I have noticed something on the site that must be corrected and that is the use of the term “GIA CERTIFIED”. I have seen it applied to diamonds and used in reference to an IGS staff member’s credentials. It must be made clear that the Gemological Institute of America does not CERTIFY anything. There is NO such thing as a GIA certified diamond, nor is there any such title as a GIA Certified Gemologist. The Gem Trade Laboratory issues diamond and colored stone grading reports and confers the title of Graduate Gemologist on its students. To certify something implies a warranty, guarantee, or promise of quality or authenticity.
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I am not saying that this isn’t an issue, but i am having a hard time understanding why this is such a big deal in regards to credentials. GIA Certified Gemologist? Could you maybe elaborate more on this specifically?
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Hello,
I don’t think that you read my post in its entirety as I outlined the reason it is a “big deal”. There is NO such thing as a GIA Certified Gemologist. The diploma conferred on one who successfully completes the gemology curriculum at GIA is that of Graduate Gemologist. I’m not sure what type of work you may or may not do but wonder if you would respond to a supervisor with “I don’t see why its such a big deal.”.
Regards,
Brian Hudson GG
Graduate Gemologist (GIA)
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Oh, okay. Thanks.
BrianH,
Your concerns about credentials are well taken. I don’t remember using the term GIA Certified with regard to my gemological training, but I might have…I took the GIA gemologist courses in 1996, but I did not take all three workshops necessary for the GG, so I am a GIA trained gemologist or maybe you would say "John H Doe, Gemologist (GIA, 1996). Or “GIA Certificated Gemologist”.
In my case, life got in the way of my finishing the GG and later I did a lot of reading of Hanneman’s work, which wasn’t a part of the GIA training at the time, and also read Peter Read’s work and the gem ID parts of the 5th edition of Webster’s Gems: Their Sources, Descriptions and Identification…which was edited by Read. That enlarged my knowledge to where I felt that I didn’t need the further education that the GG would provide…it would have been nice window dressing, but, as just a practicing gemcutter, I didn’t need the credential for appraising or working in a retail jewelry establishment. My weak area is pearls, which I didn’t study at all, but perhaps I’ll get some training in that now that friends are bringing me pearls to look at.
As far as gemology training, you can never finish that, but I always point people to Matlins’ book for starters and then to Hanneman’s Affordable Gemology because there is so much in there that wasn’t covered in my education, especially the use of SG and loupe or microscope observations as a start to gem ID as opposed to just pulling out the old refractometer, which is convenient, but limited. Then there is Hodgkinson’s “visual optics,” which is so easy and requires no instruments beyond a slit-covered flashlight if you learn how to identify the various “rainbows” in a gem. IDK what parts of Hanneman’s stuff is now part of the GIA courses…maybe you or someone else could talk about that here. -royjohn
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- We will edit Barbara Smigel’s bio to read “GIA Graduate Gemologist.”
- Can you provide links to any instances where the IGS has used the term “GIA-certified diamond”? We are well-aware that some people use the term “certification” and “grading report” interchangeably, but we advise gemologists to use the term “grading report”.
Pedro
IGS Admin
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Roy’s experience is a good example and I can attest to similar circumstances about not completing my GG. (Still contemplating on pursuing it to completion though…) So, I commend you and your diligence in achieving the GG, its definitely not a pedestrian effort. Providing good feedback to the usage of “certified” here in the community, is much appreciated as well.
This is definitely not the first time “certification” has been discussed (searched the topic archive) so I do not want to beleaguer the perspectives of anyone’s view or lambast previous conversations.
However, @DanielB66512 has a good question regarding the relevance to “certify”.
The diploma for my GIA AJP, constitutes that I have “successfully met the requirements in the program of study … Issued via the Board of Governors, upon recommendation of the faculty, with all rights and privileges belonging thereto.” Does that not qualify as a level of certification? Perhaps or perhaps not.
I am sure your GG diploma has similar context.
The Jewelry / Gemology industry does not have an international or regional peer-reviewed board to gauge the accreditation of an educational curriculum being offered. Therefore, the GIA, GEM-A, AIGS, AGS, IGS, and other entities are placed in a realm of uncertainty and potential litigation quagmire.
After constructing a specialized laboratory in my professional career, enduring nearly three years of documentation and process control development to earn an accreditation seal, I understand the necessity to strike certain words, as not being applicable, from the Laboratory’s Bylaws.
But from the school’s curriculum, I am not sure such restrictions are applicable.
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I like the Oxford Languages definition of CERTIFIED : " officially recognized as [possessing] certain qualifications or meeting certain standards". As the person has been awarded a course completion from GIA; that person has a GIA certification. They are GIA certified…
The grading report itself is ‘certified’ to be legit and now the term is just being used loosely. It’s easier to say GIA Certified Diamond, rather than GIA Certified Diamond Grading Report—as with the
AGS Certified Grading Report., an EGL Certified grading report.
Broken down…"Is it a GIA, AGS or EGL Certified diamond?
Regarding the designation ‘Certified Gemologist’, that’s a title used by AGS.
A CG is awarded to a GG who successfully passes the annual AGS Recertification Exam and pays the annual dues to retain that designation.
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While the dictionary has a definition, the world of litigation has the power of interpretation.
I had to take a little bit of time to dive into this. I am not outside the purview of these undesired terms. The GIA courses come with a set of bylaws, where the students and graduates are obligated to adhere in performing their tasks as a GG, GD, GP, and/or AJP during and after completing the coursework. This alone has some leverage to keep integrity attached to the namesake and provide actionable consequences for those who are or become GIA alumni.
