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Industry News: Sugar Ray Leonard To Headline AGS Conclave; JA’s Next Consumer Sweepstakes; More October 19, 2016 (0 comments)
Legendary Boxing Star Sugar Ray Leonard Tapped For AGS Conclave 2017
Las Vegas, NV—Celebrated boxing legend, Olympian, and record-breaking world champion Sugar Ray Leonard (left) will headline as one of the primary keynote speakers at the 2017 AGS Conclave, set April 5-8, 2017 at the Loews Hollywood Hotel in Hollywood, CA. Leonard will speak at the general session breakfast during the Society’s 83rd Conclave on Friday morning, April 7.
One of the most enthralling sports figures of our time, Sugar Ray Leonard faced the difficulties of life head-on and then swept them aside. He won Olympic gold for boxing and fought his way to world championships in five weight classes, a record still standing today. Voted “one of the top 25 athletes of the last 25 years” by ESPN, he is a successful entrepreneur who started his own sports promotion firm.
He has also shared his success by fighting for a worthy cause. In 2009, Leonard and his wife founded the Sugar Ray Leonard Foundation to raise funds for research and awareness towards a cure for Type 1 Diabetes and to help children live healthier lives through diet and exercise.
Recently, the Hollywood spotlight turned to Mr. Leonard in the movie Hands of Stone. The legend is portrayed by actor Usher in the film, released in August.
“Mr. Leonard’s endurance, drive and record-breaking success are a source of inspiration for millions,” says Ruth Batson, CEO of AGS and AGS Laboratories. “We look forward to his presentation and his insights on persevering through adversity, and achieving his goals through hard work, passion and dedication…traits our members share!”
To learn more about AGS or the Conclave event, visit www.americangemsociety.org or call (702) 255-6500.
JA To Continue Consumer Sweepstakes Series Next Month
New York, NY—Jewelers of America (JA) will continue its successful consumer sweepstakes series with “The Amazing Ammolite Jewelry Sweepstakes,” to run November 14 through December 2 at www.jewelers.org. The sweepstakes directs consumers to JA member jewelry stores and encourages consumers to learn more about ammolite, while increasing desire for fine jewelry.
“Following the success of the ‘Spectacular Spinel Sweepstakes’ that introduced spinel as a new birthstone option for the month of August, ‘The Amazing Ammolite Jewelry Sweepstakes’ will capitalize on consumers’ love of gemstones and educated them about lesser known gemstones such as ammolite,” says Molly Fallon, JA director of marketing and communications.
The sweepstakes is timed with the U.S. introduction of the Ammolite by KORITE Jewelry Collection. KORITE, a JA supplier member, is the largest producer of ammolite and is sponsoring the sweepstakes by giving away three ammolite jewelry pendant and earring sets as prizes.
Ammolite features rainbow colors and layers of vibrant iridescence. The gemstone is formed from prehistoric marine fossils and received official gem status in 1981 by the World Jewellery Confederation (CIBJO).
JA will promote the sweepstakes nationwide through a comprehensive public relations and marketing campaign and offer free marketing content to JA members, including email templates, images, and social media graphics. To learn more, visit www.jewelers.org/ja.
18th Fashion + Design Conference To Feature ‘Sharing the Rough’ Film
New York, NY—The Initiatives in Art & Culture (IAC) 18th Annual Fashion + Design Conference celebrates pioneers from all corners of the fashion and design worlds, including a significant presence of jewelry-focused sessions. The event, set for Friday and Saturday, November 4 and 5 at the Graduate Center in New York City, will host a cocktail reception with a private screening of Orin Mazzoni’s new film “Sharing the Rough,” on Friday evening, November 4, from 5:45 to 8:30 p.m.
The conference schedule also includes these key jewelry events:
Friday, November 4, 2016:
1:30 – 2:45 p.m. Fashioning Platinum: Pioneering from Alloy to Retail. A panel presentation with Simon Bath, Technical Sales Manager, Johnson Matthey Noble Metals; Larry Bock, Sales Director, Hoover & Strong; Teresa Frye, President and CEO, TechForm Advanced Casting Technology; Paul W. Nordt, III, Executive Vice President, John C. Nordt Co., a Division of LeachGarner, a Berkshire-Hathaway Company; and Jim Tuttle, Founder and President, Green Lake Jewelry Works; moderator, Kevin C. Reilly, Vice President, Platinum Guild International.
