Gemological Institute of America

Went with a group of women and enjoyed it very much — the campus is lovely and nicely designed as you approach the lobby. As previously stated by others, make sure to have proper I.D. Main disappointment was there weren’t that many pieces to view — one small area had the beautiful stuff behind glass, but that takes 10 min. to view — another section in lobby has add’l pieces that took 10 min., also (the intricately-​detailed miniature musical instruments were awe-​inspiring). The third area by the little cafeteria was all large and small geodes and «rocks» with inbedded stones as found in nature — pretty but not what we came to see. If they could just offer more beautiful pieces, it would have REALLY been enjoyable. We were done in less than 30 minutes.

This review is for the distance education experience, culminating in a live lab class here at the Carlsbad campus. I just completed the diamond grading lab class, which makes me GIA Graduate Diamonds.
The campus is beautiful, easy to find, and accessible. Excellent parking. A café open from early until 2 pm, after which, if you need coffee, you are out of luck. They have a variety of food that tries… I stuck with the goat cheese, beets, walnuts, and apples on greens every day to ensure an alert, nourished afternoon. The coffee is Starbucks and is very good. It’s important that you order and pay for your lunch on your morning break, or you will have a lesser lunch and there’s a big line! If you pre order, you just walk up and they hand it to you.
As for the lab class, it was fast paced, followable, and wonderful. There were 23 students and three instructors. The three took turns lecturing, and then wandering among us as we did what we were shown with individual diamonds. We had excellent microscopes, plenty of diamonds, and just-​right supervision. There is a test, a Two Stone Challenge, on the last day that you must pass within certain tolerances of the stone’s official grading and a 75% score on correctness. Do not assume this will be easy and will happen for you. Out of 23, 2 students confessed to me that they failed – there may have been more. A day previously, one student had burst into tears and quit the class. A student in the bathroom told me 9 people failed last class. If you fail, don’t go thinking someone will take you to another room to repeat your two stone challenge after lunch, which would make sense – no, you will sit in the classroom and watch boring videos through tears for the afternoon and you will need to come BACK to California to take your challenge another time! For such a high priced tuition, and so «nothing» scheduled for the afternoon (you could miss three hours for the whole week and be considered fine – so why not those dumb videos, and re take your challenge?) So that’s my advice to them.
Advice to students. I heard people saying they had been told to take the lab class at Carlsbad before doing the lengthy diamonds and diamond grading online. This is wrong. Here’s why. You can’t fail the online class. You take the tests in the privacy of your own home and work at your own pace, with multiple, free opportunities to show mastery of material. You can even flunk the final, but why would you? and repeat it a couple of times – all for free, from you own home. YOU NEED THIS INFORMATION TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THE LAB. If you come into the lab with no knowledge base, how much harder do you think it is going to be for you to pass the two stone challenge and keep up with the class? Very hard. YOU SHOULD TAKE AND COMPLETE ONLINE DIAMONDS AND DIAMOND GRADING BEFORE SETTING FOOT IN THE LAB!
Beyond that, be prepared to be alert and on time, bring anything essential for you under pressure… maybe Excedrin, a little sunscreen so you can get up and walk, walk, walk outside on your breaks. You need to keep loose and moving, as you’ll spend plenty of time hunched up in your little cube. Bring some non messy candy like plain M and M’s in your purse if you need something small to help you keep focused. There’s a lot of material here. If you need help, ASK FOR IT. They’re great. You’ll be a natural. (see what I did there? that’s your first diamond joke)

Our tour was absolutely amazing. I am truly «in awe,» of the gemstones displayed at GIA. Our docent was extremely knowledgeble and personable. This was an excellent learning experience that I highly recommend!

Awesome spot for an iconic building

This is a wonderful place to visit.
Parking is free. In a private lot directly in front of the building.
Admission is free.
Tours (led by a very knowledgeable and courteous docent) are free.
Gorgeous stones in display. Lots of fascinating information. Very kind people working here.
Terrific café with fair prices.

I visited here for a work meeting with an associate there. She was super nice and gave me a tour and told me all about GIA! It is pretty amazing! They have some unique gems featured here in the halls and all around. There are classes that start monthly and they offer all sorts of education in this field. If you are a student going to GIA be sure to visit Pacific View Apartments, it’s down the street and they have short term leases available to students!

This campus has been around for 15 years. They were previously located in Santa Monica. I think this location fits better. We decided to take the 1pm self-​guided tour (usually held on weekdays). You can check out everything around the lobby and the café. Everything else including the outdoor is off-​limits. I really wanted to go out and check the ocean view. Oh well. We were introduced to a docent named Georgia and she was really knowledgeable about every piece. She says she’s one of 32 docents who show guests around. The tour starts exactly at 1pm. The guards won’t even let you in until 1pm. They’ll take your ID and make note of it and give it back to you. Luckily, the guests can park right in the front of the GIA building. I really liked looking at all the pieces and gaining knowledge from the docent but I really thought she just kept talking and talking to us. I really just wanted to check it out on my own. She could’ve just drifted around to the number of guests checking out the displays. I was too polite to say we wanted to check it out on our own and would come back to ask for any knowledge. Oh well. Other than that, it was great checking out everything. The display may seem limited but it is really a school, not a museum.

