Carlsbad, Calif. – Have you ever considered a career in the glamorous world of gems and jewelry? There are many positions available, including designing or manufacturing the latest jewelry, selling jewelry, grading and identifying gemstones, and managing a retail jewelry store, to name just a few. According to the jewelry industry’s leading educational organization, the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), the specific training needed to qualify for these positions is within the reach of anyone who has a high school diploma.

A position in retail jewelry sales – where an estimated 125,000 people are currently employed in the U.S. – is one of the easiest ways to start a career in this industry. This position can lead to a substantial income for top sales professionals, and commissions can add even more to a base income. For many jewelry sales associates, the most rewarding aspect of their work is the prospect of bringing symbols of love and happiness into someone’s life.

“Seeing that twinkle in a customer’s eye when you show them a diamond or other precious gem is what makes retail jewelry sales so exciting,” said Sara Mamoor, a sales associate with Bailey Banks & Biddle in Rockaway, N.J.  Mamoor is a graduate of GIA’s Accredited Jewelry Professional diploma program.

To succeed in retail jewelry sales, it’s critical to know how to confidently advise customers about gems, jewelry design, and the manufacturing process. One way to gain this knowledge is with GIA’s A.J.P. diploma program.  Becoming an A.J.P. will help you to not only answer the questions you will face in a retail situation, but also give you the tools for effectively closing sales.

If the science and technical side of the gem and jewelry industry sounds appealing to you, then consider becoming a Graduate Gemologist (G.G.).  This acclaimed diploma can open the door to such positions as buyer, appraiser, or even lab and research professional. Gemological laboratories are continually seeking new talent to accommodate the rising amount of gemstones submitted for identification, and jewelers are hiring more individuals who possess the training required to identify and grade gemstones – as well as to prepare appraisals.

For students and trade professionals desiring to learn how to succeed in the business of jewelry, the recently established GIA School of Business – the first of its kind to teach management skills as they apply specifically to the jewelry industry – currently offers diploma programs in Jewelry Business Principles and Jewelry Finance, with Merchandising, and Business Law to be added in 2003. These programs provide a solid business foundation to jewelry store managers, executives, and owners.

If you have a great imagination and a knack for being creative, and would prefer to work at a bench more than at a desk, then consider an art-and-design-related education in gems and jewelry. There is a world of career opportunities available for those who enroll in GIA’s Jewelry Manufacturing Arts diploma program. This program includes Applied Jewelry Arts (A.J.A.), which teaches design and pre-production fundamentals; and Graduate Jeweler (G.J.), which teaches the fundamentals of manufacturing and repair. Some of the positions this training can lead to include jewelry designer, professional bench jeweler, and jewelry production manager.

For more information on being trained for a career in the gem and jewelry industry, call GIA at 800-421-7250, ext. 4001, or go to www.gia.edu.

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