Hi, Everyone.

I'm taking the ID lab next week in New York and would like to know if there is any way I could prepare for it in the meantime. I left a post here once about the diamond lab and was told the labs were very through, which they were! Unfortunately, I failed by 4%, and the Gem grading lab was much easier yet still very difficult. Is there any studying I could do before hand? Or any advice?

Thank you!

If you have already purchased your recommended Gem ID equipment, and have received your copy of the Lab Manual, I would suggest that you study the first sections of the manual to get comfortable with the equipment. The manual is very complete in this area. That way when in the classroom you can focus on the finer points and more difficult uses of the equipment. The instructors will be very helpful with this. You will get better and better during the 500 stone challenge in the full Gem ID course. Remember you must get 100% correct on the final, so mastering the equipment and the process is super important.

In the older courses (back in the 1970s) GIA focused on learning the equipment. I think their modern approach is much better in a practical sense. The structure in the manual,, the labs, and the worksheets, are designed to teach and enforce a process as well as equipment. If you are competent with the equipment, follow the process as laid out in the manual, and fill out the worksheet completely, you will arrive at the correct identification. If not you will recognize that and know that it is time to send the stone out for evaluation. I find this process orientated approach to Gem ID to be a big improvement.

I think that people generally enjoy the Gem ID lab. It is fascinating, and fun. In contrast many find the Diamond grading lab to be tedious and a bit boring. So don't let that experience taint your colored stone studies. Good luck, and have fun in the lab. You will love it.

As 1bwana1 mentioned, if you have access to the Gem Identification Lab manual, that is a good place to start in preparation for the class. Specifically, I would recommend thoroughly reviewing page 65 as this outlines the process you will need to follow for every stone within the lab and the full course later on. Learning and following this process is the key to success in the course.

When attending, do not hesitate to speak up when you have questions. Where I have seen students struggle is when they keep their questions to themselves and begin to get behind in the class when they are stuck on how to perform a test or use a piece of equipment. Trust me, the instructors want to know when you have questions as they want you to be successful, so do not worry about leaning on them heavily as needed

Thanks for the input. I don't have access to the lab manual yet, but it's helpful to know that I just need to follow the procedure. Also, being excited about and very interested in gemstones will be a major help too.