GIA has given me the professional education I need for advancement at my job, and certification that has proven valuable. The online eLearning courses are very thorough and professional. Campus is well run and has interesting displays of rare gemstones and jewelry that previous students have designed.
While you’re on campus for a tour or classes, make sure to eat at the café. They had such good fish tacos!

This place is absolutely beautiful. Very polite, professional staff with immaculate grounds. I love to visit this place, even if only for business, but its just such a nice place that it makes me happy. They have some beautiful pieces of jewelry on display in the lobby.

Well ok I’m a lil biased when it comes to GIA bc this is where I received my education… It’s beautifully located and resembles an adorned museum! It’s gorgeous luster emulates power from within the school confounds but worth the education!!! Go GIA

Get all of your diamonds graded here! Highest grading with the top-​of-​the-​line systems.

GIA is the bizness! While you’re waiting for your diamond to be inscribed, check out the outlets nearby!

EXPERIENCE OF GIA:
This review is on the LAB where you can get your diamond graded and laser inscribed.
It was quite an experience… be sure to have your DRIVER’s license on you if you plan to come here. I know, who doesn’t carry their driver’s license right?!? Well, I just so happened to forget it at home! I thought my regular CA ID would work since the ID numbers are the same, but the security at the gate was strict.
Good thing my mom was with me so she could drive. By the way, EACH person in the car has to show their ID! So seriously bring your ID’s!
When you go inside and park, you’ll probably go into the main building if it’s your first time. Again, you have to show your ID. Then the security guy will print a sticker with your face and name on it. Another security guard will then escort you to the building where the lab is.
Once I got to the lab building, we had to show our ID’s AGAIN! Kind of felt like a prison as the doors were concrete and could only be opened if the security guard inside released the door. We signed in, and grabbed our guest passes that we had to clip on our clothes.
Finally, I took the elevator to the second floor, looped around the corner, and entered the laboratory doors. Then I was asked to step into room «B.» The room was small kind of like an interrogation room (not that I would know). The lab tech was on the other side of the glass window and we walked through a hole on the window.
EXPERIENCE WITH GRADING & LASER INSCRIPTION:
The lab tech said it would take 7 business days, but to my surprise, they finished a couple days sooner. Their prices are reasonable. I think it was like $ 17 dollars to get my diamond inscribed and another $ 16 or so to have the inscription personalized. The grading was about $ 55.
Grading prices: Depending when the last time your diamond was graded by GIA, the grading price will depend. For example, my diamond was recently graded this past fall. So, it was cheaper for me to get it graded again.
NOTE: You cannot just get your diamond inscribed. You have to get it graded also.
HOURS: They accept walk-​ins, just be sure to get there before they close!

An interesting place with the museum having amazing pieces of gem. If you get a change to go here, call ahead for a tour.

(Raider of the Lost Ark music playing… Duh Duh Duh DAAAAA,. Harrison Ford swinging in on a vine. to rescue my little gemstone. eeeeeeeee!
So, OK. settle down now, just tell the story. Got the call to pick up my little gemstone. It was ready after being weighed, measured and certified that it was real. It’s real! Got it’s little picture taken too (It was smiling.) Honest! Check out my photo! This time, I brought a girlfriend I grew up with in OC. She thought the tour was a WOW, and amazed at all that security. She had to hand over her ID as well. (See previous review below)
Turns out that my little gemstone, inherited from my Uncle Evie is actually a Precious Topaz. Turns out not so little. Around 20.97 Carats. Wow! Thanks, Uncle! Faceted, Round Cut, modified Brilliant style No inclusions seen. Not artificially treated.(Whatever that is).
I hear you saying, «So how much»?
Wish I knew! They told me They don’t do appraisals! Check out their website, if you’re interested.
Any appraisers out there?

If you’re what we affectionately call a gem geek you’re going to go gaga over GIA. Even if you’re not that extreme on the scale there are some things here you’re never going to see anywhere else. The museum is chalk full of amazing pieces and tends to change up every now and then as areas are donated for display and returned to respective owners there is always room for something new. There are close up pictures of stones lining the walls, some so beautiful you hardly can believe it’s a gem of any sort. Even the grounds are lovely to walk with a view of the ocean and the flower fields, if you’re there during the blooming seasons. Tours are led by knowledgeable and helpful staff who will answer all your questions and give you insight into the industry.
Update: The café is really starting to get going well. The menu changes daily with fun specials like the ‘Monster Melt’ to celebrate Halloween. Marisa, the only girl back there, is awesome — completes your order quickly and correctly even though she is always busy doing something back there. Give um a shot if you come in for a visit, just avoid high traffic hours around 10 and 12.

I took a diamond I bought online here so they would verify that the diamond was the same as the GIA report that came with it. My diamond was perfect and they even let me see the laser serial number under a microscope which was nice. Their facilities are beautiful too.