What Happened to the GIA GemSet Color and Hue Wheel?

The GIA GemSet offered plastic color masters for color grading gems. It's no longer in production. Software alternatives exist but still face limitations.

Home Learning Center Gemology Gemology ToolsWhat Happened to the GIA GemSet Color and Hue Wheel?

By Donald Clark, CSM IMG

The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) used to offer plastic color masters for color grading. They argued that the plastic comparison "gems" gave a more realistic representation of color than any flat media could. In 2007, X-Rite acquired Pantone, the company making the color masters. Thus, unfortunately, they are no longer produced. You may find used sets for sale on eBay.

Multiple Versions of the GemSet

The GIA made several different sets. The full set included 324 samples and a storage case with three trays. Another contained the samples in binders. The most common version seems to be the "Hue Wheel" GemSet, shown below. This is the one I have, and I love it. I think I bought it for around $350 in late 2014 from a retiring jeweler. He used it for his GIA coursework in 1992. I found the picture of this one on an old eBay listing, although mine is identical.

Here, you can see the full set in practical use.

Software Alternatives for Color Grading

As an alternative, the GIA now uses a software color grading system. Invented by Israeli gem dealer Menahem Sevdermish, Gemewizard can identify 31 master color hues. This program recreates each hue in six color tones. Then, it divides each tone into six levels of saturation. All told, this system makes available 1,116 gemstone colors. Students and dealers can download depictions of these gemstone colors.

The software approach has been suggested before. However, computer monitors vary in their reproduction of colors. This remains the primary obstacle to this alternative.

Brazilian colored gems — Despite improvements in color grading software, colors reproduced on computer monitors vary. Also, both print illustrations and computer images have difficulty recreating other gemstone optical effects, such as pleochroism and brilliance, which can impact the measurement of gem color. Using comparison stones, even synthetic gems, as masters remains important for grading. Colored stones from Brazil, from top to bottom: tourmaline (green); topaz (blue); amethyst (purple); garnet (dark red); citrine (yellow); diameter: 5.0 mm each. Photo by Mauro Cateb. Licensed under CC By 2.0.

Donald Clark, CSM IMG

The late Donald Clark, CSM founded the International Gem Society in 1998. Donald started in the gem and jewelry industry in 1976. He received his formal gemology training from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and the American Society of Gemcutters (ASG). The letters “CSM” after his name stood for Certified Supreme Master Gemcutter, a designation of Wykoff’s ASG which has often been referred to as the doctorate of gem cutting. The American Society of Gemcutters only had 54 people reach this level. Along with dozens of articles for leading trade magazines, Donald authored the book “Modern Faceting, the Easy Way.”

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