Is Gemological Institute of America legit?
GIA’s Carlsbad and New York on-campus courses are accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC). #Get Gemological Institute of America certificate online. Its Distance Education courses are accredited by the Accrediting Commission of the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC).
Where is GIA located in the USA?
The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) has its world headquarters and a major campus located at 5345 Armada Drive, Carlsbad, California 92008. They also operate a laboratory and education facility in New York at 50 W 47th Street, Unit 400, New York, New York.
The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) is a nonprofit institute based in Carlsbad, California. It is dedicated to research and education in the field of gemology and the jewelry arts. Founded in 1931, GIA’s mission is to protect buyers and sellers of gemstones by setting and maintaining the standards used to evaluate gemstone quality. The institute does so through research, gem identification, diamond grading services, and a variety of educational programs. Gemological Institute of America diploma, Gemological Institute of America certificate. Through its library and subject experts, GIA acts as a resource of gem and jewelry information for the trade, public, and media.
In 1953, the GIA developed its International Diamond Grading System and the “four Cs” (cut, clarity, color, and carat weight) as a standard to compare and evaluate the quality of diamonds.
As of 1997, the institute was headquartered in Carlsbad, California, and operates in 13 countries, with 11 campuses, 9 laboratories, and 4 research centers.
GIA was founded in the 1920s by Robert M. Shipley. Shipley was a successful jeweler, but realizing his lack of expertise decided to travel to Europe. There, he completed the Great Britain National Association of Goldsmiths gemological correspondence course. After, Shipley returned to Los Angeles. GIA diploma, GIA degree, GIA certificate. There, he launched his own preliminary course in gemology on September 16, 1930, to train and certify jewelers. The jewelers he certified would eventually form a national guild of jewelers.
The first GIA gemological laboratory was established in Los Angeles in 1931. Shortly thereafter, the institute introduced the “Certified Gemologist” professional designation. Vincent Manson, then Director of Strategic Planning, moved the GIA campus and headquarters from Santa Monica, California to Carlsbad, California in 1996, officially opening in 1997.
