Last Chance to Register for the Gem-A Conference 2024

This year’s event will welcome ten speakers to etc.venues County Hall to educate and inspire Gem-A Members and non-members in November.

Gem-A, London, United Kingdom

The Gemmological Association of Great Britain (Gem-A) is calling on gemmologists worldwide to participate in the upcoming Gem-A Conference 2024, spotlighting ten esteemed speakers who will share their professional expertise on November 2-3, 2024.

A last call for tickets has been sounded by Gem-A, which will close registrations for new delegates at 9 AM on the morning of Monday, October 28. As part of the booking process, attendees can sign-up for the complete schedule of Gem-A Conference events, including two days of insightful talks, the informal Gem-A Conference Networking Drinks on the evening of Saturday, November 2, a series of hands-on workshops at Gem-A London, and guided tours at the Natural History Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum, organised by the Gem-A London team.

Places on all aspects of the Gem-A Conference are offered on a first come, first served basis, and delegates are encouraged to book now to avoid disappointment.

Gem-A President and Conference Master of Ceremonies, Richard Drucker, says: “With just two weeks to go until we open the doors on the Gem-A Conference 2024, now is the last chance for gemmology professionals, jewellers, retailers, auctioneers and research scientists to secure their tickets. The Gem-A Conference is undoubtedly the highlight of our year and is a testament to the thirst for education and continuous professional development within the gemmological community. I hope to see as many passionate gemmologists at etc.venues County Hall as possible.”

The annual Gem-A Conference is the Association’s flagship event, providing learning, community and networking for Gem-A Members, non-members and students. In recent months, the Gem-A Conference was presented with a Highly Commended accolade at the Memcom Excellence Awards 2024 in recognition of its success in bringing the gemmology community together.

Valued supporters of the 2024 edition include Gold Sponsor, Fuli Gemstones; Silver Sponsors, Marcus McCallum and the Asian Gemmological Institute and Laboratory (AGIL); and Bronze Sponsors, Gemworld, Gemfields, John J. Bradshaw, the Accredited Gemologists Association (AGA), the Jewellery Valuers Association (JVA), Calibrated Cuts and Fellows Auctioneers.

Fuli Gemstones CMO and Executive Director Pia Tonna comments: “This will be our third year in supporting Gem A’s annual conference. Education in our industry, especially on coloured gemstones remains paramount; research, discovery and sharing of knowledge in gemmology will benefit tomorrow’s gemstone loving generation.”

The international speaker line-up for the Gem-A Conference 2024 was announced in September 2024. Hailing from across the world and representing different gemmological disciplines, this year’s speakers will enlighten Gem-A Conference attendees on topics such as Chitral emeralds, giant quartz crystals, Mozambique rubies, and age-dating gemstones, pearls and corals.

This year’s speakers and the titles of their talks are outlined below:

Day One – Saturday, November 2

1. The End of Gems and the Origins of Gemmology – Dr. Michael Bycroft, Associate Professor of the History of Science and Technology, University of Warwick (UK).
2. Mozambican Ruby: The First 15 Years – Wim Vertriest, GIA GG, FGA, Manager, Field Gemology, GIA-Thailand (Thailand).
3. Characterisation of the Chitral Emeralds and What Remains to be Learned About Beryl – Carina Hanser, M.Sc., FGA, DGA (Germany).
4. The Thrill of Discovery: A Miner’s Experience with Finding Gems in Situ – Jim Clanin, JCMining, Geologist/Mining Engineer, Author of The Fundamentals of Mining for Gemstones and Mineral Specimens (USA).
5. Age Dating of Gemstones, Pearls and Corals: Fascinating Insights in their Formation, Origin and Historic Provenance – Dr. Michael S. Krzemnicki, FGA Director Swiss Gemmological Institute SSEF (Switzerland).
   

Day Two – Sunday, November 3

6. Giant Quartz Crystals from Alpine Deposits: Their Formation and their Historical Significance as Raw Material for Objets d’Art – Michael F. Hügi, M.Sc. Mineralogist, FGA, Director of the Swiss Gemmological Society, Delegate of the International Gemmological Conference IGC (Switzerland).
7. Fantastic Opals: Their Nature and Where to Find Them – Boris Chauviré PhD in Geology and Mineralogy, DUG, Managing Director of GeoGems, Lecturer at the University of Nantes (France).
8. No Stone Unturned: The Hunt for African Gems – Richa Goyal Sikri, Journalist, Digital Storyteller, and Author of No Stone Unturned (Singapore).

9. Sustainability Rated Diamonds Initiative – Kat Weymouth, GIA Diamond Graduate, Director, Sustainability Rated Diamonds, SCS Global Services (USA).
10. Emerald Fillers and Today’s Market: Demand & Pricing – Brecken Branstrator, GIA GG, Editor-in-Chief of GemGuide, Gemworld International (USA).

Elsewhere, on Monday, November 4, Gem-A will once again welcome graduating students from around the world to its annual Graduation & Awards Ceremony, held at Goldsmiths’ Hall.

Tickets for both days of the Gem-A Conference 2024 are sold on a first-come, first-served basis and cost £260 for Gem-A Members, £330 for non-members, and £130 for students. Guests can also choose to attend for one day.

Tickets for the Gem-A Conference Networking Drinks with canapes from 6-7.30pm on the evening of Saturday, November 2 are available for Conference attendees for £50.

New attendees can register until October 28, here: https://brightelm.eventsair.com/gem-a-conference-2024/registrationhomepage2024/Site/Register

Further information about the Gem-A Conference 2024 can be found here: https://gem-a.com/resources/conference-2024/

About Gem-A
The Gemmological Association of Great Britain, or Gem-A, is the world’s longest established provider of gem and jewellery education. Our Gemmology Diploma evolved from the first gem course proposed for the UK jewellery trade in 1908, and our prestigious Gemmology and Diamonds Diplomas—taught in seven different languages and 26 countries around the world—are recognised globally.

Gem-A forms an international community of gem professionals and enthusiasts. We serve the interests of the gem and jewellery industries through high standards of education in our courses and our support for global gemmological research. We also provide various membership opportunities, offer high-quality gemmological instruments, and host a number of educational events throughout the year, as well as two internationally distributed publications, The Journal of Gemmology and Gems&Jewellery.