Gemology Course Descriptions

GIA’s Gemology programs and courses offer a comprehensive range of instruction and learning across the entire spectrum of diamonds and colored gemstones.

Programs taken on campus are continuous, and range from seven weeks to one year.  Students can satisfy distance education diploma requirements by completing all courses and lab classes listed for the relevant programs. Lab classes are offered on campus in Carlsbad, New York, at regional centers in Atlanta, Chicago, and Dallas. Programs and classes are also taught at GIA campuses around the world.  


  • Distance Education
  • Lab Classes
  • On Campus
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Distance Education

  • Colored Stone Essentials GEM120 - NEW eLearning  

    Required for these diploma program(s): AJP, GG, Graduate Colored Stones

    Get basic, vital knowledge of colored stones, with in-depth focus on the “Big Three” of the gemstone world: ruby, sapphire, and emerald. Become familiar with the fundamental language of colored stones. Learn about color’s powerful role in gemstone value and the unique characteristics of today’s most popular colored stones. Understand how color, clarity, cut, and carat weight affect a gem’s value. Learn proven techniques that take you through every step of a successful sales presentation.

    What you earn: Colored Stone Essentials Certificate
    Maximum completion time: 3 months
    Tuition: $140 or $46.67 x 3 months interest free.
    Optional Books: $50 + $20 S&H


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  • Colored Stones GEM220  

    Required for these diploma program(s): GG, Graduate Colored Stones
    Prerequisite: Colored Stone Essentials GEM120

    In your next step after Colored Stone Essentials, get in-depth knowledge about the multitude of colored stones in today’s market. Discover which gems are commercially important and why. Understand differences in gem values and shifting supply patterns, and how these factors affect gem prices and availability. Course materials include the GIA Colored Stone Reference Guide, which contains information and properties for virtually all commercially available gemstones.

    What you earn: Colored Stones Certificate
    Maximum completion time: 18 months
    Tuition: $1,400 or $140.00 x 10 months, interest free.
    Required Books: $145 + $40 S&H


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  • Diamond Essentials GEM130 - NEW eLearning  

    Required for these diploma program(s): AJP, GG, Graduate Diamonds

    Learn how to sell diamond jewelry effectively and ethically. Become familiar with the internationally accepted and respected GIA clarity grading system and learn how diamonds are graded for color and how color affects value. Discover how modern technology is changing the way diamonds are cut and learn the relationship between size and weight. Understand the operations of a retail jewelry store. Complete more sales by combining product knowledge with solid sales techniques.

    What you earn: Diamond Essentials Certificate
    Maximum completion time: 3 months
    Tuition: $130 or $43.33 x 3 months interest free.
    Optional Books: $40 + $20 S&H


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  • Diamonds & Diamond Grading GEM230 - NEW eLearning  

    Required for these diploma program(s): GG, Graduate Diamonds
    Prerequisite: Diamond Essentials GEM130

    Gain the important skills you need to judge and grade the color, clarity, and cut of diamonds. Learn to determine proportions and estimate weight and study the fundamentals of diamond treatments, synthetics, and simulants and understand the effect of fluorescence on diamond body color. Analyze the role cut plays in the marketplace and acquire the technical knowledge needed to make profitable buying and selling decisions. Explore the diamond industry beyond its retail level and gain an understanding of diamond value in other market segments.

    What you earn: Diamonds & Diamond Grading Certificate
    Maximum completion time: 15 months
    Tuition: $1,300 or $130 x 10 months interest free
    Required Books: $80 + $25 S&H


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  • Gem Identification GEM240  

    Required for these diploma program(s): GG, Graduate Colored Stones
    Prerequisite: Colored Stone Essentials GEM120, Colored Stones GEM220

    Learn to identify more than 60 species of gemstones, distinguish natural gems from synthetics, and detect gem treatments. Develop your skills by practicing testing procedures and techniques on sets of practice stones. Study the latest gem treatments in the market today and how illumination techniques can facilitate the identification process. Additionally, you’ll learn how—and when—to use gemological laboratory services and how to use gem identification skills to protect your business from costly mistakes.

