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Industry News: AGS Offers Online Education; WDC Warns Illicit CAR Diamonds In Market; More July 02, 2014 (0 comments)
AGS Goes Virtual: Launches Conclave On Demand and “GoTo” Guilds
Las Vegas, NV—Following the success of the 2014 Conclave in San Diego, CA, the American Gem Society has made videos of its popular keynote and featured sessions available to the entire industry for free, with its new Conclave On Demand.
AGS also announces the launch of its new GoTo Guilds, a virtual guild open to any member of the jewelry trade. The first meeting will be a webinar July 8, featuring Light Performance 101, a primer on AGS’s light performance cut grade, with Peter Yantzer, executive director of AGS Laboratories.
“GoTo Guilds is not meant to replace our traditional guild meetings that the Society has around the country,” said the Laura Stanley, CGA, chair of the International Guilds. “Originally, the intention of the Guilds was a way for our members in remote areas to have a meeting, albeit virtually. We quickly realized that with the breadth of educational topics we can offer, though, members of our traditional guilds might also want to attend these virtual meetings.”
To register for Yantzer’s presentation, click here. To access Conclave On Demand, click here.
The Conclave On Demand site features full-length videos of the 2014 event’s keynote presentations from Magic Johnson (above left), Peter Sheahan, Erik Wahl and Bryan Dodge. Additionally, sessions from Dr. Philip Martineau (De Beers), and sales expert Adam Markel and social media guru James Spellos are also available, and topics range from motivational to hard-core business tactics, plus industry-related gemological issues.
Some of the Conclave On Demand videos featured include:
- “The Magic of Winning,” Magic Johnson
- “The Art of Vision,” Erik Wahl
- “The Social Tsunami: How to drink from the Information Fire hose with only a straw,” James Spellos
- “Creating the Ultimate Sales Team,” Adam Markel
- “Undisclosed Synthetics: What you need to know,” Dr. Philip Martineau
- “Building a Team Without You,” Bryan Dodge
Ruth Batson, CEO of the American Gem Society and AGS Laboratories, says Conclave On Demand was made possible by a grant from the JCK Industry Fund.
“After the huge success of this year’s Conclave, we’re thrilled we can share glimpses of it with our members who could not attend, and give non-members a peek into the premier educational event in the industry. By providing access to a limited part of our education, we can help better the industry.”
For information on either, contact AGS’ membership desk, (866) 805-6500, ext. 1031.
World Diamond Council Reiterates Warning About Diamonds from Central African Republic
Antwerp, Belgium—Despite the May 2013 administrative decision of the Kimberley Process that ordered the temporary suspension of trading in diamonds from the Central African Republic (CAR), the World Diamond Council warns that production of diamonds in that country is continuing and there is evidence of diamonds from the CAR reaching global markets.
Until the temporary suspension is lifted, trade in rough diamonds from the CAR is considered illicit, and industry members found to be involved in such activities will be subject to sanctions agreed to by the World Diamond Council and the diamond exchanges affiliated to the World Federation of Diamond Bourses.
The WDC urges any member of the diamond industry of who is aware of such activity to report it immediately to the Kimberley Process Authorities in the country in which he or she is operating. To report a violation, click here.
"This is an issue of critical importance," says Edward Asscher, president of the World Diamond Council. "Illicit trading in diamonds from the CAR not only undermines the efforts of the international community to restore peace in the country, but it challenges the reputation of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme and the efforts of our industry, government and civil society to eliminate the trade in conflict diamonds."
The Kimberley Process is instituting measures to monitor illicit trafficking in diamonds from the CAR. The suspension of trade in CAR diamonds will continue until a KP review mission can ascertain that minimum KPCS standards are being maintained. Given the current security situation in the CAR, such a mission is unlikely in the immediate future.
Alrosa’s New Udachny Mine Expected To Be Among World’s Largest
Yakutia, Russia—Alrosa’s Udachny Mine has begun operations, says a report in National Jeweler. Located in the northeast Russian province of Yakutia, the mine is expected to be among the world’s largest underground mines and to produce more than five million carats of diamonds per year. Commercial production is expected to begin by 2015. Alrosa already operates the Mir, International, and Aikhal mines.
Qualified Buyers Offered Free Hotel for International Diamond Week.
Ramat Gan, Israel—Once again, qualified and confirmed buyers for Israel’s International Diamond Week in September will be offered up to four free hotel nights in the designated venue hotels. Rooms will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, so buyers are urged to register quickly.
At the September event, the "Find Your Diamond" computer program will be available to the visiting buyers. “Buyers might find it difficult to pinpoint the goods they need by just walking around. By accessing the computer terminals in the halls, buyers can feed their diamond needs into the program and will be directed to the companies where the goods are available, says president Shmuel Schnitzer. Buyers must be present to use the computer program.
The registration page for the International Diamond Week in Israel can be found here.
CIBJO 2015 Conference Set For Brazil
Milan, Italy—CIBJO, the World Jewellery Confederation, will hold its 2015 annual congress in Salvador, Brazil, from May 4-6, 2015, with pre-congress meetings on May 2 and May 3. Salvador is the capital of the northeastern Brazilian state of Bahia.
"We are delighted to be issuing this invitation," said Hécliton Santini Henriques, president of IBGM, the Brazilian jewelry association. "Our country is well-known as producer of gemstones, but we also are home to a vibrant jewelry industry and one of the most exciting developing markets in the world.”