JVA Annual Conference 2024
For Jewellery and Watch Valuers, Students and industry associates
Jewellery Valuers Association (JVA) Annual Conference ~ 6th-8th September 2024
Holywell Park, Loughborough
The JVA conference delivers a combined programme of presentations by some of the world’s finest authorities interspersed with essential hands-on workshops, it is an educational experience and networking opportunity not to be missed! Whether you are just beginning your journey to becoming a Registered Valuer, have been valuing jewellery, watches or silverware for years, or engaged in or interested in any aspect of this wonderful world of jewellery and watches, the JVA conference has something for all abilities and all areas of the industry.
The JVA is the only independent association for professional valuers providing the most current, up to date and relevant training for its members, students and those wishing to pursue this fascinating, yet challenging, profession.
During the three-day conference, delegates will be able to attend presentations by leading industry experts, get hands-on experience in relevant and engaging workshops and network with presenters, colleagues and friends during breaks and evening meals.
The JVA Conference App enables delegates to personalise their conference experience by selecting their workshops from the wide range on offer, download the JVA Conference brochure, interact with fellow delegates and our Sponsors and much, much more.
Holywell Park, situated within Loughborough University, synonymous with the sharing of knowledge, learning and developing skills, complements the JVA perfectly:
- Academic - the essential building blocks for Continuing Professional Development
- Professional - the key attribute required of a JVA Registered Valuer®
- Personal - the unquestionable benefits facilitated by networking with industry colleagues
Leading industry speakers will be attending from the UK, Europe, Australia and the USA, all working together to deliver an engaging, dynamic and memorable Conference from which we will all benefit.
The JVA will be using Holywell Park for the duration of the weekend embracing all main presentations and workshops in addition to lunch and coffee breaks. Professional valuers, aspiring valuers, and students, together with associated industry professionals, will be able to tailor their Conference experience by selecting from a variety of main presentations and hands-on workshops, delivered by experienced and knowledgeable speakers.
We look forward to welcoming you back to Holywell Park in September for what is guaranteed to be another outstanding conference ...
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"Being able to rub shoulders with so many of your peers and like-minded people left me completely motivated.
I genuinely believe becoming a member of the JVA is one of the best and most important decisions of my career. The JVA conference has only enhanced this decision."
Raymond Morath-Gibbs FGA DGA
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"When choosing where to spend my conference budget, I always look to the JVA conference knowing I will receive full value for my conference dollar, in fact, at the JVA conference, I receive a 150% value!
The brilliant speakers, the informative workshops, and the networking, more than contribute value and reconnecting with friends and adding new friends is just adding more value. Thank you JVA!"
Anita Beardwood FCGmA
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"A really friendly, super informative conference packed with interesting lectures and great workshops with a real chance to get our hands on some real jewels!
The opportunity of handling items from hundreds of years ago was not to be missed. A wonderful experience and I'm already looking forward to next year."
Barbara Kolator FGA DGA EG
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From Friday 6th September until the conference draws to a close on Sunday 8th September at 6.15pm, we have an exciting programme of talks and workshops lined up designed to suit all abilities.
Lunch and coffee breaks are great networking opportunities where you can be reunited with old friends, make new acquaintances, and build personal and professional relationships that will last a lifetime.
We will be dining in the Burleigh Court Restaurant on Friday and Saturday evenings, a time to relax and enjoy the company of your fellow delegates.
We are looking forward to welcoming a record attendance to the JVA Annual Conference 2024! Please Download the Conference Brochure below to see what we have in store for you ..
To register your interest as a Sponsor, Exhibitor or Attendee at the JVA Annual Conference .. 12th - 14th September 2025, please email conference@thejva.org
Please welcome our speakers ...