    To complete this course, you must have access to gem tweezers, a 10X loupe or microscope, refractometer with polarizing filter, optic figure sphere, dichroscope, polariscope, and spectroscope. These instruments are not included with the course materials. As a current Distance Education student, you can purchase a professional Gem Identification instruments package  through GIA’s Instruments division.

    As an alternative, you can use these professional tools to complete your assignments in a GIA Student Workroom. 

    What you earn: Gem Identification Certificate
    Maximum completion time: 24 months
    Tuition: $1,500 or $150 x 10 months interest free
    Required Books and Materials: $185 + $40 S&H


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  • Jewelry Essentials GEM110 - NEW eLearning  

    Required for these diploma program(s): AJP

    Examine jewelry’s major features and how they combine to give jewelry its unique value. Understand the special qualities of precious metals and be able to compare the advantages of each with your customer. Learn to identify jewelry types and styles, and become comfortable with the industry terms used to discuss them. Explore different jewelry manufacturing methods and find out how they can affect style, appearance, and durability. Learn how precious metals are regulated, marketed, and tested and find out how to deliver a compelling sales presentation.

    What you earn: Jewelry Essentials Certificate
    Maximum completion time: 3 months
    Tuition: $125 or $41.67 x 3 months interest free
    Optional Books: $40 + $20 S&H


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  • Pearls GEM149  

    Required for these diploma program(s): Graduate Pearls

    Examine popular techniques for selling pearls at the retail level and gain the knowledge you need to buy inventory, build confidence, and increase profits. Learn how to buy and sell akoya, South Sea, Tahitian, and freshwater pearls with informed insight and skill. Learn GIA’s 7 Pearl Value Factors™: size, shape, color, luster, surface quality, nacre quality, and matching. Understand the difference between natural and cultured pearls and learn about post-harvest treatments, imitation pearls, and pearl testing. This course was developed with the generous support of the South Sea Pearl Consortium, Perles de Tahiti G.I.E., and the Japan Pearl Exporters Association.

    What you earn: Pearls Certificate
    Maximum completion time: 6 months
    Tuition: $525 or $131.25 x 4 months interest free
    Required Books: $80 + $25 S&H


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Lab Classes

  • Colored Stone Grading Lab GEM220L  

    Required for these diploma program(s): GG, Graduate Colored Stones

    Through extensive hands-on practice using actual gemstones, develop skills in grading the color, clarity, and cut quality of a wide range of colored stones. Learn the GIA Colored Stone Grading System and how to describe color in terms of hue, tone, and saturation. Gain professional insight as you learn to judge gem quality factors and increase the consistency and accuracy of your colored stone grading skills. Learn about the relationship between light and color and develop your color memory.

    What you earn: Letter of Completion
    Duration: 3 days or 6 nights (21 hours)
    Tuition: $850 (Carlsbad, New York); $950 (all other cities)
    Required Books: $145
    Class Schedule


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  • Diamond Grading Lab GEM230L  

    Required for these diploma program(s): GG, Graduate Diamonds

    Through our unique combination of hands-on training, one-on-one coaching, and integrated multimedia presentations, learn to grade diamonds consistently and accurately using a modern gem microscope and jeweler’s loupe. Become proficient in GIA’s Diamond Grading System, discover time-saving shortcuts to determine a variety of grading factors, and learn to read a GIA Laboratory Diamond Grading Report. Spend more than 18 hours practicing grading techniques on diamonds that were carefully selected and graded in the GIA Laboratory. Learn to recognize the most common diamond features. Students must pass a two-stone practical test to complete the class successfully.

    What you earn: Letter of Completion
    Duration: 5 days or 10 nights (35 hours)
    Tuition: $1,250 (Carlsbad, New York); $1,350 (other cities)
    Required Books: $45
    Class Schedule


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  • Gem Identification Lab GEM240L  

    Required for these diploma program(s): GG, Graduate Colored Stones

    Learn the same time-tested procedures and identification skills used by the Institute’s renowned gemological experts. Gain confidence using a microscope, refractometer, polariscope, dichroscope, spectroscope, and loupe to identify natural gemstones, imitations, and synthetics. Along with hands-on practice, you’ll get expert demonstrations and coaching in quick, effective testing procedures. Students must pass a five-stone practical test to complete the class successfully.

