Press Releases

AGA Celebrates Its 50th Anniversary at the 2024 Tucson Conference and Gala

Adds a presentation from the DANAT Lab, and recognizes the 2023 Bonanno Award Recipient.

Published

1 year ago

January 8, 2024

Press Releases

AGA Celebrates Its 50th Anniversary at the 2024 Tucson Conference and Gala

(PRESS RELEASE) Accredited Gemologists Association invites all to celebrate this important milestone as they kick off a year of celebration at the annual AGA Tucson Gemological Conference and Gala on Wednesday, January 31, 2024, in Tucson, Arizona, marking AGA’s 50th Anniversary! Registration and participation options are available to gemological enthusiasts and guests globally.

Registration options include attendance at the conference and gala (or gala only) or recorded conference registration for individuals unable to attend in person. See the registration link for all ticketing options and further details.

A sixth gemological session has just been added to the stellar lineup of renowned speakers addressing a wide range of subjects and current research in their respective fields. Presentations include – Gabriela Farfan, Ph.D. (Smithsonian), sharing insights into the Smithsonian’s National Gem and Mineral Collection, Fatima Almahmood (Research Scientist at DANAT The Bahrain Institute for Pearls and Gemstones), covering the natural pearl beds of Bahrain, Al Gilbertson (GIA Laboratory, Carlsbad, CA) with updates on fancy shape cut research, Rachelle Turnier, Ph.D. – Expert on corundum, focusing on the identification of sapphires from Mogok (Myanmar), Justin K. Prim – Author and lapidary historian, exploring forgotten gemstone designs observed through antique jewelry and art, and Jolyon Ralph – Founder of gemdat.org and mindat.org, introducing the use of the online resources for gemological data and education through an interactive session.

Following the conference, AGA welcomes attendees to dance like it’s 1974 at the Gala Dinner Dance, where Jeffrey E. Post, Ph.D., will be recognized as the recipient of the 2023 AGA Antonio C. Bonanno Award for Excellence in Gemology. Enjoy networking and relationship-building at the cocktail reception, followed by dinner and a silent auction.

AGA Vice President, Dr. Çiğdem Lüle shared, “AGA’s 50th Anniversary is such an important milestone. We look forward to celebrating with the gemological community at the 2024 AGA Tucson Conference. This unique opportunity to exchange ideas with and learn from some of the world’s leading gemologists while enjoying a memorable evening at the gala is not to be missed. We sincerely hope you will join us by attending the events or registering for access to recorded sessions. AGA’s ongoing focus remains to provide the global community with opportunities to learn and share gemology”.

Tickets to participate in the AGA Tucson conference and/or gala are available .

Family Legacy, New Chapter: How Wilkerson Turns 89 Years of History Into Future Success

After 89 years of serving the Albany community, Harold Finkle Your Jeweler faced a pivotal decision. For third-generation owner Justin Finkle, the demanding hours of running a small business were taking precious time away from his young family. "After 23 years, I decided this was the time for me," Finkle explains. But closing a business with nearly nine decades of inventory and customer relationships isn't something easily managed alone. Wilkerson's comprehensive approach transformed this challenging transition into a remarkable success story. Their strategic planning handled everything from advertising and social media to inventory management and staffing — elements that would overwhelm most jewelers attempting to navigate a closing sale independently. The results speak volumes. "Wilkerson gave us three different tiers of potential goals," Finkle notes. "We've reached that third tier, that highest goal already, and we still have two weeks left of the sale." The partnership didn't just meet financial objectives—it exceeded them ahead of schedule.