Frequently Asked Questions

  • EDUCATION
  • ALUMNI
  • LAB
  • ABOUT GEMSTONES
  • ABOUT GIA
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Programs and Courses

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Distance Education

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On Campus

  • What is the deadline for enrolling in on campus programs?

    There is no specific deadline. Class sizes are limited, so we encourage you to apply at least 6 months prior to your preferred start date. Your application must be complete, including all required documents and fees, in order to reserve a seat.

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Lab Classes

  • What is the difference between a Lab class and the Student Workroom?

    GIA’s traveling Lab classes provide practical hands-on training at a location near you. Taught by GIA instructors, you learn real-world jewelry skills in as little as three hours and in 5 days/10 nights or less. GIA’s Student Workrooms simply offer a quiet environment for self-study and proctored exams. You gain convenient access to gemstones and a professionally equipped gemology lab to complete practical Distance Education course assignments. And a GIA instructor is right there to answer any of your questions.

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International Students

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Financial Aid

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GIA Alumni Association

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GIA Continuing Education Program

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Laboratory

  • Can anyone submit stones to the GIA Laboratory for grading or identification?

    Anyone around the world can submit diamonds and colored gemstones to GIA and be assured of consistent quality standards, service, and fee structures.

  • How do I submit stones to the Laboratory?

    You’ll find detailed instructions for submitting stones to GIA Laboratory locations worldwide here. Whether you choose to ship your items to us, or drop them off in person, here are a few tips to help ensure the quick return of your items.

    • For GIA Diamond Grading Reports and Diamond Dossier services, we only accept loose (unmounted) diamonds. Mounted stones are accepted for Verification, Colored Diamond Identification and Origin grading services, depending upon the setting or mounting.
    • While you may submit any gem material to any GIA Laboratory location for grading or identification services, there may be some limitations on the size and types of goods serviced at that particular facility. Your items may be shipped to another GIA Laboratory location for service. Please refer to specific locations for details.

  • What if (or I am unsure whether) gem material has been treated or is a product of gem synthesis?

    You are required to disclose if you know, suspect or are unsure that the material has undergone treatment or is a product of gem synthesis. To learn more about disclosing treated or synthetic gem material when submitting stones to GIA for service, click here.

  • What is GIA LabDirect?

    GIA LabDirect, a system of authorized, third-party consolidators, provides easy, convenient access to GIA Laboratory services from a growing number of locations outside the U.S. With GIA LabDirect, international customers can deliver and pick up their items locally, transact business in their own languages, and get help with packaging, insurance, customs and the many complicated details of shipping valuables internationally. Please contact GIA LabDirect consolidators for their  hours of operation, specific payment instructions, and other details.

  • How do I replace a lost or stolen GIA Report?

    Please contact us for details.

  • Why do I need an independent diamond grading report?

    For the ultimate peace of mind, ask your jeweler to provide an independent diamond grading report with your diamond. The most widely used and respected reports are those issued by the independent GIA Laboratory, which provides grading reports on the world’s most important diamonds. A professional jeweler can arrange to have your diamond graded and even have a personal message or unique GIA Diamond Grading Report number laser-inscribed onto the diamond's girdle (its outer edge).

  • What is diamond inscription?

    A micro-laser beam can be used to etch a microscopic inscription on the girdle of any diamond weighing 0.25 carat or more. Inscriptions are most often used to give a diamond a unique identification. For example, Diamond Grading Report numbers or other information relating to ownership are often inscribed. However, romantic messages like “Forever Yours” and “Always and Forever” have become popular, along with poetry, symbols, names and special dates. Since a message can be read only under magnification, you and your special someone can keep it to yourselves or choose to share it with others. The price of GIA's inscription service is based on the weight of the diamond and the length of the inscription. Typically, up to 15 character spaces can be inscribed.

  • Does GIA perform appraisals? If not, how can I locate a qualified appraiser?