Al Gilbertson GIA GG
Al Gilbertson, currently the Project Manager of Cut-Research at GIA’s Carlsbad Laboratory, was raised in the lapidary business and eventually managed a high-end American Gem Society retail jeweller whose shop employed five custom goldsmiths and their own diamond cutter. He later owned a high-end trade shop specializing in several areas, including platinum fabrication and antique jewellery restoration, and owned an appraisal service servicing over seventy jewellers. He is best known for his work on understanding gem and diamond appearance. He is the sole inventor of two patents related to cut evaluation. GIA hired him in 2000, and he is one of GIA’s researchers who created GIA’s cut grading system for the round brilliant.
Al is a rigorous and exhaustive researcher, well known for his book American Cut —The First 100 Years, a comprehensive historical record of the development of round, brilliant-cut diamonds from the mid-1800s to the mid-1900s. Based on his experience in the trade, Al was approached in 2017 to build a class to teach Jewelry Forensics at GIA. He assembled several experts to build the class and is now finishing a manual for the class.
Helen Molesworth FGA, FSA
Helen's career has spanned the global gem and jewellery industry, from roles with leading auction and jewellery houses to academic posts. For ten years she was a jewellery specialist for Sotheby's and Christie's in London and Geneva, where she handled sales of global importance including the private jewellery collection of HRH The Princess Margaret in 2006.
She has since held roles as Professeur d'Histoire du Bijou at the Geneva University of Art and Design, Managing Director of a gemmological academy in Switzerland and Asia, and is now the Senior Jewellery Curator at the Victoria and Albert Museum, looking after the best public collection of bling in the world. Her book, Precious, The History and Mystery of Gems Across Time, was released in May 2024 with Penguin.
Duncan Parker FGA, FCGmA
Duncan Parker is a jewellery specialist at Dupuis Fine Jewellery Auctioneers in Canada, and Vice President of the Canadian Gemmological Association.
Duncan is the past President of Jewellers Vigilance Canada, and chaired the committee that wrote Canada’s Jewellery Appraisal Guidelines, and the Guidelines with the Respect to the Sale and Marketing of Diamonds, Pearls and Coloured Gems.
Duncan is the past president and has been an instructor at The Canadian Gemmological Association. He has written, developed and taught gem and jewellery training programs for gemmology students and staff at several retail jewellery organisations.
He has worked as a jewellery valuer and diamond and coloured gem specialist for 30 years. He is a regular columnist on appraising, antique jewellery and gemmological subjects for several journals, and is a regular speaker at international conferences.
Jill Burgum GIA GG
Jill Burgum has dedicated the last three decades to the field of jewelry. After graduating from the University of Hawaii at Manoa with a B.A. in Art History, she attended Bowman Tech and Stewart’s International for training in jewelry manufacturing and repair. Her studies led to the Gemological Institute of America in Santa Monica, California, where she completed degrees in Graduate Gemology and Jewelry Design in 1994.
Ms. Burgum began her professional career working for a private jeweler in San Diego, CA. She then moved to San Francisco as a jewelry cataloguer for Butterfield & Butterfield Auctions in 1996. She transferred to their Los Angeles Jewelry department in 1997 as a lead specialist, eventually leaving to build two jewelry websites for start-up companies. She has also worked in retail jewelry sales and owned an independent jewelry appraisal business. Ms. Burgum is USPAP compliant. She is a member of the National Association of Jewelry Appraisers, an International Member of the Jewellery Valuers Association (U.K.), the Scottish Gemmological Association, and the Women’s Jewelry Association.
She has contributed to Art + Auction, Brilliant, Eclat, Maine Antiques Digest, Modern Jeweler, MSN Money, and Rapaport magazines. Ms. Burgum has been a guest lecturer for the Los Angeles Natural History Museum, Gem & Mineral Council, the Jewellery Valuers Association, the Women’s Jewelry Association, and the National Association of Jewelry Appraisers and has appeared as a specialist on HGTV, KTLA, CNN, FOX Business, and Antiques Roadshow.
Stuart Robertson GIA GG
Stuart Robertson, GIA GG., is an award-winning gemologist and appraiser. He is president of Gemworld International, Inc., and serves as research director for the company’s publication, GemGuide. Stuart is the immediate past-president of the Accredited Gemologists Association. He is also a senior member of the National Association of Jewelry Appraisers.