@JCBellGG has pointed out something I had forgotten about… higher levels of certification are available for members of the AGS, where the gemologist pays annual dues and re-certifies their knowledge base. The same applies to Jewelers and other members of the industry looking for an added layer of confidence for their customers. Its a good thing. Expensive… but a good thing, if you need that competitive edge.
With all of my jabbering dialog said… I don’t have issue with what @BrianH51546 initially posted. I just have questions as to why is it demanded that “Certified” or “certification” not be allowed to use after earning the title GIA AJP or GG or GD…etc.
Just seems there isn’t a definitive answer to… “why”
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Since the GIA itself refrains from using the term “certified” for diamonds it has examined, the IGS would recommend that gemologists refrain from using that term to describe diamonds graded by the GIA. Of course, that is our recommendation only, even if the GIA doesn’t insist that the jewelry industry follow its usage. (Curious if the GIA’s relaxed approach also extends to the gemological world as distinct from the jewelry world). The FTC issued guidelines in 2014 that recommend using the term “grade report” instead of “certificate.” The reasoning is to avoid implying that a diamond evaluation is based on empirical facts rather than opinion. (Presumably, a “report” is a softer term than a “certificate.”) However, the FTC recommendation is still just a recommendation.
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Thank you! That a really good explanation on GIA’s perspective. The article on certification is an interesting read, too.
Cheers!
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sound like a jungle out there. Unlike other professionals that require LICENSURE either at the state or national level, there are no uniform requirements either nationally nor internationally are recognized… health care professionals including paraprofessionals all have to licenced at the state level to practice… so do lawyers, accountants and engineers, airplane pilots, teachers, plumbers, electricians, architects, commericial bus and semihaul drivers, general contractors, social workers, real estate and insurance salesmen…all also require a certain number or credit hours of continuing education in order to maintain certification and/or licensure or both… Board cerfication as granted by professional societies ( as distinct from licensure) for physicians requires recertification every 10 years, with annual continuing education credit hours being required for licensure maintenance…othe professionals have similiar requirements for both professional society membership and state licensure.
For gemology by contrast, there are no legal requirements for licensure nor what constitutes “certified” or “certificate”…with competiting organisations with differing requirements and no national or state licensure requirements, it no small wonder why the general public, much less people in the know can be so confused.
Although there will be many who object, as infringement upon their rights and prior education; it is high time that legal requirements should be put into place to guarentee trust by the public, lessen confusion, and most importantly combat fraud and deception in the gem and jewerly market place both at the wholesale and retail level. By holding fraud and deception legally accountable, it would go far to increase public trust, guarentee value for expensive items. With large high quality gems selling at prices approaching or exceeding real estate values, it should be imperative that a minimum legal gaurentee be set.
This in just my opinion and I do expect blow back…
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This is only my opinion and I expect it to generate blow back. I will seem to be deliberately creating a controversy… however, that’s not the intention… the intention is to bring clarity and transparency into the jewerly and gem business. If this post is taken down by the moderators, so be it…
Most professionals including health care from physicians and dentists to health care paraprofessionals and nurses, lawyers, accountants, engineers, airplane pilots, teachers, social workers, commericial bus and truck drivers, general contractors, electricians, plumbers, stock brokers, real estate and insurance salesmen and more, require state or national licensure. The right to practice a profession legally requires meeting those set requirements for state licensure. Board certification or professional society certification requires more than minimum state legal requirements to practice. All of these professions require a minimum number of continuing education credit hours annually to meet state requirements for licensure maintenance. Furthermore, most or all professional society requirements for active membership require more than state minimum requirements for licensure including recertification every so many years… In gemology, there is no uniform professional society requirements, no state licensure, no legal status for certfication. Small wonder that many of us who are in the know, much less the general jewerly buying public, are confused, mistrustful. However, having a legal requirement for licensure will combat confusion, mistrust, and most importantly, combat fraud, deception and other unethical practices. With prices of premium gems and jewelry approach or exceeding real estate, having an unregulated, unlicensed, whole sale and retail market holds no one legally accountable for unethical practices. Reputation as being reliable and trustworthy are the only guidelines that we have now…It only takes a handful of online fraudsters to ruin the trust of everyone else who is honest and ethical… I expect blow back from those who have already earned the requisite education for the broad definition of “cerfied” or “certificate”. as infringements on their rights and privileges as well as resistance to further “government interference”…in addition to questioning their hard earned experience and education as professionals and experts… However, these people can be grandfathered in… having legally binding requirements will force some uniformity on different certification levels for minimum requirements and set the bar uniformly for higher levels of certification… by certification, I’m using the definition of sensu lato… It will be up to the different certifying bodies to adopt uniform standards. Their input collectively will have to set the initial bar and evolve it with time as technology and experience evolves… Certification in senso stricto, will involve legal accountability… not just personal ethics and bylaws that members have to uphold for continuing membership…this will end confusion, decrease fraud and deceptive practices, and with brand name dealers who don’t disclose clearly what they are selling. It will increase public trust with a gaurentee of knowing from whom and what they are buying for a high price…Renegades will lose licensure and the legal right to practice their trade… practice without a licence in order to continue to practice fraud would have potential criminal consequences…Although I am a professional from a totally unrelated field, I still retain a state license, despite having absolutely no intention to resume practice… I also have retained my professional society memberships with honors. Although retired, I am still required to maintain a minimum number of continued education credits for maintaining licensure… the benefits accrued is credibility among my peers.
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sorry for the redundant posts… I messed up with the first one, thought I had lost the post… the second one adds on to the first. I should add that there should not be prerequists for a formal educational degree, such as a BA, MA or PhD… gemology is more of an apprenticeship and training by both formal and informal education. However, having a degree does help… there’s no degree in gemology…should not be necessary, but it wouldn’t hurt either.
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