    A GIA Laboratory report offers technical information on the dimensions, quality and identifying characteristics of a loose diamond, but does not provide an appraisal value. Later, value may be determined from the information provided by a GIA Diamond Grading Report. If your diamond is mounted and you would like to have an appraisal of the entire piece of jewelry, an independent appraiser can provide this service. An appraisal provides a quality analysis, description and a valuation of a jewelry item.

    There are many appraisal associations than can assist you with locating an appraiser.

  • Do you grade diamond cut? For what minimum carat size?

    Yes. The GIA Diamond Cut Grading System, introduced in 2005 after years of extensive research, assigns one of five grades to describe the overall cut quality of a standard round brilliant diamond in the GIA D-to-Z color range. Each cut grade represents a range of proportion sets and diamond appearances, each of which may conform in different ways to the characteristics of that grade. The GIA Cut Grade is reported on the GIA Diamond Grading Report™ (0.15 ct and larger) and the GIA Diamond Dossier® (0.15–1.99 ct).

  • Do you grade branded specialty cuts?

    Yes, we grade all polished diamonds regardless of shape or brand.

    We evaluate all diamonds according to the GIA International Diamond Grading System™, which takes into consideration the Four C’s. With fancy or specialty cuts, however, we only evaluate Color, Clarity, and Carat Weight. We do support the marketing and branding of these cuts with laser inscription and reporting of brand names. Our extensive library of over 500 plotting diagrams includes many branded and specialty cuts.

    We judge the appearance of these special cuts compared with one another, or with the standard round brilliant.

  • Has diamond cut improved in recent years?

    Over the past several years, we have generally seen improvements in the polishing of diamonds, including the placement and alignment of facets, the exactness in the angular relationships between facets and the quality of polishing. With the introduction of GIA’s cut grading system for round brilliants in 2005, we have also noticed that efforts are under way to pay closer attention to previously ignored aspects of diamond polishing.

  • Do you grade fracture-filled diamonds?

    No. Filling of diamond fractures with a glass is not a stable, permanent treatment; grading results would be affected if the filler is damaged or removed.

  • Do you grade polished synthetic diamonds?

    Yes. In June 2006, GIA announced it would begin offering synthetic diamond grading reports to the public and the trade to provide consumers with the necessary information and disclosure. After talks with natural diamond producers and synthetic diamond manufacturers, GIA began offering a synthetic grading report in January 2007 that satisfied both groups. This system uses the same color and clarity boundaries as the grading system for natural diamonds, but with fewer quality grade categories.

  • Do you analyze the light performance of a diamond?

    Performance analysis implies that some type of methodology analyzes light emitted from a diamond in the same way that the human eye does. GIA’s past research found no existing technology capable of such analysis. To compensate for this, GIA used proprietary ray-tracing software to develop a system that would predict brightness and fire from a variety of proportions sets (angles and dimensions) input into the computer. In order to determine which diamonds were perceived as best, GIA showed diamonds with a wide variety of proportions to diamond manufacturers, jewelers and consumers. Observations were conducted in dealers’ offices, where jewelers did their buying, and other locations. Other observation tests were conducted in controlled lighting environments. Through this research, GIA determined that the pattern—the size and arrangement of bright and dark areas in a diamond—was essential to the assessment of a diamond’s appearance. Formulas were determined that could predict when certain areas of a diamond were dark or bright for the observer. Grade boundaries were based on the threshold at which the combination of brightness, fire and pattern were perceived to be the best; as observers saw detracting differences in appearance, various grade levels were established. Human observation testing was used to set the thresholds for the five grades — Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair and Poor. GIA created lookup tables incorporating these factors; they also included weight ratio, girdle thickness, polish, finish and symmetry. When the angles and dimensions of a diamond are measured on a non-contact measuring device, those measurements are used to access the lookup tables and determine a final grade.

  • Can you detect a colored gemstone’s country of origin?

    Yes, we provide this service for some gemstones, such as corundum (ruby and sapphire), beryl (emerald) and certain tourmalines.

  • Do you test for treatments, such as beryllium testing in corundum?