Stuart has extensive experience as an appraiser. He completed the International Society of Appraisers’ Appraisal Principles Core Courses in 1993. Today, he limits his appraisal assignments to special projects, trial consultant and expert witness work.
Stuart is a recipient of the prestigious Antonio C. Bonanno Award for Excellence in Gemology (2011.) He received the AIJV Valuer of the Year Award in 2014 and The Scottish Gemmological Association’s Catriona Orr McInnes Award in 2019.
Alberto Scarani GG IGI
Alberto Scarani is a Graduate Gemologist (IGI Antwerp), appraiser of the Chamber of Commerce and Registered Expert of the Tribunal of Rome. Along with Mikko Åström he founded in 2012 the M&A Gemological Instruments, now Magilabs, a company specialising in manufacturing advanced gemmological instruments and developed Raman,/PL, UV-Vis-NIR, FTIR and Fluorescence spectrometers specifically designed for gemmology.
Alberto is member of the UNI Commission “UNI/CT 010/GL 01 - Gemme e metalli preziosi” for the revision of UNI rules about Gems and precious metals. He has lectured, delivered seminars and workshops about advanced spectroscopy on gemmology at Gem-A, AGA, HRD, MGJC, IGE and Rome, Naples and Bari Universities. Jewellery & gemmology, author and journalist, he is one of the editors of the Rivista Italiana di Gemmologia. (Italian Gemological Review).
In 2022 he expanded the operations of MAGILABS by establishing MAGILABS USA in Houston, Texas
In 2019, together with Mikko Åström, Alberto received the Antonio C. Bonanno Award for Excellence in Gemology from the Accredited Gemologists Association
Charles Bexfield FGA DGA EG
Charles' passion for minerals, crystals and gemstones evolved naturally from growing up surrounded by antiques, to becoming a Fellow and Diamond Member of the Gem-A, and EG too. Charles is enthusiastic to share his knowledge and experience and continues to teach at Gem-A in addition to lecturing all over the world and at numerous conferences and events. He is the youngest member of the London Diamond Bourse where he enjoys spending time engaging with the trade.
Crystals and crystallography is a favourite topic of Charles' so, not one to stand still, he set about perfecting his lapidary skills, learning from some of the best gem cutters in the UK and abroad. The combination of a love of gemstones, in-house lapidary with the ability to educate, gave rise to Charles Bexfield Ltd. specialising in fine gemstones and lapidary services right in the heart of Hatton Garden. Such is the love for his craft, you will often find Charles polishing stones for his clients late into the evening at his office on Greville Street!
Rui Galopim de Carvalho FGA DGA
Rui Galopim de Carvalho FGA DGA is a Gem Education Consultant, author and international lecturer on gemmology and the history of gem materials. As a Portuguese national, Rui has a particular interest in Portuguese jewellery of cultural heritage and has recently studied the gemstones in the Portuguese royal treasures for the forthcoming museum in Palácio Nacional da Ajuda.
The founder of the Home Gemmology webinar series launched during the COVID-19 lockdown, Rui is also editor of the educational account Portugal Gemas on Instagram and shares gemmological content actively across his social media channels (Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, Twitter). He is associate editor of The Journal of Gemmology, Vice-President of Sector A and of the Coral Commission of CIBJO (The World Jewellery Confederation), member of the Communications Committee of ICA (International Colored Gemstone Association), Advisory Counsellor of the Portuguese Jewellery and Watchmaking Association and consultant of National collections, namely the Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga and Royal Treasury at the Palácio Nacional de Ajuda.
Thank you to our sponsors ........
Diamond Sponsor
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From your home, car, and possessions that you care about, you have a lot to protect. And for that, you want a particular kind of protection and level of service, that you know you will receive from a firm that has a century of experience.
Ruby Sponsors
We are the largest firm of specialist jewellery insurance brokers in the UK and have been looking after jewellers and their customers since 1887.
