PRESS RELEASE: The 2025 Valuers' Conference Delivered Education and Community in Equal Measure

The 36th Valuers Conference, supported by headline sponsor Bonhams, saw international and UK experts share their wisdom and expertise on Saturday. These included…

Kate Flitcroft shared insights from a distinguished auction career, reflecting on her experiences at Bonhams and what they reveal about jewellery valuation today.

Dr Aaron Palke explored the latest GIA research into coloured stone origin and treatment detection, offering new scientific approaches to support accurate gemstone identification.

Dr Tehmina Goskar discussed the full life cycle of historical jewellery and metalwork, highlighting how cultural context and provenance shape our understanding of value.

Adrian Hailwood examined shifts in the pre-owned watch market, including falling values and what they mean for today's valuers and collectors.

Jason Williams provided a firsthand perspective on global gemstone sourcing, sharing stories and trends from decades in the coloured gemstone trade.

Dr Çiğdem Lüle revealed the importance of colour in descriptions and how context and personal preference shape our view.

Finally, Dr Richard Taylor and Craig O'Donnell unpacked the valuation challenges behind the 80-carat "Idols Eye" blue diamond case, offering key lessons from a landmark High Court dispute.

Day one concluded with a gala dinner where new IRV Members and Fellows were celebrated, and the 2025 David Wilkins Award winner was announced. The David Wilkins Award is the pinnacle of achievement for jewellery valuers.

It is made all the more prestigious as only members of the Institute of Registered Valuers vote for it. This year, Mehdi Saadian was presented with the trophy by IRV Chair Heather Callaway and NAJ Chair Adam Jacobs.

On the second day, delegates attended a packed schedule of workshops and masterclasses, delving into everything from identifying natural and synthetic diamonds to auction estimates in practice.

Across the two days, the event was supported by exhibitors and sponsors, including Bonhams, Malca-Amit and UltraVault, TH March, Gem-A, GVUK Design, Gemmology Rocks, Quastel Associates, Charles Bexfield, SellDiamond.co.uk, Furlong Auctions and GIA.

IRV Chair Heather Callaway shares,

"We are delighted that this year's event was so well received by attendees. As a community, we're fortunate to benefit from a long history of knowledge-sharing and developing standards, which is why the post-nominals are so well recognised by clients, insurance bodies and the general public, and this weekend was more proof that you need to continue to engage with knowledge leaders to stay up to date."

"With a keen eye on the future, it's important the registered valuer community connect more broadly with professionals who deliver valuations that may not be connected to such a group. That may mean we have to try a more collaborative and experimental approach to engage with more with less connected professionals. However, on the back of minor changes being so well received, this gives us more confidence to make more significant enhancements."

About the NAJ

We are the leading voice for the UK Jewellery industry, shaping the way for our 1500 member companies employing 24,000 people. We protect, promote and prepare our members to make them Fit for the Future. The Association was formed in 2015 through the unification of the British Jewellers' Association (BJA) and National Association of Goldsmiths (NAG). The Institute of Registered Valuers is also part of the NAJ family, comprised of around 100 professional valuers with formal qualifications and substantial experience. Every NAJ member is required to abide by the NAJ's Code of Conduct - based on honesty, integrity and professionalism. 

www.naj.co.uk