Groups organizing new Mediterranean conference

Rego Park, N.Y.--Four industry organizations are launching a gem and jewelry conference that will take place at a “new and exotic” location in the Mediterranean region each year.

The first Mediterranean Gemmological and Jewellery Conference is scheduled for June 27 and 28 in Athens, Greece.

Organized by the National Association of Jewelry Appraisers, the Independent Gemological Laboratory (in Hellas, Greece), CGL-GRS Swiss Canadian Gem Lab, and the United Kingdom-based Association of Independent Jewellery Valuers, it will discuss topics that are important to jewelers, gem dealers and appraisers.

The inaugural event will be held at the Divani Palace & Thalasso Hotel in Athens, Greece, with plans for next year’s event to take place in Spain.

The lecture schedule is as follows.

Saturday, June 27

Morning sessions
--Thomas Hainschwang, managing director and researcher at the Liechtenstein branch of GGTL Laboratories
“Gem Lab Update: Pearls and Melee Synthetic Diamonds”

--Francesca Peretti, research gemologist at GRS GemResearch Swisslab in Switzerland
“Colored Gems: Rubies from Burma and Mozambique”

--Branko Deljanin, research gemologist at CGL-GRS
“Colored Diamonds: ID of Argyle and CVD-grown Diamonds”

--Wolf Kuehn, director of education and CEO of the Canadian Institute of Gemmology
“Advanced Techniques: Use of VIS & Raman Spectrometers”

Afternoon sessions
--Gail Brett Levine, executive director of NAJA
“Jewelry Appraising: Appraising of Antique Jewelry”

--Fazil Ozen, president of Harmony Gems and Harmony Academy
“Buying/Selling Gems & Jewelry: From Asia to Western World”

--Kym Hughes, director of Symmetry Gemmological & Valuation Services
“Value of Colored Diamonds: Argyle Diamonds”

-- Joe C.C. Yuan; founder of a number of diamond cutting companies, labs and factories in New York, Taipei and Zhengzhou, China.
“Value of Synthetic Diamonds: The Technology of Producing and Identifying of CVD Diamonds”

Sunday, June 28 will feature an advanced diamond workshop for treated and synthetic diamonds, led by Branko Deljanin, president and head gemologist at CGL-GRS. The morning workshop will focus on synthetic diamonds and the afternoon will look at diamond treatments.

Additionally, all participants of the conference are allowed to submit digital papers related to gemology, jewelry, education or retail for the poster competition. No further information about the contest rules or what it will entail was available by press time.

Three finalists will be chosen by the event organizers by June 5 and will be allowed to display their poster during the conference free of charge. The winner will be given free attendance to the