International School of Gemology

Errata: On June 21 I published a newsletter on Identifying Lab Created Diamonds with a Polariscope. In this article I correctly gave Randy Eric credit for his research in the use of Crossed Polarizing Filters for this purpose. However, I omitted the names of Branko Deljanin and Dusan Simic as co-authors of the book that introduced the concept. My apologies to Branko and Dusan, I owe you guys a beer next Tucson. The ladies all swoon over Randy so he is sort of the poster child of this concept. 😉

Identifying Diamond Types and Laboratory-grown Diamonds-with CPF (Cross-Polarized Filters), 3rd Edition - Branko Gems - Gemmological Research Industries Inc. Cross-Polarized Filters - Birefringence of diamond is observed from all directions in order to see the entire pattern and thereby determine type and origin.

We are experiencing internet outages from Spectrum today. Yes, we hate them but they are faster than AT&T here in Helotes. Email and other responses will be delayed. 😵

The ISG office is moving to our new location. The office computers will be down for about 24 hours. Thank you for your patience. Rj

Evaluating Jeweler’s Risks of Using Zing and BriteCo

Are retail jewelers acting as insurance agents for these companies?

As a state-licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Adjuster (TDI #1300433), I want to take a few minutes to discuss the Zing® (by Jewelers Mutual) and BriteCo™ “appraisal” platforms with you. Your role as a retail jeweler is integral to the industry, and reviewing both websites this morning reinforced what I already knew about these efforts, but I don’t think the jewelry industry is fully aware of the potential pitfalls. If you use these platforms you should read this evaluation.

The full evaluation is in today's newsletter:

Editorial: Evaluating Jeweler Risk of Using Zing and BriteCo - Editorial: Evaluating Jeweler Risk of Using Zing and BriteCo. take a few minutes to discuss the Zing and BriteCo “appraisal” platforms with you.

It's not about politics. It's about the cost of business operations. Everyone in states where the "defund the police" movement has taken such a toll on law and order, should consider what is happening in California. Many say, "It's ok; their insurance will cover it". Well, that is about to come home. State Farm, the state's largest insurer, is applying to increase premiums by as much as 50%, and is considering whether even writing policies in California is worth the trouble. The insurance companies can only absorb a certain level of losses before they start significantly raising premiums. In other words, we are all going to pay for the woke policies that exist in California and other places. Even if you live in other states, the natural insurance structure will spread massive losses in a few states to all states. When you watch the videos of gangs committing massive shoplifting and just walk away....eventually, we are all going to pay for this in far higher insurance premiums.

State Farm seeking massive rate hikes in California as state's insurance crisis escalates California's property insurance woes continue to climb as State Farm Insurance asked regulators for eye-popping rate hikes as the company weighs it future in the state.

Why is the ISG gemology tuition so low?

My name is Robert James. When I established the International School of Gemology 20 years ago I broke the cardinal rule of the jewelry industry, established years previously by the Gemological Institute of America. That rule: The knowledge of gemology is a magical, mystical knowledge whose gatekeeper is the GIA. This was demonstrated to me in a true event while working at USAA Insurance when I published a listing of gemstone refractive indices. One of my co-workers, who was previously an instructor at the GIA, turned me in for an ethics violation because she truly believed the refractive index of gemstones was proprietary to the GIA. (totally true story).

Over the years I paid literally tens of thousands of dollars for gemology diplomas to earn the GIA Graduate Gemologist, Fellow of the Gemmological Association of Great Britain (Gem-A), and the Certified Gemologist of the American Gem Society. It was essentially the same knowledge, just presented in different formats with minor variations. All the same knowledge and all very, very expensive.

During my 50+ (Yikes!) years in this industry, I have witnessed so many bright, promising members of the industry who would greatly benefit from formal gemological training but could not afford the tens of thousands of dollars to partake of that magical, mystical knowledge.

So, I set out to do something about that...

In July 2000 I established an Allied Teaching Centre for the FGA program of the Gemmological Association of Great Britain and worked closely with Ian Mercer, who was at the time the Director of Education of the Gem-A. This was during my years working for USAA. I left USAA in late 2004 and took my Allied Teaching Centre independent and created the International School of Gemology. The purpose was clear and simple:

Offer world class education in gemology and jewelry appraisal, at a price that everyone in the industry could afford.

Of course, this did not sit well with any of the big, expensive schools. We are, after all, teaching the magical, mystical knowledge at a small fraction of the price that the others charge. Our purpose is to support the small, home-town independent retail jeweler and not the big-money portion of the industry. Our commitment to the hometown independent jewelers has come with a cost of industry support since we cannot afford expensive advertising.

