Gemological Institute of America

The Gemological Institute of America (GIA ) was founded in 1931 by jeweler Robert M. Shipley. It is engaged in the exploration, research and teaching of gemstones and their evaluation. The Institute is a charitable organization, headquartered in Carlsbad ( California).

Objectives

The aim of the organization is to define standards for the purchase and sale of precious stones. As a basis for the evaluation GIA has developed in the 1940s and 1950s, the so-called " 4Cs ": Carat, Clarity, Color and Cut. They require that all diamonds in the world are classified to this day.

Success & discoveries

Research

The Institute works intensively in science in the field of gemology. In the early years it was the goal of using technology and knowledge accurate and thorough identification of gemstones to promote. Especially with the advent of more and more synthetic stones, and stones that resemble diamond, GIA is today specialized with different measurement methods to detect these imitations or synthetic stones. The making of diamond report has also been developed by GIA.

Currently, the institute deals with other detection methods for the detection of synthetic diamond and treated sapphires, rubies and pearls.

Offices

Besides its headquarters in Carlsbad, California GIA has in 14 other countries a branch, eleven of them are equipped with a campus, seven have a lab, four are research centers.