RAPAPORT... The Jewelers Vigilance Committee (JVC) will participate in educational panels during the JCK Vegas Show, as well as at the Accredited Gemologists Association (AGA) workshop.

On June 3, 2010  at 11 a.m., Cecilia Gardner, JVC’s president and  general counsel, will review jewelers’ obligations to disclose current gemstone treatments to customers at a JCK session 212 titled “Gemstone Treatment Update.”  Other panelists feature Doug Hucker of the American Gem Trade Association, Jay Lell of J.R. Dunn Jewelers and Shane McClure of the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), with Gary Roskin moderating.

Gardner will then sit on the panel for "Diamond Dialogue — the Kimberley Process and Consumer Confidence,” to be held at 12:30 p.m. during the general session. This event will be presented by the World Diamond Council (WDC) and provide an interactive platform to discuss the Kimberley Process (KP) with representatives of the mission's three sectors: Government, industry and civil society. Topics will include whether or not the trade can rely upon KP team efforts and whether or not the group's mission is serving as an effective means of ending the trade of conflict diamonds. These panelists will also explain the new initiatives that are currently underway to ensure consumers' confidence in the diamond trade.

Other speakers for the second panel will include Brad Brooks-Rubin of the U.S. State Department, Noora Jamsheer of the U.N. panel of experts on Cote d’Ivoire,  Eli Izhakoff, the president of the WDC, Matt Runci, the president of Jewelers of America and John Hall of Rio Tinto, with  Dorothee Gizenga, the director of the Diamond Development Initiative, moderating.

Gardner said, “Both the gemstone treatment and diamond panels will provide important information and no doubt engender lively discussion, with attendees representing a wide spectrum of jewelry specialties. I look forward to helping jewelry sales associates understand how to disclose new gemstone treatments and hopefully close the sale. For the diamond panel, the discussion will center on the Kimberley Process and its role in addressing development and conflict issues for diamonds.”

At the AGA workshop and mixer on June 4, titled "Red Alert!," JVC's Suzan Flamm will join Christopher Smith, the president of the American Gemological Laboratories (AGL), to address the identification and legal disclosures pertaining to composite rubies. 

Flamm said, “Retailers, designers, bench jewelers, appraisers and even gemologists are at risk from composite rubies. Not everyone in the trade is a gemologist, nor do all gemologists even understand the differences. Still, jewelers need to be aware of the laws governing our industry and the ramifications of not following legal compliance obligations."

View the full list of JCK Vegas Events.

Visit the AGA Workshop page.

Vist JVC.