Biography

Eric C. Emms, FGA DGA Ltd

07973 725 266

34 Ely Place, Suite H 4th Floor, London EC1N 6TD, UK

Biographies

Eric Emms FGA DGA

Eric Emms is well-known in the diamond and precious stone industry through his many years work at the Gem Testing Laboratory of Great Britain and the London Precious Stone Laboratory and his teaching of gem courses at the Gemmological Association, Sir John Cass College and Holts Academy of Jewellery.

His experience in diamond grading is unrivalled – in 1980 he established the CIBJO diamond grading service at the Laboratory and in 1989, following further grading experience in New York, he initiated the GIA diamond report service in London.

He has taught the practical skills of diamond grading and identification of gem treatments to many individuals in Hong Kong, mainland China as well as throughout the UK. Eric has given gem lectures in the UK, in Europe, the Far East and the US.

During his career he has had the privilege of examining some of the most famous and largest gems including the Moghul Emerald and the Cullinan I, Cullinan II, the Koh-i-Noor, and the Agra diamonds.

In 1995 he established the London Precious Stone Laboratory in Hatton Garden and sold it to the Birmingham Assay Office in 2004.

Eric’s gem articles are published regularly in jewellery magazines and he continues to teach practical diamond grading skills and talk on gem and jewellery matters in London in association with Holts Academy of Jewellery, the National Association of Goldsmiths and other organisations.

Ana Isabel Castro, IGE(dip) FGA DGA

Ana Isabel was attracted to gemmology when working in Spain . She studied at the Instituto Gemológico Español (IGE) in Madrid where she was awarded her gemmological diploma in 1987. Moving to London to further her gemmological knowledge, Ana Isabel gained the Fellowship (FGA) diploma of the Gemmological Association in 1988 and their DGA diamond qualification in 1989.

Employment as gemmologist at the Gem Testing Laboratory in London, from 1989, provided the start to her well respected experience and knowledge in gem laboratory work, particularly her expertise in fancy coloured diamond research and natural pearl identification. In 2000 she became senior gemmologist at the London Precious Stone Laboratory and in 2008 a director of Eric C. Emms FGA DGA Limited.