| Detail | For this role |
|---|---|
| Department | Retail and Showroom |
| Level | Mid level |
| Reports to | Showroom Manager |
| Direct reports | None |
| Experience | 2 to 5 years grading diamonds and coloured stones in a jewellery retail or lab setting |
Gemologist job description template
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Job title: Gemologist
Department: Retail and Showroom
Reports to: Showroom Manager
Location: [City], [office, branch or site]
About the role
A Gemologist grades and certifies diamonds and coloured stones for a jewellery showroom. The person examines each stone for the four Cs, spots treatments and synthetics, matches goods against lab certificates and signs off quality before pieces reach the counter. In an Indian showroom the gemologist also guides customers on stone value, protects the store from fakes and keeps the certified stock register accurate. Good grading builds buyer trust and prevents costly returns.
Key responsibilities
- Examine diamonds and coloured stones for cut, colour, clarity and carat using loupe, microscope and standard grading tools.
- Detect lab-grown stones, glass fillings, colour treatments and simulants before goods enter the showroom stock.
- Verify each certified stone against its GIA or IGI certificate and flag any mismatch in weight or grade.
- Grade loose diamonds and studded jewellery, and record findings in the certified stock register accurately.
- Advise sales staff and customers on stone quality, value drivers and care so claims at the counter stay honest.
- Check incoming parcels from vendors, reject off-grade goods and confirm that invoices match the graded quality.
- Prepare stones for BIS hallmarking or external certification and track pieces sent to the laboratory.
- Value old gold and stones brought for exchange or buy-back, and document the basis of each valuation.
- Keep grading instruments calibrated and maintain a clean, secure environment for handling high-value stones.
- Train counter staff to read certificates and answer common customer questions about clarity and colour.
Requirements
- Diploma in gemology from GIA, IGI or a recognised institute
- BSc or graduate degree an advantage
- Certified diamond grading course completion
- 2 to 5 years grading diamonds and coloured stones in a jewellery retail or lab setting
KRAs and KPIs for a Gemologist
Key result areas for the appraisal form, each with a KPI you can measure every month or quarter.
| Key result area | How to measure it |
|---|---|
| Grading accuracy | Grades on re-check match the lab certificate within one clarity or colour grade every time |
| Fake detection | Zero treated, synthetic or misrepresented stones passed into showroom stock in the year |
| Certification turnaround | Stones sent for certification returned and shelved within the agreed turnaround days |
| Stock register accuracy | Certified stock register matches physical count at every audit with no unexplained gap |
| Exchange valuation | Buy-back valuations documented and within the approved margin band each month |
| Customer trust | No stone-quality complaints or returns traced to a wrong grade each quarter |
Skills and tools
Tools used day to day: Jeweller's loupe, Gemological microscope, Refractometer, Diamond tester, Digital carat scale.
Reporting line and career path
Next roles: Senior Gemologist, Quality Head, Store Manager
Interview questions for a Gemologist
- How do you tell a lab-grown diamond from a natural one when the certificate is missing?
- Walk me through grading a one carat diamond for clarity, step by step.
- A vendor's parcel does not match the invoice grade. What do you do next?
- How do you value an old gold and stone piece brought for exchange?
- Which stone treatments are common in the Indian market, and how do you catch them?
- A customer disputes the colour grade on their certificate. How do you handle the conversation?
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Book a free demoSee pricingFrequently asked questions
What does a gemologist do in a jewellery showroom?
A showroom gemologist grades diamonds and coloured stones, checks them against lab certificates, detects treatments and synthetics, and signs off quality before pieces reach the counter. They value exchange goods, guide sales staff and keep the certified stock register accurate, protecting both the customer and the store from wrong grades or fakes.
What qualification do you need to become a gemologist?
Most gemologists in India complete a gemology diploma from GIA, IGI or another recognised institute, often with a diamond grading course. A science graduate background helps but is not essential. What matters is trained eyes, hands-on grading practice and the ability to read and verify certificates confidently.
What is the difference between a gemologist and a jewellery valuer?
A gemologist identifies and grades stones for cut, colour, clarity and treatment. A valuer sets a monetary value on a finished piece for sale, insurance or buy-back, using the stone grade, gold weight, making charges and market rates. In many showrooms one experienced gemologist does both jobs.