The Swiss lab reveals how stones from the Panjshir Valley are both different from and similar to emeralds from other places.
Designer Zoltan David to Keynote Portland Jewelry Symposium
The two-day event is back Sept. 29 and 30.

Portland, Oregon—This year’s Portland Jewelry Symposium is all about metal and machinery.
The official theme of the two-day event, happening Sept. 29 and 30 at the Sentinel Hotel in Portland, Oregon, is “Metals—Methods, Machines and Mastery.”
Teresa Frye, founder of the Portland Jewelry Symposium, said in a press release: “Understanding and exploiting the intrinsic characteristics of a metal, whether through design, casting methods or tailored bench techniques, is very powerful for makers.
“The design pallet becomes broader when one can harness not only the aesthetic property of an alloy but also the technical underpinnings that lead to the production of a high-quality piece.”
Sunday, Sept. 29 will feature afternoon breakout sessions—new to the event this year—on topics including Jewelry Forensics, Basic Metallurgy for Jewelers, Legal Considerations for Custom Design and Inlay Techniques.
Award-winning jewelry designer Zoltan David will provide the Sunday evening keynote, speaking on his inspirations and how he practically applies them to his art.
“Zoltan is a true master of designing and creating in diverse metals and we are thrilled to have him delivering the keynote this year,” Frye said.
The program for Monday, Sept. 30 will cover manufacturing techniques in contemporary metals, a panel on jewelry casting, and a business and finance presentation, among other educational sessions.
The complete speaker lineup is online.
Contact Sarah Loveland for more information at sloveland@techformcasting.com or 503-320-1873.
The Latest

The reminder follows a frightening incident at a store in California.

The survey showed Americans are becoming more optimistic about their financial futures and view precious jewelry as an important category.

Gold has had its share of ups and downs over the last 5 decades. Here’s why the metal is having another big comeback.

Ahna Shmuel returns to the company to head brand management as well as oversee the jewelry division.


Former Rakuten executive Arjen van de Vall will take the reins at the pre-owned watch retailer.

Sotheby’s created an Instagram filter for the crown, estimated to sell for up to $1.5 million.

Learn how to increase customer loyalty and revenue by making JM™ Care Plan a cornerstone of your business plan.

Another round of stimulus checks helped to bolster last month’s retail sales.