The German Gemmological Association will host its 2026 conference on April 18–19 in Idar-Oberstein, with a full weekend program dedicated to pearls and cultured pearls—combining historical perspective, laboratory science, and hands-on identification.
For those in the trade, the conference offers a concentrated look at pearls from mine—or more accurately, mollusk—to market, with a mix of science, history, and practical application all in one place.
The conference lecture series brings together an international group of speakers whose work spans laboratory research, historical scholarship, and real-world gem identification.
Friday
The program opens with a Friday members-only meeting at the DGemG Training Centre.
Saturday
Saturday’s sessions, held at the Göttenbachaula, begin with an overview of pearls and cultured pearls by Dr. Tom Stephan, followed by historical and cultural perspectives from Christine Lucia Matter and Dr. Olga M. Hajduk. Laboratory-focused insights will be presented by Dr. Claudio Milisenda, with afternoon sessions turning to saltwater and freshwater cultured pearl development, origin determination, and gemmological curiosities.
The full Saturday program includes:
Opening of the Conference by DGemG-President Dr. Thomas Lind
Pearls and Cultured Pearls: A General Overview – Dr. Tom Stephan, DGemG
Pearls Through Time: A Historical Overview – Christine Lucia Matter, DGemG
The Lustre of Prestige: Pearls in Renaissance Jewelry – Dr. Olga M. Hajduk, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland & President of SRJ, Poland
Pearls in the Laboratory – Dr. Claudio C. Milisenda, DSEF
Formation and Gemmological Characteristics of Saltwater Cultured Pearls – Dr. Akitsugu Sato, SSEF, Switzerland
The Development of Freshwater Cultured Pearls: From Imperial Symbols to a Global Industry – Niels Ruddy Hansen, Denmark
Origin Determination of Natural and Cultured Pearls: From History to Modern Possibilities – Prof. Dr. Stefanos Karampelas, University of Thessaloniki, Greece and LFG Paris, France
Curiosities in Mother-of-Pearls and Pearls – Dr. Ulrich Henn, DGemG
Saturday evening’s event, “Pearls and People,” offers a more informal setting for conversation and networking.
Hands-On Sunday
Sunday’s workshops at the DGemG Training Centre shift into practical application. They include microscopic investigation of natural and cultured pearls, identification of treatments, interpretation of X-ray images and demonstration of the use of mobile spectrometers in the examination of natural and cultured pearls.
The lectures will be presented in English, with workshops offered in both German and English.
Participation in the lectures and workshops will be free of charge. The evening event costs 60€.
For all parts of the conference, a registration is necessary via their website.
*And for those making the trip to Idar-Oberstein, the conference is only part of the draw—this historic gem center still offers plenty of opportunities to connect with local suppliers and explore its renowned gem and mineral museums.
Tap here to register for the German Gemmological Association Conference.
