AGA Lifetime Achievement Award

Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Antoinette Bonanno-Matlins, PG, is an author, educator, and consumer advocate whose work has profoundly shaped public understanding of gems and jewelry.

Best known for her influential books and media appearances, Matlins entered gemology to combat widespread misinformation and has since become a trusted voice for transparency, disclosure, and
ethics in the trade.

A former Gemology Editor for National Jeweler and a leader in AGA’s efforts against gemstone investment fraud, she has educated millions through television, lectures, and publications.

Her innovative, accessible teaching approach has empowered thousands worldwide—from trade professionals to miners in remote regions—to better understand gems, reduce risk, and pursue gemological excellence.

January 2015, AGA President Stuart Robertson announced, “The Accredited Gemologists Association is particularly pleased to present Ms. Dona Mary Dirlam with the AGA’s Lifetime Achievement Award.” This marks only the second time in the association’s history that this award has been presented. “Ms. Dirlam is recognized for incomparable contributions to the gemological community through an enduring commitment to securing and safeguarding the written works of researchers and scholars, both past and present, for the benefit of the global gemological community of today and tomorrow,” said Robertson.

Under her leadership—which now spans more than three decades—the library has expanded from a 2,000-book installation to a state-of-the-art facility. Over 16,000 books and 1,800 videos are in circulation, along with CD-ROMs, audio CDs, and subscriptions to more than 230 periodicals in numerous languages. These remarkable reference collections are accessible to on campus students and to those in the gemological field and the general public who are able to visit the GIA Carlsbad campus. The Cartier Archives and Rare Book Repository Collections, which houses the 14,000 volume Sinkankas collection, currently consists of more than 41,000 resources. Dirlam personally negotiated acquisition of the Sinkankas collection, a process that took four years to complete.

Ms. Dirlam has coauthored 12 articles for GIA’s prestigious journal, Gems & Gemology, five of which received a G&G Most Valuable Article award; and she is coauthor and editor of the book, Splendour and Science of Pearls.

Dona has also dedicated tremendous energy towards exposing more gemology to the geoscience world. Important successes in this area include her shared efforts with Dr. Jim Shigley to advance Gemology at both the GSA (Geological Society of America) as well as IMA (International Mineralogical Association) meetings through special sessions dedicated to promoting Gemological research in the 21st Century.

Dona Mary Dirlam’s service to the gemological community continues today, yet her many achievements have already made an indelible mark.

The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented at AGA’s Gala Dinner Dance at the conclusion of its Tucson Conference, Wednesday, February 4, 2015.

January 2015, AGA President Stuart Robertson announced, “The Accredited Gemologists Association is particularly pleased to present Ms. Dona Mary Dirlam with the AGA’s Lifetime Achievement Award.” This marks only the second time in the association’s history that this award has been presented. “Ms. Dirlam is recognized for incomparable contributions to the gemological community through an enduring commitment to securing and safeguarding the written works of researchers and scholars, both past and present, for the benefit of the global gemological community of today and tomorrow,” said Robertson.

Under her leadership—which now spans more than three decades—the library has expanded from a 2,000-book installation to a state-of-the-art facility. Over 16,000 books and 1,800 videos are in circulation, along with CD-ROMs, audio CDs, and subscriptions to more than 230 periodicals in numerous languages. These remarkable reference collections are accessible to on campus students and to those in the gemological field and the general public who are able to visit the GIA Carlsbad campus. The Cartier Archives and Rare Book Repository Collections, which houses the 14,000 volume Sinkankas collection, currently consists of more than 41,000 resources. Dirlam personally negotiated acquisition of the Sinkankas collection, a process that took four years to complete.

Ms. Dirlam has coauthored 12 articles for GIA’s prestigious journal, Gems & Gemology, five of which received a G&G Most Valuable Article award; and she is coauthor and editor of the book, Splendour and Science of Pearls.

Dona has also dedicated tremendous energy towards exposing more gemology to the geoscience world. Important successes in this area include her shared efforts with Dr. Jim Shigley to advance Gemology at both the GSA (Geological Society of America) as well as IMA (International Mineralogical Association) meetings through special sessions dedicated to promoting Gemological research in the 21st Century.

Dona Mary Dirlam’s service to the gemological community continues today, yet her many achievements have already made an indelible mark.

The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented at AGA’s Gala Dinner Dance at the conclusion of its Tucson Conference, Wednesday, February 4, 2015.

