GIA History

Robert M. Shipley, GIA's Founder
Few experiences would have greater impact on Wichita jeweler Robert M. Shipley, GIA's eventual founder, than the period he devoted in 1928 to studying gemology in Great Britain.

Learning from the world's leading experts of the day, Shipley would return to the United States profoundly influenced by the noble traditions of Europe's venerated guilds and institutes.

Establishing the Institute – Setting Professional Standards
Recognizing the need for America's nascent jewelry industry to adopt professional standards of training and business practice, Shipley dedicated himself to establishing an institute, and later, a guild, modeled after those he had so grown to admire overseas.

In 1931, at age 44, Mr. Shipley founded the Gemological Institute of America in Los Angeles. In the same year, he published his groundbreaking book, Gemology, and by that summer, 250 jewelers had enrolled in his courses. Some would later become instructors and researchers at the Institute.

Discovering, Imparting, and Applying Gemological Knowledge
And there, in that infamous period of history, between the indictment of gangster Al Capone and the kidnapping of the Lindbergh baby, quiet but positive change took place in the world of gemology. America would finally have its own institute of gemological learning and research. A place in which knowledge would be discovered, imparted, and applied, to ensure the public trust in gems and jewelry.

We Invite You to Browse Through GIA's 72 Years of History
What follows is a colorful Flash presentation of the events and accomplishments that have since earned GIA recognition as the world's foremost authority in gemology. [more]