    What you earn: Letter of Completion
    Duration: 5 days or 10 nights (35 hours)
    Tuition: $1,230 (Carlsbad, New York); $1,330 (other cities)
    Required Books: $65
    Class Schedule


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  • Pearl Grading Lab GEM149L  

    Required for these diploma program(s): Graduate Pearls

    Discover how the world’s foremost experts determine the quality of akoya, freshwater, South Sea, and Tahitian pearls. Learn GIA’s 7 Pearl Value Factors™ by training with a member of the Institute’s internationally respected team of instructors. You’ll learn how to evaluate cultured pearls in order to increase sales and promote the relationship between beauty, value, and quality in your merchandise.

    What you earn: Letter of Completion
    Duration: 1 day or 2 nights (6 hours)
    Tuition: $235 (Carlsbad, New York); $260 (all other cities)
    Required Books: $15
    Class Schedule


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On Campus

  • Graduate Gemologist Diploma Program GEM2500  

    This program delivers a comprehensive gemology education across the entire spectrum of diamonds and colored stones. Through extensive practice., learn to grade diamonds efficiently, accurately, and consistently. Work with real diamonds and gemstones and the latest gemological equipment, under the trained eyes of GIA instructors.

    Students in this program will:

    • Gain in-depth, hands-on experience in the GIA International Diamond Grading System™ and the 4Cs (color, clarity, cut and carat weight), and learn how they affect diamond value. 
    • Consistently and accurately grade diamonds in the D-Z color range
    • Become proficient with gemological equipment and procedures to grade and identify hundreds of gemstones
    • Detect diamond and colored stone synthetics, treatments, and simulants
    • Discover how to translate your technical knowledge into winning techniques that help you close sales
    • Delve deep into the world of diamonds and gemstones and follow their paths from formation to marketplace
    What you earn: Graduate Gemologist Diploma, Graduate Diamonds Diploma, Graduate Colored Stones Diploma, Gemologist Diploma (Distance Education only)
    Locations: Carlsbad and New York
    Duration: 26-week continuous program
    Tuition: $17,400
    Required Books and Materials: $1,280
    Total: $18,680 + applicable sales tax
    Class Schedule


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  • Graduate Diamonds Diploma Program GEM2200  

    Acquire the technical expertise needed to grade, buy, and sell diamonds with the insight of a seasoned professional. Students analyze crown, pavilion, and total depth. Learn GIA diamond grading procedures to assess the 4Cs - color, clarity, cut, and carat weight and how they affect diamond value. Learn how to use professional diamond grading equipment to determine proportions, create plotting diagrams, examine diamonds professionally, and detect synthetics and treatments.

    What you earn: Graduate Diamonds Diploma
    Locations: Carlsbad and New York
    Duration: 7 week continuous program; 23 weeks night program – New York only
    Tuition: $5,400
    Required Books and Materials: $230
    Total: $5,630 + applicable sales tax
    Class Schedule


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  • Graduate Colored Stones Diploma Program GEM2300  

    Learn how to grade and identify gemstones—both common and unusual—found in today’s marketplace. Apply the GIA Colored Stone Grading System and use standard gemological equipment to distinguish natural, treated, and synthetic gemstones. Acquire knowledge you can apply directly to your business, including how external market factors affect value.

    What you earn: Graduate Colored Stones Diploma
    Locations: Carlsbad and New York
    Duration: 18 week continuous program;
    Tuition: $12,000
    Required Books and Materials: $1,050
    Total: $13,050 + applicable sales tax
    Class Schedule


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Student Services


Carlsbad
800-421-7250 ext. 4001
New York
800-366-8519
Outside North America
Call 760-603-4001

Student Resources

Lab Classes