www.gia.org While purchasing my wife a ring today, I noticed the jeweler displayed four diplomas from the Gemology Institute of America. It appears that they offer programs of study via DL as well as classroom instruction, and GIA is accredited by DETC. Anyone familiar with GIA?
In the jewellery business the GIA is where it is at. My wife is a third generation jeweller and I spend a lot of time working in her stores, like right now. The GIA is a major source of education for training of people who come into the business from other walks of life. There are also college programs, at least in Canada, that teach the same things on a full time basis. I cannot comment on their programs, other than to say we have not taken any but they are very well respected.
