Inspection, grading, and appraisal of gems are performed by gemologists, who are detail-oriented professionals. Students must first obtain their graduate gemologist certificate from an accredited institution in order to pursue a career in gemology. A graduate gemologist can choose from a variety of gemologist jobs, ranging from the mine to the auction house. Appraising gems and jewelry, mining, jewelry design, and other fields all employ gemologists.
With the rise of synthetic stones on the market, a gemologist must be able to tell the difference between real and fake stones. This task is made more difficult by the fact that he must also be able to tell if the stone has been color treated. In some cases, stones have had their cracks or fractures filled so that they appear flawless to the naked eye, thereby increasing their perceived value. As a result, gemologist jobs as appraisers in jewelry stores, auction houses, or as independent contractors are extremely valuable. An appraiser can provide written documentation of a piece’s value and unique characteristics to a customer for purposes of identification, insurance, and resale.
In the mining and manufacturing industries, gemologists are frequently employed. They are better able to determine the quality of the raw stones found and which stones would benefit from a specific cut. Before being sold to a wholesaler, the stones must also be graded in order to determine how much they are worth on the market. A gemologist must be specifically trained for certain specialized gemologist jobs, such as gem grinder, gem polisher, jewel setter, and jewel engraver, in order to participate in the manufacturing process. A wholesaler purchases the gems or finished pieces of jewelry and sells them to a retail store.
Some manufacturers hire a gemologist to work as a jewelry designer or as a jewelry designer’s assistant. They are also hired to purchase diamonds or colored stones, and gemologists who specialize in one or the other are common. A gemologist can work as a sales associate, jewelry buyer, appraiser, or manager in a jewelry store.
Teachers, jewelry historians, and lab technicians are all examples of gemologist jobs in academia. Gems sent by a customer or a jewelry store can be thoroughly analyzed and graded in a laboratory. The customer will then receive a statement from the laboratory detailing their findings. Research labs are also looking into how the color of stones can be changed and how fissures can be filled.