Colored stones have a special allure. And although everyone talks of the “big three,” there’s a lot more to today’s colored stone market than rubies, sapphires, and emeralds. There are beautiful, desirable gemstones you might not know, can’t pronounce, and couldn’t identify. They’re from exotic lands like Sri Lanka, Africa, Vietnam, and Brazil – places most jewelry consumers only dream about. When you work with colored stones, you get close to gemstone sources that exist far from the modern world.

In GIA’s Colored Stones Diploma Program you’ll learn how to identify these gems, detect their treatments, and how to grade them. Using GIA’s Colored Stone Grading System, you’ll discover how to judge a stone’s color, clarity, and quality. But this program goes beyond color and into the economics of supply and demand. It’s here where you also learn the gemology, product knowledge, and trade practices you need for a successful career in the exciting world of jewelry and gemstones.

Complete this program and you will no longer take color at face value. You’ll look at a stone’s source and supply just as closely as you do its hue and saturation. We’ll take you on a virtual journey to the corners of the world. After that, you’re ready to make the trip a reality.