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Rego Park, NY--The National Association of Jewelry Appraisers announces its 55th Annual Winter ACE It Education Conference will be held “not in  Tucson” but live streaming on January 30 – 31, 2021. Due to the Covid Pandemic, all NAJA programs and exhibits were cancelled in Tucson, as were the majority of the annual gem shows.  In its place, NAJA is offering a short but intense virtual conference program to assist the professional appraiser’s continuing education. 

The program schedule for Saturday, January 30 includes:   

• The Current State of eh Global Jewellery Market, with Clare Blatherwick, FGA, DGA. She will look at some of the current trends in the international jewelry market as well as offer behind-the-scenes insights into diamonds, gemstones and jewels. A good opportunity to look at one of the luxury markets in the context of the broader economy. 
• Value Considerations for Traceable, “Responsibility Sourced” Gemstones and Jewelry, with Eric Braunwart, Columbia Gem House. He will explore the value factors beyond the 4Cs of “responsibly sourced” gemstones. Just as an estate Tiffany pin, or a Burma Ruby command higher prices because of their provenance, so do gemstones and jewelry that have a traceable “pedigree.” But how is the appraiser to assess the validity of an apparent comparable item when everyone sells “ethically sourced gems?” 
• Navigating the Sea of Conflicting Evidence, with Jill Burgum, GIA GG,  and Stuart Robertson, GIA GG. The client presents you with a stunning piece of jewelry featuring a large, important gemstone accompanied by a report from a major gem laboratory. Is there anything else you should consider before putting your professional reputation on the line? Yes. In this presentation, Burgum, senior director of fine jewelry for Heritage Auctions, and Robertson, vice president of Gemworld International, discuss considerations when evaluating fine gemstones and their comparables. 
• Important American Jewelers:  Story, Style and Stamp, with Michael Johnson, GIA GG. This presentation explores the lives of important 20th-century American jewelry designers, delving into the impact their work had on the jewelry industry in the United States. 

Sunday, January 31 programs include:

• Melee:  The Devil (Or Delight) in the Detail, with Charles Evans, FGA DGA. This presentation will explore the importance of melee in jewelry, with some discussion about how consumption of melee impacts the wider industry from mine to market. It will also examine the importance of distinguishing natural from synthetic, precision cutting, setting and, of course, considerations for grading and pricing melee. 
• The Basics of Antique Jewelry Forensics, with Nicholle Mogavero, GIA GG. This presentation will discuss the important clues that are often hiding in plain sight to help distinguish authentic jewelry from marriages of pieces, reproductions, and outright fakes. Geared for appraisers of all experience levels and those that focus on estate and period jewelry. 
• Trends and Pricing Considerations Spinel, Tourmaline, Aquamarine and Garnet, with Roland Schluessel, FGA. He will compare past with current trends, stable and variable qualityparameter and discuss how to better include these factors into successfulappraising activity. 
• Anatomy of a Lab Report, with Christopher Smith, GIA GG. Smith, president of American Gemological Laboratories, will discuss the steps followed at AGL to establish the required degree of confidence in their findings before the lab will issue a report. Using country of origin and other value determinants as a backdrop, Chris will guide attendees through a lab report's creation, touching on gemological considerations and challenges from the lab perspective. 

To view the full conference brochure go to http://www.najaappraisers.com/html/conferences.html. For further information, contact Gail Brett Levine, GG, executive director, at (718) 896-1536 or naja.appraisers@netzero.net.