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 Post subject: International passport ?
PostPosted: Mon Jan 06, 2014 12:48 am 
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Greetings,

My name is Mathieu, I'm from Canada and I'll be graduating this year with a Bachelors degree in International Studies. I was planning on working for the government in diplomacy since my dream is to travel. But, after many years of learning the ins and out of politics I decided that government work or diplomacy wasn't for me, and now I'm looking for another profession that will let me roam the world freely.

I recently came across a television show called Gem Hunt, I love the show, I love the adventure and most of all I love the fact that these gem hunters are travelling the world to find their treasures.

While not being a gem specialist, I've always been interested in gems, I find them quite beautiful, after a few google search about gemology, I stumbled accross the GIA website, trying to sell the profession of Gemologist as an international passport.

Here's the source:

The world of gemstones beckons.

Gems are cherished around the world, and there are always opportunities for trained gemologists. Buying and selling diamonds in Manhattan’s Diamond District. Negotiating deals with jewelry executives in Hong Kong. Charting sapphire mining trends in Tanzania. Being a trained gemologist is like having an international passport that takes you anywhere gems and jewelry shine.

-----


While this description of the profession interest me greatly, and in particular the mention of an international passport seems exciting, it seems too good to be true. I would love to hear the opinion of an actual gemologist on the subject. My questions are as follow: Is being a certified Gemologist really like having an international passport? Are certified gemologists really in demand abroad?

I'm sorry if my question might be too vague, I'm a total novice.

Thanks in advance.

Sincerely,

Mathieu


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 Post subject: Re: International passport ?
PostPosted: Mon Jan 06, 2014 1:38 pm 
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Good day Mathieu,

I am also canadian and interested in gemology. I live near Quebec city.

I can not tell you for the international part. I want to tell you that the gem course with Gem-A (England) would give you the opportunity not only to do the distance course but also the practical part in Montreal. I do not know where you live, but I thought it may interest you. That way is cheaper. And the Gem-A has a very good reputation. Maybe, a bit higher than GIA. I am sure than you will have more accurate information for GIA and Gem-A by other members of the forum.

With GIA, the practical part are in New York or Toronto, I think.

Good luck

Brigitte


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 Post subject: Re: International passport ?
PostPosted: Mon Jan 06, 2014 3:44 pm 
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Hi Mathieu,
As you may discover in watching the episodes of Gem Hunter, you will see many of the presumed scenes are staged. And therefore, are not likely the way they may have actually happened, or could have happened.

As for the text from the GIA website, I am certain they were not actually referring to the fact one would have an "international passport". I believe they were "turning a phrase" to make it sound more exciting and/or enticing. And, yes, it would be too good to be true.

You asked: Are certified gemologists really in demand abroad?
--This would be great news to many gemologists.
You asked:
Is being a certified Gemologist really like having an international passport?
--No, it is not. Having received your Graduate Gemologist degree is only the first step. So much more to know after you acquire it.

--visiting with a Tsavorite mine owner yesterday in Kenya....
Image
Being in the gem trade for over 30 years, I couldn't picture myself trusting the buying of rough to only a handful of other gem professionals.

I hope you find the following info helpful.

Quote:
I recently came across a television show called Gem Hunt, I love the show, I love the adventure and most of all I love the fact that these gem hunters are travelling the world to find their treasures.

While not being a gem specialist, I've always been interested in gems, I find them quite beautiful, after a few google search about gemology, I stumbled accross the GIA website, trying to sell the profession of Gemologist as an international passport.
-----
Gems are cherished around the world, and there are always opportunities for trained gemologists. Buying and selling diamonds in Manhattan’s Diamond District. Negotiating deals with jewelry executives in Hong Kong. Charting sapphire mining trends in Tanzania. Being a trained gemologist is like having an international passport that takes you anywhere gems and jewelry shine.

While this description of the profession interest me greatly, and in particular the mention of an international passport seems exciting, it seems too good to be true. I would love to hear the opinion of an actual gemologist on the subject.

