Thought I would share that I am currently going for classes to get my GIA certification and working towards getting a Graduated Gemologist diploma. I just finished up a class called Colored Stone Essentials and passed the course with flying colors (strangely of colors like Ruby, Sapphire and Emeralds!) I am now enrolled in Diamond Essentials and look forward to getting into that course as well. These courses are giving me some distraction as well to keep me entertained and busy while I count down to the time when my husband will return from Iraq, plus I get to learn a lot about the materials I am currently using in many of our newer designs that are using more precious stones and 14K gold.