Gia

[maccaroni man]

does anyone have any information on the gemoloy program offered by GIA and or any other schools offering these types of courses? Are they worth the investment?

[Huey]

Yes last year my Wife completed her graduate Gemologist and Jewelery Design courses. They lack instruction on the practical costing/sales aspect of the jewelery industry, however I would definitely say they are great foundation courses to take that will help anyone out in the jewelery industry. PM me if you need more info, like who to talk to over there.

[JimmyTheMook]

The GIA courses are pricey but their certification is the best recognized in the industry. I understand Chulakorn University has a gem identity course that is considered much more comprehensive.

[Tod Daniels]

While Chula may have a gem identification course which is more comprehensive, not a single person outside of this tiny country would know who or what that place is. Not to mention, gem identification is only ONE part of a multi stepped process in grading the color, clarity, cut, origin, and finally deciding the value of a specific gemstone.

You might as well take a gem identification course off the back of a box of breakfast cereal or a matchbook for all the good it would do you credibility wise in the gem industry outside this country. Especially with so many innovative and creative treatments available here in the glorious "Land 'O Thais" to enhance gems which are nearly worthless into something of greater worth, although still clearly treated.

GIA is easily one of the most identifiable names in the industry. True they are NOT cheap, in fact, last time I checked, they were more expensive here than in the US for the same courses, but they are most definitely a known commodity.

I would imagine their less than stellar review by "Huey" about GIA's costing/sales aspect of jewelry is due to the subjective nature of jewelry itself. Once the basic hard costs are covered it becomes a totally subjective and individually interpretive idea what something is worth. Gold is always worth what ever gold is worth, gems are worth what ever gems are worth, but when combined, the esthetic value cannot be calculated. There is the problem. What may be beautiful in your eyes; could be viewed as junk in mine. Much like people's choice of women, wine, cars, etc...

Edited October 6, 2008 by tod-daniels

[JimmyTheMook]

While Chula may have a gem identification course which is more comprehensive, not a single person outside of this tiny country would know who or what that place is.

Good point but folks who take what is at best an accelerated GIA course walk away with a nice recognizable certificate but little knowledge about the enhanced colored glass they think they learned something about.

[maccaroni man]

Thanks this is good info, and from I read a GIA certificate is well recieved in the USA? Any stories about someone taking the class and going on to use the knowlege? I am mostly interested in recogonizing the quality of stones and having a good idea of their wholesale value.

[Huey]

My wife's GG cert and Jewelery Design cert, both say Carlsbad California, USA on them. As for subjective value, I wasn't saying that gia should tell me how much we should sell Jewelery for, hel_l no. I just wanted them to tell her how much Gems should cost wholesale, where the best palces to buy various types of colored stones are. Some good Gemcutters... if they were smart they would have a Gem Cutting company that gave special rates to GIA alumni. We would be all over them if they did, buying rough and letting them do the cuts under a name and professionalism we could trust.