AGA to host conference on red and pink diamonds in Las Vegas

Diamonds of Natural Origin in Rare Red and Pink Colors—Distinguishing Natural-Color From Color-Enhanced is the topic of the Accredited Gemologists Association’s (AGA) Las Vegas conference, being held June 3 at the Mirage Hotel.

Diamond connoisseurs worldwide have recognized for centuries that the rarest diamond and the rarest gem in the world is a natural red diamond, and pinks aren’t far behind. Recent media attention covering stunning exhibitions of fancy-color diamonds at museums nationwide and top stars making these exotic beauties the engagement ring of choice have captivated the public. Pink diamonds have moved center-stage in the designer jewelry arena, and interest and demand are growing. But today, nature’s rare natural-color red and pink creations are competing with a newcomer to the jewelry scene: natural diamonds transformed from less desirable colors into the prized reds and pinks.

This noteworthy high-tech achievement will enable consumers to be able to afford a diamond of natural origin, in a pink or red color, that would otherwise have been beyond their wildest dreams. But these color-enhanced stones also present serious challenges for the trade. Retailers and gemologists must be alert to what is out there, and how to distinguish one from the other. Anyone selling fancy-color diamonds must be sure they know what they are buying, have paid an appropriate price, and are properly representing what they sell to their customers.

Chris Smith, director of Laboratory Services at GIA’s New York lab, and Alex Grizenko, president of Lucent Diamonds, the producer and distributor of the new colored-enhanced red and pink diamonds, will give a presentations. Smith will present the gemological findings related to these diamonds, stressing their unique identifying characteristics and ways to distinguish them from their all-natural counterparts. Grizenko will discuss how they are being produced and the current marketing and distribution plans, including what sizes, shapes, and colors will become available, and when. Equipment will be set up, and numerous stones will be for participants to examine.

The conference will conclude with a reception. The conference cost is $75 for AGA members and $85 for non-AGA members if registration is received before May 20; after May 20, registration is $85 for AGA members and $95 for non-AGA members. For more information or to register, contact Joe DuMouchelle at 313 300-9166 or visit the AGA Web site at www.accreditedgemologists.org.

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