Why Your Jewelry Buyer Should Have a Graduate Diamond Degree from the GIA

September 14, 2016 By swj-eric

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When looking to sell your diamonds, gold, or other jewelry, it’s important the professional buyer has the education and experience to grade and price your piece accurately.

Unfortunately, it can be difficult to tell which jewelry buyers have the experience and expertise to fairly grade your diamond jewelry. Asking if your jeweler has received a graduate diamond or gemstone diploma from the GIA, though, can ensure you’ll get the treatment you want for your diamond from a highly trained professional.

What is the GIA?

A variety of gemological education programs are in existence, offering everything from classes for those who view gems as a hobby, to full-time certification and degree programs designed for individuals who work in the field professionally.

One of the most well-recognized and highly respected programs around the world is the graduate program at the GIA.

The Gemological Institute of America is a nonprofit that, for more than 75 years, has been a leader in the field of gemstones. They registered their first product in the 1930s and have continued to create innovative products that offer practical solutions to gemologists, jewelers, and more.

As the authority in gemology, with locations around the world, the GIA offers an educational component that allows students to increase their expertise and experience in a variety of different gemologic-related fields. They offer three different course paths, in gemology jewelry, and design.

Gemology Graduate: What Does It Mean?

In the gemology program, students can choose the specific gem that most interests them, as the GIA offers a variety of different specialties:

  • Graduate gemologist
  • Graduate diamonds
  • Graduate colored stones
  • Graduate pearls

While all four offer extensive, the graduate diamond degree is often the most useful for a jewelry buyer.

Jewelry buyers receive hands-on technical knowledge about all areas and facets of diamonds. Students become proficient with the GIA International Diamond Grading System, which has become the industry standard for grading diamonds. The system ranks diamonds based on the 4Cs:

  • Color
  • Cut
  • Clarity
  • Carat weight

Students gain experience using this system to grade diamonds in a variety of color ranges, learn to detect synthetic diamonds, and their treatments and simulants.

What a Graduate Diamond Diploma Means for You

The graduate diamond degree from the GIA is highly regarded in the industry. These are people who take their profession seriously and want to give their customers the best possible experience in terms of quality and professionalism. As a customer looking to sell your jewelry for a fair price, it is in your best interest to find a jewelry buyer with this degree.

GIA in AZ

Scottsdale, Arizona, is home to Southwest Jewelry Buyers, where all of the diamond and jewelry buyers have made that same investment in themselves and their customers. Each individual who will inspect, grade, and price your piece has attended and passed the rigorous classes and exams, and can give you an honest, precise evaluation.

Contact us today to make an appointment with one of our highly trained professionals and learn how much your diamond, gold, and other pieces of jewelry is worth.