I qualified as a gemmologist with the Gemmological Association of Australia 19 years ago(!) and worked in the industry as a gemmologis and buyer for retail jewellery outlets in Sydney. I left the trade for at least a dozen years (marriage, kids, etc) before returning to the industry a couple of years ago, this time round designing and making jewellery. I am enjoying it all over again (perhaps more than the first time!), however things have changed a lot - so many new synthetics, so many more imitations and so many misleading 'names' out in the marketplace. I have been using this site as a reference fairly frequently and thought it about time I joined in!