AGTA Announces Closure of the Gemological Testing Center

[diagem]

No words.....,

http://www.diamonds.net/news/NewsItem.aspx?ArticleID=27320

"The American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) closes its AGTA Gemological Testing Center (GTC) effective July 29, 2009...."

 

[Moh 10]

Wow.

 

[chrono]

This reminds me of the scare I had with AGL when everyone insisted they are gone for good during the early part of 2009 with all the announcements to that effect, but a cutter friend of mine knows the AGL owner very well and insisted that they will remain open and they did. He had insider information that most did not about the purchase and reorganization of AGL.

Perhaps a few members or someone will purchase the lab and re-open it at a later date. At least I hope so.

 

[Nomsdeplume]

What?

 

[chrono]

Maybe the $200 fee per stone is rather painful for most? This is why I prefer AGL which is also reputable but charges less.

 

[T L]

I heard AGL is closing as well though. Don't quote me on that.

ETA: Ooops, I saw your other post above Chrono about AGL.

 

[shinyrocks]

Oh my goodness! That is a development that I never thought I would see. It is amazing that the economic downturn would be so drastic that they would be forced out of business (but then again, their rates WERE much less competitive than other reputable US labs...)

 

[chrono]

Date: 7/29/2009 4:50:42 PM
Author: tourmaline_lover
I heard AGL is closing as well though. Don''t quote me on that.

ETA: Ooops, I saw your other post above Chrono about AGL.

TL,
My first cobalt stone was sent to AGL for certification during the first quarter of 2009 so I have the proof that it is still open.

 

[LaurenThePartier]

Unreal. Good to know AGL is still operating.

 

[diagem]

Date: 7/30/2009 7:10:35 PM
Author: LaurenThePartier
Unreal. Good to know AGL is still operating.

Is C. Beesley still running his show at AGL?

 

[chrono]

Date: 7/31/2009 7:52:42 AM
Author: DiaGem

Date: 7/30/2009 7:10:35 PM
Author: LaurenThePartier
Unreal. Good to know AGL is still operating.

Is C. Beesley still running his show at AGL?

Yes, Cap is keeping everything going at AGL.

 

[diagem]

Date: 7/31/2009 7:55:11 AM
Author: Chrono

Date: 7/31/2009 7:52:42 AM
Author: DiaGem

Date: 7/30/2009 7:10:35 PM
Author: LaurenThePartier
Unreal. Good to know AGL is still operating.

Is C. Beesley still running his show at AGL?

Yes, Cap is keeping everything going at AGL.

Going in which direction is the question....

 

[chrono]

DiaGem,
A little sidetrack: what''s that you have as your current avatar?

 

[diagem]

Date: 7/31/2009 8:03:10 AM
Author: Chrono
DiaGem,
A little sidetrack: what''s that you have as your current avatar?

Natural Colored Diamond....

 

[chrono]

Yellow or green? Or a mixture of both? Any stats? Knowing you, I suspected it is a coloured diamond and nothing less.

 

[elmo]

Date: 7/31/2009 7:55:11 AM
Author: Chrono
Yes, Cap is keeping everything going at AGL.

You sure? I thought Cap was moving on to something else while the fellow he brought over last year from Gubelin lab is running AGL now.

p.s. That's some LIME green. Chrono, I haven't been here in a while, you have a very nice new avatar stone too

.

 

[Richard Sherwood]

Date: 7/31/2009 4:32:03 PM
Author: elmo

Date: 7/31/2009 7:55:11 AM
Author: Chrono
Yes, Cap is keeping everything going at AGL.

You sure? I thought Cap was moving on to something else while the fellow he brought over last year from Gubelin lab is running AGL now.

That''s what I heard as well.

 

[Richard Sherwood]

Man, that''s a bummer about AGTA closing. I''m so surprised. I thought they were doing well.

 

[Richard M.]

Date: 7/31/2009 9:14:25 PM
Author: Richard Sherwood
Man, that''s a bummer about AGTA closing. I''m so surprised. I thought they were doing well.

I think Richard Hughes'' resignation from AGTA''s West Coast lab some time back was a "canary in the coal mine" signal of bad times to come.

Cap Beesley resigned from AGL in April and now has no affiliation with it. He was clear in his resignation announcement that he''s not at all ready to retire. Meanwhile, AGL is operating under new management.


Richard M.

 

[diagem]

Date: 7/31/2009 9:11:56 PM
Author: Richard Sherwood

Date: 7/31/2009 4:32:03 PM
Author: elmo

Date: 7/31/2009 7:55:11 AM
Author: Chrono
Yes, Cap is keeping everything going at AGL.