    Yes. We test for all known treatments for diamonds, colored stones and pearls, and have an ongoing research program to study and develop practical identification criteria for new gem treatment processes.

  • What specialized equipment do you have?

    GIA’s high-tech analytical instruments include:

    • Fourier-transform infrared spectrometer
    • Raman spectrometer
    • Ultraviolet, visible and near-infrared spectrometers (UV-Vis-NIR)
    • Energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometers (EDXRF) for
      chemical analysis
    • Laser ablation–inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometers (LA-ICP-MS) for
      chemical analysis
    • Fluorescence spectrometers
    • Cathodoluminescence instrument
    • X-ray powder diffraction camera
    • X-ray radiography equipment for pearl analysis
    • Real-time digital X-radiography for pearl analysis
    • GIA has many of these specialized scientific instruments at each of our laboratory
      locations.

  • Do you translate your grading reports to other languages?

    Not at this time.

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About Diamonds

  • What are the 4Cs?

    The key to a diamond’s value is its rarity, and no two diamonds are alike. Rarity is determined by a diamond's unique characteristics as measured by the 4Cs: cut, color, clarity and carat weight. Using these criteria, a small diamond of exceptional quality will likely be more valuable than a larger diamond of lower quality.

  • What is Clarity?

    Clarity refers to a stone's relative position on a flawless-to-imperfect scale. Clarity characteristics are classified as inclusions (internal) or blemishes (external). The size, number, position, nature and color or relief of these characteristics determines the clarity grade. Very few diamonds are flawless, showing no inclusions or blemishes under 10x magnification. The GIA Clarity Scale includes eleven grades ranging from Flawless to I3. If other factors are equal, flawless stones are most valuable. Learn more about clarity. 

  • What is Color?

    Grading color in the normal range involves deciding how closely a stone's bodycolor approaches colorlessness. Most diamonds have at least a trace of yellow or brown in their bodycolor. With the exception of some natural fancy colors, such as blue, pink, purple or red, the colorless grade is the most valuable. The GIA Diamond Grading System uses letters to represent colors, beginning with D (colorless) and ending at Z (light yellow or brown).  Learn more about color.

  • What is Cut?

    The proportions and finish of a polished diamond are its cut, or make. Cut can also mean shape, as in emerald cut or marquise cut. Proportions are the size and angle relationships between the facets and different parts of the stone. Finish includes polish and details of facet shape and placement. Cut affects both the weight yield from rough and the optical efficiency of the polished stone; the more successful the cutter is in balancing these considerations, the more valuable the stone will be. GIA provides a cut quality grade for standard round brilliant diamonds that fall in the GIA D-to-Z color range. The GIA Cut Scale ranges from Excellent to Poor. Learn more about cut.

  • What is Carat Weight?

    The metric carat, which equals 0.200 gram, is the standard unit of weight for diamonds and most other gems. A carat weighs about the same as a small paper clip. Just as a dollar is divided into 100 pennies, a carat is divided into 100 “points.” This means that a diamond of 50 points weighs 0.50 carats. But two diamonds of equal weight can have very different values depending on their clarity, color and cut. Learn more about carat weight. 

  • What is a diamond?

    A diamond is a mineral composed essentially of carbon crystallized at extremely high temperatures and pressures; in nature, diamonds form 150 to 200 kilometers (93 to 124 miles) or more below the earth's surface. Diamond is the hardest of all known natural substances (10 on the Mohs scale). Its refractive index is 2.417, dispersion 0.044, specific gravity 3.52, and its luster is adamantine. Diamond forms in the cubic, or isometric, crystal system, has four directions of perfect octahedral cleavage, and shows a step-like fracture surface. Its color ranges from colorless to yellow, brown, gray, orange, green, blue, white, black, purple, pink- and (extremely rarely) red.

  • What are synthetic diamonds?

