The Accredited Gemologists Association (AGA) is proud to announce that Brendan M. Laurs, Editor-in-Chief of The Journal of Gemmology, has been selected as the 2025 recipient of the Antonio C. Bonanno Award for Excellence in Gemology.
Chosen by AGA members, this prestigious award honors Laurs’ outstanding contributions and lifelong dedication to advancing gemology.
Brendan Laurs MS, FGA, GG
A highly respected gemologist and geologist, Laurs (MS, FGA, GG) is based in the San Diego area and is internationally recognized for his expertise in the formation of colored gemstone deposits. His passion for geology began early, sparked by his exploration of gem-bearing pegmatites in San Diego County. He earned a B.S. in Geology from UC Santa Barbara and an M.S. in Geology from Oregon State University, where his graduate work focused on pegmatite-related gem deposits—including emeralds and tourmalines—in northern Pakistan.
Throughout his career, Laurs has conducted extensive research on colored stone deposits across the globe, including key localities in Africa, Madagascar, Brazil, Asia, and the United States. He also briefly served as an exploration geologist for Kennecott Exploration Co., working with rare gemstones such as benitoite and red beryl. From 1997 to 2012, Laurs served as Editor of Gems & Gemology at the Gemological Institute of America (GIA).
Since 2013, he has led The Journal of Gemmology as Editor-in-Chief and has played a pivotal role in organizing the annual Gem-A Conference in London. Laurs will be a featured presenter at the AGA Gemological Conference in Tucson, Arizona, on February 4, 2026. Later that evening, he will be formally honored at the AGA Gala Dinner-Dance, where he will receive a personalized award plaque and an honorarium funded by the AGA membership.
We spoke with Brendan Laurs about his award, and he admits the reality of it is only now settling in — helped along by a wave of congratulatory calls and emails. Still humble, and clearly pleasantly surprised, he offered his first reaction: “It’s an honor to be honored!”
He first learned he’d been nominated in late October, while he was in Athens, Greece, for the International Gemmological Conference.
Laurs is the 29th recipient of the Bonanno Award. As part of the award, the recipient is invited to be a featured speaker at the AGA Tucson Gemological Conference, and Laurs has gladly accepted. This February, he’ll take attendees behind the scenes of what it really takes to publish a peer-reviewed journal — Gem-A’s Journal of Gemmology, where he serves as Editor-in-Chief.
This recognition by the AGA membership reflects Laurs’ exceptional influence on the field of gemology and his enduring commitment to the scientific study and global understanding of gemstones.
Congratulations Brendan!
Who was Antonio C. Bonanno?
Antonio C. Bonanno, FGA, ASA, MGA, was one of those rare forces in gemology whose influence you felt long before you ever met him. Founder and president of the National Gem Appraising Laboratory and director of the Columbia School of Gemology near Washington, D.C., he held the Master Gemologist Appraiser title—the highest distinction the American Society of Appraisers awards in our field.
Bonanno worked with gems and minerals for more than sixty years, with a particular gift for forensic gemology. Courts frequently called on him as an expert witness, relying on his meticulous approach and unshakeable professionalism. He was among the first Americans to earn a Fellowship—with Distinction—from the Gemmological Association of Great Britain, and he remained an active supporter of gemological education throughout his career.
He was deeply respected across the trade: a past president of the Accredited Gemologists Association and a member of numerous professional organizations. His legacy continues through his family as well—three daughters and one son, all registered gemologists—who carry forward his commitment to research, integrity, and education.
In February 2000, AGA inaugurated the Antonio C. Bonanno Award for Excellence in Gemology to honor those same qualities: meaningful contributions to the field and a dedication to maintaining the highest professional standards. Each year, the recipient is recognized during the AGA Tucson Gala and presented with a commissioned bronze plaque, medallion, and honorarium.
Past honorees include some of the most influential minds in gemology—researchers, educators, market analysts, and innovators whose work continues to advance our understanding of gems and the profession itself.
For past recipients and additional information, please visit AccreditedGemologists.org.
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Tickets for the 2026 AGA Tucson Conference and Gala are now available online This recognition reflects Brendan Laurs’ exceptional influence on the field of gemology and his enduring commitment to the scientific study and global understanding of gemstones.
