Eye on the Prize
IAC’s 15th Annual Gold + Diamond Conference
July 14 (evening) – 16, 2025
Bohemian National Hall
321 E. 73 St.
New York, NY
For 15 years, IAC’s Gold + Diamond Conference has been informed by two primary concerns: how to define and achieve responsible practice on the one hand, and how to preserve and celebrate artisanry and artistic vision on the other. While our perspective on these concerns is ever-broadening, our goal is unchanged: to initiate dialogue and inspire change without fear.
As the precious metals, gemstone, and jewelry sectors face upheaval, whether political, military, economic, or technological, we must keep our “eye on the prize”: a flourishing and habitable planet on which the centrality of heritage and artisanry is recognized. Now, more than ever, we need an inclusive conversation with input from every corner of industry, from large-scale mining entities to craftspeople at the bench, if this prize is to be won.
We must recognize that the objects we craft, the techniques used in the crafting, and the impulse to make them (in sum, cultural tradition) are critical resources meriting protection. We must also recognize that the practice and preservation of cultural tradition is inextricably linked to human rights and responsible practice.
With its eye on the prize, the Conference will consider the following:
- The consequences of accelerated climate change and the quest for a “just transition”
- How to protect human rights—broadly defined—in the precious metals, gemstone, and jewelry sectors
- Strategies by which producing nations can retain greater value in-country
- How to preserve natural resources, broadly defined to include craft, cultural traditions, and heritage.
The Conference will also consider Heritage Houses, an iconic watch brand, innovations in traceability, nomenclature underpinning clear discourse, artisanal makers pushing the boundaries of craft, and a major chapter in cultural restitution. We’ll also look closely at case studies demonstrating effective solutions across a range of challenges in the precious metals, gemstone, and jewelry sectors.
- We will also explore the most critical questions facing the industry:
- How do we define models intended to achieve continued and measurable improvement across the industry that are, at the same time, respectful of cultures and established systems?
- How do we preserve antiquities and artifact that might be contested while respecting their origin and cultural importance? How do we address related questions of ownership?
- How do we meet the latest challenges facing the diamond and colored stones sectors?
- How do we ensure that the full spectrum of strategies for responsibly sourcing gold is recognized?
- How is the definition of “precious” evolving? How do we determine what is “precious,” whether in terms of material or practice? Is there a contemporary understanding of “precious” that is more accurate and equitable
- How do we ensure that craft and artisanry are passed on to the next generation and more broadly understood as humanity’s shared intangible cultural heritage? And in so doing, how might we redefine the notion of “heritage”?
- How can we translate a fuller awareness of human and cultural resources into positive market and customer expectations?
The preeminent global gathering of professionals in precious metals, gemstones, and jewelry, IAC’s Gold + Diamond Conference has, since 2011, brought together key players from industry, government, NGOs, academia, museums, and the collecting community, as well as jewelers, goldsmiths, and designers to discuss issues of critical importance, to seek common purpose regarding responsible practice, and to celebrate the highest standards in jewelry craft and design. IAC is known throughout the industry as a nonpartisan player and an ethically driven convener focused on creating an open forum for discourse, building consensus, and finding solutions.
CIBJO is IAC’s Conference Partner for Expanding Horizons.
We express sincere gratitude to our sponsors (as of July 13, 2025):
Program agenda
Subject to change
Monday, July 14, 2025
| 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. | Opening reception
Heritage Auctions Welcoming remarks. Roberta Kramer (VP | Strategy & Business Development) |
Tuesday, July 15, 2025
Formal sessions take place at Bohemian National Hall, 321 E 73rd Street, New York, NY (between First and Second Avenues).
| 8:45 – 9:10 a.m. | Registration and continental breakfast | |
| 9:10 – 9:20 a.m. | Welcome Gaetano Cavalieri (President, World Jewellery Confederation [CIBJO]) |
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| 9:20 – 9:30 a.m. | Opening remarks Lisa Koenigsberg (Founder / President, Initiatives in Art and Culture) |
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| 9:30 – 10:25 a.m. | Trust, Traceability, Transparency
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| 10:30 – 11:15 a.m. | Ghana and Gold Ivor Agyeman-Duah (Historian of the Central Bank of Ghana; Director, The Manhyia Palace Museum) |
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| 11:20 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. | Responsibly Sourced Gold: Issues and Options
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| 12:15 – 1:30 p.m. | Luncheon & discussion Discussion of best practices and new initiatives that further the opportunities for gold sourced in innovative and responsible ways to achieve market share and scalability.
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| 1:30 – 2:15 p.m. | Sculptural Expression Ute Decker (Artist-jeweler) in conversation with Lisa Koenigsberg on responsibly mined materials and commitment to design. |
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| 2:20 – 3:30 p.m. | How Can Producing Nations Retain Greater Value In-Country?
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| 3:30 – 3:45 p.m. | Break | |
| 4:00 – 4:35 p.m. | CIBJO & IAC Present the CIBJO Blue List Public Consultation: The Responsible Jewellery Supply Chain Lexicon
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| 4:40 – 5:45 p.m. | Diamonds at a Crossroads
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| 5:45 – 7:00 p.m. | Awards presentation and reception Presentation of the Eighth Responsible Practice in Jewelry Leadership Award (to recognize a member of the jewelry industry, or a jewelry-focused organization that has made a transformational contribution to ethical sourcing and responsible practices in the worldwide gem and jewelry industry); and of the fifth award for Extraordinary Contributions to the Diamond and Jewelry Industries (reflecting IAC’s belief in collaboration, community, and commitment, and which is intended to recognize and honor extraordinary ongoing engagement and dedication to the realization of positive change in these industries). |
Wednesday, July 16, 2025
Formal sessions take place at Bohemian National Hall, 321 E 73rd Street, New York, NY (between First and Second Avenues).
| 8:30 – 9:00 a.m. | Registration and coffee | |
| 9:00 – 9:15 a.m. | Opening remarks Lisa Koenigsberg |
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| 9:20 – 10:20 a.m. | Understanding Climate Justice & Just Transition
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| 10:25 – 11:10 a.m. | Holding the Line on Human Rights
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| 11:15 a.m. – 12:10 p.m. | Who Owns Cultural Resources?
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| 12:15 – 1:10 p.m. | Sharing in Sustainable and Responsible ASM Development: Beyond Sourcing to Nurturing
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| 1:10 – 2:20 p.m. | Luncheon and discussion Following last year’s luncheon discussion on social and environmental performance in ASM, we focus this year on the World Bank’s emerging initiative to build a community of practice to improve ASM performance. Discussion centers on best practices and approaches to mine site safety, environmental stewardship, and security. We also explore how to improve organizational collaboration. A concept note will be made available to conference participants in advance for the discussion.
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| 2:20 – 3:15 p.m. | The Preciousness of Time: Celebrating Bulova Watches at 150 Years
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| 3:00 – 3:30 p.m. | Break | |
| 3:30 – 4:20 p.m. | The Heritage House: How Has the Definition Evolved?
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| 4:25 – 5:20 p.m. | IAC + CIBJO Industry Voices: What Does “Precious” Mean Now?
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| 5:20 p.m. | Closing remarks Lisa Koenigsberg |
