Why Gemmology?  I’m sure we have all been asked this type of question at some point in our lives.  It seems simple enough and I’m sure well meaning curious people don’t always consider the depth of the question they are asking, so we try to appease and condense and not sigh before we respond.  But it is a valid question, and because of the often misunderstood field of gemmology, sometimes difficult to explain.  What is a gemmologist and what do they do?  Certain fields of expertise can skip the basics at least, I mean you don’t ask a doctor, what is a doctor and what does he do; generally speaking it is accepted knowledge the role of a doctor, teacher, lawyer etc.  In fairness though these are questions I have even asked myself and explored this past summer and the months leading up to what I can only describe as a journey.

Let’s go back to where the journey begins:

A little girl sits on the beach of her grandparents cottage near Haliburton Ontario.  As many children do, she digs, builds sand castles and plays on the shore.  Today is special though, today she digs a little deeper into the sand, past the dry crystalline granules into the mud and clay below, and her efforts are rewarded with a treasure. As the sun warms her skin and brings out her freckles, the crystal warms her heart and brings out her smile.  An unknown crystal of fine green with yellow undertones, later identified as apatite, has now become her prized possession.  Although not particularly valuable or usable for more than collection purposes, something about this gem material speaks to the little girl and she keeps it with her for many years to come.

Fast forward 25 years, this little girl has grown up and moved across the country a few times.  She has had various jobs in the jewellery, marketing and retail management worlds and now finds herself managing a family run jewellery store in small town Chilliwack.  She has been blessed by a supportive employer encouraging and accommodating her various educational pursuits, and although placed on hold, something tugs at her heart and mind yearning for higher learning.  If you work in jewellery, especially in retail, no doubt you have said the words ” I’m not a gemmologist, but..” when inquired about the nature of a clients prized piece of jewellery.  One day after saying these words, something clicked in her mind…and she thinks to herself what does it take to become a gemmologist.  ( A little flame lit) What does it take? After some conversations with her employers and some research she discovers the answer; a school in the not to far away (about 2 hours) metro Vancouver has just the right program to suit her, and when her employer offers to send her there, she sees this opportunity within arms reach. Sometimes in life you are given a window, and you must make a choice. She makes her choice, this is her window. The next few months fly by, before she knows it she is in it and the real gemmological journey begins. That story, however, is for another day.

So what about the little girl and her apatite.  This journey brings to mind where it all started and she goes to search for this special stone, only to discover that somewhere along her many moves and endeavors it has been misplaced, or perhaps lost altogether.  With a heavy heart, and not missing the irony of “loosing her apatite” she come to terms with her loss.  She  takes comfort, however, in the realization that the crystal had served its purpose, and now that she had found hers, it had moved on. The subtle tugging at her heart and mind had come to fruition.  After all, she will always have the fond memories of the nine year old girl beaming at her first field gemmological discovery.  

Thanks for reading my little story.  Maybe one day I will be reunited with my apatite crystal, but for now my heart is full and the world is full of more treasures waiting to be discovered. Keep looking for the windows, yours will come too!