Presenter Spotlight: 2023 ASA International Conference–Gems & Jewelry

ASA International Conference is the leading event for the global valuation profession. Celebrating its 86th year, the Conference attracts thought leaders, practitioners, allied professionals, vendor partners, government agency personnel, and more from all parts of the world. This paramount event provides an experience unlike other appraisal conferences, offering timely content for all appraisal professionals spanning Business Valuation, Personal Property, Machinery & Equipment, Real Property, Gems & Jewelry as well as Appraisal Review & Management.

Available in a hybrid format, the ASAIC23 offers the convenience of both live and virtual programming where you can learn and connect in your preferred environment. Join us on-site in New Orleans or from the comfort of your home or office—the choice is yours! Both formats allow you to explore the latest ideas, trends and best practices and interact and engage with fellow professionals. Don’t miss this exciting celebration of exceptional education and networking with leaders in the appraisal profession.

Don’t miss these industry experts presenting our Gems & Jewelry sessions*:

Duncan Parker, FGA, FCGMA, CAP (CJA), is Vice President of Dupuis Fine Jewellery Auctioneers. He is a gemologist, jewellery appraiser, educator, and specialist in jewelry history. He has worked at the bench as a goldsmith, and has been appraising for over 30 years. He has taught gemmology, jewelry, and appraising at colleges and for the Canadian Gemmological Association, where he has been president, and is currently Vice president. He was President of Jewellers Vigilance Canada, where he worked on the development of the Jewellery Appraisal Guidelines. He is a regular speaker at webinars and conferences, and is published in several industry journals.

Sindi Schloss, GG, is a graduate gemologist, professional jewelry appraiser, jewelry historian and owner operator of a school of gemology. Her thirty-eight+ years of experience in valuation science, gemology and teaching, as well as extensive world travel and involvement with a museum of human adornment, have given Sindi a unique perspective and knowledge of global jewelry. Her ability to condense archaeology, history and gemology in a simplified, fun format has made her a popular presenter. Join Sindi for a fascinating expansion of our worldview of jewelry and jewelry design.

Carole C. Richbourg, ASA, GG, FGA, is an independent gems and jewelry appraiser in the San Francisco Bay Area. A full-time appraiser since 1999, she has over 40 years of broad experience in the jewelry industry including store management, merchandising, retail sales, appraising, jewelry design and fabrication. Carole earned the GG diploma in 1987, followed by the British designation FGA in 2009 and since 2010 is a fully accredited Senior member of the ASA where she serves on the Board of Examiners. Carole has given a number of presentations on the industry, and has published several articles on subjects of interest that range from The Method of Manufacture to What’s in a Name – How we Express Color in Gemstones, to A Tour of the Premier Mine in South Africa.

Danusia Niklewicz, GG,FGA,IAS-CAPP,ASA, Director of Research and Education for HRI has been an appraiser and educator for over 30 years. Another co-author of the World Hallmarks books, Ms. Niklewicz works with William Whetstone and Lindy Matula to further the understanding of hallmarks around the world. William Whetstone, a Director for the Hallmark Research Institute and Antiquarian for Collectors Research Inc., was one of the early pioneers of hallmark education. As co-author of the World Hallmarks book series, Mr. Whetstone continues educating through lectures and hands-on workshops for HRI.

William Whetstone, Historical Director for the Hallmark Research Institute and Antiquarian for Collectors Research Inc., is one of the early pioneers of educational seminars on precious metal hallmarking. As Co-author of the World Hallmarks book series, Mr. Whetstone continues educating through lectures and hands on workshops with HRI.

Harold Dupuy, ASA, FGA, MGA (Retired), Vice President of Strategic Analysis for Stuller, Inc., has had a multi-faceted career in the jewelry industry. In four decades, he has held many roles, ranging from executive leadership in a large public corporation to the operation of an independent store. Harold also owned and operated a private appraisal practice and gemological laboratory before joining Stuller. A member of ASA since 1997, he served as Gems & Jewelry Discipline Chair and the Board of Governors. Harold is a Fellow of the Gemological Association of Great Britain, a Graduate Gemologist (GIA),and Master Gemologist Appraiser ASA (Retired). At Stuller, he draws on this diverse background to analyze, anticipate, and act on shifting currents in the global jewelry market.