    Synthetic diamonds are grown in a laboratory, and have essentially the same chemical composition, crystal structure and physical and optical properties as natural diamonds. The majority of synthetic diamonds are made for industrial purposes. In the last thirty years, gem-quality synthetic diamonds have been grown in Japan, South Africa, Russia, Ukraine and the United States in small quantities. Synthetic diamonds are generally produced using one of two methods. One method uses high pressure and high temperature (HPHT), and the other uses chemical vapor deposition (CVD).

    Synthetic diamonds are not to be confused with diamond simulants (such as cubic zirconia) which only look like diamonds. Diamond simulants, which can be natural or synthetic, have chemical compositions and physical and optical properties that are different from those of diamond. They can be readily identified by a trained gemologist or jeweler.

  • What are CVD synthetic diamonds?

    Synthetic diamonds produced by the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process are grown at very high temperatures, but very low pressures. This growth technique can produce thin, brown to near colorless synthetic diamond crystals that are suitable for faceting for jewelry purposes. Synthetic diamonds grown by this new method differ in their gemological properties from those grown by the traditional HPHT technique.

  • What are HPHT synthetic diamonds?

    Synthetic diamonds grown using high pressure/high temperature (HPHT) methods are produced by several companies around the world. This process uses equipment that mimics the pressure- and heat-filled environment where natural diamonds formed deep in the earth. Synthetic diamonds have been produced in a variety of colors, including yellow, blue, green, pink, red, purple and colorless. Although they are physically, optically and chemically identical to their natural counterparts, these synthetic diamonds can be identified by a trained gemologist using standard gem-testing equipment and techniques.

  • What are HPHT-treated diamonds?

    HPHT, which stands for high pressure/high temperature, is a laboratory process that can change the color in some gem diamonds. In the 1990s, scientists began to experiment with ways to modify diamond color using this technique. HPHT treatment can change the color of certain type IIa diamonds, making them colorless, pink or blue. HPHT can also change certain type Ia diamonds to green, yellowish green or yellow. Type IIa diamonds are very rare in nature, making up less than 2 percent of all diamonds mined Type Ia diamonds are the most abundant kind of diamond in nature. 

  • What is GIA's position on the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme?

    In 2000, GIA began working closely with the World Diamond Council (WDC) in a technical capacity, as the WDC led the international diamond industry's efforts to stem the illegal flow of conflict diamonds into the international marketplace. GIA's work concentrated on research into diamond composition and origin. GIA testified before Congress on this topic and participated in a White House Conference on Conflict Diamonds.

    GIA fully supports the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme and upholds its principles, though we do not handle rough diamonds and are not directly involved (few in the diamond pipeline actually do handle rough). GIA's role is now largely behind-the-scenes, serving as an engaged observer of the issue and remaining supportive of the Kimberley Process.

  • I found a clear, colorless stone at the beach that I think may be a diamond because it scratches glass. How can I find out for sure?

    The stone you found could be a number of things. Many minerals form, in their purest state (without chemical impurities that would add color), as a colorless crystal. The scratch test alone is not proof enough to determine if a mineral is a diamond or not. Anything that has a hardness the same as or higher than glass, which is a 5 to 6 on the Mohs hardness scale can scratch glass. Other gemological tests would need to be performed to provide a positive identification.

    The GIA Laboratory provides gem identification services for a fee. Contact us to find out how to submit the stone and for the rates. You can also have a gemologist in your area help you identify the stone. To find a GIA Graduate Gemologist, you can search the GIA Alumni Directory online.

  • I heard moissanite looks just like a diamond. How can I tell them apart?

    Moissanite is a synthetic gem material with properties that differ from those of diamond. An experienced gemologist will be able to distinguish between diamond and synthetic moissanite. If there is any doubt, the stone can be sent to a qualified independent laboratory for identification.

    Synthetic moissanite has the following physical properties: refractive index 2.648–2.691, birefringence 0.043, specific gravity 3.22 (it will float in methylene iodide — S.G. 3.32), dispersion 0.104, and hardness 9.25. Under magnification, look for the following characteristics: doubling in appearance of facet junctions, whitish or reflective needles, rounded facet junctions, surface pits, or polish lines.

  • What is fluorescence? Is it something I should be concerned about?