But we are here to stay and will continue to provide world-class gemology and jewelry appraisal education and graduate support at the lowest possible tuition. This will allow more people like us to take advantage of the knowledge of gemology.

I started in this business as a janitor for Zale's Jewelers in Denton, Texas over 50 years ago. I have spent tens of thousands of dollars on education to get where I am today. I want to provide others with the opportunity to advance but do not have to pay such a high cost to get there as I did.

Ultimately, gemology is truly a magical mystical knowledge that opens amazing career opportunities. But it should not be so expensive.

If you or your staff would benefit from a world-class gemology education but have problems affording it, please consider the International School of Gemology.

International School of Gemology Online and Classroom Education in Gemology and Appraisal Welcome to the ISG with online and in-person classroom learning. We offer insurance industry-certified courses in gemology and jewelry appraisal at the world’s lowest tuition rate.

Learning gemology takes more than just a teacher who is a good gemologist, it requires a gemologist who is a good teacher. I invite everyone to visit our website and Meet Your ISG Instructor.
https://gemology.pro/meet-your-instructor/

"The study of gemology should not be so expensive that it keeps those who would benefit from getting that knowledge."
Robert James FGA, GG, President ISG

Registered Gemologist Appraiser Diploma Program from the ISG The Registered Gemologist Appraiser Diploma program includes 27 sections that cover everything to begin a journey into a successful jewelry appraisal career.

ISG Accredited Gemology Professional

The Accredited Gemology Professional program is taken directly from the formal ISG Registered Gemologist Diploma Program but does not require equipment or practical exercises. It is structured to provide retail store employees with solid knowledge of gemology for applications in the jewelry-selling environment.

Our Accredited Gemology Professional Graduates rate this program with 5 Stars! Click the link below to learn more.

Accredited Gemology Professional - Online Gemology Program This course has 39 sections that cover all aspects of becoming an Accredited Gemology Professional, including diamonds, colored gemstones, and gem testing tools

ISG Gemology Classroom Tools Set. Buy the complete set of gemology tools from the ISG classroom for only $1295.00 plus $85.00 insured shipping in U.S. These are the work-station sets and have been used for 4 classes in the ISG classroom and have been quality checked for like-new condition.

Includes:

20x-40x Gem Microscope
Polariscope with conoscope
ISG Refractometer with polarizing filter and RI liquid
10x Professional Jewelers Loupe
Calcite Dichroscope
London Dichroscope
Diffraction Grating Spectroscope
Chelsea Filter
MagLite Halogen Light Penlight
Tweezers
Plunger Type Stone Holder
Selvyt Cloth
Gemstone Tray

https://gemologytools.pro/product/isg-gemology-classroom-tools-set/

Celebrating 24 years of education independence! From Allied Teaching Centre of the Gem-A to the International School of Gemology. Our goal is to provide you with world-class education opportunities at tuition prices everyone can afford.

https://gemology.pro

ISG Registered Gemologist Appraiser Program includes Complete Gem Lab Equipment

The Registered Gemologist Appraiser Diploma program includes 82 sections that provide all of the gemology and jewelry appraisal modules. The Registered Gemologist Appraiser Diploma program was designed and produced by state-licensed insurance underwriters, adjusters, and litigation managers specializing in high-value jewelry claims and insurance.

As part of your tuition, the ISG RGA program provides students with our top-level ISG-1 Gem Equipment Set needed to complete our Classroom-at-Home practicals program for hands-on gemology and jewelry appraisal training. Below is the equipment list you will receive:

20x - 40x Gemological Microscope
Polariscope with conoscope
Gem Refractometer-1 with a polarizing filter
Calcite Dichroscope
Diffraction Grating Spectroscope
Chelsea Filter
10x Triplet Jeweler’s Loupe
Gemstone Tweezers
Digital Millimeter Gauge

Visit us today to learn more: https://gemology.pro/course/registered-gemologist-appraiser-diploma-program/

International School of Gemology Welcome to the International School of Gemology, with certified courses and the lowest tuition rates.

ISG Created and Treated Gemstone Study Opportunities

Starting with next week’s Comprehensive Gem Identification Class here in San Antonio, the ISG is pleased to announce our significantly expanded learning opportunity in created and treated gemstones and diamonds. This expanded collection of created and treated gemstones is being made available thanks to the donations and support of Chatham Created Gems and other friends of the ISG.

Below is a partial collection list of our created and treated gemstones and diamonds that will be available for ISG students, both in the classroom and through distance education, starting next week.

