International Gem Society
Gemology Course
Founded 1998

Costs and Requirements     As an IGS member, you are automatically enrolled in the gemology course, no other steps are required.     Our gemology course is set up so you can study at your own pace; there are no required exams and no time frames involved. Other than your membership, the only fees are for testing. There are two exams and the grading fees are $30 each.     One of our goals is to make gemological information available to everyone. That is why there are no required exams and no time limits. You are welcome to reference our materials without any obligation.     Membership in the IGS is just $49 per year. Click here for our membership application. Course Materials    The gemology course is divided into sections. This information is located in our Reference Library. An Introduction to Gemology covers basic subjects of interest to the general public. These are non-technical articles designed to open the doors to a complex subject. Advanced Gemology explains the technical terms used to define gems and introduces the more complex subjects. Practical Gemology goes one step further, explaining how to use the tools of gemology and what to do with the information they supply. This is the essence of gem identification.     This is the most difficult part to learn. It takes time and practice to learn how to use these instruments properly. Take one instrument at a time and master it before moving on to the next one. Intersperse this practice with your reading for the quickest learning.    (See "Tools of the Gemologist" for a list of necessary instruments.) Gem Grading details the factors used in grading diamonds and colored stones. Advanced Gem Information gives details on specific gems.     Again, this information is located in our Reference Library. For beginners, it is recommended that you go through them in order. However, you may study in any order that suits you.     Membership in the IGS is just $49 per year. Click here for our membership application. Gem Lending Program     To further your study, we lend out packages of gems. There are no limits on how many you can borrow. You can use and many or as few as you feel are necessary.     The stones are chosen to give you a good representation of what you will encounter as a professional gemologist. Most of the gems are common varieties, like amethyst, diamond and garnet. There are faceted gems and cabs, natural, synthetic and assembled stones. Most are of a reasonable size, but there are also some tiny gems. They are harder to work with, but they are common in jewelry so practice with them is a necessity.     The gems are in lots of fifteen. To order gems, you must first supply us with a deposit of $200. This will be refunded at the end of your study, provided all the gems are returned. You will be charged for any gems lost.     There is a grading fee of $30, plus shipping, for each set of fifteen gems. Forms will be provided for both identification and quality grading. Your results will be corrected and assistance will be offered in the areas where you need help.     Email the forms to the IGS before returning the gems. Then you can then compare the graded forms with the gems.     Please try to complete and return each lot within thirty days. Let us know if additional time is needed. If we don't hear from you within two months, your deposit will be forfeited. CLICK HERE to order stones. Certification Programs Gemologist Program     To become certified as a "Professional Gemologist", PG, one must demonstrate their knowledge, the ability to use standard gemological tools, be able to identify common gem materials and separate natural gems from their synthetic counterparts. In addition, one must demonstrate fundamental skills of grading by color, clarity, cutting, and size per species.     Any member may apply for certification.     You will need all the standard tools of gem identification. You do not need to purchase any books or reference materials, all the information you need is included with your membership.     Testing will be in two segments, a written test and a practical exam. Both exams will be conducted through the mail. There is a $30 grading fee, (plus shipping,) for each section, plus a $200 deposit will be required for the gems. This will be refunded, provided all the gems are returned. You will be charged for any gems lost. Master Gemologist Program     Any member who is an IGS certified Professional Gemologist, a Graduate Gemologist, or holds a similar certification from another recognized gemological organization may apply.     To be certified as a Master Gemologist one must demonstrate the ability to identify rough gem materials, crystals and rare gems. There is a single exam in which you will be required to identify ten materials.     There is a $30 grading fee for testing, plus shipping. A $200 deposit will be required for the gems. This will be refunded, provided all the gems are returned. You will be charged for any gems lost. CLICK HERE to order exams. More Information     Many people want to know how the IGS course compares with those offered by the GIA and similar organizations*. Many are specifically asking how our gemologist certification compares to a GG degree.     The GIA is an excellent organization. Their Graduate Gemologist degree is the most respected credential a person can hold in this industry. If you have the time and money, and are serious about a career in the gem industry, the GG course should be your first choice.     The IGS was created for everyone else. I have strong connections with the lapidary community. For years, I have been listening to amateurs giving inaccurate advice to others. For example, I have heard things like: "If your blue stone has an RI of 1.625, then it is topaz, not aquamarine." Those two properties, color and RI, also belong to tourmaline and a few rare minerals. Blue topaz and blue tourmaline have vastly different values. Not knowing the difference can be costly, in terms of both money and reputation.     