    Fluorescence is a common phenomenon in diamonds and other gemstones. The fluorescence that occurs naturally in a diamond arises from submicroscopic structures within the diamond when it is exposed to UV light. Blue is the most common color of fluorescence, but other colors are also possible.

    GIA Laboratory diamond grading reports, note the strength of fluorescence as none, faint, medium, strong or very strong. Beginning with medium, the color of the fluorescence will be noted (ex. blue, yellow, green, etc.). If fluorescence is faint, the report will not note the color.

    A detailed article describing GIA’s findings can be found in the Winter 1997 issue of Gems & Gemology, in an article titled "A Contribution to Understanding the Effect of Blue Fluorescence on the Appearance of Diamonds."

    Some jewelers believe that fluorescence is an undesirable characteristic. However, GIA's research indicates that fluorescence is not necessarily negative and, in some cases, actually has a positive effect by making a diamond appear whiter.

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Purchasing Diamonds and Gemstones

  • I am shopping for a diamond. Do you have any helpful advice?

    Educating yourself about diamonds will help you make a sound purchase. Shopping for diamonds that have GIA Laboratory grading reports will assure you that you are comparing diamonds that have been graded consistently. Any diamond can be sent to our laboratory for a grading report, before or after it is purchased.

    There are several worthwhile books written for consumers that explain the diamond grading system and offer advice for shoppers. We generally recommend reading one or more of these consumer buying guides. A few of the popular titles include: The Diamond Ring Buying Guide by Renee Newman (2002); Engagement and Wedding Rings by Antoinette Matlins (2003); Diamonds: The Antoinette Matlins Buying Guide by Antoinette Matlins (2001); and Before You Buy An Engagement Ring by Nancy Schiffer (1999).

  • How should I choose a jeweler?

    Choose a jeweler as you would choose your doctor, lawyer or any other professional. Ask friends and colleagues for recommendations. Consider how long a jeweler has been in business. Look for GIA diplomas or other evidence of a jeweler’s education and qualifications. Check for affiliations with jewelry industry groups and professional associations. A knowledgeable jeweler will clearly explain how the “4Cs” (cut, clarity, color and carat weight) affect the value of diamonds and will encourage you to compare a number of stones within the same price range.

  • How can I verify that a jeweler is a GIA graduate?

    You can use our online directory to see if your jeweler is listed. Or submit an Education Verification Form.

  • I’m purchasing a GIA-graded diamond online or sight unseen. How can I be sure that the information described to me is the same as what appears on the diamond’s GIA report?

    If you know the diamond’s GIA grading report number and carat weight, you can use GIA Report Check to verify whether the information matches what’s contained in our database. Please note: Report Check is currently only available for diamonds in the D-Z color scale.

  • I am looking for dealers or suppliers. Where can I find this type of information?

    GIA cannot recommend specific dealers or suppliers. However, there are several independently published directories that contain this type of information. These include:

    Jewelers' Circular Keystone, a jewelry-trade magazine also known as JCK, publishes a directory in their December issue that lists wholesalers and dealers. To order a print copy of the JCK directory issue, please visit http://www.jckonline.com or contact Jewelers' Circular Keystone at 360 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10010. telephone 515.247.2984 or 888.797.9926.

    Jewelry Artist/Lapidary Journal, a popular magazine for gem cutters, publishes an Annual Buyers' Directory each May. This issue lists products, services, and suppliers of gems and jewelry. Their website is http://www.jewelryartistmagazine.com. You can purchase this issue by contacting Jewelry Artist/Lapidary Journal directly at Jewelry Artist, 300 Chesterfield Parkway, Suite 100, Malvern, PA 19355 USA, telephone 610.232.5700 or 800.676.4336.


    In addition, National Jeweler publishes an Industry Yellow Pages every year in December. The issue lists jewelry trade organizations, associations, products, services, and suppliers of gems and jewelry. Their website is http://www.nationaljeweler.com. You can purchase this issue by contacting National Jeweler at 770 Broadway, Fifth Floor, New York, NY 10003-9595 USA, telephone 847.763.9050.