_________________
Warm regards,
Roger Dery
Royal Oak, Michigan US
http://www.rogerdery.com


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 Post subject: Re: International passport ?
PostPosted: Mon Jan 06, 2014 4:24 pm 
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Joined: Sat Jul 14, 2012 5:11 pm
Posts: 657
Work-save-travel, the formula followed by many, many people before you.
International passport, as a gemologist? Maybe if your name is Richard Hughes!
Check out his writings, by the way. www.ruby_sapphire.com.


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 Post subject: Re: International passport ?
PostPosted: Mon Jan 06, 2014 5:17 pm 
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Brigitte wrote:
Good day Mathieu,

I am also canadian and interested in gemology. I live near Quebec city.

I can not tell you for the international part. I want to tell you that the gem course with Gem-A (England) would give you the opportunity not only to do the distance course but also the practical part in Montreal. I do not know where you live, but I thought it may interest you. That way is cheaper. And the Gem-A has a very good reputation. Maybe, a bit higher than GIA. I am sure than you will have more accurate information for GIA and Gem-A by other members of the forum.

With GIA, the practical part are in New York or Toronto, I think.

Good luck

Brigitte


Thank you very much Brigitte, I will look at the Gem-A course right away :).

ROGER DERY wrote:
Hi Mathieu,
As you may discover in watching the episodes of Gem Hunter, you will see many of the presumed scenes are staged. And therefore, are not likely the way they may have actually happened, or could have happened.

As for the text from the GIA website, I am certain they were not actually referring to the fact one would have an "international passport". I believe they were "turning a phrase" to make it sound more exciting and/or enticing. And, yes, it would be too good to be true.

You asked: Are certified gemologists really in demand abroad?
--This would be great news to many gemologists.
You asked:
Is being a certified Gemologist really like having an international passport?
--No, it is not. Having received your Graduate Gemologist degree is only the first step. So much more to know after you acquire it.

--visiting with a Tsavorite mine owner yesterday in Kenya....
Image
Being in the gem trade for over 30 years, I couldn't picture myself trusting the buying of rough to only a handful of other gem professionals.

I hope you find the following info helpful.

Quote:
I recently came across a television show called Gem Hunt, I love the show, I love the adventure and most of all I love the fact that these gem hunters are travelling the world to find their treasures.

While not being a gem specialist, I've always been interested in gems, I find them quite beautiful, after a few google search about gemology, I stumbled accross the GIA website, trying to sell the profession of Gemologist as an international passport.
-----
Gems are cherished around the world, and there are always opportunities for trained gemologists. Buying and selling diamonds in Manhattan’s Diamond District. Negotiating deals with jewelry executives in Hong Kong. Charting sapphire mining trends in Tanzania. Being a trained gemologist is like having an international passport that takes you anywhere gems and jewelry shine.

While this description of the profession interest me greatly, and in particular the mention of an international passport seems exciting, it seems too good to be true. I would love to hear the opinion of an actual gemologist on the subject.


Thank you Roger for the reply. Obviously I didn't take the notion of "international passport" litterally, and indeed it would be to good to be true!

P.S. How do you like Kenya, my friend lived there for many years and fell in love with the country and the people there.

Qld Barry wrote:
Work-save-travel, the formula followed by many, many people before you.
International passport, as a gemologist? Maybe if your name is Richard Hughes!
Check out his writings, by the way. http://www.ruby_sapphire.com.


Thank you Barry for this reply. Your formula seems to be quite realistic unfortunetaly for me... Thank you for mentioning Richard Hughes, I went on his website, I find his story fascinating.


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 Post subject: Re: International passport ?
PostPosted: Mon Jan 06, 2014 11:28 pm 
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Be aware that the GIA wrote the book on diamonds.

Internationally speaking, the weight of GIA GGs is a far superior credential to any firm heavily invested in diamonds.

Also, the GIA's laboratory research, coupled with their affiliation to the most acclaimed mineralogical labs in the US, make their current colored stone course a hard act to follow.


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 Post subject: Re: International passport ?
PostPosted: Tue Jan 07, 2014 9:03 am 
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Good day,

Thank you Barbra for those precious precisions.

