Our chapter, the Lone Star chapter, is affiliated with the Gemological Institute of America (G.I.A.), the teaching arm of the jewelry industry. It is composed of students of G.I.A., alumni members, and other interested professionals who believe in the goals and principles of G.I.A.

These goals and principles are based on gemological knowledge, personal integrity, and high ethical standards of anyone who wishes to consider themselves a professional in the gem and jewelry industry.

Our chapter stresses programs that are educational and that give our members the most up to date information available in the industry on gemological issues. We are then able to provide our clients with the best professional assistance in the selection of their gem and jewelry purchases.

New gem deposits are discovered every year, new gem treatments enter the marketplace regularly, and other issues that affect the value and/or availability of gems arise on a regular basis. This makes it so important for the gem and jewelry professional to stay current. Our chapter provides this opportunity for learning and association with other like minded colleagues.

Another stated goal of the Lone Star chapter is a public education program on gemstones and jewelry. It is our belief that a well informed and educated public will demand a high level of professionalism from their jeweler and that this pressure will raise the level of the whole industry over time. This is a very worthy goal and one that the public should expect when they are making a jewelry purchase.

Our chapter hopes to accomplish this goal by presenting a Gem Series program that will focus on an in depth discussion of a particular gem group. There will be a number of such programs throughout the year and the time and dates will be posted on this site as well as listed in the local newspapers.

In addition, we are in the planning stages of organizing a traveling exhibition that will cover the corundum gem group (this includes ruby and sapphire). This will give the public the opportunity to see what this gem looks like when it comes out of the earth, how it is faceted, carved or otherwise fashioned into finished gems and how it is used in jewelry. There will be demonstrations of stone cutting, jewelry making as well as lectures and hands on examination of real rubies and sapphires, in the natural crystal form and the finished gem shape.

We encourage you to join us if you have a love of gems and jewelry (please see information on membership). Since we have an ambitious program, we need interested members who will help us achieve our goals.

This is a very exciting time in gemology but one that requires a high level of interest in continuing education. Gemological knowledge is not static; it is evolving and as such needs regular review and updating in order to stay current. The Lone Star chapter can provide its members with the means to receive and understand the implications of the latest developments occurring in the gem and jewelry industry. If you love gems and are serious about this profession, please join us and together we will set a new standard of excellence.

Join us and become a member!