2:50 – 4:15 p.m. Modern Alchemy: Diamonds and Disruptive Technology. A panel presentation with Peter Englehart, Director of Business Development, Diama, Swarovski; Nikolay Tamazovich Khikhinashvili, General Director, New Diamond Technology; Joseph Kuzi, Founder, Diamond Services Ltd.; Jack Ogden, Jewelry Historian; Lloyd Pasach, Designer and Chief Operating Officer, ALTR Created Diamonds and R. A Riam Group; Jason Payne, Co-Founder & CEO, Ada Diamonds; Amish Shah, CEO and President, ALTR Created Diamonds and R. A. Riam Group Inc.; moderator, Evert deGraeve, Fine Jeweler and Industry Consultant.
5:45 – 8:00 p.m. Reception and Private Screening of “Sharing the Rough,” a film directed by Orin Mazzoni. Followed by a Q & A session with Orin Mazzoni and jeweler Mark Schneider.
Saturday, November 5, 2016:
9:45 – 10:30 a.m. Luxury On-line. A panel with Chris Del Gatto, CEO & Chairman, The Del Gatto Luxury Group and DELGATTO; Christy Kaylor, Founder, CERCI; and Rie Yano, Co-Founder, MATERIAL WRLD; moderator, Mickey Alam Khan, Editor-in-Chief, Luxury Daily.
2:15 – 3:15 p.m. Pioneers in Transformation: AJDC and the Platinum Challenge. A panel with Whitney Boin, Jewelry Designer; Susan Helmich, Owner, Susan Helmich Design, Inc.; Jose Hess, Jewelry Designer; Mark Schneider, Jewelry Designer; moderator, Andrea Hill, Founder and CEO, Hill Management Group, LLC.
Diamond Manufacturers, Kimberley Process Authority To Launch Study Of US Rough Diamond Trade
New York, NY--The Diamond Manufacturers and Importers Association of America (DMIA) and the United States Kimberley Process Authority (USKPA) on Wednesday announced their plan to conduct a joint research project to study the trade in rough diamonds in the United States.
The study will educate the members of both associations about the activity and nature of U.S. imports and exports of rough diamonds. The plan is to better serve industry by gathering hard data about the trade in rough diamonds to better understand the market forces driving rough diamond imports and exports. The scope of the research will include information about market trends, valuation, import and export flows as well as source. The research project will be conducted by Dr. Martin Hochbaum and Cecilia Gardner, Directors of the USKPA along with Jeffrey Fischer, representing DMIA.
“Cooperation from the rough diamond industry to assist in this research project will be key to its success”, said Ronnie Vander Linden, President of DMIA. “All members of DMIA are urged to cooperate when contacted by the research team.”
CIBJO Congress Opens Next Week; Session Content Online
Milan, Italy—The 2016 CIBJO Congress in Yerevan, Armenia will be available online for those who are unable to attend the October 26-28 event. The agendas and related documentation for the various sessions and meetings are online in a digital binder on the dedicated Congress website. To download, click here.
The schedule includes meetings of different working groups, called sectors and commissions, each of which focuses on a different sector or field of interest in the jewelry industry. The Digital Binder includes the agendas and documentation for each session, as well as those sessions that encompass the entire CIBJO membership.
The congress will take place at the MERIDIAN Expo Center in Yerevan and Armenia Marriott Hotel Yerevan, from October 26 to October 28, with pre-congress meetings starting on October 24. This is the first CIBJO Congress in a Central Asian country; it is being hosted by the Armenian Jewellers Association (AJA).
More information is available here.
Watch Show Attendees Invited To Israel Diamond Week in New York
Ramat Gan, Israel—The organizers of the fifth Israel Diamond Week in New York invite attendees of the International Watch & Jewelry Guild Show (IWJG) in New York to take advantage of the proximity in dates to attend the diamond event as well.
The Israel Diamond Week, sponsored by the Diamond Dealers Club of New York (DDC) and the Israel Diamond Exchange (IDE), is Oct. 31 – Nov. 2; the IWJG show is Oct. 31- Nov. 1. The diamond event is on the trading floor of the DDC at 580 Fifth Avenue in midtown Manhattan. The watch show, held 10 times a year in different locations throughout the United States, brings together up to 1,000 member jewelers and watch dealers and will be held at the Marriott New York at the Brooklyn Bridge.
Registration for the Israel Diamond Week in New York is free for bourse members and approved members of the trade. Here is the link to the registration form.