Holiday Note: The Gem-A office will be closed from 24 December 2008 and will re-open on 5 January 2009.

The Gemmological Association of Great Britain, or Gem-A, is the world’s longest established provider of gem and jewellery education.  Our Diploma in Gemmology is the direct descendant of the gem course that was proposed for the jewellery trade at the 1908 annual meeting of the National Association of Goldsmiths of Great Britain and Ireland. The first gemmology course notes and exam syllabus were produced by 1912, and the earliest diploma was awarded in 1913. Since then, our prestigious Diploma in Gemmology and Gem Diamond Diploma  have become  globally recognized as invaluable qualifications, and diploma holders may apply  for election to Fellowship (FGA) or Diamond Membership (DGA) of the Association. The  gemmological  committee set up to oversee the development of gem education matured into the independent Gemmological Association, and then The Gemmological Association of Great Britain, now a UK registered charity.

Gem-A currently forms an international community of gem professionals and enthusiasts. With our commitment to high educational standards, we serve the interests of the gem and jewellery industries and support gemmological research worldwide. In addition to our educational programmes we provide membership opportunities, a shop for the purchasing of gemmological instruments and two internationally distributed publications, Gems & Jewellery and The Journal of Gemmology. We are committed to providing the highest standards of gem education and research.