Coming This March — BrankoGems Conference Travels to Dubai
The 3rd International BrankoGems Conference is set for March 25–28, 2026, at the Novotel Deira Creekside. Organized by BrankoGems in collaboration with the World Academy of Design (WAOD), the program offers lectures, as well as hands-on workshops, sessions on amber, turquoise, rough diamond sorting, lab-grown/synthetic diamond identification, and jewellery design — plus technical visits, along with an arranged gem and jewellery exhibition.
A Working Conference
BrankoGems Conferences have been described as the jewellery industry’s trade-technical gathering — a place where gemological research and hands-on trade experience come together.
The 2026 edition will feature:
◊ Lectures and panels with international experts
◊ Five focused workshops covering amber, turquoise, rough diamond sorting, lab-grown/synthetic identification, and jewellery design
◊ A Gem & Jewellery Exhibition highlighting select collections and new developments in design and gem testing
◊ Technical visits offering firsthand access to synthetic diamond- and natural pearl-focused laboratories and facilities
Workshops
The workshops form the educational core of the conference, led by respected specialists including:
- Amber – Michal & Agnieszka Kosior (Amber Experts, Poland)
- Turquoise – Joe Dan Lowry (Turquoise Museum, USA)
- Jewellery Design & Creativity – Tarun Jain (World Academy of Design, UAE)
- Rough Diamonds – Elena Deljanin (GRI, Canada)
- CVD Diamonds – Branko Deljanin (GRI, Canada)
Each session combines laboratory insight with market context, designed for gemologists, appraisers, and jewellery professionals who want to expand both their technical and practical knowledge.
Panels, Debates & Technical Tours
Panel discussions and lectures will be lead by global experts, including:
Dan Lowry (USA) • Michal & Agnieszka Kosior (Poland) • Kim Hughes (Australia) • Husna Alderazi (Bahrain) • Tarun Jain (UAE) • Thomas Hainschwang (GGTL, Liechtenstein/Belgium) • Roman Serov (Octonus, India) • Olga Okhrimenko (Finland) • and Branko & Elena Deljanin (GRI, Canada).
A highlight of the program is the roundtable discussion “Natural and Lab-Grown Diamonds: Friends or Foes?” moderated by John Chapman of Gemetrix (Australia).
Eviqe Diamonds will host one of the conference’s technical site visits — a behind-the-scenes look at CVD diamond growth, grading, and polishing.
Additional tours will include a visit to DANAT for pearl identification training, and an optional pearl-diving experience – diving for natural pearls in the Gulf.
Gem & Jewellery Exhibition
Running parallel with the conference, a gem and jewellery exhibition, curated by Tarun Jain (WAOD), will feature amber and turquoise collections, fine gemstones, diamonds, jewellery, and testing instruments. It will serve as a relaxed setting for conversation, exchange, and collaboration amongst exhibitors and attendees.
Tap here for registration and program updates.
