Gemological Institute of America (GIA)
An independent nonprofit organization, the Gemological Institute of America
(GIA) is renowned for its impartial
service as the world's foremost authority in gemology. The Institute's history
of ground-breaking scientific
research, education, and gemological laboratory services reads as a virtual
chronicle of the industry's own
growth and sophistication.
From 1953, when Richard T. Liddicoat created and introduced the International Diamond Grading System™ to the position the Institute holds today as the most respected grading and identification authority in the world GIA has combined the principles of research, education, and service to help gem and jewelry professionals around the globe use science and product knowledge to sustain the public's trust.
The GIA can be reached at:
Gemological Institute of America
(GIA)
World Headquarters
The Robert Mouawad Campus
5345 Armada Drive
Carlsbad, California 92008
Telephone: (800) 421-7250 or (760) 603-4000
E-mail: ghill@gia.edu
American Gem Society Laboratories (AGSL)
The American Gem Society Laboratories (AGSL) is a not-for-profit trade association
founded 65 years ago in
1934 by Robert M. Shipley. The AGSL mission is "a dedication to proven
ethics, gemological knowledge, and
consumer protection." AGSL membership includes 900 retail firms in North
America representing 1400 stores,
and 200 wholesale suppliers, and sustaining firms.
Each AGSL member firm must meet strict criteria to obtain membership including: a minimum of 2 years in business, dealing in the retail or wholesale trade (not both), and having at least one staff member with gemological training. In addition AGSL member firms are committed to truth in advertising and pricing, therefore accurately representing all products and services to their customers.
Every AGSL member firm must have an AGSL titleholder, one who has taken the "AGSL Way Course" covering a variety of topics including the AGSL Diamond Grading Standards. Each year every AGS titleholder must take a recertification exam to maintain their membership. Any issue concerning an AGSL member firm is resolved through a grievance and review process, again ensuring consumer protection, promoting confidence and trust.
The AGSL can be reached at:
American Gem Society Laboratories
(AGSL)
8917 West Sahara Avenue
Las Vegas, Nevada 89117
Telephone: (702) 233-6120
E-mail: agslab@lvcm.com
Northwest Gemological Laboratory, Inc.
Northwest Gemological Laboratory, Inc. is a scientific, state-of-the-art gemological
facility based in Bellevue,
Washington. NGL has offered the legal, insurance, and jewelry industries accurate
and detailed fine jewelry
appraisals since 1978. NGL is dedicated to providing the highest quality service
and does not buy or sell jewelry.
NGL appraisers have completed Graduate Gemologist training from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). NGL appraisers have extensive knowledge of appraisal ethics and theory and a thorough understanding of the gemstone market.
NGL can be reached at:
Northwest Gemological Laboratory, Inc.
10801 Main Street, #105
Bellevue, Washington 98004
Telephone: (425) 454-5633 or (425) 455-0985
Fax: (425) 454-3088
International Gemological Institute (IGI)
International Gemological Institute (IGI) is one of the world's largest independent
gem certification and appraisal
institutes, with laboratories in Antwerp, New York, and Bangkok. IGI serves
jewelers, retail stores, insurance
companies, Internet sales organizations, catalog companies, accounting and securities
firms and consumers
worldwide. With a professional staff of 200, IGI issues more than 200,000 reports
a year.
IGI can be reached at:
IGI USA.
579 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10017-USA
Telephone: (212) 753-7100
Fax: (212) 753-7759
E-mail: igi@interport.net
Independent Gemological Laboratories, Inc. (IGL)
All Independent Gemological Laboratories, Inc. (IGL) appraisers are graduates
of the Gemological Institute of
America with graduate degrees in gemology. As a leader in appraisals ethics
and theory, the qualified IGL
appraisal staff has years of experience in jewelry manufacture and appraisal
practice. In IGL's modern facilities,
gemologists perform a wide variety of diamond certification grading practices
using tools exclusive to their
processes.
IGL can be reached at:
Independent Gemological Laboratories, Inc.
21 West 38th Street, 9th Floor
New York, N.Y.
Telephone: (212) 557-0111
E-mail: curt2igl@netscape.net
American Gemological Laboratories
Gem Sciences and Country of Origin Specialist
AGL can be reached at:
580 Fifth Avenue
Suite 706
New York, New York 10038
Tel: 212-704-0727 Fax: 212-764-7614
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GCMG Directory