The 77th annual American Gem Society Conclave in New Orleans was a beads-and-bourbon-infused celebration of the nation’s finest jewelers. Click here to read editor-in-chief Victoria Gomelsky’s full report from the yearly retail-focused conference.

 

 

 

Billy Craig, owner of Craig’s Fine Jewelry in Ridgefield, Conn., with Forevermark’s Natalie Humphrey

 

Former AGS Board of Directors president Cathy Calhoun with longtime AGS member Charles Lacy and Lazare Kaplan’s Marcee Feinberg

 

R.F. Moeller Jeweler’s Mark Moeller, AGS director/CEO Ruth Batson, Starnes’ Jewelers Chris Bramlett, and Ben Bridge Jeweler’s Herb Bridge

 

Robert M. Shipley Award winner Bill Farmer (c.) flanked by his son, Will, and his wife, Kim, with Wideband’s Richard and Sharyn Korwin

 

Diamond Council of America’s Terry Chandler, AGTA’s Doug Hucker, SmartWork Media’s Cindy Chandler, and GIA’s Anna Martin

 

Howard and Patti Hauben of H2 Events/Centurion Jewelry at the Mardi Gras–themed President’s Party

 

Rapaport Group chairman Martin Rapaport led a seminar on “ethical challenges and opportunities in the jewelry industry.”

 

As emcee, JCK news director Rob Bates thanked the audience for attending Conclave, “especially in a boring city like New Orleans.”

 

AGS deputy executive director Donna Jolly (c., with black hat) was the life of the President’s Party.