GJ209 Turquoise Workshop: Exploring the World’s Most Fascinating Gemstone

Date/Time

Sunday, October 4, 2026
8:00am-5:00pm Central Standard Time*

*Time subject to change

Registration will close on Monday, September 28, 2026. 

Get your ASAIC26 Registration Discount!  Conference begins Monday, October 5. All pre-conference course registrants are eligible to receive a 10% discount off ASAIC26 registration. Check your course registration confirmation email for details. 

Registration Includes

• Continental breakfast and AM/PM beverage breaks
• Electronic student materials*

*Any course materials that the instructor elects to make available will be provided as PDF download-only items for enrolled students and are not for resale or distribution. If downloadable materials are offered, they will be accessible through your ASA account by logging in to your education dashboard (login required). Once any materials have been posted for download, the class is no longer refundable.

Class Format - Onsite Workshop Experience!

Join us onsite in Ft. Worth, TX for a full day, hands-on turquoise workshop that’s both highly informative and interactive. You’ll learn alongside fellow professionals, participate in discussions and demonstrations, and enjoy valuable networking with your peers in a dynamic, in-person setting.  

Please note: Participants must attend the full day of this onsite workshop to be eligible for CE credit. This live event will not be recorded or made available for viewing after the class.

Continuing Education and Contact Hours 

9.6 ASA CE Instructional Hours

Description

Join us for Turquoise – The World’s Most Fascinating Gemstone, an all‑day, in-person workshop designed for appraisers, jewelers, collectors, and anyone curious about turquoise. Through a mix of presentation and hands-on activities, you’ll explore how turquoise forms, what drives its appearance and quality, and how it fits into today’s gemstone market.

You’ll start with Turquoise 101 foundations, then dive into the science of turquoise, including formation, composition, and the factors that influence color, matrix, and overall quality. Interactive segments will let you examine real specimens up close, compare natural turquoise with common imitations and treated material, and apply a clear grading framework drawn from recent research on grading consistency.

Working directly with a range of samples, you’ll practice evaluating value characteristics, discuss how quality and rarity affect collectability, and consider how current market developments are changing turquoise demand and pricing. By the end of the day, participants will be able to recognize key turquoise varieties, distinguish major imitations and treatments, and speak confidently about the modern turquoise market in an appraisal or client-facing setting.

Led by Jacob Lowry, Director of the Turquoise Museum - home to one of the world’s largest collections of natural turquoise - this workshop blends museum-grade education with practical, real-world application. Expect an engaging, interactive environment with plenty of time for questions, and peer discussion throughout the day.

Instructional Methods

Methods include lecture, interactive segments and discussion.  

Course Audience

The course is open to anyone interested in learning more about turquoise, with content that has been specifically adapted to address topics and considerations relevant to appraisal professionals.

Learning Level 

Fundamental

Overview
This all-day, in-person, interactive workshop offers a structured introduction to turquoise, from its formation and varieties to grading, value, and current market trends. Participants will engage with real specimens, compare natural turquoise with imitations and treated material, and practice using a clear grading framework tailored to appraisal and professional use.

What you’ll learn

• Turquoise 101: characteristics, formation basics, and market context
• The science of turquoise: how composition and structure influence color and quality
• How to recognize common imitations and treatments in the marketplace
• A practical framework for grading turquoise (color, matrix, zat)
• Key quality and value factors relevant to appraisals and collecting
• Current turquoise market developments and their impact on pricing and demand

Format and interaction

• In-person, full-day program
• Short presentations plus hands-on specimen review
• Interactive grading and comparison exercises
• Ample time for questions and group discussion

Hospitality and breaks

• Arrival with continental breakfast
• Morning beverage break (coffee/tea and light refreshments)
• Lunch on your own (off-site)
• Afternoon beverage break (coffee/tea and light refreshments)

Upon completion of this offering, learners will be able to:

• Demonstrate a clearer understanding of key turquoise varieties;
• Explain and apply the practice of grading turquoise for collectability and rarity; 
• Identify and describe the differences among common turquoise imitations and treatments; and 
• Discuss current turquoise market trends and how recent developments are influencing value.

eMaterials

All course materials included with you registration are PDF Download Only items made available to students prior to the start of the class and are not for resale or distribution. All downloadable materials are accessible via your education dashboard (login required) if/when made available. Once materials have been posted for download, the class is no longer refundable.

Accessing eMaterials

Materials are provided electronically in PDF format and posted to the class within the education dashboard for all registrants to securely access prior to the start of class when applicable. Attendees should come to the class prepared with an electronic or printed copy of all materials to use as a reference during class. Materials or printing will not be available onsite.

Certificate of Completion

A certificate will be available to view and download through your education dashboard after you have successfully completed the course and all required post-event components listed under the Class Components tab.

All flight & travel bookings are the sole responsibility of the attendee, and ASA is not liable for any costs or cancellations.

Hotel

Omni Fort Worth Hotel
1300 Houston Street, Fort Worth, TX 76102

Reservation Cutoff Date: Wednesday, September 10, 2026 (11:59pm Central Time)

Special Group Rate: $229 single/double (plus applicable taxes and fees)

Reservations made after the cutoff date will be subject to availability and current room rate. To make hotel reservations online, visit the ASA dedicated hotel reservation site. To make reservations by phone, contact Omni Reservations at 1-800-THE-OMNI or the hotel directly at +1 817-535-6664. Be sure to mention the 2026 ASA International Conference to receive the group rate.

Transportation/Airport

We sure can't wait to see you!  Getting to and around Fort Worth is easy for attendees:

• From the Airport: The Omni Fort Worth Hotel is about a 30 minute drive from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) and about 45 minutes from Dallas Love Field (DAL) which also serves many national flights. Both airports offer taxi, ride-share (Uber/Lyft), and shuttle options with drop-off at the Omni’s front door.
  • Taxi service to/from DFW Airport: Approximately $55 – 60 one way
  • Taxi service to/from Love Field: Approximately $75 one way

• Rail and Transit: The Trinity Railway Express (TRE) connects Dallas and Fort Worth, stopping at Fort Worth Central Station, less than one mile from the hotel. TEXRail provides an additional commuter rail option from DFW Airport to downtown.

• Ride-shares & Taxis:
  Taxis and ride-share services are widely available throughout Fort Worth and for quick trips around the city.

• Parking:
  The Omni offers on-site valet parking for a daily fee and nearby public parking garages for self-parking.
  • Valet parking is $48 + tax per night/per vehicle* - overnight parking (unlimited in/out privileges).
  • Oversized vehicle parking is $55 + tax per night/per vehicle*
  • City-operated self-parking: $22 per vehicle* (no in/out privileges)– available at the city-operated garage adjacent to the hotel. The garage entrance is on 11th Street between Houston and Throckmorton (one block north of the hotel).