WORKSHOPS and talks
Sunday afternoon
We are always very lucky with the range of Sunday afternoon presenters we have, and this year is no exception.
Our Sunday afternoon workshops and talks are always popular and places are limited for some of them, so we always recommend that you choose and book your options as soon as possible.
When you complete the Workshop Booking Form (which will come with your Invoice), please indicate at least a first and second choice. If it is not possible to fit you in to your initial choices, we will get in touch.
Victor Tuzlukov - Recutting of Gemstones
TBC (depending on UK Visa being obtained)
Peter Lyckberg - Gem Tourmaline: Why and under what conditions do
we get various qualities and colours in crystals even from the same pocket!
Gem tourmaline are found primarily in miarolitic pegmatites (Pocket containing). Colored
tourmaline primarily Elbaite and Liddicoatite in a multitude of colours are typically 1+20
cm but gem quality rubellite to 70 cm and 107 cm were found in Malkhansk, Russia and at
the Jonas Mine, MG, Brazil. Dr F Pezzotta documented a huge Liddicoatite in a pegmatite
outcrop in Madagascar measuring over 1.5 m.
The tourmaline group of mineral species contain several rare mineral varieties (species)of
gem quality such as foitite, olenite and very rare bi coloured gem Rossmanite (Malkhansk
1995).
In gemology many tourmaline varieties were named after the colour thus green tourmaline
called “Verdelite”, Indigo blue tourmaline found 1800 called “Indigolite” in all languages but
English as d’Andradas first published description after a visit to Sweden had a printing error
where a c slipped into the place of g. Indigolite from Utö is typically Elbaite, rubellite and
verdelite from most places also Elbaite except for pegmatites intruded into limestones
where the solutions picked up Ca to form Liddicoatite such as in Madagascar.
Highly Cu bearing elbaite with a strong blue to bluish green to green or purple to purple-red
colour first found in the state of Paraiba, Brazil was named Paraiba tourmaline. High Cu is
not a guarantee to show the colour as high Fe content may mask it and make it dark.
Tourmaline contain a great number of elements in its structure and is prone to develop
stress fractures perpendicular to the c-axis of the crystal. Each crystal has two poles and
thus during growth attract various elements and has a different growth rate. This is why the
pinacoid (flat headed end) is shown on stout shorter crystals while crystals next to it may be
2-3 times as tall with a complex termination showing other colours.
In a pegmatite, there are typically at least one generation in the frozen (main) part of the
rock and often mostly 2-3 generations inside each cavity, where generation 1 and 2 contain
most gem material. Some crystals may have sections of gem nodules inside which are
flawless sections with rounded ends due to least energy field to break. These nodules may
have internal stress and great care need to be taken to cut them from some deposits.
Nathan Renfro - Photomicrography Lighting, Tips and Tricks
This hands-on workshop will reveal a number of the main lighting control techniques that the presenter uses to record photomicrographs. These lighting techniques will be demonstrated as well as the use and implementation of simple but effective accessories like film canister diffusers and black light blocking foil.
Participants are welcome to bring their own samples to practice taking photomicrographs. If time permits, basic post processing of images may also be covered in this workshop.
Stuart Robertson - Current production of Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald
This work will focus of the current production channels for Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald. We will discuss how newer sources have changed the understanding of quality and value for the big three.
Attendees will also get to explore perception of value has changed in response to product development outside of the classic varieties.
Helen Molesworth - Jewellery Stories from the V & A
There is a wealth of unusual jewellery pieces within the V & A Collections. Helen will recount stories of some very interesting ones.
Beatriz Chadour-Sampson - The Gubelin Gem Museum, Lucerne
The Gübelin Gem Museum located in Lucerne opened its doors in summer 2023.
In honour of the renowned Gem Lab’s 100th anniversary, Gübelin has created a place to share its knowledge about gemstones as well as the history of the family-owned company, founded in 1854. The talk will lead you through the museum beginning with the six generations of this
Swiss family, the fascinating stories behind their achievements and will discuss various of this fascinating museum’s various displays.
‘Gübelin through Time’ shows how the company began as watchmakers in 1854, then went on to create jewellery by 1923 when the cornerstone for the Gem Lab was set, to ensure the quality and authenticity of gemstones. Further displays present the ground-breaking research by Eduard Josef Gübelin (1913 - 2005), who ranks among the fathers of modern gemmology, known for his research into the inner world of gemstones as a diagnostic tool.
The museum is also the new home of the Gübelin Academy.
Samantha Lloyd - Screening the screening equipment!
This will be a great opportunity to see how these essential pieces of gemmological equipment actually work and to try out these popular diamond verification screeners, some releases new to 2025.
A carefully curated selection of diamonds will be available to test.
If you want to test something of your own, please refer to Sam first (to ensure there are no mix-ups!)
Andreas Pauly - Cameos
Detail to follow
Pat Daly - Gem-A Workshop - Synthetic Coloured Stones
Synthetic coloured stones have been with us for about 140 years. While we may be familiar with the common types, new products reach the market all the time and we need the opportunity to handle them and learn their key identifying features.
This workshop presents some more recent materials, together with older but still interesting and potentially troublesome kinds, which people may not have the opportunity to see very often.
2025 Excursions
MONDAY, 5th MAY
With regards to our field trips, our intention is to run probably two options on Conference Monday. These can be booked together with your Sunday afternoon workshop options when you are paying your Conference invoices which will start to be sent out in late February.
The Monday options are as follows:
Firstly, a trip up into the Scottish hills to find agates or jasper. Location and details yet to be finalised but, as most sites are some distance from the Westerwood, we do not anticipate returning to the hotel until around 3.30 - 4.00pm. Return transport and any lunch arrangements will be organised once we have the participants names.
The Second Option we are looking at is a visit to Lauriston Castle where there is a lovely collection of Blue John pieces to be enjoyed. The actual organisation of this trip will depend on numbers, however, as a guideline we would be leaving the hotel around 9.30am. and expect to be at the Castle until around 1pm. Edinburgh Airport is about a 15 minute drive away, as is Edinburgh Waverley Railway Station.
Transport and any lunch arrangements will be organised once we have the participants names. We expect to arrange some luggage storage at the Castle .
Alteratively, we could organise a trip to a whisky distillery, depending on numbers interested.
As an alternative for anyone flying from Glasgow Airport early to mid afternoon, we could recommend a visit to the Burrell Collection in Glasgow's Pollok Park - not very gemmological, but interesting! Entry to the Collection is free and it is a wonderful, rather eclectic collection, in a striking building with a good cafe attached. The Park is very pleasant for a wander and there is a free shuttle bus service around it connecting the main entrance, the Burrell Collection and the nearby Pollok House. A bit further afield is also The House for an Art Lover. Links as below. The Reception Desk at the Burrell will look after luggage if asked.
We will (probably) leave it to any delegates interested to make their own way but please advise if you want help to organise travel. A taxi from the Hotel to the Collection will take about 30 minutes and a taxi from the Collection to Glasgow Airport will take about 20 minutes, given reasonable road conditions.
For travel links into Glasgow: https://burrellcollection.com/visit/plan-your-visit/
https://burrellcollection.com/collection-highlights/
https://www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/pollok-house
https://www.houseforanartlover.co.uk/about/what-is-house-for-an-art-lover