The Fourth Mediterranean Gemmological and Jewellery Conference (MGJC) will take place in Budva, Montenegro, May 18-20, 2018. It will bring together experts from across the world to discuss "Diamonds and Gems in 21st Century".

The conference has a special format, offering frontal lectures, practical workshops and round table discussions, all based on the central theme. It is organised by CGL-GRS Canada and IGL Greece and supported by IIDGR-De Beers (United Kingdom), Octonus (Finland), MAGI (Italy/Finland), MSU Gem Center(Russia), Gemewizard (Israel), Gemetrix (Australia) and NAJA (USA).

Some of the prominent speakers who will address the global event are Dr. Thomas Hainschwang (GGTL Laboratories of Lichtenstein), Dr. Philip Martineau (De Beers) and Roman Serov (Octonus).

While the former, a leading researcher of treated and synthetic diamonds, will speak about "Colour origin of untreated and treated natural and synthetic diamonds", Serov, a Finnish instrument developer, who is also affiliated to the Gemmological Center of Moscow University (MSU), will discuss "The impact of fluorescence on diamond appearance" and Martineau, a Senior Manager at De Beers Physics, United Kingdom, will update the conference on "CVD synthetic diamonds and their detection."

Key workshops will also be conducted by Menahem Sevdermish and Guy Borenstein of Gemewizard, Israel; Branko Deljanin, principal of CGL-GRS Swiss Canadian Gemlab of Vancouver and Alberto Scarani and Mikko Åström, of M&A Gemological Instruments (MAGI). These will cover "New ruby, sapphire, emerald, and fancy coloured diamonds grading"; “The identification of treated synthetic diamonds and treated natural diamonds, loose and mounted" and "Advanced Diamond Instruments".

A highlight will be the Round Table discussion on "The marketing of synthetic diamonds and synthetic gems in 21st century" with participation of six international experts, and moderated by John Chapman (Gemetrix).

Conference Founder and Chair Branko Deljanin said: "The success of earlier MGJ conferences - 2015 (Greece), 2016 (Spain) and 2017 (Italy) - proves that, different from many other business and appraising conferences and a few highly scientific conferences, we have created a unique 'tech-trade' platform where gemmologists, appraisers and gemstone professionals can meet, learn about and discuss current identification issues and problems and be offered solutions and training, by using standard and affordable gemmological instruments and by accessing those services they need."

The organisers said that thanks to Montenegro's central location in Europe and the Mediterranean, many participants are expected from Western Europe and other Mediterranean countries, as well as from Russia, Turkey, and even the USA.