January 2013, AGA President Donna Hawrelko announced, “The Accredited Gemologists Association is particularly pleased to honor Ms. Keller. Her significant contributions that have not only benefited but also enriched the international gemological community.” AGA Board of Governors’ member Stuart Robertson noted of Alice Keller, “Ms. Keller’s contributions cannot be overstated. During her time as editor in chief the gemological community witnessed in G&G, an already good product, transform into a peer-reviewed, scientific, premier gemological journal. During her career Alice teamed up with the leading researchers from around the globe to publish the most important collection of gemological research of our time.”

Alice Keller, Editor-in-Chief Emeritus, has directed Gems & Gemology since 1981 and served as editor-in-chief from 2002 to 2011. Under her leadership, G&G became a full-color, peer-reviewed professional journal. She has spoken at gem conferences internationally and served as co-chair of GIA’s 1999 and 2006 International Gemological Symposiums. In 1998, she received the Women’s Jewelry Association’s Award of Excellence and the American Gem Trade Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2003, GIA awarded Keller its highest honor, the Richard T. Liddicoat Award for Distinguished Achievement. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Cornell University and a master’s from Georgetown University.

This marks the first time in the association’s history that this award has been presented.

The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented at AGA’s Gala Dinner Dance at the conclusion of its Tucson Conference, Wednesday, February 5, 2013.

Prior to Cap’s involvement in the Gem Sciences, he spent several years in the chemical and plastics industries. He was a member of the team at the Allied Chemical Research facility that explored the development of new co-polymers. He also served as Director of Operations for Quantum Industries, developing advanced coating technologies for the manufacturer of thin layer chromatographic plates. Cap studied chemistry at Northeastern Christian, geology at Villanova and mineralogy at Columbia University. Under D.r Ralph Holmes, the Chairman of Columbia’s graduate school of Geology and Mineralology, Cap developed his boyhood interest in gems and minerals and was eventually introduced to Bob Crowningshield.

Cap spent nine years on the GIA staff, actively contributing to the development of this organization. He taught gemstone and setting classes and established the six month resident program in New York. Cap developed the first computerized diamond grading process and the first comprehensive colored stone grading vocabulary, presented at the AGS Conclave in Minneapolis in 1975.

His active interest in instrumentation has also resulted in two U.S. patents. In 1976-77, he formed Analytics Research and Development Corporation and American Gemological Laboratories. AGL now enjoys an international reputation for its country of origin documentation and has been responsible for a number of industry firsts in its fourteen year existence:

1. An internationally used colored stone grading system used in over 35 countries.
2. Establishing the criteria for the detection of heat enhanced corundum.
3. Color/Scan, the first patented, portable color communication system.
4. The first to consistently state enhancement of gemstones on its laboratory reports,
5. Implementing the first nationwide consumer protection service, Gemline Recovery.

Cap has conducted training programs from Australia to Switzerland, published numerous articles, and appeared on television here and in Japan. He has provided consulting services to third world governments and US.. governmental agencies. For five years he has traveled the world as a Gem Sciences specialist to the United Nations. Cap was the primary architect of the Gemstone Enhancement Guidelines, and is co-founder of Gemcore, an international Gem Science Research and Education organization.

The following lists just a few of the highlights and breakthroughs with which Robert Crowningshield has been associated. (Periodical reference is to Gems & Gemology)

• 1957 “Bombarded” Yellow Diamonds “5290”, Winter 1957-58
• 1962 Biwa Tissue Nucleated Cultured Pearls, Winter 1962
• 1967 Tanzanite, Fall 1967
• 1968 Tsavorite, Winter 1968
• 1970 Cultured Black Pearls Natural Color, Spring 1970
• 1971 General Electric Synthetic Diamonds, Summer 1971
• 1972 Synthetic Quartz, Spring 1972
• 1981 Speaker 50 year Anniversary GIA Symposium
• 1983 Paparadscha Documentation, Spring 1983 1986 Synthetic Amethyst, Fall 1986
• 1989 Hope Diamond Documentation, Summer 1989
• 1989 November, Keynote Speaker at Geological Association
• Awards Ceremony in London for FGA

The list goes on into the 1990’s. Robert was a scheduled speaker at the 60 year Anniversary GIA Symposium, Facing the Future. Robert has participated in AGA Tucson and National Conferences.

Listening to Robert informally, one gets the sense of what a Career Gemologist si about. Utilizing the skills acquired through time, Robert didn’t always have the luxury of modern day equipment when identifying and evaluating gemstones. Mr. Crowningshield, the Accredited Gemologists Association appreciates your lifelong contribution to Geology.