Post subject: Why Isn't the Graduate Pearls Included in the GG?
Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2012 10:53 pm
New to the Forum or The Quiet Type
Joined: Thu Mar 01, 2012 1:18 pm Posts: 1 Location: Washington, DC
Good evening all!
I am new to the forum but have been lurking about for the past few months. I recently got the AJP via Distance Education from GIA in January and am eager to continue on for the GG. However, I do have a question to ask: why is the Graduate Pearls not included as part of getting the Graduate Gemologist degree?
Also, how hard is the Pearls course and lab? I plan to do those for this year if possible and wait to do the Diamonds course in 2013 and the Colored Gemstones courses in 2014 if my plan goes correctly.
Post subject: Re: Why Isn't the Graduate Pearls Included in the GG?
Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2012 2:31 pm
Valued Contributor
Joined: Sun Jul 25, 2010 8:34 pm Posts: 222 Location: Far-northern California
Hi bejeweledlyoness,
I'm not honestly sure why the GIA doesn't include the Pearls courses in the GG. I just got my Graduate Pearls diploma in November, and to answer your question about difficulty: it's not difficult. The one-day lab is a breeze (it's pass/no-pass, participation based.) The class is not many lessons, but the lessons were quite a bit more dense (in my opinion), and it took me a while to take notes and study each one. I found it quite different from the rest of the GIA coursework, as the subject is biological — I avoided biology after high school, so it was a lot of less-familiar ground for me. However, I really enjoyed the class and the lab, and I definitely recommend it.
I will say, however, that although the lab is quite easy to pass (show up, act interested), the actual grading of pearls is pretty complicated, and I had a harder time with Pearl Grading than I did with Colored Stones Grading. It definitely seems like you'd have to practice A LOT to get good at it. One big advantage: the Pearls course will make the two pearl lessons in Colored Stones easier, when you get there, although I did find some odd things between the two (I think the CS lessons are older, and the Pearls lessons are more precise?)
I don't know if it will be of any use, but I just blogged about my lab experiences earlier this week, over here.
Post subject: Re: Why Isn't the Graduate Pearls Included in the GG?
Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2012 4:51 pm
Active Member
Joined: Sat Sep 15, 2012 10:37 pm Posts: 73 Location: Oakland CA
Colored Stone Grading was my first GIA lab class. I decided to get my GG to fill in the gaps in my technical knowledge. At first I thought 'good grief what have I gotten myself into?!' but took a deep breath and forged ahead....The pearl Grading Lab was easier for me because I've been grading/ buying pearls for years.
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