Congratulations to our own Tom Seguin, owner of Suncoast Gems in Bradenton, FL on recently completing the American Society of Appraiser’s GJ 205 class to recertify the Master Gemologist Appraiser designation. The three day class was held in Las Vegas, Nevada during the JCK Jewelry Show, which is the largest Jewelry show in the United States.

This is one of the two advanced courses required for Master Gemologist Appraiser certification. It is an intense, concentrated study of Gems and Jewelry valuation theory and principles. In taking the class, one will master the three approaches to valuing gems and jewelry and the research methods for each approach, expand your vocabulary of appraisal terminology, understand the forces that create, diminish or influence value and learn to identify elements of value and how to seek, find and interpret comparables. One will learn to use data analysis, adjustment, and statistics to prove value, and to understand self-contained, summary and restricted use appraisal reports and when to use each. One will learn the components of the written appraisal report, and how to write a skillful narrative in support of your valuation. And you will learn to differentiate literal vs. interpretative description and ensure that your reports are compliant with USPAP.

In order to obtain the Master Gemologist Appraiser designation, the most highly respected designation in the Gems & Jewelry appraisal profession the individual must meet all the following requirements:

  • Have Accredited Senior Appraiser (ASA) status in the society
  • Be a Graduate Gemologist (GG) from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) or hold the designation of Fellow, Gemological Association of Great Britain (FGA) or similar approved gemological designation
  • Own or be employed by an owner of an ASA-registered gemological laboratory
  • Pass the Farnsworth-Munsell 100-hue test for color discrimination
  • Successfully complete the Master Gemologist Appraiser Program (GJ205 & GJ206) in residence

Tom is one of only approximately 47 Graduate Gemologists in the US that have met the stringent requirements to have the Master Gemologist Appraiser designation.