The Sixth Mediterranean Gemmological & Jewellery Conference will take place in Thessaloniki, Greece, from May 15-17, 2020 and will focus on valuation and marketing of diamonds and gems, as well as feature a roundtable debate on the marketing of natural vs lab-grown diamonds, and seven parallel workshops, the organisers said in a release.

“As with previous conferences, the 2020 event will spotlight trade issues and challenges and offer solutions via many workshops with standard and advanced affordable instruments and presentations by a range of leading industry figures," said Conference Chair Branko Deljanin. "We will welcome trade members from across the world to compare the wide range of the latest treated and synthetic diamonds and gems to natural stones."

Among the speakers who have confirmed their participation are:

• Adeline Lageder (Gemmologisches Labor, Austria)
• Dr Vera M. F. Hammer (Natural History Museum Vienna, Austria)
• Elena Deljanin (Gemmological Research Industries Inc., Canada)
• Dr Olga Okhrimenko (Octonus, Finland)
• Reuven Paikin (Almod Diamonds, USA)
• Branko Deljanin (CGL Canadian Gemlab, Canada)
• Kelly E. Hassen (Gemometrics, Sweden)
• Jeffrey Bergman (Primagem, Thailand)
• Dr Yuri Shelementiev (Moscow State University, Russia)
• Dr Stefanos Karampelas (Bahrain Institute for Pearls & Gemstones, DANAT, Bahrain)
• Gina D’Onofrio (Heritage Auctions, USA Challenges)

Matthias Krismer (Swarovski, Austria)

Matthias Krismer (Swarovski, Austria)

The special "Round Table Duel” which will discuss "How should lab-grown diamonds and gems be marketed, alongside naturals?" will feature Michael Schlamindger (Swarovski, Austria) and Mark Cullinan (Cullinan Diamonds, Monaco) among others. The discussion will be moderated by John Chapman (Gemetrix, Australia).

The Mediterranean Conferences are organized by Branko Deljanin of CGL Canadian Gemlab (Canada) and George Spyromilios of IGL (Greece), and combine a unique mixture of business and appraising conferences with highly scientific seminars. The 2020 edition is sponsored by Gemmological Research Industries Inc (Canada) and supported by Octonus (Finland / Russia), Magilabs (Italy / Finland), Swarovski (Austria), Crown of Light (USA), Gemometrics (Sweden), Moscow State University (Russia), Gemetrix (Australia), Jewellery Appraisers of the World (UK) and the National Association of Jewelry Appraisers (USA).

The organizers are also offering participants a fascinating range of social events before and after the gathering including tours of the old city of Thessaloniki, a boat tour of Holy Mount Athos, gem tours to Prilep’s ruby mine, a visit to the Trepca mineral museum and the sphalerite mine in Kosovo, and a gem and cultural tour of Serbia.