The Accredited Gemologists Association conference that reunites specialists in gemology every year will have as main topic for 2005 the new techniques and methods in diamond grading. The Annual Tucson Conference will be held on Feb 2, 2005 and its program will be “Diamond Cut Grades — An In-Depth, Practical, and Applicable Explanation From GIA, AGS, and Others on the Cutting Edge”.

The approach of this theme is a result of the announcements from AGS and GIA regarding their planned future releases on diamond grading. AGS has announced their revisions to the cut-grading system for round diamonds and GIA has plans to provide cut grades on all diamond grading reports.

The subject to be dealt with on next year's conference is of present interest, as there is a need to establish and clearly understand the standards and criteria of GIA and AGS for assignation of cut grades, so that gemologists can establish and approach a unified grading system. Thus, inconsistencies in diamond grading will be avoided and and confusion among retailers and consumers also.

Not only is this conference intended to provide a unified grading system but it will also be thoroughly explanatory of the grading techniques GIA and other major labs use, supplying information to participants, so as to prepare them for applying procedures and standards that will result once the planned new cut grades are introduced and offer them ability to clearly explain them to customers.

The conference will take place at Marriott University Park, 880 East 2nd St., at 8:30 a.m. It will be followed by AGA's Annual Dinner Dance and Award Ceremony designating the winner of the Antonio C. Bonanno Award For Excellence in Gemology. This year, persons who are not members AGA are permitted to attend to the conference and the gala. The fee was set at $100 for the conference and evening gala for AGA members.If the payment is made after January 26th, the cost is $125. The fee for non-AGA guests is $100.