Dr. Dietmar Schwarz studied at Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany. He was then a scientific lecturer at the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and Professor of Mineralogy and Gemmology at Ouro Preto Federal University, Minas Gerais, Brazil.  Since 1992 he has been employed at the Gubelin Gem Laboratory in Lucerne, Switzerland, where he is currently Research Manager. A well known and respected gemmologist, he has written extensively on various aspects of gemmology and mineralogy for Gems and Gemology as well as all the other widely read gemmological publications. He is also the author of a book on emeralds published in 1987. Dietmar has presented in nearly fifty conferences and over twenty specially arranged courses/seminars throughout the world. Dietmar is also an active member of various gemmological committees, such as the Laboratory Manual Harmonization Committee (LMHC), and is a regular participant at the International Gemological Conference.

There is no doubt that Dr. Schwarz can be considered to be one of the leading gemmologists in the world today.

Maria S. Alferova is a mineralogist and gemmologist (MSc); at present she is a curator and gem-expert at the Fersman mineralogical museum. Maria was lecturing gemmology at the Moscow State University and fulfilled extensive museum and gemmological fieldwork in Russia, Europe and USA. Maria is a member of the Russian gemmological Society, Society of Mineral Museum Professionals and the Scottish Gemmological Association. She has an interest in optical phenomena in gemstones, field gemmology and Scottish country dancing.

David began his career in the jewellery trade in 1955 when he was apprenticed to Hancocks & Company.  He was appointed a Director in 1964 and continued to work there throughout his career. He retired in 1997.

Born in 1938 he was educated at St. Paul’s Cathedral Choir School (1947-1952) where in his last term he was Head Chorister. He then became a pupil at Magdalen College School, Oxford (1952-55). He qualified as an FGA in 1958. He is a Freeman of the City of London and was ‘clothed with the Livery’ of the Goldsmiths’ Company in 1983.

NAG Chairman (1976-78) he was their President (1999-2001). He was also Chairman of the former Gemmological Association of Great Britain, now Gem-A, for 14 years (1979-93). 

David’s lecture entitled ‘Upon Reflection’ is a non-taxing, somewhat oblique, view of the phenomenon of reflection and how its role in the disturbance of light enables us to see shape and form clearly.

Our Honorary President and well-known international gemmologist and lecturer, Alan Hodgkinson, has spent the last fifty years sharing his enthusiasm about gemstones with others. He is known for his innovative and highly effective practical gem identification techniques, including ways to see and learn more using traditional gem testing instrumentation. He is the author of Visual Optics, and a new book about to be released, Gem Testing Techniques.

Alan is a Fellow of the Gemmological Association (FGA) With Distinction, is a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths, an Honorary Member of the Canadian Gemmological Association and a Registered Valuer.

Alan was honoured to be the first recipient of the Antonio C. Bonanno Award for Excellence in Gemology in 2000 and was presented with the award at a gala dinner at the Tucson show in that year.

Zircon and Lithium Niobate

 Zircon

Lithium Niobate

Dr Jack Ogden has been the Chief Executive of the Gemmological Association of Great Britain (Gem-A) since 2004. Jack is the fourth generation of a well-known British jewellery business, but after gaining his Gem-A Diploma (‘FGA’) with distinction in 1971 he entered the consulting field, working with museums, auction houses, dealers and collectors worldwide advising within his specialist field of the history of jewellery materials and technology, with a special focus on problems of authenticity. His Doctoral Thesis (Durham University) dealt with the jewellery industry in Hellenistic and Roman Egypt. He has written and lectured widely on ancient and historic jewellery and taught courses at The J. Paul Getty Museum, Smithsonian Institution, Institute of Fine Arts (NY) and Institute of Archaeology (London). He is vice chairman of the UK Government Treasure Valuation Committee and an elected Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London. Between 1995 and 2000 he was Secretary General to CIBJO (The World Jewellery Confederation).
 

Vanessa Paterson. GG, FGA has been in the jewellery industry for over 28 years She has been involved in many aspects of the trade, from retailing to valuing jewellery as well as spending her free hours researching into gemstones. She has travelled all over the world in her pursuit of her passion for gemmology, including visiting a pearl fisher in New Zealand (the only pearl fisher to dive for wild abalone for its meat and pearls).

Brian Jackson is Principal Curator of Mineralogy at the National Museums of Scotland with specific responsibility for Strategic development of the mineral and economic mineral collections and curatorial policies relating to these including partnerships with other institutions.
Research Interest/Expertise: All minerals and gems and the application of FTIR (a type of chemical analysis) to identify and study them. Strontian Lead Mines, Scottish gold and low grade metamorphism as an alternative new approach to mineral-forming processes, pegmatite minerals and gem feldspar.

The author of chapters of Websters: Gems on Garnets and Feldspars and many papers on gems and gemmology. Brian is also Chairman of the Scottish Gemmological Association and a council member of the Gem-A

He has published papers on fluorescence in gemstones, use of cross-filters and seminal papers on magnetic susceptibility as a means of discriminating gemstones and also as a means of identifying garnets