The German Gemmological Association (DGemG) is a nonprofit, technical-scientific association in the field of gemmology, located in the European gemstone center Idar-Oberstein. The two most important points of the statutes are the promotion of gemmology as science and technique and the development of information and education in the field of gemmology. [1]
The DGemG was founded by the gemstone dealer and gemmologist Georg Otto Wild from Idar-Oberstein in 1932. [2] Therefore, the DGemG is one of the three oldest gemmological institutes worldwide. Gemmological courses have been offered since 1935 and since 1952 the journal ”GEMMOLOGIE. Journal of the German Gemmological Association” has been published.
Beginning in 1968, the education was systematized in three fields: Gemmology of coloured stones, grading of diamonds and pearls/organic substances. The fundamental research and applied gemmology was done at the University of Heidelberg.
In 1969 the “Professor-Dr.-Karl-Schlossmacher-Stiftung” was founded by the DGemG, which was renamed as “Deutsche Stiftung Edelsteinforschung” (DSEF) in 1979. In 1975, the new building of the German Gemmological Association and facilities of the German Gemmological Education Center – German public vocational development office for Gemmology - were opened in the Professor-Schlossmacher-Straße. The international qualification F.G.G. (Fellow of the German Gemmological Association)was introduced in 1986 to support economy-related gemmological projects by the financial district parliament of Rhineland-Palatinate. In 2000 the gemmological courses and refresher-courses were improved to be more oriented towards the branch of trade. Nine years later followed a certification of the Association as a member of the public vocational development program (AZWV in Germany). [3]
The German Gemmological Association fosters intense cooperations with geoscientific institutions of German Universities regarding research and education, e.g. with the universities in Mainz, [4] Heidelberg, Hamburg, Würzburg, Bonn, with the “Fachhochschule” (college) of Rhineland-Palatinate and other gemmological institutions and laboratories world-wide.
Employees of the DGemG act as representatives of the German gemmology at international fairs, meetings, collaborations and boards of the gemstone- and jewellery market, like the international gemmological conference (IGC), [5] the International Coloured Gemstone Association (ICA), the World Jewellery Confederation CIBJO, the Gemstone Industry and Laboratory Conference (GILC) and the Federation for European Education in Gemmology (FEEG). [6]
The attainment of the membership of the German Gemmological Association is open for everyone. It includes
Eligible people have passed the educational programs of the DGemG and are willing to continuously improve their knowledge through special courses every five years.
The magazine „GEMMOLOGIE – Magazine of the German Gemmological Association“ is a technical-scientific publication for the members of the Association. It is issued regularly since 1952, currently available with two issues a year. It covers current proceedings in the gemstone-field, results and research-topics of the laboratory and short informations.
About 30.000 participants from over 80 countries took part in the seminars and educational programs of the DGemG, which are offered in German and English. They are divided in gemology, diamond grading and pearls/organic substances. After passing all three educational series, which takes about four months full-time, the participant will obtain the confirmation to issue gemological reports himself and is eligible to become a fellow of the German Gemmological Association (F.G.G). The German Gemmological research- and educational-center is seated in the midst of the traditional gemstone-metropole, Idar-Oberstein and owns seminar-rooms, research labs and an educational gemstone-collection.
The German Gemmological Association supports basic as well as applied research in all fields of gemology, especially through funding the German Gemstone Research Foundation (DSEF). [7] Major aspects of the research include:
All the results are worked into the current technological transfer of the market. This can be through publishing the results in the own magazine “GEMMOLOGIE”, lectures and meetings in Germany (own annual symposia) and abroad. The educational programs are always updated with the results. [8] The DSEF-lab fulfills all requirements to a modern, international service-institute for the gemstone-market. It characterizes gemstones, analyses the naturality and possible artificial treatments, issues gemstone-certificates and it can do research on any aspect of gemology with a professionally equipped laboratory and a research network to universities. Analysis of color-enhancements of diamonds, also the color-reasons of colored gemstones and the analysis of pearls and cultured pearls are common work done by this lab.
Emerald is a gemstone and a variety of the mineral beryl (Be3Al2(SiO3)6) colored green by trace amounts of chromium or sometimes vanadium. Beryl has a hardness of 7.5–8 on the Mohs scale. Most emeralds are highly included, so their toughness (resistance to breakage) is classified as generally poor. Emerald is a cyclosilicate.
A gemstone is a piece of mineral crystal which, in cut and polished form, is used to make jewelry or other adornments. However, certain rocks and occasionally organic materials that are not minerals are also used for jewelry and are therefore often considered to be gemstones as well. Most gemstones are hard, but some soft minerals are used in jewelry because of their luster or other physical properties that have aesthetic value. Rarity and notoriety are other characteristics that lend value to gemstones.
A ruby is a pinkish red to blood-red colored gemstone, a variety of the mineral corundum. Ruby is one of the most popular traditional jewelry gems and is very durable. Other varieties of gem-quality corundum are called sapphires. Ruby is one of the traditional cardinal gems, alongside amethyst, sapphire, emerald, and diamond. The word ruby comes from ruber, Latin for red. The color of a ruby is due to the element chromium.
Gemology or gemmology is the science dealing with natural and artificial gemstone materials. It is a geoscience and a branch of mineralogy. Some jewelers are academically trained gemologists and are qualified to identify and evaluate gems.