Matthieu: lool at the site od "École de gemmologie de Montréal" It seems that they also have affiliations with GIA"

Brigitte


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 Post subject: Re: International passport ?
PostPosted: Tue Jan 07, 2014 1:41 pm 
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Note that I said "current" in relation to the GIA's Colored Stone Course.
This was not always the case. The current home study program is very well organized and comprehensive, supplying many links to advanced levels of understanding if the student wishes to go there.


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 Post subject: Re: International passport ?
PostPosted: Tue Jan 07, 2014 4:14 pm 
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Location: Royal Oak, Michigan US
Hi Mathieu,
you asked.....
Quote:
P.S. How do you like Kenya, my friend lived there for many years and fell in love with the country and the people there.
I happen to be very fond of Kenya, and several other African countries. Some people come here for a few days, take in a safari or game drive, and they are fulfilled, or have ticked something on their bucket list.

For me, this is part of my work cycle and we just happen to end up in some exotic places. Example today.... we met with the facilitator for the Tanzanian Gemological Centre. They are in the process of developing (and building out) a training center for the development of new gem cutters in Tanzania. This is a project sponsored by the World Bank.

At present, according to the Indian gov't, the area around Jaipur employs roughly 20,000 faceters who are cutting Tanzanite. (There are other Indians cutting other species as well). Tanzania has been frustrated that their own cutting industry has never taken off. But now, there is renewed enthusiasm and hope that it can actually happen. And we are actively looking for ways to assist in their goals.

Early on you were seeking insight into having a direction. Here's my tip for the day. Find what is truly your passion - and follow it. If it is in the gem trade in some fashion, your break will come. But you have to put the time in.

I had a business mentor/counselor some time back (Bill McGrain, he's since past away). Some words he shared with me have stuck for a long time.... he said: "it takes 15 years to be an overnight success".

I hated hearing it at the time, probably because I was afraid it was true. So go find your passion!

_________________
Warm regards,
Roger Dery
Royal Oak, Michigan US
http://www.rogerdery.com


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 Post subject: Re: International passport ?
PostPosted: Tue Jan 07, 2014 4:46 pm 
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ROGER DERY wrote:
I had a business mentor/counselor some time back (Bill McGrain, he's since past away). Some words he shared with me have stuck for a long time.... he said: "it takes 15 years to be an overnight success".
So true! Sounds like Hollywood... everyone is looking for the "quick fix"! It's like my mom (and everyone else's!) said, "if it sounds too good to be true...."!

Hope you are having a great time and looking forward to a REAL gem documentary! Having met some of the individuals involved in The Prospectors, I can only laugh at these staged shows and take them as pure entertainment with occasional glimpses at real stones.


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 Post subject: Re: International passport ?
PostPosted: Tue Jan 07, 2014 11:55 pm 
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drsue wrote:
ROGER DERY wrote:
I had a business mentor/counselor some time back (Bill McGrain, he's since past away). Some words he shared with me have stuck for a long time.... he said: "it takes 15 years to be an overnight success".
So true! Sounds like Hollywood... everyone is looking for the "quick fix"! It's like my mom (and everyone else's!) said, "if it sounds too good to be true...."!

Hope you are having a great time and looking forward to a REAL gem documentary! Having met some of the individuals involved in The Prospectors, I can only laugh at these staged shows and take them as pure entertainment with occasional glimpses at real stones.
Hi Sue,
I'm no gem hunter. But I do enjoy my time researching in the bush with the hope we're going to find something exciting.

Sorry I haven't posted many pictures, as we have some restrictions in our contract as to what we can, and cannot show. For now, it will have to be just a few static pics of general areas.

Though I can say that tomorrow we are climbing into two different Tanzanite mines. One is at 150 feet, and the other is about 750 feet. As of today, there wasn't any electricity in the Merelani range, so we may not be allowed into the deeper one as it requires a compressor to supply fresh air.

_________________
Warm regards,
Roger Dery
Royal Oak, Michigan US
http://www.rogerdery.com


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