Gemological Institute of America - Competitors

Competitors

GIA has several competitors in providing diamond grading reports and gemology training:

• The Gemmological Association of Great Britain, also known as Gem-A, is an international gemmology education and qualifications body based in the UK. It was founded in 1908 and its first American graduate was GIA founder Robert M. Shipley in 1929.
• The Hoge Raad voor de Diamant (HRD Antwerp), which means Diamond High Council, is Europe's counterpart to the GIA. HRD is popular in the Far East and Europe where its reports are legal documents recognized by the European Union.
• The International Gemological Institute (IGI), IGI is a competitor of GIA.
• The European Gemological Laboratory (EGL).
• The American Gemological Society (AGS), the AGS has traditionally focused on providing a cut grade which the industry was lacking in order to market higher end merchandise. The AGS is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada.
• The Canadian Institute of Gemmology (CIG) is a career training institution for gemmologists and gem technologists in Canada.

There are also a number of laboratories affiliated to CIBJO.