Editing Gemology (section)

==History==
Rudimentary education in gemology for jewellers and gemologists began in the nineteenth century, but the first qualifications were instigated after the National Association of Goldsmiths of Great Britain (NAG) set up<ref>{{cite web |title=History |website=[[Gemmological Association of Great Britain]] (Gem-A) |url=https://gem-a.com/about/history}}</ref> as an Education Committee for this purpose in 1908. The committee emerged as a distinct branch of NAG (named the Gemmological Association) in 1931, shortly after the incorporation of the [[Gemological Institute of America]] (GIA).<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |date=1968 |title=Sixty years of gemmology in Great Britain |url=https://gem-a.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/JoG1968_11_3.pdf |journal=The Journal of Gemmology |volume=11 |issue=3 |pages=71}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Overlin |first1=Stuart |last2=Dirlam |first2=Dona |date=2009 |title=Celebrating 75 years of Gems & Gemology |url=https://www.gia.edu/doc/SU09.pdf |journal=Gems & Gemology |volume=45 |issue=2 |pages=80 |doi=10.5741/GEMS.45.2.80 |issn=0016-626X}}</ref> In 1938 the branch was renamed as the [[Gemmological Association of Great Britain]], before being incorporated in 1847.<ref name=":0" /> The organisation is now an educational charity and accredited awarding body with its courses taught worldwide.

The first US graduate of Gem-A's diploma course, in 1929, was [[Robert Shipley]], who then established both the [[Gemological Institute of America]] and the [[American Gem Society]]. There are now several professional schools and associations of gemologists and certification programs around the world.

The first gemological laboratory serving the jewelry trade was established in London in 1925, prompted by the influx of the newly developed "cultured pearl" and advances in the synthesis of rubies and sapphires.<ref>{{cite book |last=Read |first=Peter G. |year=2005 |title=Gemmology |publisher=Butterworth-Heinemann |isbn=9780750664493 |language=en |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=t-OQO3Wk-JsC&q=gemological+laboratory+of+London+1925&pg=PA3}}</ref> There are now numerous gem laboratories around the world requiring ever more advanced equipment and experience to identify the new challenges – such as treatments to gems, new synthetics, and other new materials.