By Leslie Luna

Carlsbad has no shortage of innovative organizations that have emerged as leaders in their respective fields. One such company that has made significant contributions to the understanding of gems and the jewelry industry is GIA – the Gemological Institute of America.

Sitting on a hill overlooking the ocean, not far from LEGOLAND and the Museum of Making Music, the 30-acre campus has been calling Carlsbad home for nearly twenty years. Today, GIA has 12 campuses, nine laboratories and four research centers spread across 14 countries.

GIA is the creator of the 4Cs (cut, clarity, color, and carat weight) of diamond quality and the International Diamond Grading System. In the 1940’s GIA created the 4Cs and  transformed the way diamonds were bought and sold by developing a common language for diamonds.

“GIA’s innovations have been adopted universally. You can go to a jewelry store in any corner of the world, and every diamond is described using the language GIA developed,” said Kristin Mahan, Public Relations Manager at the Gemological Institute of America. “Before the system had been invented, there were a variety of systems in place. GIA standardized the system to have one universal language.”

GIA has graded some of the world’s most famous diamonds including the 69 carat Taylor-Burton diamond. More recently, three rare diamond rings – also graded by GIA – made headlines after breaking records in auction. A rare green diamond, surrounded by pink diamonds on a ring, fetched $16.8 million at Christie’s auction in Hong Kong. Then, the “oppenheimer blue” sold for $57.5 million at Christie’s Geneva, making it the most expensive diamond to ever be auctioned. Last, the 15.38-carat “unique pink” diamond went for $28 million at a Geneva auction.

GIA is renowned not only for its grading system but also for its research and education. Students around the globe turn to GIA for the knowledge, skills and credentials to launch successful jewelry careers. The six-month Graduate Gemologist diploma is the most popular program offered at the Carlsbad campus. Students can take classes on site or via distance education which consists of five online classes and three hands-on lab classes. Lab classes are offered at GIA campuses worldwide.

“A lot of students like to come to Carlsbad because they can go to the beach after class and the connections made here often facilitate business down the line. It’s a real network,” said Russell Shor, senior industry analyst at GIA. “In essence, the jewelry and diamond industry is a very personal business. At GIA students really get to know their up and coming colleagues.”

Part of the Institute’s mission is to educate the public on the vibrant world of gems and diamonds. Thus, GIA’s Museum offers free tours Monday through Friday during business hours. All you have to do is call 24 hours in advance to make a reservation for a private, guided, or a group tour. The institution hopes to welcome more residents and tourists to the museum this summer.

The museum features rotating exhibits and a large permanent collection. Currently, “Variations on a Theme: 25 Years of Design from the AJDC” is on exhibit, featuring a selection of more than 150 works of jewelry and objet d’art created by 40 American Jewelry Design Council (AJDC) designers as part of an annual project.

Each year the one-word or two-word themes – such as water, spiral, tear and flight – offer designers the opportunity to interpret meaning from their perspective. The result is an array of designs with a common thread, each distinctly expressive of its designer, that elevates American jewelry designs as works of art sought by collectors and museums.

GIA invites anyone interested in seeing jewelry or pursuing a career in the jewelry business to its job fair on October 7.

“It’s the only time of the year that the entire campus is open to the public without an appointment,” said Mahan. “Well-known members in the industry will be speaking on different topics, we have a design panel, and stylists to the stars give lectures. It is not only for job seekers, it’s for people that are looking to listen to big personalities in the industry and learn about gemstones.”