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The following are the four main categories in which appraisal education can be divided.
Gemmology and diamond grading
Completing Gemological Institute of America’s (GIA’s) Graduate Gemologist (GG) program is step one in your path to becoming an appraiser. That said, your hard work qualifies you to identify and grade diamonds and gemstones. My first suggestion is to practice these skills as often as possible because it will take considerable experience to identify and grade with reasonable speed and accuracy.
Remember, when performing gem identification and diamond grading for appraisals, most tests will be conducted on mounted gemstones. Given this restriction, you will often need to identify gemstones without testing their refractive index (RI). How many stones can you identify just by using the spectroscope, dichroscope, colour filters, and ultraviolet (UV) light? Get together with other gemmologists in your area to exchange test stones and ideas. Attend conferences, read industry journals, and keep up with the latest developments in treatments and synthetics. This education never ends and lack of knowledge can cost you or your client dearly.
There are many opportunities for ongoing education. Here are a few to get you started:
- The Canadian Gemmological Association (CGA) is a source of gemmological training, providing courses throughout the year in addition to an annual conference (www.canadiangemmological.com);
- École de Gemmologie de Montréal introduces students to gemmology (www.ecoledegemmologie.com/en/home/mission);
- Canadian Jewellers Association’s (CJA’s) Jewellery Educational Training System (JETS) is a prerequisite to its Accredited Appraiser Program (AAP);
- Olive Frame Gemological Seminars offers gem courses for jewellery professionals (www.oliveframe.com);
- Accredited Gemologists Association (AGA) holds conferences in Tucson and Las Vegas scheduled alongside American Gem Trade Association’s (AGTA’s) GemFair and JCK show (www.accreditedgemologists.org);
- ҬGemworld hosts its annual World of Gems conference, as well as provides classes in gem grading, gem treatments, and pricing internationally and throughout the United States (www.gemguide.com/events);
- GIA offers a plethora of gemmology-related classes that extend beyond its GG program. GIA also provides lectures and workshops at their local alumni chapters in addition to industry conferences (www.gia.edu/gem-education); and
The Annual Sinkankas Symposium focuses on a different gemstone each year and is co-sponsored by the Gemological Society of San Diego and GIA. This year, opal was the symposium’s featured gemstone (www.sinkankassymposium.net).
