The Graduate Gemologist

Welcome to The Graduate Gemologist, a website for people who are interested in gems, diamonds and gemology.

I am Robert Gunther, the founder of this site.  I have always been interested in diamonds for as long as I can remember.  My first memory of diamonds as a kid was my great aunt who had cluster ring which I remember as being full of diamonds – that was it, I was hooked.

I bought my first diamond shortly after I graduated from college and started working, it was 0.75ct in size and I believe it was SI2 in clarity… no memory of the color.

While working in the United Kingdom someone suggested I take a diamond class, since I was seemingly so interested in them.

After researching online and I found the Graduate Gemologist Program at the GIA.   The program consists of classes on diamonds & colored stones, when all of which are completed you obtain the GIA Graduate Gemologist (GG) diploma.

I signed up and breezed through the diamond modules as that is where my interest was.  Once you have completed the diamond program you get the GIA Graduate Diamonds diploma.  The final half of the program deals with pearls and colored stones of all types.  While interesting, these were more difficult for me as my love was really with the diamond.

I did complete the program at the GIA campus in Carlsbad, in about 2006 (I think).

As a gemologist who continues my education in the field I continue to build knowledge about various topics.  This site is where I will dump some of the knowledge that I come across that I find interesting.