No doubt, many in our industry are eyeing Tucson as a harbinger of how the coming year might play out. It is clear that this year we are definitely confronting a new set of sensibilities, not the least of which is a world where we are confronted with a plethora of trade disputes, including the ever changing tariffs on imports to the United States, a host of military conflicts, and political unrest that seems to have become the norm.
Nonetheless, I must confess that I am, as always, looking forward to Tucson, and experiencing the giddiness and sheer delight of being totally immersed in the global colored gemstone community.
What will be different this year is that everything will be different this year. It will be harder, not easier. More complex, not simpler. The methods and processes that we have become comfortable with may no longer serve us. But, as our President Damian Cody points out in his letter, we as gemstone merchants are engaged in a trade that has thrived for centuries—one that has weathered countless crises and challenges, yet continues to thrive.
One element that can aid in success is membership in a global community of traders that have a shared passion for gemstones and a common commitment to working to improve the integrity and desirability of our products. The benefits of membership in ICA should not be measured in a simple transactional spreadsheet but rather in a reasoned consideration of what it means to be a member of this community:
- the often-unspoken acknowledgement of a client’s higher level of trust and confidence in a purchase due to your commitment to ethical practices and full disclosure requirements that govern all our members;
- the ability to communicate with others who share your values and to do so on a global scale through our member portal and social media platforms;
- the opportunity to reach your colleagues and clients by providing content for our newsletters and InColor magazine;
- and, certainly, the opportunity to participate in our ICA-member pavilions in worldwide trade shows.
I would also like to highlight two exciting developments as we look ahead to 2026.
The first is the publication of Issue #56 of ICA’s InColormagazine. In addition to its wide range of articles on colored gemstones, research, and notable developments across the color gemstone universe, this issue features a particularly compelling article titled From Earth to Elegance. This piece focuses on women of distinction in the colored gemstone industry—many of whom I am privileged to call friends and colleagues—each with a unique and inspiring story. Together, these profiles begin to shine a light on the gemstone dealers, designers, miners, and allied professionals whose contributions have helped elevate our trade to the position and prestige it enjoys today. Readers can look forward to further features on these remarkable individuals in future issues.
Also new for 2026, every InColor article will be available online at www.incolormagazine.com. As a global community, we are pleased to offer convenient translations of each article into multiple languages. Readers can simply click the language button at the top right of the screen to view content in the language with which they are most comfortable. In addition, bi-weekly eBlasts will highlight popular articles from past issues, creating a rich and accessible archive of gemological knowledge.
A second exciting development is ICA’s new cooperative venture, ICA Plus, in partnership with Informa Markets Asia Limited. This conference will take place in Hong Kong this September during Jewellery & GEM WORLD, from September 15–21. ICA Plus is designed as a dynamic gathering that brings together ICA gemstone member professionals with the Asian designer and jewelry manufacturing community. To learn more, please visit here.
Yes, the coming year looks to be a challenging one, but a greater effort to utilize the benefits that come with your membership can help. Consider that one or two sales, as a result of being a member, would more than offset the cost of membership.
If you would like to discuss these opportunities and other strategies, contact me by email, WhatsApp, or simply call me at 214-394-4054. If you are interested receiving printed copies of Incolor Magazine, please contact us ica@gemstone.org.
If you are not already a member, we look forward to welcoming you into our family in 2026. To learn more, visit www.gemstone.org and click on Membership.
I genuinely wish each one of you the most pleasant and enriching New Year and hope to visit with you personally at every opportunity.
Douglas Hucker, ICA CEO
- Douglas Hucker
