Sustainable Gems Session Added to Tucson AGTA Gem Show

C5 company, a leader in sustainable custom fine jewelry, is pleased to announce that company founder, Meghan Connolly Haupt, will be co-facilitating a new session at AGTA Tucson 2010 on Sustainable Gems.

This week is the annual AGTA (American Gem Trade Association) GemFair in Tucson, Arizona, one of the most important events of the year for the jewelry industry. The event attracts gem dealers and suppliers from all over the globe who come to see what's hot, make industry connections and do deals.

The idea for the Sustainable Gem session, co-facilitated and organized by Bill Gallagher, CEO of Lori Bonn Designs, Inc., grew out of the Madison Dialogue. The Madison Dialogue is a cross-sector initiative established to promote communication around jewelry industry best practices, sustainable economic development and verified sources of responsible gold, diamonds and other gems.

The goal of the session is to share challenges faced by those companies seeking to use traceable, ethical and eco-friendly gems, and to learn about new resources and developments. Intentionally left off of the agenda are defining terms and setting standards. Much work needs to be done to get to that point, but this session serves as an important step in the process of creating a third-party verification system, which is currently absent from the jewelry industry.

 C54460