GIA Alumni question for dealer in Toronto

[syzygy]

I am looking into a b&m for my stone that has given me an increadible quote, the owner claimed that his family (family business) were GIA afiliated, and trained etc..

So I went the GIA site and looked him up there and he IS listed as a Student, under the Alumni section.

What are the different ranks? for GIA and should I be leary of a "student" ranking, hehe getting images of a student barber for instance running through my mind .


I know www.usacerteddiamonds.com is by far the Canadian recomendation for the GTA... but I am not sure of getting everything in parts and bringing it somewhere to get put togeather, though it still is an option I am considering.

This b&m has a good price, a great stone (assuming when I take it to an idependant to confirms it''s GIA stats) a great price from my research, and he is basically throwing in the band (including if I want him to do a custom job) included with the cost of the stone.

any thoughs on the whole GIA student thing?


Thanks!

 

[oldminer]

NO store is GIA "affiliated".

A member of the GIA Alumni Association pays dues to remain an active member, but there are no implied credentials or testing. The is little in the way of any code of ethics being enforced to the best of my knowledge, either.

Many claim some close affiliation to GIA. It is almost universally a false claim. Many have credentials from taking GIA education courses, but how they conduct themselves in business has nothing to do with their GIA credentials or the degree of their education.

 

[CaptAubrey]

this is what gia has to say on the subject:




http://www.gia.edu/about/42/copyright__trademarks.cfm




scroll down to "using the gia name in advertising."