The Gemmological Association of Great Britain, or Gem-A, is the world’s longest established provider of gem and jewellery education. Our Gemmology Diploma evolved from the first gem course proposed for the UK jewellery trade in 1908, and our prestigious Gemmology and Diamonds Diplomas — taught in five different languages and 26 countries around the world — are recognised throughout the world.
Instappraise, a leading provider of jewellery valuation creation and management solutions, announced earlier this year that its Instappraise.com platform is now accessible to valuers and retailers in the UK.
The Instappraise platform employs advanced technologies and strategic partnerships to enhance the efficiency of valuation report creation. It enables users to generate detailed valuation reports more quickly. The platform integrates with prominent grading laboratories such as GIA, IGI, and GCAL, facilitating direct import of diamond grading information from these laboratories’ databases. Additionally, diamond and gemstone pricing integrations are available through resources such as the GemGuide, Rapaport Price List, and IDEX. Instappraise also provides access to a comprehensive watch model database as well as real-time precious metal prices. Users benefit from powerful customisation options that allow them to tailor each report to reflect their brand's unique identity.
Sapphire Sponsors
Celsteel Diamond
Celsteel is a family run diamond dealership based in Hatton Garden, London. We hold a huge diamond stock, starting from tiny 0.7mm diamonds, right up to 7 carat GIA certified stones! We have a variety of different shapes in stock, ranging from your standard round brilliant cuts to your fancy shapes including, princess, pear shapes, emerald cuts, baguettes, ovals, trillions, carré, marquises... the list goes on. As well as our stock, we pride ourselves on the genuine, personal connections we have with our customers, and want to help you and your business in any way we can. So, if you have any need for diamonds, or creating diamond jewellery, please do give us a call!
Quantum Leap
QL2 is an appraisal software program that runs in your browser and implements the latest, and best, technology continuing to streamline the production of jewellery appraisals for the discerning jeweller and independent appraiser.
Connoisseurs
Connoisseurs, known for its product innovation, has transformed the jewellery care industry with products such as the Jewellery Beauty Wipes and the Diamond Dazzle Stik®, the most successful product launched in the company’s history. A sleek, cosmetic-like pen which makes it easy to clean diamonds and precious gemstone jewellery on the move, it is compact and portable. Twist, Brush and Dazzle!
Fellows
With over 140 years’ experience, Fellows Auctioneers hosts several auctions a month across a variety of departments. Items that go under the hammer range from jewellery, watches, designer handbags to antiques and more. Fellows offers competitive charges to both buyers and vendors, worldwide free delivery, and no-obligation auction valuations.
Silverton
Silverton is a trading name of D. I. Silverton Ltd which has been trading since 1975, a well-respected and continuously successful wholesale jeweller and diamond merchant which has traded from one address ever since. Silverton is a family business offering a comprehensive range of precious and semi-precious gemstones, loose diamonds, and finished jewellery in both 18ct Gold and Platinum. We supply retail jewellers, working jewellers and manufacturers and other members of the trade.
Emerald Sponsors
Charles Bexfield FGA DGA
Charles Bexfield FGA DGA is a specialist in Fine Minerals, Crystals, Decorative Materials and Facet Grade Rough. With many years experience from all corners of the industry Charles has a unique skill set, including being a gemmology and diamond tutor, and a gemstone cutter with a workshop in London for processing rough material.
Heritage Auctions
Heritage Auctions is the largest collectibles auctioneer and third largest auction house in the world, as well as the largest auction house founded in the U.S. With more than 1 million online bidder-members registered on HA.com. This loyal and growing community of collectors is a testament to the usefulness of our website, our reputation for professional business practices and our vast expertise in the field of art and collectibles.
Quicktest
Testers and tools for renovation and valuation. We manufacture QUICKTEST and TROYTEST precious metal testers, the ‘industry standard’ used by jewellers, pawnbrokers and gold-buyers throughout the UK. We are experts in testing equipment, we import diamond / gem testers, magnifiers and UV lights. We are the UK agents for the most reliable electronic gold tester.