New York – May 4, 2007- C.R. “Cap” Beesley, president of American Gemological Laboratories (AGL), will speak at the upcoming International Colored Stone Association (ICA) Congress, to be held in Dubai May 5-9, 2007. As one of the keynote speakers, Beesley will focus on the importance of consumer confidence in continuing to grow colored gemstone jewelry in the luxury fashion category. His presentation will precede an industry panel discussion on the importance of gemological laboratories in fostering consumer confidence.
In February 2007 at the Tucson shows, AGL and Gem Certification and Assurance Lab (GCAL), both subsidiaries of Collectors Universe, announced a ground breaking consumer confidence initiative with ICA to provide ICA members with third party identification and grading services designed to increase consumer confidence at the retail counter. As part of the initiative, AGL and GCAL have also been designated the official gemstone and diamond laboratories for ICA in North America. According to Beesley, “This partnership was an important step in bringing into sharper focus our collective vision for aggressively promoting color and bridging the information gap between consumers and retailers”.
When speaking to the ICA Congress attendees, Beesley will also reinforce certification as a “missing link” in consumer confidence. He will address the future of colored gemstone laboratories, including the importance of making colored gemstone reports and certification available to all consumers and building partnerships with trade organizations such as ICA to resolve key issues. Beesley clarified the lab’s position, “At AGL, we seek to offer the security of certification to all market levels so jewelers will be able to provide gemological protection to all their clients at every price level. Our extensive range of services from Fast Track to our Prestige Program are important components of making that vision a reality”.
The Dubai presentation will address a broad range of issues from positioning to sales associate training and laboratory responsibilities. Beesley continued, “Positioning color and repositioning competitors, as well as, maximizing our assets in the marketplace will be key elements to the success of achieving significant market penetration in the future.
About American Gemological Laboratories
Founded in 1977 by C. R. “Cap” Beesley, American Gemological Laboratories (AGL), a subsidiary of the publicly traded Collector’s Universe (NASDAQ: CLCT), pioneered the development of the world’s first comprehensive Colored Stone Grading System. AGL has also provided detailed country of origin and enhancement reports for some of the most prestigious retailers and auction houses in the world for the past three decades.
AGL has been designated the official North American laboratory of the International Colored Gemstone Association (ICA). In addition, the laboratory is the official colored gemstone laboratory of the 2007 Fine Jewelry CEO Summit and the JCK Las Vegas Shows, as well as, the 2007 Platinum Sponsor of the ICA World Congress in Dubai.
About Collectors Universe
Collectors Universe, Inc. is a leading provider of value added services to the high-value collectibles, diamond and colored gemstone markets, with the Company’s common stock traded on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol CLCT. For the most recent fiscal year, CLCT authenticated and graded over 3 million items valued at just less than $2 billion.
Contacts:
C.R. “Cap” Beesley
AGL.
agl@aglgemlab.com
TEL: 212-704-0727