After 10 years contemplating completing the diploma of Gemmology, with the fantastic Gemmological Association of Australia it was now finally the time to get moving. I had heard it was an intensive course but nothing like I had ever imagined. Working full time also resulted in a very gruelling couple of years but none the less very rewarding.

Our course began with a tour of the laboratory, situated near Sydney’s Hyde park.

With many different high tech pieces of equipment, including 15 microscopes and trays and trays of precious gemstones it was a fascinating insight into the Gemmological world.
Attaining the diploma would open up many doors to my gemstone knowledge and ultimately benefit my jewellery manufacturing business going forward.

We would learn how to determine the difference between a created laboratory diamond and a natural diamond and where in the world to find an incredible uncut diamond crystal.
We would also learn how a pink sapphire, yes sapphire is found in all colours of the rainbow, actually is a light ruby without its red colour.

It was an extremely fascinating course and could recommend it to everyone.

So in the “lab” we were given a tray of gemstones in all different colours, shapes and sizes, cut and uncut, precious and semi precious and a “lab sheet”. We were then told we had 1 year before examination and that we had to examine each of the 150 gemstones with this lab equipment and record our results. If we passed our exam we could continue onto the second year, then eventually call ourselves “gem scientists”.

Before too long and learning how to use this amazing equipment we were away, measuring the refractive index of the gems, weighing the specific gravity and testing the stones under long and short wave uv light for “fluorescence” or its ability to glow a certain way under uv light. All this testing aided in the identification of each gemstone.

It was quite interesting that myself and my colleague Johnny were the only guys in a class of 22 or so students.

Before long the “lab” was buzzing with eager gemmologists to be and the clank of stone tweezers against these precious little stones.
If you listened carefully you could also hear every now and then the bouncing of gemstones around the desks and floors. People crouched down desperately searching for an emerald crystal far flung from its pedestal. At one point the class was in absolute stitches, a gemstone had been flung from the stone tweezers across the room and landed conveniently in my class mates ample cleavage. I was only too polite to oblige in removing the stone from its new found crevice. Gemstones would make their way accidentally into pockets, light fixtures, shoes and into hair. Eventually becoming a tutor myself, I could feel the pain of keeping these stone trays in order and as a complete set for everyone to use.