RAPAPORT...  Press Release, LAS VEGAS: Spectra magazine has undergone many changes since its inception in 1935, and this summer the American Gem Society’s newsmagazine will take yet another leap forward as it goes completely digital — and green. The publication, a four-color, 42-page glossy magazine, circulated exclusively to the 3,500 members of the American Gem Society, will be distributed through e-mail and available at www.AmericanGemSociety.org, with the publication of the Summer 2009 issue in July.

“Spectra is such an important way for our members to stay up-to-date on happenings within the society and the industry. We want to maintain the high quality of that communication, but improve the way it’s delivered,” said Ruth Batson, executive director and chief executive officer (CEO) of the society. “Moving to a digital format will greatly reduce the magazine’s impact on the environment, and increase the speed and timeliness with which we share the news.”

Batson stressed that Spectra’s online presence will be tested with the first two or three issues, to ensure that American Gem Society members find the new format helpful and resourceful. “We are encouraging our members to give their feedback on the digital experience,” she said. “We’re asking them to e-mail Margaret De Young, deputy executive director of the society, at mdeyoung@ags.org, and let us know their thoughts along the way.”

Spectra began in 1935 when Robert Shipley, the American Gem Society's founder, launched it as a Gems & Gemology feature called “Guilds” that reported on the society’s activities. The next year, Shipley expanded the feature, renamed it and created an entirely new publication for Society members.

The Summer 2009 issue will celebrate the society’s 75th anniversary with a look back at highlights from the early years through today. Education features will update readers with advice on appraising and how to help customers feel comfortable and confident in their store. Regular features such as “The President’s Letter” and Batson’s “Where I’m Coming From,” will appear alongside retailer and supplier spotlights on the east coast’s Cowardin’s Jewelers and Japan’s Hope USA Corporation.

About the American Gem Society:
The American Gem Society, founded in 1934 by Robert M. Shipley, is a not-for-profit trade association dedicated to proven ethics, knowledge, and consumer protection within the jewelry industry. The American Gem Society is the international professional organization awarding Certified Gemologist (CG), Certified Gemologist Appraiser (CGA), and Independent Certified Gemologist Appraiser (ICGA). Members are held to the highest ethical and professional standards in the industry and must pass annual recertification examinations to maintain their American Gem Society titles. Less than five percent of jewelers in the country have met the exacting requirements necessary for membership.

For more information regarding the American Gem Society, please call 866.805.6500, or visit their Web site at www.AmericanGemSociety.org .


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