There’s a sparkling new event on the horizon for jewelry professionals, one that focuses on a central tenet of the industry: appraisal.

To help jewelry appraisers, as well as those looking to don the loupe and enter the industry, the American Society of Appraisers (ASA) has announced “Appraising Gems & Jewelry for Advanced Assignments: Development and Report Writing,” which will be held in the Heritage/Slocum Gallery, in Dallas, from March 16 to March 19.

Having placed a high estimate on the value of ongoing member education, ASA is hoping to draw new people into the field through the class, which will teach standards consistent with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP).

“Students will directly benefit by gaining a better understanding of how to author narrative appraisal report writing consistent with USPAP and ASA report writing requirements, as well as being able to recognize and address special considerations necessary for unique and challenging assignments,” Program Co-Developer Mary B. Reich, ASA, MGA said in a statement.

And for students in search of a greater challenge, there will also be lessons about more intricate elements of the profession, such as estate tax, equitable distribution, and insurance loss claim appraisals. Of course, all of those teachings will be for naught if they aren’t put to use, so students will also be given plenty of opportunity to network.

The appraisal course isn’t the only learning opportunity being offered by ASA in March. The organization has also announced “The Fashion and The Flair: 19th-20th Century Fashion and Jewelry,” which will take an in-depth look at past trends from past periods, such as Art Deco, Edwardian, and Georgian.

And if neither of those offerings strikes the fancy of ASA members, they can turn to the organization’s many other opportunities, which stretch from chapter-based lessons or courses that can be tailored to fit the needs of smaller organizations within ASA.

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