IGI Education Director John Pollard will join JCK’s Rob Bates, VDB’s Tanya Nisguretsky and MVEye’s Marty Hurwitz to present “The State of Lab Grown Diamond Industry” this Thursday in Las Vegas.
Evolving New Topics
Rather than the usual “pro/con” arguments, the panelists will address evolving new topics including melee, the implications of treatment patent expirations and paradigm shifts in planning and cutting.
The session will take place in Room 101, The Venetian, Level I, Thursday June 9th from 1:00 – 1:45 PM. Details available here, on the JCK website.
On Friday IGI will participate in another JCK Talks session on Responsibility and Sourcing, from 11:00 – 11:45 AM. Details available here.
Attendees at JCK Las Vegas can visit IGI at booth #11064
State of Lab Grown Diamond Industry – Panelists
John Pollard, IGI
John Pollard is Senior Director of Education for IGI, expanding the institute’s traditional education and diploma programs, instructed at 14 schools of gemology around the world, while designing modern eLearning courses, tutorials, seminars, and webinars for IGI clients in all sectors, including leading luxury brands. As a consultant for diamond producers, grading laboratories and sellers in North America, Europe and Asia, he has presented seminars at JCK Las Vegas, the American Gem Society Conclave, the Gemological Institute of America Alumni Association, and various trade conferences in Beijing and Shanghai, China.
Marty Hurwitz, MVEye
After careers in television, advertising and oil, Marty became a third-generation jewelry retailer when he partnered with a childhood friend in a retail jewelry store in 1984. He founded MVI Marketing LLC (THE MVEye) in 1989, together with his wife Liz Chatelain, and grew THE MVEye into an internationally recognized organization. THE MVEye provides consumer and trade market research along with strategic consulting services to a global client list in the gem, jewelry and watch industries. In 2004 THE MVEye began its first consumer research study on awareness and acceptance of Lab-Grown Diamonds.
Tanya Nisguretsky, VDB
Tanya Nisguretsky is no stranger to the industry. Growing up in the retail diamond and jewelry business, she learned the workings of the industry from her family’s retail store, Shenoa & Co., located in the heart of New York City’s Diamond District. She went on to establish a prominent diamond wholesale house, Illuminex Diamonds, specializing in hard to find sizes and quality goods. With over 30 years of experience in the industry, Tanya developed a critical eye for quality and insight into the inner mechanisms of the business early on.
Rob Bates, JCK – Moderator
Rob Bates is news director of JCK. He has won numerous editorial awards, including two prestigious Neal Awards for his blog in 2007 and 2011, five Eddies from Folio magazine, and the American Gem Society’s Triple Zero Award for industry service.
