The AGTA (American Gem Trade Association) has announced on July 29th that it is closing its gemological testing center (GTC) in New York effective immediately.
The lab which opened in 1988 is closing down because they do not have enough business to sustain operations.
The AGTA GTC has stopped accepting any gemstones for grading. All gemstones currently in the lab are to returned to their clients as soon as possible.
The CEO of AGTA, Douglas K. Hucker said that the the GTC had received great support from the AGTA membership and from the gemstone industry as a whole. The economic downturn and the high cost of maintaining a facility in New York, the association can no longer keep the laboratory operating. He also noted that their members and clients businesses are no longer functioning at a level to maintain the GTC. “I would like to personally thank our employees, the members who have given us the support over the years and most importantly all of the individuals who have served on our AGTA GTC Board of Governors.”
The director of the Agta GTC since 2005, Dr. Lore Kiefert will be joining the Gubelin Gem Laboratory (GGL)-Lucerne, Switzerland as the chief gemologist.
Anyone wth questions regarding the closure of the AGTA GTC should contact the AGTA headquarters in Dallas at (800) 972-1162.
