Conclave 2026

How do we know a diamond is a crystalline form of pure carbon? How can we say they formed up to 3.5 billion years ago, at great depths within the Earth? We hear a lot of facts, accept a lot of information… but what – indeed, who – led us to these revelations?

In this presentation, Elizabeth will bring to life the key discoveries that shaped our understanding of diamonds through the stories of the brilliant minds behind the research, reminding us that every advance in science is, ultimately, a very human story.

Appraisal Standards Subcommittee Chair Joel Hassler, ACGA, will go over some of the highlights and details of the new Appraisal and Report Standards passed by the Board of Directors earlier this year.

Production of laboratory-grown diamonds (LGD) for jewelry is constantly evolving, introducing new advancements that occasionally alter the properties of these stones. These changes raise the risk of misidentification by trade members using shelf product screening devices (also known as Diamond Verification Instruments), which could lead to reputational damage and loss of trust. This presentation provides a detailed review of the latest screening models and technologies for distinguishing natural diamonds from LGDs. Each method and its features are explored, along with limitations and blind spots identified by Stuller’s research on 20 million screening tests. Additionally, new advancements in HPHT and CVD melee LGDs, and the challenges to current screening methods, will be discussed.