January 24 Through February 4—TUCSON, ARIZONA: Annual show
Welcome to the GemologyOnline.com Forum
A non-profit Forum for the exchange of gemological ideas
It is currently Thu Mar 28, 2024 4:37 pm

All times are UTC - 4 hours




Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 24 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next
Author Message
 Post subject: AGTA Announces Closing of Gemological Testing Center
PostPosted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 11:01 am 
Offline
Site Admin
User avatar

Joined: Sun Oct 16, 2005 12:22 pm
Posts: 21602
Location: San Francisco
Just received this email;
Very very sad.
Quote:
July 29, 2009 – Dallas, TX: The American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) announced today that the AGTA Gemological Testing Center (GTC) will close effective July 29th, 2009. The GTC opened in 1998.

"The GTC has enjoyed great support over the past decade from the AGTA membership and the colored gemstone industry as a whole," stated Douglas K. Hucker, AGTA CEO. "But with this extended economic downturn and the expense of operating a facility in New York, the Association can no longer devote the level of resources necessary to keep the laboratory operating. Our members and clients' businesses are not functioning at a level necessary to sustain the GTC. In the eleven years that the GTC was in operation it attained a stellar and unassailable reputation for integrity in its reports and research. This is a great loss for the AGTA and the industry. I would like to personally thank our employees, the members who have given us the support over the years and most importantly all of the individuals who have served on our AGTA GTC Board of Governors."

The GTC will not be accepting new gemstones for grading effective immediately and all gemstones currently in the laboratory will be returned as expeditiously as possible to our clients.

Dr. Lore Kiefert, Director of the AGTA GTC since 2005, will be accepting a new position as Chief Gemologist, with the Gubelin Gem Laboratory (GGL) in Lucerne, Switzerland.

Please refer any questions to the AGTA headquarters in Dallas, at 800-972-1162.

###

The AGTA is an Association of natural colored gemstone and cultured pearl industry professionals, dedicated to promoting the natural colored gemstone trade. The Association pursues this mission through the combined use of educational programs, industry events and publicity to both the trade and consumer. We are The Authority in Color.



Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 11:08 am 
Offline
Valued Contributor

Joined: Thu May 28, 2009 4:13 am
Posts: 222
Bad news.... :(


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 11:19 am 
Offline
Site Admin
User avatar

Joined: Fri May 12, 2006 11:24 am
Posts: 7523
Location: Rome, Italy
:cry: :(

ALERT: just opened the AGTA GTC website and got a TROJAN... be careful... :evil:

_________________
GemmoRaman-532 - GemmoFTIR - GemmoSphere - EXA


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 11:26 am 
Offline
Gemology Online Veteran
User avatar

Joined: Tue Dec 05, 2006 6:15 pm
Posts: 746
Location: South Africa
Wow, That was fast!


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 11:31 am 
Offline
Site Admin
User avatar

Joined: Sun Oct 16, 2005 12:22 pm
Posts: 21602
Location: San Francisco
I said the same thing when someone provided a link to the green amber story.


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 12:05 pm 
Offline
Gemology Online Übergod
User avatar

Joined: Tue Aug 01, 2006 3:24 am
Posts: 4997
Location: McDonough GA
Sad news indeed.

_________________
http://www.selectgem.com


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 12:53 pm 
Offline
Gemology Online Veteran
User avatar

Joined: Tue Mar 14, 2006 11:08 am
Posts: 832
Location: Nashville, TN
I went to their site as well and got a warning about the virus, was prevented from opening the GTC section thank goodness.

Very sad news about GTC.


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 1:12 pm 
Offline
Gemology Online Übergoddess

Joined: Tue Nov 06, 2007 3:16 am
Posts: 3170
this is terrible news. seems bad news is contagious and is everywhere, surely there has got to be a light at the end of the tunnel.

i could access the agta website. and thank goodness i read the forum, here's what you find if you search for agta/gtc:

The AGTA Gemological Testing Center
This site may harm your computer.
The AGTA GTC is extending this offer exclusively to all AGTA Members in appreciation of the support they have shown the AGTA through their 2009 Membership ...
www.agta-gtc.org/ - Similar


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 2:41 pm 
Offline
Valued Contributor

Joined: Sun Mar 08, 2009 2:16 pm
Posts: 331
Sorry about the website trouble. I'll look to shutting it down and then perhaps we reopen it under another AGTA gemological site that is informational in nature.

It took quite a bit of steam out of us, and the difficult part of having to let so much staff go. I'm in the hopes of their continuing to find placements.

Regards,
Bear (former agta lab chairman as of today)


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 3:08 pm 
Offline
Platinum Member
User avatar

Joined: Wed Apr 26, 2006 12:44 am
Posts: 2056
Location: San Francisco
so no more colored stone grading in the u.s.?? or is it all GIA now??

_________________
Custom Gemstone Cutting and various other activities!


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 3:18 pm 
Offline
Valued Contributor

Joined: Sun Mar 08, 2009 2:16 pm
Posts: 331
jleb,

you mean colored stone testing and documentation?

Along with GIA yes, there are other independant labs that are very good. AGL in NY is in operation, EGL still does colored stone testing. @ Stone Group Labs we also do various research, testing and documentation of colored stones. :)

bear


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 4:22 pm 
Offline
Gemology Online Übergoddess

Joined: Tue Nov 06, 2007 3:16 am
Posts: 3170
Bear Williams- SGL wrote:
Sorry about the website trouble. I'll look to shutting it down and then perhaps we reopen it under another AGTA gemological site that is informational in nature.

It took quite a bit of steam out of us, and the difficult part of having to let so much staff go. I'm in the hopes of their continuing to find placements.

Regards,
Bear (former agta lab chairman as of today)


hi bear,
sad to read this, hopefully all will work out for the best and for you and everyone involved!! :D
jan


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 7:19 pm 
Offline
Platinum Member
User avatar

Joined: Fri Feb 24, 2006 1:20 am
Posts: 2756
Location: Southern California, U.S.A.
Bear Williams- SGL wrote:
It took quite a bit of steam out of us, and the difficult part of having to let so much staff go. I'm in the hopes of their continuing to find placements.

Regards,
Bear (former agta lab chairman as of today)

Bear, that's really unhappy news. Cutting experienced staff is always the most difficult part, especially given the time required to assemble a top-notch crew. Hopefully they'll all land well. Richard Hughes must be blessed with ESP!

_________________
Rick Martin

www.artcutgems.com


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 10:19 am 
Offline
Site Admin
User avatar

Joined: Fri May 12, 2006 11:24 am
Posts: 7523
Location: Rome, Italy
hi Bear,

Bear Williams- SGL wrote:
Bear (former agta lab chairman as of today)


this is very sad indeed, mostly for such a group a VERY skilled pros that suddenly had lost their job. I hope all will find the right place soon and hope that sooner or later GTC could be re-opened. My best whishes for you all.
ciao
alberto

_________________
GemmoRaman-532 - GemmoFTIR - GemmoSphere - EXA


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 10:27 am 
Offline
Site Admin
User avatar

Joined: Sun Oct 16, 2005 12:22 pm
Posts: 21602
Location: San Francisco
What's happening to all the instruments? Are they being stored, just in case, circumstances change?

Perhaps facilities could be opened in an area where real estate is not such a premium. (Most items are mailed to the lab anyway).

:( I'm sure everyone at AGTA has already run these scenarios through their heads. Nevermind.


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 24 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next

All times are UTC - 4 hours


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 8 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
Powered by phpBB © 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007 phpBB Group
Gemology Style ported to phpBB3 by Christian Bullock