Forwarded Message FollowsTo: service@ganoksin.com
From: condln@cpdmfg.cig.mot.com
Subject: Becoming a gemologist
I am looking for about becoming a gemologist. If you
can help it would be great!!
Thank You,
Natalie Condl
1234 Valley Lake Drive #125
Schaumburg, IL 60195
You asked for about becoming a gemologist.
Probably the most well known and advantageous school in the industry to
become an accredited gemologist is through the Gemological Institute of
America. You can reach them at http://www.gia.org on the net, or 1 [800]
421-7250 by phone. By taking a series of courses: Diamonds, Colored Stones,
Colored Stone Grading and Gem Identification you can earn the title
“Gemologist.” You can either go to California and study at the school “in
residence” or take these series of courses by correspondence. The first
option takes 6 months and is the most expensive [unless you live in Santa
Monica, CA]. The second option is the method I chose. It took me about 3
years to get through the course material and take the examinations. If you
are extremely disciplined, you could get through sooner.
GIA says all you must have to complete their correspondence courses is a
loupe
and tweezers. However, if you are not working in the industry, I believe it
will be very
difficult for you to complete the work and retain what you are learning. The
lessons are not difficult and, with a few exceptions, are presented in a
clear manner. The most difficult part of successfully completing the courses
will be regimenting your time to finish the twenty some lessons in each
course. I would encourage you to metholdically absorb the material. You
will get out of each lesson what you put into it.
As I recall the lessons are from $500 - 700 per course. GIA offers a
payment plan to help if you need it. Also if you are working for a retail
store that belongs to Jewelers of America, you can apply for a Mike Roman
scholarship. These scholarships are based on first come, first served
applications. They will pay for the entire course with the exception of
about $75 initially. Contact your state Association for and an
application.
Gemology is a facinating profession. I have personally found that in an
industry that is pretty much ruled by men…the role of gemologist is a
profitable niche for women.
TO: INTERNET:PLNTYMOORE@aol.com, INTERNET:PLNTYMOORE@aol.com
Re: Re: (Fwd) Becoming a gemologist
Some asked about classes for becoming a gemologist.
I’d just like to add a bit of additional info to that in an earlier reply.
Right now the GIA ‘campus’ classes are held in Santa Monica but soon,1st part of
97 I believe, will move to Carlsbad CA. It’s located between San Diego & LA.
Ibelieve there is also a lecture/lab program in New York city.
I completed the home study program in 91, did it in 12 months, basically a
lesson a week. There are 2 ways to send in the answers to each lesson, good old
snail mail, & online. I used the snail mail. The online scheme should improve
turn around considerably. I think you can also ‘talk’ to your instructor online.
In addition to the home study work, there are 3, 1 week seminars that require
your attendance at a class in SM, NYC or various cities in the US. The 3 classes
are hands on diamond grading, colored stone id & colored stone grading. The
final was/is a 20 stone id test which may require a gem lab (refractometer,
polariscope, set of heavy liquids, dicroscope,
a microscope or very good use of a 10X loupe).You must score 100% on the 20
stone test.
Cost wise, if you sign up for the home study Graduate Gemologist program you can
expect to pay about $5000 for the home study portion & the 3, 1 week seminars.
That’s tuition only, no expenses or tools.
Another possible way to get some letters behind your name is to contact the
Gemoligical Association of Great Brittian & take their program which leads to a
FGA (Fellow of the Gemological Assoc Of GB). They have a US office, but I’m
sorry I don’t know the address.
The Texas Institute of Jewelry Technology (Paris Jr College, Paris TX) also has
a gemology program.
Good luck
Dave
Gemological Institute of America. Gemmological Association of Great
Britain, Pacific Institute of Gemmology, Canadian Institute of Gemmology.
These offer correspondence courses. Try a net search for them and check the
web sites below.
Charles
http://kaos.deepcove.com/cig/
Gemmology World-a superb site for gem information
http://mineral.galleries.com/default.htm
A really nicely done gemmology on-line resource, a search engine and more
for gem materials and their attributes.
Gem crystal systems info-good stuff
http://www.gemdata.com/
Reviews of gem/jewelry software, gem info, an interesting site
http://www.gis.net/~adamas
Gemology and appraisal and software demo (the most
comprehensive gemmology software around).
http://geology.wisc.edu/~jill/306.html
An excellent gemology course and info site. Don’t miss this one if you are
into gems.
http://geology.wisc.edu/~jill/keywords.html
Jill’s hot index to her site on gems. This site is a must visit for those
studying gemmology.
http://www.eyesoftime.com/ssor/crys.html
A good article on crystals, history of gemology and gemology in general.
The ‘Eyes of Time’ site.
http://www.usbm.gov/mi/myb/gemdoc.htm
An excellent article that is an overview of gem production and marketing
channels from an economic value point of view.
http://www.gemzone.com/gz_main.htm
Gem Zone, a gems, tools and equipment seller.
http://www.gia.org/
The Gemological Institute of America site-very comercial but interesting.
Brain Press
Box 1624, Ste M
Calgary, Alberta, T2P 2L7
Canada
tel: 403-263-3955
fax: 403-283-9053
Email: @Charles_Lewton-Brain
At 08:01 AM 11/20/96 +0000, you wrote:
David D. Arens wrote:
Re: Re: (Fwd) Becoming a gemologist
Some asked about classes for becoming a gemologist.
Another possible way to get some letters behind your name is to contact the
Gemoligical Association of Great Brittian & take their program which
leads to a
FGA (Fellow of the Gemological Assoc Of GB). They have a US office, but
I’m
sorry I don’t know the address.
E-Mail them at nag@easynet.co.uk, check out their site at
http://www.gemnet.co.uk/nagtemp
Click on the education section
Best Regards
Clive B
GemNet Sponsor
Used to be Columbia School of Gemmology Silver Spring,Md.I took the British
test under their proctor.
At the time they also offered a really good Gemmology course on premises to
prepare you for the test.
They should still be there,even though the founder Tony Bonnano has passed
on.His 2 daughters should be continuing the business.
Mark Liccni
LICCINI
Gemstone Rough Dealers since 1970 U.S.MAIL
E-Mail: @Mark_Liccini1 224 7th St.#2B
http://www.LICCINI.com Jersey City,N.J.07302
Voice Mail/Fax: 201-795-1115