AGL, GCAL To Take High-Profile Role During JA New York Show
With Sponsorships, Fundraising, Demos And Educational Programs.
NEW YORK, NY ― July 26, 2007 ― American Gemological Laboratories (AGL) and Gem
Certification & Assurance Lab (GCAL) have continued to heighten their presence by positioning
themselves at the forefront of the activities associated with the JA New York Summer Show
(July 29 – August 1, 2007). The labs are the Official Diamond and Colored Gemstone
Laboratories of JA New York and the Couture Pavilion and Club at JA New York, and also are
sponsoring many of the major events connected to the show.
“Our goal is to communicate with our current and potential customers about who we are and
what we do, so we can help them sell more diamonds and raise the level of consumer
confidence,” said Don Palmieri, President of GCAL. “The JA Show and its associated events
give us a great opportunity to reach a large portion of the industry and demonstrate all that we
have to offer – including our unprecedented Zero Tolerance Consumer Grading Guarantee on
all our diamond certificates; our unique optical brilliance analysis; our definitive GemprintTM
identification and registration system; and our SourceVeritasSM Passport providing the
assurance and security of knowing your diamond came from a conflict-free source.”
Throughout the show, GCAL will hold alternating demonstrations of clarity and light performance
at the AGL/GCAL booth in the Crystal Palace entrance to the show (Hall 3B) at the Jacob K.
Javits Convention Center. These demos will start at 8 a.m. on Sunday, July 29 (to allow New
York diamond dealers and exhibitors to participate), and at 10 a.m. during the other show days,
and will run every hour on the hour during the show.
Meanwhile, AGL will repeat its Fast TrackTM Gemcard demonstration and contest. While they
are at the AGL booth, attendees will have the chance to learn about AGL’s innovative colored
gemstone certification and authentication services and AGL’s cutting-edge Fast Track gemstone
certification program, which offers three affordable levels of certification starting as low as $25
per gem. One lucky recipient will win a flat screen TV. Show attendees who stop by the AGL
booth with their gemcards can check their bar codes to determine if they have won.
Due to the tremendous response to the exclusive “Marketing to America’s Affluent” conference
held at the recent Couture show in Las Vegas, sponsors AGL and GCAL are repeating this
invitation-only event at the Couture Pavilion & Club during the JA New York Show on Sunday,
July 29, from 2:30 – 4 p.m.”
All those who missed this eye-opening conference the first time around will have a second
chance to obtain cutting-edge proprietary market research on luxury consumer behavior
provided by co-sponsors Harrison Group, Agency Sachs, Elite Traveler and Vogue magazine –
along with a compendium of the research and action tip sheets for Couture jewelers to
implement in their stores. Diane Warga-Arias of DWA Communications will lead a facilitated
discussion of the strategic marketing application drawn from the research. With a focus on best
practice sharing, this session will deliver education and networking.
Once again, AGL and GCAL will use the show venue to benefit Jewelers For Children (JFC).
The labs have donated a framed poster of Hollywood icon Marilyn Monroe to be raffled off
during the show at JFC’s booth. Donations in any amount will be accepted to enter the raffle. All
proceeds will benefit JFC. In addition, AGL and GCAL have donated 1,000 teddy bears sporting
shirts that proudly display the JFC, AGL and GCAL logos. Everyone who enters the drawing will
get one of these adorable stuffed bears.
“Our friends at GCAL and AGL have again come forward with an outstanding raffle item to help
benefit JFC and our charity partners,” said David L. Rocha, Executive Director of JFC. “With
Marilyn Monroe having been such an icon in the jewelry world, there could not be a more
appropriate prize for any jeweler. Hung in a store, head office, or someone's home, the poster
will certainly be a draw for the participants at the JA New York Show.”
AGL and GCAL also are sponsoring a number of major events held this week in connection with
the JA Show.
AGL and GCAL also were Platinum Level Sponsors of this year’s New York State Jewelers
Association (NYSJA) Annual Awards Dinner, held on Saturday, July 28, at the Mandarin
Oriental Hotel, 80 Columbus Circle at 60th St., in New York City. The labs donated a Mickey
Mantle autographed baseball for a Silent Auction held during the Evening Cocktails part of the
event. Michael R. Haynes, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Collectors Universe Inc.,
parent company of AGL and GCAL, served as auctioneer for a Live Auction held right after the
dinner and before the dancing.
AGL and GCAL also are President’s Circle Sponsors of the Women’s Jewelry Association’s
(WJA) Annual Awards for Excellence Dinner to be held on Sunday, July 29, at Pier 60 of the
Chelsea Piers on the Hudson River at 23rd St. in New York City.
About American Gemological Laboratories
American Gemological Laboratories (AGL) is a subsidiary of Collectors Universe Inc., a
NASDAQ Global Markets traded company (CLCT NASDAQ listed). AGL has been a pioneer as
the first gemological laboratory to offer colored stone grading reports and comprehensive
gemological origin reports (www.aglgemlab.com). AGL is the Official Colored Gemstone
Laboratory of the International Colored Gemstone Association for North America, the JCK Las
Vegas Show, Couture, and the JA New York shows. AGL also is the Oasis Lounge sponsor of
Premiere, Prestige Promenade and Luxury by JCK.
About Gem Certification and Assurance Lab
Gem Certification & Assurance Lab (GCAL) is a subsidiary of Collectors Universe, Inc., a NASDAQ Global Markets traded
company (NASDAQ: CLCT). GCAL provides guaranteed diamond certification with bundled services including Gemprint™
and direct light performance analysis as well as Source Veritas™ and Ideal Cut certificates (www.gemfacts.com). GCAL is
the Official Diamond Laboratory of JCK-Las Vegas, JCK invitational Show, Couture 2007, the International Colored
Gemstone Association for North America and the JA New York Shows. GCAL is also the Oasis Lounge sponsor of the
Premiere, the Prestige Promenade and the Luxury by JCK Shows.
About Jewelers For Children
Jewelers For Children was founded in 1999 by the U.S. jewelry industry with the mission of
helping children in need. Since its inception, JFC has donated nearly $28 million to programs
benefiting children whose lives have been affected by illness, abuse or neglect through charity
partners St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America, the
Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation and the National CASA Association. JFC also
provides support to Make-A-Wish Foundational International and in 2006, provided support to
the Association of Hole in the Wall Camps, the Starlight Starbright Children’s Foundation and
the Jason Program www.jewelersforchildren.org.
Contacts:
Donald A. Palmieri
Gem Certification & Assurance Lab
dap@gemfacts.com
212-869-8985