Hosted by the South East Branch
Join Alistair McCallum FGA for a fascinating journey into Madagascar’s extraordinary gemstone industry, drawing on his first-hand experiences working alongside a local mining cooperative in the south of the country.
Discover what it really takes to mine gems in some of Madagascar’s most remote locations, from the challenges of accessing deposits and the realities of small-scale mining to the economics and politics shaping the country’s gem trade. Alistair will also explore how sustainable mining can support local communities through investment in infrastructure and skills.
The evening will bring Madagascar’s gems to life, with an opportunity to handle material from Antanadava and other localities, examine the distinctive characteristics of these stones and hear the stories behind their discovery.
A rare opportunity to get beneath the surface of one of the world’s most fascinating gemstone-producing countries.
Speaker: Alistair McCallum FGA
Alistair McCallum FGA is a gemmologist and Board Member of Gem-A, and a member of the team at the family-run gemstone business Marcus McCallum Ltd in Hatton Garden. Having achieved his Gemmology Diploma in 2020, Alistair has developed particular expertise in gemstone sourcing and the realities of working within the international gem trade.
His work has taken him extensively into Madagascar, where he has worked directly with local mining communities and explored the challenges of responsible gemstone sourcing. He regularly shares his experiences of the gemstone trade, from mine to market, and has written about his experiences of mining and sourcing in Madagascar.
Members & Students: To book, go to your dashboard by clicking the button below
| Members & Students book here |
| Non-Members book here |
The Gem-A office will be closed from 3pm Wednesday 24th December 2025 for the holidays, reopening 9am Friday 2nd January 2026.
Season’s greetings from all of us at Gem-A!
