[Jewelry making - Article 00615] - Re: [Orchid] Jewelry buyers agent?

[The Doctor]

========[ Invite a Friend - http://www.ganoksin.com/invite.htm  ]========

Daniel,

    As a person who has studied gemology for many years, yet opted for a
    GIA G.G. diploma a mere four years ago, I do feel your pain. The
    reason people are reluctant to hire brand new G.G.s is because, after
    all that training, we are only armed with enough book information to
    be dangerous to them. To be honest, even with years of buying,
    selling and cutting/recutting gemstones and gem rough before
    obtaining my G.G., I was never qualified enough to be anything more
    than an entry level gemologist when it came to practical gemological
    application in a jewelry store environment. 

    After all, that is what you're talking about here, isn't it? You'll
    need to be able to evaluate and appraise jewelry as an agent for
    buyers to fit the bill you're talking about and that requires a lot
    more experience than GIA gives us. I'm sitting here thinking about
    all of the diamonds I've seen over the years with laser drill holes,
    fracture filling, strain from HPHT treatment, coatings, etc. GIA
    never showed me a single one of these in a format other than
    photography. If there were not a Master Gemologist Appraiser who has
    25 years' experience within arms' reach of me, I would very likely
    have missed all of these factors, which could easily have made me
    look foolish indeed. Although some don't agree with it, these
    enhancements reduce the value of the stones even though some of them
    increase their clarity or color. If I had graded them by their
    apparent characteristics as opposed to their actual, I would have
    valued them completely wrong, which would have totally blown my
    reputation, not to mention time lost in court trying to defend my
    *professional* opinion. 

    It took me two years to find a small, B&M "mom & pop" type store
    with an MGA who is nearing retirement to take me on (supervisory and
    management experience, along with lapidary and goldsmithing/setting
    skills didn't hurt, either), so don't give up just yet. You haven't
    even finished the diploma program and already you're claiming that
    nobody wants you. I know we all need jobs, but I am concerned that
    you may ruin your reputation through entry level mistakes before it
    ever really gets started. 

    Then again, you may hit the ground running as the most incredible
    entry level gemologist in history. Anything's possible. Whichever
    direction you choose, I wish you the best. 

James S. Duncan, G.G.
James in SoFL
____________________________________________________________________
T h e   O r c h i d   L i s t
Open Electronic Forum for Jewelry Manufacturing Methods and Procedures
____________________________________________________________________
Orchid FAQ:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/faq.htm
Orchid Archives:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/archive
Orchid Galleries:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/gallery.htm
Invite a Friend:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/invite.htm
____________________________________________________________________
Tips From The Jeweler's Bench - Article Archive
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/borisat/tip_sear.htm
The Jeweler's Selected Bibliography List
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/jewelry-books
Buy Orchid Jewelry:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/shop
____________________________________________________________________
-Unsubscribe:
-Email: orchid-request AT ganoksin.com Body=unsubscribe subject=blank
____________________________________________________________________