemstones, and the skills of photomicrography, among others. Only a small number of places are remaining, signalling the continued popularity of this facet of the Gem-A Conference schedule.
Gem-A CEO Alan Hart says,
“The Gem-A Conference is undoubtedly the highlight of our year and is a testament to the thirst for knowledge and professional development among Gem-A Members and the wider gemmological community. Ours is a field that never stands still; gemmology is an evolving discipline that demands opportunity for likeminded people to gather to learn, understand, assess, and feel inspired. The Gem-A Conference fulfils this brief with a day of speakers, an evening gala, two days of workshops and tours, and our Gem-A Graduation ceremony.”
Tickets for the Gem-A Conference 2023 are sold on a first-come, first-served basis and cost £140 for Gem-A Members and £155 for non-members. Gem-A and GIA students can secure tickets for a discounted price of £50. Tickets for the Gem-A Conference Gala Dinner cost £130.
New attendees can register until Monday, October 30
View Gem-A Conference Programme
Source: Gem-A