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Established in 1931, GIA protects the public through gemological research, education, impartial gem identification and grading services, and instrument development. The world’s foremost authority in gemology and creator of the 4Cs, GIA sets the standard for determining the quality of diamonds and performs research-based identification of colored gems and pearls. As an independent nonprofit organiz

ation, all of GIA’s activities are governed by its mission to serve the public. Visit GIA.edu

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Laboratory-grown diamonds are reshaping the market—are you ready to navigate the conversation?This live online seminar, ...
06/19/2026

Laboratory-grown diamonds are reshaping the market—are you ready to navigate the conversation?

This live online seminar, hosted by the GIA Alumni Collective, provides a clear, practical overview of how laboratory-grown diamonds are created, the key similarities and differences between laboratory-grown and natural diamonds, and how FTC guidelines define them. You'll also learn how laboratory-grown diamonds are identified, including the instruments and services you can rely on.

Delivered in a 2-hour webinar format with a 30-minute live Q&A, the session features expert instruction and a digital Letter of Attendance.

Learn more and register here: https://bit.ly/4aA2eQJ

Pearls are timeless classics and are prized for their luminous glow. Whether you’re drawn to large South Seas, dramatic...
06/18/2026

Pearls are timeless classics and are prized for their luminous glow. Whether you’re drawn to large South Seas, dramatic Tahitians, bright akoyas or colorful freshwater pearls, here are key factors to consider when evaluating a pearl:

Size: South Sea pearls are typically the largest, reaching 15mm or more. Akoyas over 9mm are considered large.
Shape: While round pearls are the most valuable, off-round strands can look round from a distance and baroque strands can make for affordable statement pieces.
Color: Overtone, orient and popular bodycolors such as deep gold can increase the beauty and value of pearls.
Luster: This is one of the most important value factors for pearls. South Seas are known for their soft, satiny glow, while akoyas are known for their bright, mirror-like shine.
Surface: This refers to whether the pearl has any surface blemishes such as dimples and scratches. High surface quality pearls should be smooth and clean.
Nacre: Consider the continuity, thickness, and condition of a pearl’s nacre when evaluating pearl quality. Avoid pearls that appear dull or chalky, or where the nucleus is visible beneath the nacre.
Matching: In a well-matched strand, pearls should be consistent in key quality factors—especially luster, shape and surface. Designers may occasionally mix colors or use graduated sizes for artistic or unique effects.

Learn how to evaluate the best pearls for you: https://bit.ly/4vLf334

Meet Andrew Kirkpatrick, a Research Scientist at GIA. With 10 years in the industry, Andrew specializes in ultrafast las...
06/17/2026

Meet Andrew Kirkpatrick, a Research Scientist at GIA. With 10 years in the industry, Andrew specializes in ultrafast laser fabrication and laser inscription—using precise lasers to modify materials and mark gemstones with microscopic identifiers. His work explores how materials behave at the atomic level, revealing how atomic structure influences properties like color and performance.

By understanding materials at this scale, his work supports accurate gemstone identification and helps unlock new applications for diamonds in advanced technologies.

Swipe below to learn more about Andrew.

To learn more about GIA's cutting-edge research, visit: https://bit.ly/495H0cY

Learn how to create hand-painted renderings like these from recent students and turn inspiration into jewelry designs wi...
06/16/2026

Learn how to create hand-painted renderings like these from recent students and turn inspiration into jewelry designs with GIA’s Jewelry Design course. Build real-world skills and finish with a portfolio you can share digitally and in hand.

What students learn:

- Find and develop sources of inspiration
- Learn jewelry design theory and artistry
- Illustrate shape, form, and metal textures
- Render faceted gems, pearls, and colored metals
- Practice traditional drafting techniques
- Create motifs and sketches of jewelry objects
- Build a presentation-ready portfolio of class projects and custom designs

Start your jewelry design journey here: https://bit.ly/4f9aGcU

Designs by (1) Seunghyun Hahm (2) Emily Chen (3) Nicole Liang (4) Valeria Ormo (5) Pedro Guimarães de Oliveira

This 80.60-carat aquamarine from Pakistan’s Shigar Valley holds a rare geological surprise—a sharply defined 3mm quartz ...
06/15/2026

This 80.60-carat aquamarine from Pakistan’s Shigar Valley holds a rare geological surprise—a sharply defined 3mm quartz inclusion that preserves the shape of β-quartz, the high-temperature form of quartz.

Here’s why that’s remarkable:
Quartz can change its structure as it cools. Above about 570°C, it exists as β-quartz. As temperatures drop, it transforms into α-quartz, and in most cases the original crystal shape is lost during that shift.

In this stone, however, the quartz appears to have been quickly enclosed by the growing beryl, preserving its high-temperature shape before it could be altered.

Testing shows the inclusion is α-quartz now, but it still retains the outline of its former β-quartz form, offering a rare snapshot of the crystal’s formation conditions.

This is the only published, documented example of β-quartz shape preserved inside beryl.