Idar-Oberstein is a town in the Birkenfeld district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. As a Große kreisangehörige Stadt, it assumes some of the responsibilities that for smaller municipalities in the district are assumed by the district administration. Today's town of Idar-Oberstein is the product of two rounds of administrative reform, one in 1933 and the other in 1969, which saw many municipalities amalgamated into one. The various Stadtteile have, however, retained their original identities, which, aside from the somewhat more urban character encountered in Idar and Oberstein, tend to hearken back to each centre's history as a rural village. Idar-Oberstein is known as a gemstone town, and also as a garrison town. It is also the largest town in the Hunsrück.
Demantoid is the green gemstone variety of the mineral andradite, a member of the garnet group of Minerals. Andradite is a calcium- and iron-rich garnet. The chemical formula is Ca3Fe2(SiO4)3 with chromium substitution as the cause of the demantoid green color. Ferric iron is the cause of the yellow in the stone.
The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) is a nonprofit institute based in Carlsbad, California. It is dedicated to research and education in the field of gemology and the jewelry arts. Founded in 1931, GIA's mission is to protect buyers and sellers of gemstones by setting and maintaining the standards used to evaluate gemstone quality. The institute does so through research, gem identification and diamond grading services and a variety of educational programs. Through its library and subject experts, GIA acts as a resource of gem and jewelry information for the trade, the public and media outlets.
In gemmology, a Chelsea filter is a dichromatic optical filter used for identifying coloured stones.
Gems & Gemology is a quarterly scientific journal published by the Gemological Institute of America. Each issue is devoted to research on diamonds, gemstones, and pearls. Topics include geographic sources, imitations and synthetics, treatments, and identification techniques. Established in January 1934, Gems & Gemology is geared toward jewelry professionals and gemologists.
The Asian Institute of Gemological Sciences (AIGS) is a private gemological school and gemological laboratory based in Bangkok, Thailand.
Gemmological Institute of India is a gemmology training school in Mumbai, India.
The Swiss Gemmological Institute (SSEF) is a gemmology laboratory located in Basel, Switzerland. It is a part of the Schweizerische Stiftung für Edelstein Forschung. It was founded on an independent basis, by trade organisations, on August 22nd 1972. George Bosshart, mineralogist and GG was the first director after the laboratory's opening in Zürich. Diamond grading was the major task and colour stones were tested rather exceptionally. In 1980 Bosshart hired Dr. Henry A. Hänni, Mineralogist and FGA. In 1994 Hänni moved the laboratory to Basel. He has been teaching gemmology at Basel university, and the close link to the university proved to be very enriching for both parts, academic and laboratory work. Hänni became professor of gemmology at Basel University, also a reward for his years of steady research and supply of publications. Prof. H.A. Hänni retired in 2009 and Dr. Michael Krzemnicki took over his position as a director. Dr. Krzemnicki has been working for SSEF since 1999.
The gemstone irradiation is a process in which a gemstone is artificially irradiated in order to enhance its optical properties. High levels of ionizing radiation can change the atomic structure of the gemstone's crystal lattice, which in turn alters the optical properties within it. As a result, the gemstone's color may be significantly altered or the visibility of its inclusions may be lessened. The process, widely practised in jewelry industry, is done in either a nuclear reactor for neutron bombardment, a particle accelerator for electron bombardment, or a gamma ray facility using the radioactive isotope cobalt-60. Irradiation has enabled the creation of gemstone colors that do not exist or are extremely rare in nature.
The Gemmological Association of Great Britain (Gem-A) is an international gemmology education and qualifications body based in the United Kingdom.
Richard T. Liddicoat, Jr. was an American gemologist. Liddicoat was an educator in gemology, who also made contributions in the area of diamond quality grading and gem identification. Liddicoat was the Chairman of the Board of Governors at Gemological Institute of America (GIA).
The Canadian Gemmological Association (CGA) is a Canada-wide professional organization which sets standards in the practice of gemology. It is a non-profit, educational organization, which provides a forum for Canadian gemmologists to meet and share experiences and knowledge about gemstones. The CGA acts as a liaison with governments in setting guidelines for the sale and marketing of diamonds, coloured stones and pearls, and helps to establish guidelines for gem and jewellery appraising in Canada.
Universal Gemological Laboratories (GCI) is a gemological laboratory and a college for educational services founded in 1998. The laboratory's main headquarters is in the Israel Diamond Exchange in Ramat Gan. The GCI has regional labs and educational centers equipped with local and Israeli staff in Russia and, since June 2006, in India—a disposition of four branches in Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad and Kolkata. GCI is the only western laboratory that is officially permitted by the Russian government to operate in Russia.
Richard W. Hughes is an American gemologist and author, known as an authority on corundum, rubies and sapphires.
Gemological Science International, or GSI, is an independent gemological organization that is one of the largest gemological entities in the world, with offices in four continents.
Lotus Gemology is a gemology laboratory located in Bangkok, Thailand. It was founded in 2014 by Richard W. Hughes and Wimon Manorotkul and their daughter, E. Billie Hughes. Their idea was that, while precious stones were articles of great beauty, the lab reports issued by gem labs better resembled blood tests from a doctor than a celebration of that beauty. Thus they set about creating lab reports that were both scientifically accurate and aesthetically beautiful. Lotus Gemology's lab report covers are color coded. Gold reports are reserved for gems that are completely untreated, while silver reports are for gems that have been subjected to industry-standard treatments. Black reports are reserved for heavily treated and man-made gems. This consumer-friendly approach is unique in the industry.