You sure? I thought Cap was moving on to something else while the fellow he brought over last year from Gubelin lab is running AGL now.

That''s what I heard as well.

All profit for AGL

.

 

[diagem]

Date: 7/31/2009 12:59:16 PM
Author: Chrono
Yellow or green? Or a mixture of both? Any stats? Knowing you, I suspected it is a coloured diamond and nothing less.

Well..., its a super "Zimi" Yellow saturated colored, standard cut Emerald Cut. Super shallow (below 50% td, appears twice its size) and hold its color unbelievably. (no tricky cuts were needed

).

An extremely rare and beautiful Gem!

 

[Richard Sherwood]

Date: 8/1/2009 1:12:23 AM
Author: Richard M.

Date: 7/31/2009 9:14:25 PM
Author: Richard Sherwood
Man, that''s a bummer about AGTA closing. I''m so surprised. I thought they were doing well.

I think Richard Hughes'' resignation from AGTA''s West Coast lab some time back was a ''canary in the coal mine'' signal of bad times to come.

Cap Beesley resigned from AGL in April and now has no affiliation with it. He was clear in his resignation announcement that he''s not at all ready to retire. Meanwhile, AGL is operating under new management.


Richard M.

Hi Richard M. Richard S. here. Any idea what Richard H. is doing now?

 

[Lady_Disdain]

Date: 8/1/2009 7:41:17 AM
Author: DiaGem

Date: 7/31/2009 12:59:16 PM
Author: Chrono
Yellow or green? Or a mixture of both? Any stats? Knowing you, I suspected it is a coloured diamond and nothing less.

Well..., its a super ''Zimi'' Yellow saturated colored, standard cut Emerald Cut. Super shallow (below 50% td, appears twice its size) and hold its color unbelievably. (no tricky cuts were needed

).

An extremely rare and beautiful Gem!

Any more pictures? I find it surprising that such a shallow gem holds so much colour.

 

[diagem]

Date: 8/1/2009 3:52:00 PM
Author: Lady_Disdain

Date: 8/1/2009 7:41:17 AM
Author: DiaGem

Date: 7/31/2009 12:59:16 PM
Author: Chrono
Yellow or green? Or a mixture of both? Any stats? Knowing you, I suspected it is a coloured diamond and nothing less.

Well..., its a super ''Zimi'' Yellow saturated colored, standard cut Emerald Cut. Super shallow (below 50% td, appears twice its size) and hold its color unbelievably. (no tricky cuts were needed

).

An extremely rare and beautiful Gem!

Any more pictures? I find it surprising that such a shallow gem holds so much colour.

Thats why its an extremely rare Gem..., sorry..., since its not in my stock anymore..., I dont feel right posting more images of someone else''s Gem.

 

[chrono]

Date: 8/1/2009 7:41:17 AM
Author: DiaGem

Date: 7/31/2009 12:59:16 PM
Author: Chrono
Yellow or green? Or a mixture of both? Any stats? Knowing you, I suspected it is a coloured diamond and nothing less.

Well..., its a super ''Zimi'' Yellow saturated colored, standard cut Emerald Cut. Super shallow (below 50% td, appears twice its size) and hold its color unbelievably. (no tricky cuts were needed

).

An extremely rare and beautiful Gem!

Thanks! It is indeed very pretty and very saturated for a coloured diamond.

 

[Roger Dery]

Hi Richard,
Richard Hughes is now with GIA in Bangkok. Seems to be having a grand time there.

 

[Richard Sherwood]

Thanks Roger. Richard H. strikes me as a Bangkok kinda guy. Isn''t Ken Scarrat and Vincent Pardieu with GIA-Bangkok as well?

 

[chrono]

It is a relief to hear that Richard H is now with GIA in Bangkok and happy to be there. I don’t have a high opinion of the JTV of today so when I heard he jumped ship to that company a while back, I was disconcerted.

 

[Roger Dery]

Date: 8/3/2009 10:00:45 AM
Author: Richard Sherwood
Thanks Roger. Richard H. strikes me as a Bangkok kinda guy. Isn''t Ken Scarrat and Vincent Pardieu with GIA-Bangkok as well?

Richard,
Yes, they are all there. Probably ''seems like old times'' again for them.

 

[Richard M.]

Hi Roger,

That must be a very recent move for Hughes. I met with one of his close associates Saturday who told me he was still with Gems TV in BKK. When did he join GIA?

Richard M. (Rick Martin)