The problem lies, not with the well meaning lapidary sharing his incomplete knowledge, but that there hasn't been anywhere to learn gem identification, short of taking a $3,000 course. For them, the IGS was created. It is dedicated to all the gem cutters, collectors, jewelers, and others wanting to know more about gems.     The Professional Gemologist program was also created for those lacking the resources for a GG degree. A typical example would be a person making a midlife career change. This often involves working two jobs for a period, or the time consuming process of starting a new business.     What the certification tells a customer, or potential employer, is that the holder has proven their knowledge of gemology: that they are versed in its terminology, the properties of gems, how they are valued, and that they possess the skills and knowledge to distinguish one gem from another.     Having a certification opens doors. Beyond that, it is the way an individual presents themselves and their work ethic that determines their success. * The above examples are all related to the GIA. There are similar organizations in Canada, Asia and Europe that offer equally good schooling. If you are considering a career in gemology, they deserve fair consideration as well.     Membership in the IGS is just $49 per year. Click here for our membership application. Grading Standards     The International Gem Society is the first Internet school of gemology and the first to serve the entire world. We have members on every continent except Antarctica and have been highly successful in reaching people who could not otherwise afford a formal education in gemology.     Our training is among the most thorough of any organization and our testing is exceptionally rigorous. This was intentional, as our certifications would be valueless if the people who owned them could not perform in the work place.     An IGS certified Professional Gemologist must pass a 100 question written exam with a score of 87% or better. (See sample below.) They must also pass a practical exam which requires identifying and grading 15 gemstones. The gems are common to the trade and include natural, enhanced, synthetic, and assembled stones. Misidentifying a species is an automatic fail. Deductions are allowed for minor errors, but the applicant must still score 87% or better to pass.     To become a certified Master Gemologist, the student must pass a second exam. They are required to identify rare gems, those that are not found in standard gemological reference, (such as rutile and tryphlite.) They are also required to grade and identify rough gemstones. This is more difficult than identifying cut stones because you cannot get as much information from them. In addition, they must understand how yield is based on shape and inclusions.     When presented with an IGS certification, you can be assured that the individual possessing it has passed extensive examinations and has proved their knowledge and abilities are exemplary. Sample Exam    Here is a sample of the questions an IGS member must answer on their way to becoming a certified Professional Gemologist. 1 If you found a GGG in a diamond band, the GGG would be classed as: An imitation A homocreate Both Neither     Correct answer, both.     Any stone posing as something else is an imitation. GGG is classed as a homocreate because it has no natural counterpart.     See Synthetic Gemstones and Their Identification. 2 If an opal showed only blue color that was very bright, had a good cut, was only slightly directional and had no imperfections on the top it would be graded as: Below commercial value Commercial Good Fine Extra fine     Correct answer, good.     This stone has one factor in the commercial grade and one in the fine category, and two in the good category. See Appraising Opals - Part 2, Applying Value. 3 Hydrothermal grown refers to: A natural process Laboratory grown gems Both     Correct answer, Both.     See Synthetic Gemstones and Their Identification and Gem Formation. 4 Brilliant faceting is determined by: Optical Performance Triangular and kite shaped facets Dispersion All the above None of the above     Correct answer, Triangular and kite shaped facets.     There are two basic styles of cutting; brilliant and step cutting. Step cutting, (as in an emerald cut,) features long, rectangular facets. Brilliant cutting uses triangular and kite shaped facets.     While brilliant faceting usually enhances optical performance and dispersion, by definition it is the shape of the facets. Factories often do "brilliant" style cutting, with less than brilliant results.     See "Gem Cutting Terms" 5 HPHT treatments to improve color is done on which type of diamond: Ia Ib IIa IIb     Correct answer, type IIa.    See HPHT Diamond Update. 6 Demantoid is a species of garnet. True False     Correct answer, false.     Dematnoid is a variety of andradite. See Understanding Garnets. 7 Hardness is a clear determination of how well a gem will wear. True False     Correct answer, False. You also need to take cleavage, brittleness, light and chemical sensitivity into consideration.    See The Physical Properties of Gemstones. 8 All minerals species have a different chemical composition. True False     Correct answer, false. Minerals are defined by a combination of their chemical makeup and their crystal structure. The classic example is diamond and graphite. Both have the same chemical composition, pure carbon, but it is their crystal structure that makes them different.     See "How Gems are Classified" 9 Cameos are made from both plastic and sea shells. They can be distinguished by: RI Hot Point Optic sign Birefringence Specific gravity     Correct answer, hot point test.     See Sea Shells and our Professional Gem Reference. 10 Color change is defined as the difference between what is seen in incandescent and fluorescent light. True False     Correct answer, "False."     Many people use two electric lights to test for color change and they miss many! You must use natural light as no artificial light can match it.     See "Color Change Gems."     Membership in the IGS is just $49 per year. Click here for our membership application.