Guy Borenstein, FGA EGG, is Stuller’s Senior Gemologist leading the company’s comprehensive diamond screening and gemological testing operations at the company’s global facilities. Besides directing a fully-equipped, high-volume gemological laboratory operations, Borenstein’s other responsibilities include developing screening and testing protocols for diamonds and gemstones and conducting training of associates and clients. He continuously researches for evolving new technology-based screening and identification solutions and adopts the best practices into the company’s internal workflow processes. Before joining Stuller, Borenstein served for 15 years in various gemological capacities, including Chief Gemologist in two gemological laboratories, VP Gemological Services in the gem color analysis startup Gemewizard, FGA Gemmology Diploma tutor at Gem-A, and consultant to numerous institutes and companies worldwide. Borenstein also published several scientific articles in leading journals, including GIA’s Gems and Gemology and Gem-A’s Journal of Gemmology, covering new discoveries in the field of gemology.

Jeff Mason, G.G., is president of Mason-Kay Jade. He has over 40 years of experience the jade business, specializing in natural jadeite jade jewelry and loose pieces. Mr. Mason has assisted ASA appraisers, as well as appraisers from many other associations, with jadeite identification and evaluation for decades, and is a frequent jadeite lecturer to the jewelry trade. He had been a board member of the American Gem Trade Association for six years, (ending in 2022) serving on most notably the Trade Show and Gemological and Industry Rules committees.

Aaron Palke, Ph.D., GG, developed an interest in minerals and gemstones searching for agates and other minerals in eastern Montana. Dr. Palke’s childhood interest in minerals and rocks led him to pursue a formal education in geology, obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree from The University of Tulsa and a Ph.D. from Stanford University. Dr. Palke began his gemological career as a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Gemological Institute of America where he is now the Senior Manager of Colored Stone Research. In this role, Dr. Palke leads GIA’s research efforts into geographic origin determination for rubies, sapphires, emeralds and other colored stones as well as improving criteria for identification of treatments for colored stones. Dr. Palke is a regular contributor to Gems & Gemology and serves on the journal’s editorial review board.

John Ferry is the founder and owner of Prosperity Earth, a vertically-integrated mining and gem-cutting company. Prosperity Earth owns the Prosperity demantoid mine in exotic Madagascar. Since 2017 they have been mining and faceting this eye-catchingly beautiful, and exceptionally rare and valuable gemstone, demantoid. His company is a world leader in colored gemstone mining and gem cutting based on their novel approach of bringing world-class products to market while delivering prosperity to the communities in which they work through a full-time on-the-ground presence and professionalized approach. John’s connection to Madagascar and its world-leading gemstones is special. He has been doing business there since 2008. A Harvard-educated history student and a born adventurer with an entrepreneurial spirit, John has spent years travelling all over Madagascar – an incredible island of unique beauty – in search of new discoveries and the finest gemstones. Alongside his business partner – the famous Italian geologist Dr. Federico Pezzotta – of Pezzotaite fame – he has visited gemstone deposits across the island and studied Madagascar’s unique geology. He is proud to bring you one of the world’s most rare and unique gemstones – demantoid. Prior to starting Prosperity Earth, John was the founder and CEO of an internationally-recognized award-winning chocolate and vanilla company that produced bean-to-bar in Madagascar. Before journeying to Madagascar, John had a successful decade-long career working on Wall Street where he rose to become one of the youngest Managing Directors in the history of Merrill Lynch. Not only does John believe demantoid is the most under-valued of all colored gemstones in the market today based on its eye-catching beauty and distinct rarity, he believes this incomparable gemstone reflects the values on which Prosperity Earth is founded.