Alexandrite Flux Melt
Alexandrite Pulled
Aquamarine Hydrothermal
Beryllium Treated Sapphire
Biron Hydrothermal Emerald
Bixbyte Red Beryl Hydrothermal
Chatham Emerald Flux Melt
Chatham Emerald Hydrothermal
Chatham Flux Melt Sapphire
Chatham Flux Melt Ruby
Chatham Created Opal
Color Diffused Quartz
Cubic Zirconia
Flame Fusion Ruby
Garnet Lab Created
Gilson Opal
Glass Filled Ruby
Goldstone
Helenite
Hydrothermal Quartz
Inomari Flux Melt Emerald
Mystic Topaz
Pulled Color Change Corundum
Ruby Flame / Flux
Ruby Flame Star Diffused
Ruby Flux Melt
Ruby Lead Filled
Sapphire Blue Flame Fusion
Sapphire Diffused Star
Sapphire Padparadscha Pulled
Sapphire Pulled Blue
Spinel Flame Fusion
Sterling Opal
Strontium Titanite
Synthetic Forsterite
Synthetic Moissanite
Tanzanite / Zoisite Infused
Tanzanite Imitation Float Point YAG
Tanzanite Polysilicate Imitation
Tibet Andesine Diffused
Topaz Coated
Topaz Cobalt Coated

We invite you to join our global ISG Community and receive the most advanced gemological and appraisal education at the lowest tuition available anywhere in the world. Click the ISG icon below to visit our website and learn more.

International School of Gemology Online and Classroom Education in Gemology and Appraisal Welcome to the ISG with online and in-person classroom learning. We offer insurance industry-certified courses in gemology and jewelry appraisal at the world’s lowest tuition rate.

Quick Share: Working on the Study Diamonds for the upcoming ISG Comprehensive Gem ID Classroom. Going through some amazing HPHT and CVD-created diamonds from Chatham Gems. Here is one of them with a fun set of line inclusions, and yes....you can still very often pick up the HPHT with a magnet (see inset).

You should join us for a rewarding and affordable study of gemology and jewelry appraisal. https://gemology.pro

Classic growth structure in this Russian hydrothermal emerald. Getting ready for the ISG classroom in just over a week.

Organizing the ISG Student Reference Collection of natural, created, and treated gemstones. The first 700+ stones are below. Another 100 are already in the ISG Classroom, and another 500+ to go. This does not count over 100 natural, created, and treated diamonds. No one will be bored in the ISG Gem Identification Classroom. 😱🥰❤
https://gemology.pro

Black Diamonds or Synthetic Moissanite?

Black diamonds are among the hottest items in the jewelry market. Their very name conjures up dreams of exotic places and people. But what really is a “black diamond,” and how do you know you are getting a true black diamond and not an imitation like created black moissanite? We answer this question in today's ISG Newsletter at the link below.

https://gemology.pro/black-diamond-or-created-moissanite/

Ron Ringsrud Study Stones Emerald Set coming to the ISG Comprehensive Classroom Event!

Ron sent the ISG Student Reference Collection this study set of emeralds several years ago, along with many copies of his excellent book. We used these to develop the emerald section of our course notes. I have decided to pull this master set of emerald Study Stone out of the vault and make them available for hands-on study in our upcoming classroom. At the ISG our local staff is small, but our education support staff is world wide. Thank you Ron Ringsrud for your many years of friendship and support of the International School of Gemology. You can order his outstanding book on emeralds at this link:

https://www.emeraldpassion.com/

Green diamond in crossed polarizing filters. Randy Eric has got me started, and now I am totally mesmerized by all kinds of diamonds in CPF. The upcoming ISG Comprehensive Gem Identification class is getting more exciting by the day. Rose cut green diamond of .40 carat provided to the ISG Student Reference Collection by Chad at Paul Reiser & Associates! Image using our Meiji Techno GEMT-2BFDF at 20x with CPF attachment.

https://gemology.pro

Identifying Lab Diamonds by Crossed Polarizing Filters Added to ISG Comprehensive Gem ID Classroom Event!

The ISG Comprehensive Gem ID Classroom Event is pleased to announce the addition of hands-on training using crossed-polarizing filters for lab-created diamond identification. Students will use our new Meiji Techno GEMT-2BFDF microscope with CPF attachment (seen at left) to practice this important indicator of diamond origin. This is thanks to the brilliant work of Randall Lightfoot, RGA, CGA, and Wade Abel, CG, in the 2022 AGS publication: Under the Scope – Cross Polarized Filters as a Clue to Diamond Origin, American Gem Society Laboratories Resource page, June 30, 2022.

https://gemology.pro/comprehensive-gem-identification-classroom/

I'm playing with the new lab-created diamonds from Chatham for the ISG classroom coming in June. This is going to be a fantastic learning experience. Here's a quick shot taken with my phone using the Meiji Techno GEMT-2BFDF raw image at 20x. We have one seat left!

https://gemology.pro/comprehensive-gem-identification-classroom/