  • How can I buy a wholesale price list?

    GIA is not involved in pricing, but there are several companies that do publish wholesale price lists. Because these price lists are wholesale, they are available to the jewelry trade only. Here is a list of companies that publish independent pricing guides. 

  • I would like to buy/sell estate jewelry through auction. Do you have a list of auctioneers?

    Please see our list of auction houses. 

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About Gemstone Treatments

  • What is gem “enhancement”?

    Enhancement is any artificial process that alters the appearance, especially the color or clarity, of a natural diamond or other gem material. Coating, fracture filling, irradiation, heating (annealing) and lasering are all forms of enhancement. Enhancement can also be referred to as “treatment." Selling enhanced diamonds and gemstones is an accepted practice in the gem and jewelry industry provided the enhancement is disclosed prior to sale.

  • What is the difference between “treatment” and “enhancement”?

    There is no difference. In 1996, the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) revised guides for the jewelry industry and declared that under many circumstances, use of the word “enhancement” led to deceptive and unfair trade practices. The FTC explained that the word “treatment” is a more accurate term to describe gemstones that have undergone processes to improve their color or appearance.

  • What are lattice diffusion sapphires?

    The mechanism by which atoms or ions move through solids is known as diffusion. Lattice diffusion is a treatment process that uses heat and chemicals to diffuse an element from an external source into a gemstone to artificially change its color. Even the most perfect crystal has places in its lattice where atoms are missing. These holes are termed “vacancies.” In the case of corundum, which is made up of aluminum and oxygen atoms, the higher the temperature, the more missing atoms there will be. The color change depends on the type of element that is diffused into the corundum, its inherent chemical composition and the conditions under which the diffusion takes place.

    Early in 2002, a large number of pinkish orange sapphires came into the jewelry market. It became apparent that corundum treated by a new technique had been introduced into the marketplace unannounced, particularly in Japan. Careful research demonstrated that this new process involved diffusion of the element beryllium (Be) into a wide variety of corundum types to alter their color. It has been reported that at first chrysoberyl, which is a mineral made up of beryllium, aluminum and oxygen, was accidentally mixed in among the sapphires during the heat treatment process. Later, crushed chrysoberyl was deliberately added to the crucibles to release their beryllium, creating the yellow color component. In addition to the change in color, these stones exhibit many other features—both internal and on the surface—that indicate treatment.

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About GIA

  • Is the Richard T. Liddicoat Gemological Library and Information Center open to the public? Do you mail out photocopies of articles?

    Any person or company can contact the library for quick reference information. We can be reached by e-mail or by calling toll-free 800-421-7250, ext. 4046 or 760-603-4046. You can also come to the library to conduct your own research. Reference questions received at library@gia.edu are placed into our routing system and will be answered in a timely manner. Phone calls are answered Monday through Friday from 7:30 am–5:00 pm Pacific time.

    We will give you detailed citations and, if possible, contact information to obtain a magazine, journal or book. Due to copyright restrictions, we cannot photocopy articles and book excerpts and mail them to you.

    Only students attending classes at the Carlsbad campus and GIA employees can take materials from the library. If you attend Lab classes on the Carlsbad campus, you have limited checkout privileges during your enrollment. All other customers, including GIA Distance Education students, may view the materials in the library's study areas. A current photo ID is required. The GIA library is a closed-stack library, which means non-GIA employees are served from the front counter.

  • What is My GIA?

    My GIA is GIA’s password-protected portal environment that provides access to an array of web-based services and applications, as well as information about Institute events, offerings, and more. My GIA is available to Distance Education students and prospective students, alumni, and laboratory clients.

  • What features are available on My GIA?

    For Students:

    • access eLearning gemology courses
    • access online business courses
    • submit traditional distance education course assignment and
      receive results immediately
    • schedule exams
    • conduct library research
    • review existing coursework and grades
    • contact your instructor
    • enroll in a course
    • request a catalog
    • contact the Admissions department
    • access the GIA Career Services job database
    • find a Lab class, and more!

