Welcome to the International School of Gemology Online Courses and Education with online and in-person classroom learning opportunities. As part of the Global Claims Associates insurance services company, we are the world’s finest and fastest-growing gemological education organization that offers world-class training in gemology, jewelry appraisal, and jewelry litigation expert witness at the world’s lowest tuition rate. We are the innovators in affordable, quality distance education in gemology and jewelry appraisal based on our certified insurance industry education delivery system. Courses have been rated the top worldwide for quality, affordability, and ease of learning. Please choose from one of our quality education programs or professional certificates, or get more information about careers in gemology from the drop-down menu.
EXCELLENT Based on 30 reviews Lisa Bies2025-03-24Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. So much information, pictures and details about the stones. Robert is a great instructor to listen to and shows lots of examples. Lana Powell2025-03-21Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I highly recommend the ISG for anyone looking to gain a deep and practical understanding of gemology. The RGA course are well-structured, informative, and perfect for both beginners and experienced professionals. Robert James is an exceptional tutor - his wealth of knowledge, clear teaching style, and dedication to his students make learning both engaging and rewarding. The hands-on approach and real-world applications provided have been invaluable to my gemstone cutting and selling business , D&L Sapphires, even from the other side of the world. ISG is truly a perfect choice. rvrwokr12025-03-21Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I have been learning so much from the ISG since 2016 when first discovering them. The courses are easy to understand, the instructor (Robert James) makes learning fun, and affordable, and is always ready to help every student with whatever they need. Top notch school ! I encourage anyone who wants a professional learning experience to give them a try. Danuta Hackett2025-03-21Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. One of the best decisions I ever made was to become a Gemologist Appraiser with the ISG. I looked forward to each course, I gained understanding and confidence with each week and was so grateful for my education. I love being able to help others identify their family heirloom jewelry, or their garage sale treasures, or write insurance appraisals to insure their wedding ring set, or even work in a jewelry store as a sales person. The variety of opportunities for a gemologist appraiser are endless! This "Gypsy Gemologist" who travels and offers these services has made a wonderful lifestyle for me! I highly recommend the ISG ! Enri badillo2025-03-21Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Excelente curso, es prácticamente la única manera de obtener un buen aprendizaje en línea. Robert es un gran maestro. Solo necesitarás un buen nivel de inglés. Joan Gruendeman2025-03-17Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Robert James and the ISG has afforded me the opportunity to complete my RGA with the incredible coursework that is presented in a way that is easy to follow, but challenging. The preemptive videos that are shown before each lesson enhance the experience. Robert is only an email away if there are questions and concerns. I was so excited when I received my congratulatory email saying that I had passed my final exam. Thank you Robert for your support and I look forward to more learning!! Kevin FitzSimmons2025-03-15Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I am a student at ISG. Robert has a passion for teaching, and not only the didactic portion, but his labs and videos give great insight into the real world of gemology and appraisal. Denise Broadbent2025-03-14Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. When I expressed an interest in pursuing a second career in Gemology, my aunt, who had taken both the GIA’s Gemology courses and the ISG courses, recommended the ISG gemologist appraiser course. It was the best decision I have ever made. I have learned so from the ISG courses and look forward to continuing my learning journey. I am also looking forward to retiring to devote more time to my new business! Sarah Blue2025-03-14Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I am a forever lover of gems and crystals, and recently decided to restructure my current business, Riverbend Dreadlocks, into a beautiful virtual store which will soon be Riverbend Dreadlocks & Gemstones. I am proud to offer ethically sourced crystals along with handcrafted dreadlock adornments and jewelry. I love continuing my education in all sorts of areas, and Gemology is my next big lifelong study. I found quite a few programs that offered virtual learning, but I made the choice to go with ASG easily. I immediately signed up for the awesome free Intro to Gemology Course, and I knew very quickly that Mr James was going to be the only option for me. His emphasis on ethics and honesty, his many years of experience and willingness to go against the tides to do what is right grabbed my attention immediately, and there were just no other options for me. I also love that I am able to make payments for my chosen courses. I have started with the Certified Gemstone Dealer and am planning to continue with the Registered Gemologist Diploma Program, or maybe the Appraiser Program. I am enjoying the course a ton! Doing a self-paced course was the only way to go for me, being a full-time caregiver and running a small business means I have little free time, so everything about this course is perfect for me. I have also emailed Mr James a couple of times with questions, and he is very quick to respond, which I was surprised to see. And the new Thursday night Journey Through Gemology classes are my favorite! Thank you Mr James and ISG. I am so truly happy and grateful to be here.Verified by TrustindexTrustindex verified badge is the Universal Symbol of Trust. Only the greatest companies can get the verified badge who has a review score above 4.5, based on customer reviews over the past 12 months. Read more
The ISG has received “Best Online Gemology School” rating by two major jewelry organizations. Click the image to learn more.
Frequently Asked Questions
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About the ISG
Learn more about the founding and credentials of the ISG education programs including recognition and certifications.
Meet Your Instructor
Learn the history and confirm the credentials of your instructor, Robert James FGA, GG. Get the complete story of the founder of the ISG
I stumbled upon the ISG when I felt defeated after knowing I couldn’t do the extremely expensive GIA courses. Through RJs courses you get book knowledge, but what I think is more important, you get his personal knowledge. Through him I figured out how to get my AJP through the GIA for free, and then received a scholarship to eventually pursue my GG through them. But the ISG is what is going to make me a gemologist, and a damn good appraiser.
I want to express my deepest gratitude to you for creating such interesting and full of knowledge course. ” Litigation and expert witness course” is a great addition to all my modest experience and will help me in future become more confident in litigation process. It was a great pleasure to be an ISG student and I hope to stay as active member ISG alumni community.
I appreciate you so much Robert. I too went to GIA and even took a few International Gem Society courses and I love the value placed on ethical selling that ISG places compared to every other course I’ve taken. I feel like being able to source ethically is hugely what was missing from my gemology training and credentials and I was able to supplement that with your program. Thank you for what you do for the field and community of gemologists everywhere.
Our graduates report that our program is superior to the GIA Graduate Gemologist program on many levels. We offer courses the GIA does not offer, and provide you with a world-class education at a fraction of the cost of the GIA. We urge you to compare our programs and tuition costs.