Gemologist

Answer 1

A gemologist is someone who has studied gemstones, or stones valued for their intrinsic beauty or as investments or as objects used in jewelry. Gemologists study gemstones and their properties. In addition to a great deal of knowledge about gemstones, a gemologist has expertise in terms of identifying and valuing cut and uncut gems. There are, in broad terms, two sorts of gemologists; those who are certified and those who are not.

You may know someone who has taken courses and spent considerable effort in study describing themselves as a gemologist, which is all well and good. They may be working in the field as an appraiser at a jewelry store or for an importer, and have considerable professional expertise and knowledge. But in order to be able to appraise gemstones and certify them, you need to be a certified gemologist, and that means earning a diploma.

In order to be a certified gemologist, you must have a diploma certifying you as a graduate of a an official and nationally recognized authority. You need to be a graduate of the Gemological Institute of America or a Fellow of the Gemmological Association of Great Britain, or one of the other qualified diplomas from accredited gemological schools. Graduates of the Gemmological Association of Great Britain become “Fellows,” and are designated as having earned the FGA. U.S. students are welcome to enroll. The U.S. based Gemological Institute of America awards graduates the GIA designation. They have both distance and in-person classes. Another alternative is the ISG or International School of Gemology. Their program is almost entirely based on distance learning, over the internet. The Diamond Council of America offers courses on identifying and evaluating both diamonds and colored gemstones. It is not at all unusual for a gemologist to have coursework from multiple organizations, or even several certificates or diplomas from multiple organizations.

While more education is beneficial, none of the certifying organizations require more than a high school diploma. Moreover, the programs are generally designed so that you can progress at your own speed, taking courses when you have the time and can afford it. The GIA has a useful Web page about possible career paths for gemologists. It is entirely possible to make progress towards gemologist certification and a diploma while you work in the field, perhaps at a jewelry store or as a manufacturer or artisan. In addition to a consuming interest in gems and jewelry, a gemologist needs high levels of visual acuity, a strong interest in color and design aesthetics, and considerable comfort with various kinds of tools and processes related to analyzing and identifying stones and their properties. It’s exceedingly helpful to have good written and spoken English, as well as at least one other language.