Learn more about this surprising inclusion in the latest issue of G&G: https://bit.ly/4d9vShz

Image 2 field of view 9.00mm

Australia produces some of the world’s most spectacular opals, prized for their vivid flashes of color known as “play-of...
06/12/2026

Australia produces some of the world’s most spectacular opals, prized for their vivid flashes of color known as “play-of-color.” These gems formed millions of years ago when silica-rich water seeped into cracks in ancient rock. As the water slowly evaporated, tiny silica spheres hardened into opal, creating the shifting rainbow colors that make the gem so distinctive.

Australia is famous for several unique varieties. While not traditionally known for fire opal, notable deposits in Western Australia have revealed vibrant material ranging from golden yellow to deep orange-red (image 1). White opal, primarily from Coober Pedy, shows bright color against a pale background and is one of the most widely known types (image 2). Black opal, mined in Lightning Ridge, is considered the most desirable variety because its dark body color makes the flashes of red, green and blue appear especially intense (image 3). Boulder opal, found mainly in Queensland Opal Fields, forms naturally within ironstone rock, creating striking patterns where opal and host stone appear together (image 2).

Opal mining in Australia began in the late 1800s, and the country has since become the source of the vast majority of the world’s precious opal. These gems quickly gained popularity in Europe and beyond for their unusual color effects and unique patterns—no two opals are exactly alike.

Although other countries such as Ethiopia now produce opal, Australian stones remain highly sought after for their stability, vivid color and remarkable variety. From pale white opals to dramatic black and boulder opals, Australia’s opal fields continue to produce some of the most fascinating gemstones in the world.

Learn more about opal origins: https://bit.ly/43yKvVV

Image 3 courtesy of Rod Griffin, Australian Opal, Silverado, CA

Beginning August 2026, GIA London will open the doors to its new, state-of-the-art flagship campus in Canary Wharf—one o...
06/11/2026

Beginning August 2026, GIA London will open the doors to its new, state-of-the-art flagship campus in Canary Wharf—one of London’s leading districts for luxury, business and design.

This exciting chapter includes enhanced learning spaces and, beginning in September, the UK launch of the Jewelry Design & Technology program.

Curious about what’s next? Join us for an Open House on 4, 9 or 12 September to explore the new campus and discover what’s coming to GIA London.

Read the full announcement: https://bit.ly/4xf6pLJ

Thank you to everyone who made JCK 2026 so memorable! This year’s event brought together the global gem and jewelry comm...
06/08/2026

Thank you to everyone who made JCK 2026 so memorable! This year’s event brought together the global gem and jewelry community once again, and GIA was grateful for the opportunity to connect with clients, colleagues and industry leaders from around the world.

Throughout the show, attendees explored our latest research, education, laboratory services and instruments through expert-led presentations, live demonstrations and hands-on experiences. For the first time at JCK, clients were able to submit colored stones directly at our main booth and receive on-site printed Colored Stone Identification and Origin Reports during the show. We were also excited to showcase GIA Jewelry Reports, NextGem™ retail training and our latest research on natural diamond fluorescence.

From insightful discussions on the state of the diamond industry with CEO Pritesh Patel to conversations about the future of gemology, JCK 2026 highlighted GIA’s authority in education, research and trusted expertise.

Thank you again to everyone who visited our booths, attended our presentations and trusted GIA with your gems. We look forward to seeing you at the next show!

From idea to final showcase, GIA’s Jewelry Design & Technology diploma program builds the skills to design like a pro an...
06/07/2026

From idea to final showcase, GIA’s Jewelry Design & Technology diploma program builds the skills to design like a pro and create like a CAD technician.

What students learn:

- Core design principles: line, shape, form, color, space, texture, pattern, emphasis, proportion, balance, contrast, movement and unity
- Digital hand rendering using Krita
- CAD + prototyping workflows with Rhinoceros and ZBrush, plus CAM tools like 3D printing
- Engineering-ready models that consider comfort, durability, and real-world manufacturing
- Production fundamentals, including diestriking and casting
- Designing within practical constraints like cost, time, size, style, and manufacturing methods
- Portfolio development, culminating in a final design exhibition

Ready to build a portfolio you can take into the industry? You can enroll in this program at GIA’s Carlsbad, New York and London locations. London’s first program starts this September.

Learn more about this program: https://bit.ly/4nQdhKY

Designs by (1) Montgomery Ellis (2) Mara O’Hara (3) Cristofer Polanco (4) Kumiko Ogawa

06/05/2026

From the sea to the classroom, GIA researcher Tao Hsu recently traveled to Japan to experience akoya pearl cultivation firsthand.

In November 2025, she visited three large-scale pearl farms in Nagasaki—home to nearly half of Japan’s akoya pearl production—where millions of mollusks are carefully cultivated. She also toured a pearl processing facility in Kobe and attended the Japan Pearl Fair, connecting with industry experts and discovering the latest trends.

These behind-the-scenes insights are now helping shape updates to GIA’s pearl curriculum—ensuring students learn from the most current, source-based knowledge.

Learn more about GIA’s Graduate Pearls program: https://bit.ly/3PzfYUO

Address

Gemological Institute Of America, Inc. , The Robert Mouawad Campus, 5345 Armada Drive
Carlsbad, CA
92008

Opening Hours

Monday 7:30am - 5pm
Tuesday 7:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 7:30am - 5pm
Thursday 7:30am - 5pm
Friday 7:30am - 5pm

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