Best place to get a Gemology diploma?

[BigToque]

I''m in Canada, so obviously the first idea was to go through the Canadian Gemological Association. ($2000)

Then there is the Graduate Gemologist program through the GIA ($7000)

The Gem-A through the Gemmological Association of Great Britain (I don''t know how much $$$)

What do you guys think? What do you think is the most valuable, or will they all be pretty similar and I should just get the CGA?

 

[CdnBlingGal]

Have you looked at the Canadian Institute of Gemology? www.cigem.ca

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

As i understand it the CGA and FGA are like our GAA courses here in Australia - they are far more technical and teach a higher level of science in terms of gemstomne identification and synthetic theory.

Conversely the GIA is, I believe, far more useful in terms of sales training and knowing stuff with commercial value.

So i think it depends on what you want to do with your education, and what your base level of education is to begin with (GIA requires less is needed I think).

 

[BigToque]

Date: 1/19/2006 11:48:38 PM
Author: Garry H (Cut Nut)
As i understand it the CGA and FGA are like our GAA courses here in Australia - they are far more technical and teach a higher level of science in terms of gemstomne identification and synthetic theory.

Conversely the GIA is, I believe, far more useful in terms of sales training and knowing stuff with commercial value.

So i think it depends on what you want to do with your education, and what your base level of education is to begin with (GIA requires less is needed I think).

In my mind, I think I''d love to have the information for the sake of having a better education, but I''m more inclined to know how to apply the information in a business.

Where I live there is very little in the way of a diamond presence. Call it a dream, but I''d love to build the best diamond store Canada has ever seen

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

Date: 1/20/2006 12:09:10 AM
Author: BigToque

Where I live there is very little in the way of a diamond presence. Call it a dream, but I''d love to build the best diamond store Canada has ever seen

Then get a good business and marketing background

and employ gemmologists

 

[Richard Sherwood]

The GIA GG and Gem-A FGA carry the most recognition in the industry.

The FGA is reputed to be more in-depth, and costs a couple thousand less than the GIA GG.

If it were me, I''d go with the FGA.