Play of Color.....

The week begins with Gem Identification basics such as most gems are minerals. Learning about everything from fine, untreated, natural gems to synthetics, imitations and treated stones. The process of gem identification involves the elimination of possibilities through general observation; being a three step process. Then a series of testing with equipment, tools and liquids to narrow the findings to a fit the gem.

It’s been a challenging yet an interesting week. Most of it was challenging, but my experience has been like my golf game. I shoot 15 mediocre holes, 2 good and 2 shots on two of the 19 holes make me think I can actually play. Those two holes give me the willingness and the hope to come back another day giving it another try!

The class consists of 75% of the students from other parts of the world, like China, Thailand, Cambodia and Mexico with the rest from other parts of the country. Majority of them are in their 20’s some in their 30’s with myself and one other woman in our 40’s. I am the oldest and find it funny because in my world in Naples, I tend to be a young person compared to those around me.

Jenny, this lovely and stylish girl from China was helpful to me during our lab this week. In order to connect with her I asked how to say, thank you in Chinese. She told me, “xie xie” her face lit up like a Christmas tree. I could tell she was touch I had made the effort to speak her language. 


One thing discussed was that play of color, which is flashes of spectral colors produced when layers of minute spheres and voids break up white light causing a rainbow effect. It’s summer and we tend to wear bright bold and beautiful colors at this time of year. These stunning fire opal earrings with 2 carats of diamond, 5.36cts of sapphires and 2 opals totaling 7.37 carats are a perfect pair to go with a gorgeous black dress for that date night with the husband or if your a girl like me you’ll wear these with a pair of jeans, simple top and black heels. Additional jewelry wardrobe piece I would choose to add with this would be a white diamond gold bangle keeping with the glamorous look. My feeling when it comes to accessories is pick items that are bold making a statement. These two choices from Provident Jewelry will most certainly make a statement that every woman will be admiring……

The arrival to San Diego, CA, sunshine and palm trees.....

I arrived in San Diego, CA, on Friday, 13th, picked up my rental car, then immediately headed to the Carlsbad, GIA campus. Greeted at the admin’s office by a lovely young woman who had me fill out paperwork.  Just reading the orientation questions was a long laborious process, almost as lengthy as buying a home.  I met instructor, Tim, in room #207, where my class will be held Monday.  He showed me which desk would be mine. There was another student in the room at the

time, Derek, who it turns out, is also from Southwest Florida.  His family owns a jewelry store in Cape Coral.  I noticed the 3 HUGE 3 ring binders and many other spiral notebooks on my desk.  I asked Tim what these were, and to my surprise, this was the course material. Wow, I thought, they aren’t joking here. At that moment I realized I had not prepared myself for what I was actually embarking on. Truly I thought I would breeze into school, learn a little, meet new people, look at some gems and be on my merry way…..

Tim reviewed the course expectations, probation, homework for Monday & campus rules.  I realized this journey is more serious than I anticipated. Thank God I had the weekend to get myself prepared and mentally ready for the experience.

Monday morning I arrive at campus, got to class and what a lovely surprise; my instructor is Lea, who I previously had as an instructor two years ago in Pearl Grading.  At the end of my Pearl Grading course in 2014, Lea & I spoke about my getting my GG. Last I knew, she was going to the GIA Thailand campus to teach over there for several years. Lea is a dynamic woman, an amazing instructor and previously, a professional skydiver in Florida. So what a total treat to reconnect and have the opportunity to be in her class again.

At GIA, the courses are run in a methodical and structured way, easing the sometimes tedious process of learning, for a creative mind like myself.  We were informed that by the end of the 4 months we would have completed a grading for 1,860 stones. That to me sounds daunting, but I keep telling myself, “Maryann you only have to do this one day at a time”.  In the first week we completed 20 stones, learning about hue, tone & saturation.  Hue is the first impression of a gem’s body color. Tone means degree of darkness or lightness of color. Saturation is the strength or intensity of color. These are technical terms to describe a stone’s color accurately. There were many interesting colors, shapes & sizes throughout the week.  This is the part I enjoy the most, because I get to see, touch & feel the stones.

My favorite stone of the week was a rectangular step cut bi-colored tourmaline. Bi color means it has two different colors in the same stone, a technical term to describe it would be intentional color zoning. I fell in love with the stone from the moment I saw her. She was long, slender in length with a gradual color change. The body color was pure and rich in hue, a beautiful green with the perfect color pink. Her tone was medium to dark consistently distributed throughout the stone. Then finally, the saturation was just yummy, both colors being strong and intense. This is a stone I would love to have, designing with it would be a thrill.

Below is a ring from the Provident Jewelry Collection that is in the Tourmaline family that I thought you all might like to see.

This 18k yellow gold estate Tourmaline totaling 3.00 carats and Diamond weight is 2.40 carats ring. She is absolutely stunning in my book when it comes to rings. The color of this tourmaline is so vibrant and eye catching and believe me, everyone will notice this on your hand! Please do not hesitate to contact me for more information about this fabulous ring.

What a lovely, tiring and exciting week. Thank you for taking the time to read my blog and until next week!

Heading to GIA for my Gemology Degree....

And so the journey begins in obtaining my Gemologist Degree with concentration on colored stones. The process entails leaving the quaint little town of Naples, FL,  my family, co-workers at Provident Jewelry and two decades of friendships for the next four plus months. Heading to Carlsbad, CA to attend the Gemologist Institute of America where I will be in a classroom setting Monday through Friday from 8am - 3pm learning all about colored stones, new treatments, where the stones originate from and much more. As I contemplate, I am reminded how long it has been since I attended school full time and I assure you, it's several decades.

With a Gemologist Degree I will still be buying, selling & trading jewelry plus able to do appraisals.

My coworkers Alexis, Rachel & Andrew are with me in the photograph below. Thank you all for the support and encouragement as I go out on this adventure to pursue my degree.