The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) organization is a world-leading authority on diamonds, gems, and pearls. Gemologists with GIA credentials are up-to-date on groundbreaking research and trained by leading industry experts.

Why is it Important to Have a GIA Gemologist Look at your Jewelry?

To determine your jewelry’s true value, you need an expert to evaluate its worth. GIA is the foremost institution in precious metals and gems. If you want the very best (and the most money) for your items, then you need to make sure a GIA certified gemologist is the one evaluating.

Quality Assurance Benchmarks

Just like most industries, the gemology profession has a set of standards concerning quality and craftsmanship. GIA has devised a list of benchmarks to help compare jewelry and precious stones to assess value.

• Finishing and Polishing:

How a piece of jewelry is completed sets the tone for that item. GIA looks at what sorts of techniques were used for pre-finishing, finishing, polishing, and buffing.

• Assembly and Setting:

This is the backbone and construction of a piece of jewelry. GIA looks at the installation of various settings.

• Tools and Metal Identification:

This is the DNA of a piece of jewelry. GIA gemologists are trained to inspect jewelry for various metal alloys including platinum, gold, silver, and more. They know the best practices for working with each material and know the tools that need to be used to avoid contamination.

GIA Research

GIA affiliated researchers conduct studies in chemistry, geology, physics, and material science. This research is on the cutting edge of the mineralogy field and explores diamonds as an information source about the Earth’s mantle, the unique properties of rubies from Cambodia, and more. The information gleaned from this research helps to evolve their educational curriculum and polish their gemologists.