     

    For Laboratory clients with online accounts:

    • check your job status and grading results
    • create a job order online
    • order reports to be printed
    • view all items that are available for pick up or shipping
    • view all items that have been returned to you within the last
      two weeks
    • view billing details and pay online – Coming Soon!
    • view your GIA Account information and preferences
    • easily manage multiple user access to you online account with a Super User.

  • How do I access My GIA?

    By logging into My GIA with your User ID and Password. If you’ve enrolled in a GIA course, requested information about GIA Education, opened a GIA Laboratory online account, or registered with the GIA Alumni Association, a User ID and Temporary Password were emailed to you.

    Future Students
    Get User ID and Password by requesting a catalog  or simply by joining the My GIA Community. 

    GIA Distance Education Students
    Your User ID and Password were e-mailed to you when you registered. If you have forgotten your password it can be reset for you. If you’ve forgotten your User ID, please contact Portal Support.

    Laboratory Clients
    Join the My GIA Community by setting up an online account. Please contact your GSR or click here for details.

    Alumni
    Get a User ID and Password simply by joining the My GIA Community. 

  • What are the minimum computer system requirements for My GIA?

    • Windows XP SP2, Windows Vista, Windows 7, or Mac OS X
    • Internet Explorer 6.x, 7.x, 8.x, Firefox 2.x or 3.x, Safari 3.x or 4.x
    • Please do not use the AOL, MSN, or Opera browsers with this site
    • Screen resolution: 1024 x 768 or above
    • Be sure that JavaScript is enabled, cookies are allowed and pop-up blockers disabled
    • Adobe Flash Player 8 or later is required for the eLearning courses
    • Adobe Reader is required to read PDF documents
    • QuickTime 7 or later (+ iTunes) is required to play MPEG-4 (M4V) videos

  • Can I link my website to the GIA website?

    Yes, you can. Please see our linking policies for more information, including how to download a web logo for your site.

  • Can I just drop by to tour the Carlsbad campus anytime?

    No, we need at least 24 hours advanced notice of your intended visit. The first and last names of all visitors are required and each adult guest must have photo identification. Learn more about Visiting GIA.

  • What will I see when I take a tour of GIA’s Carlsbad campus?

    A GIA Docent will guide you through the Education hallways, the Museum, and the main lobby where you will see beautiful displays of jewelry, art objects, photographs and spectacular examples of gem material. The GIA Laboratory is not included in the tour for security reasons.

  • I’m a member of a local club. Does GIA offer group tours?

    Yes, tours are available for groups with a minimum of 15, maximum of 30 guests. Group tours are about an hour and a half long and are free of charge.

  • My child is really interested in gems and minerals. Does GIA offer any special programs for children?

    Yes, GIA offers special classes tailored for students in grades 4 – 12 at its World Headquarters and Robert Mouawad campus in Carlsbad, California. These classes are arranged through schools and require a minimum of 15 students (and a maximum of 40 students) to make a reservation. Learn more about GIA’s free Junior Gemologist Program.

  • I am a Boy Scout/Girl Scout leader. Does GIA offer a program for scouts?

    Yes, GIA has programs available on the Carlsbad campus for Boy Scouts that focus on geology, mineralogy and gemology. The Geology Merit Badge Series program is available to scouts ages 11 -14 while the Geology Belt Loop and Pin Series program is geared for scouts ages 8-10. A Jewelry Merit Badge program is available for Girl Scouts ages 9 and up. The program teaches about earth science exploration and how to design a piece of jewelry. Learn more about GIA’s Junior Gemologist Program.

  • Are there volunteer opportunities available at GIA?

    Yes, whether you are interested in helping children with the GIA Junior Gemologist Program, conducting tours of the Carlsbad campus or helping out with special projects, GIA provides a complete volunteer training program. Learn more about how to Become a Volunteer.

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Contact GIA

800-421-7250

International
760-603-4000

Fax
760-603-4080