Richard Hughes, gemologist and author, has resigned as senior staff gemologist for the American Gem Trade Association’s Gemological Testing Center. Hughes worked at GTC for four years in the West Coast laboratory.

“Dick has tendered his resignation,” reports Doug Hucker, AGTA CEO, “and will be leaving us at the end of August. He will be returning to Thailand with his family.”

Hughes will work with Loretta Castoro, also a former AGTA-GTC employee, at Gems TV, the on-air television gem sales company based in Singapore, with offices in Bangkok, Thailand. Hughes’s wife, Wimon, is from Bangkok.

Hughes will be involved in marketing and will help train Gems TV’s on-air presenters. He also will work with the staff on how to properly identify gemstones when buying.

Hughes has a strong background in gemology, gemstone identification, and evaluation, as well as how world politics plays a role in the availability of gem materials. He is the author of the critically acclaimed and self-published Ruby & Sapphire, and has written over 100 articles on various aspects of gemology. Prior to working at AGTA-GTC, Hughes worked for Pala International in Fallbrook, Calif.

JCK