GIA researcher Al Gilbertson was awarded the Robert M. Shipley Award, the American Gem Society’s highest honor, during the Converge event in Carlsbad, Calif., on Sept. 9.
His “ability to bridge scientific precision with an understanding of diamond beauty has helped elevate our industry,” Katherine Bodoh, CEO of the American Gem Society, said in a statement.
Gilbertson is one of the inventors of GIA’s cut grading system for round brilliant diamonds, and his name appears on several patents related to that system. He is currently part of the GIA team that’s working toward the development of a cut grading system for fancy-shape diamonds.
Gilbertson’s 2007 book, American Cut: The First 100 Years, is widely regarded as the definitive work on its subject.
Before joining GIA in 2000, Gilbertson had decades of experience as a jeweler, lapidary artist, appraiser, and business owner.
“Al’s impact on the gemological field is profound,” former GIA president Susan Jacques said in presenting the award to Gilbertson. “His work is at the heart of how we evaluate the quality of a diamond’s cut. He brings curiosity, precision, and an enduring passion for excellence to every project, and his legacy will continue to guide gemological science for generations to come.”
Top: Susan Jacques and Al Gilbertson, shortly after she presented him with the Robert M. Shipley Award (photo courtesy of the American Gem Society)
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