DALLAS. Nov. 27, 2024. – The American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) is pleased to reveal the contents and sponsors of the 2025 AGTA GemFair Tucson Seminar Series. All the seminars take place in the Tucson Convention Center’s recently remodeled event space and meeting rooms, which are adjacent to the exhibition halls.
The 2025 GemFair runs from Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, through Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025, while Seminars take place from Wednesday, Feb. 5, through Friday, Feb. 7. Coffee will be available in Room 205 from 8 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. every morning during the seminars, just ahead of the day’s talks, which start at 9 a.m. [The last one starts at 3 p.m.] Renowned gemologist Gary Roskin of Roskin Gem News once again serves as emcee.
Returning this year is the INSPIRED series of seminars sponsored by the American Gem Society (AGS) and curated by Somewhere In The Rainbow’s Shelly Sergent. Kicking off the series at 9 a.m. on Wednesday is a seminar on the state of the colored gemstone market with AGTA CEO John W. Ford, Sr., and a representative from Rapaport. Afterwards, recently retired GIA photographer Robert Weldon speaks to showgoers in “Images of a Lifetime and Their Stories.” More industry personalities, including gemologist and consultant Vincent Pardieu, will give presentations later that day.
On Thursday, the always anticipated “Colored Stone Price and Market Trends” takes place at 9 a.m. with Stuart Robertson, President, and Brecken Branstrator, Editor in Chief, of Gemworld International, Inc. Richard Hughes of Lotus Gemology speaks next in “Describing Color in Gems, A Fool’s Guide,” and four other speakers—including Platinum Guild International’s Kevin Reilly—head up their own talks later that day.
Finally, on Friday, Feb. 7, James E. Shigley, Distinguished Research Fellow, GIA, starts the day’s events with “The Changing World of Gemology: A Look Back and a Look Forward.” Following Shigley is a panel discussion about American jewelry design with a host of talents including Adam Neeley of the eponymous firm and moderated by Sergent and designer Eddie Sakamoto. Another panel discussion about museum experiences, including Dr. Gabriela Farfan, Curator, Smithsonian, among others, follows, with the last panel discussion dubbed “From Science to Social Media: How Trade Media Engages with and Covers the Jewelry Industry.” Participants on the media panel include The Journal of Gemmology’s Brendan Lars, AGTA’s Jennifer Heebner, and others, and Roskin serves as moderator.
Live gem cutting returns on Wednesday, Feb. 5 and continues on Thursday, Feb. 6, and is sponsored by Tucson Todd’s Gems. The presenter on Wednesday will be Nadine Marshall of @ilovegreenrocks on Instagram and Tumbled Upon Faceting, LLC. Marshall has been cutting gems since age 12—she’s now 18—and will lead “Bespoke Gemstone Cutting.” Seasoned lapidary Larry Woods will be at the cutting wheel the following day.
More demonstrations take place courtesy of MJSA Journal Live Jewelers Bench, sponsored by A & A Jewelry Supply, from Wednesday, Feb 5, through Friday, Feb. 7, 4 p.m. to 4:55 p.m. daily in Meeting Room 204. Sessions include “Colored Pencil Techniques for Gemstones” with Rémy Rotenir, “On the Surface: Techniques for Texturing Metal” and “Mark of Imagination: Engraving Jewelry Designs,” both by Melissa Muir.
For more information about the seminar series, click here or contact AGTA at [email protected].
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The American Gem Trade Association is a not‐for‐profit Association serving the natural colored gemstone and natural and cultured Pearl industry since 1981. The AGTA serves the industry as “The Authority in Color” and is headquartered in Dallas.