In addition to setting standards for determining gem quality and conducting front-line research, GIA protects the gem-buying public by educating gem and jewelry professionals. In fact, GIA was founded more than 80 years ago as an educational institution to help jewelers accurately and ethically communicate gem information to the public.

When considering the purchase of a gem or piece of jewelry, it is important to find an educated jeweler with a trustworthy reputation. A professional jeweler will have the knowledge and training to help you make an informed purchase. A jeweler with a reliable reputation will strive to understand your preferences,  provide you with a variety of purchase options, and do so in an honest and straightforward way.

Gemstones are rare and highly-coveted; this can sometimes result in theft and other crimes. More than $1.5 billion-worth of jewelry and precious metals were stolen in the US in 2010, with a recovery rate of only 4.2%. In order to better serve the public, law enforcement turned to GIA for assistance. GIA developed a seminar to better train them in successfully identifying stolen gems and jewelry.

All of the peer-reviewed research on diamonds, colored stones and pearls presented in Gems & Gemology (G&G), the leading journal in its field, is now available, for free, on the iPad. The new G&G app complements GIA’s (Gemological Institute of America) award-winning quarterly journal with enhanced digital content and is downloadable for free on iTunes.