Conclave, the American Gem ­Society’s signature conference, felt charged with a zingy energy this year. The lineup of ­personality-plus speakers was especially strong. But the majestic location—the historic Hotel del Coronado in Coronado, Calif.—also infused excitement into the 76-year-old event, held April 22–26.This year AGS celebrates its 80th anniversary, and CEO Ruth Batson said, “We wanted this one to be different from the others—more special—and to be closer to our sister organization, GIA.”The group, now based in Las Vegas, was in California for 60 of its 80 years, she added: “This was a way to get back to our roots, in a very special place.”The event opened with a killer keynote speech by Earvin “Magic” Johnson, who urged attendees to “be in business to win, to be successful—so remember to always use best practices.” Added the NBA legend, “There