The Tennessee Jewelers Association (TJA) hosted its Annual Conference on June 25 at the New Approach School for Jewelers in Franklin, TN. Understanding that maintaining up-to-date knowledge in the ever-changing gemstone industry can be quite challenging, the TJA brought in gemstone expert Mark Villanueva R.G.A., C.S.P., A.J.P. to discuss synthetics, treatments and enhancements in today’s diamond and gemstone industry.
Villanueva enlightened attendees on the different treatments of gemstones on today’s market, and the processes for creating laboratory gems – flame fusion, flux-melt, pulled, skull melt and hydrothermal. The lecture also included methods to determine if gemstones are natural or created and to detect dyeing, coating, color infusion, fracture filling and High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT) treatment.
A gemologist/jewelry appraiser, Villanueva is a national award winning writer, writing gemological columns for the South Central Federation of Mineral Societies. Mark also acts as an expert witness for the El Paso Texas probate court for jewelry Identification and Valuation. He is an Accredited Jewelry Professional with GIA and has passed the J-Bar exam with the Jewelers Vigilance Committee. Mark is also a Certified Sales Professional with Jewelers of America, and a Certified Diamontologist and Registered Guild Gemologist with the Diamond Council of America. He is also a member of the National Association of Jewelry Appraisers and has been awarded many prestigious commendation medals for his military service in Operation Enduring Freedom Konduz, Afghanistan.
Sponsors of the Conference included Federated Insurance and the Middle Tennessee GIA Alumni Association.
For more information you can contact the Tennessee Jewelers Association at tennjewelers@gmail.com.
