Rebekah Anderson is a professional Graduate Gemologist with more than 30 years of experience. As an independent, accredited jewelry appraiser, she conducts jewelry and gem appraisals for clients from Raleigh, North Raleigh, Wake Forest and the Triangle-area of North Carolina.
Through her Raleigh company, Earth Pebbles Gemology, Rebekah does same-day jewelry appraisals in her office while clients are present, so their jewelry or gems are never out of their possession or sight.
With a commitment and passion for gemology that started at a very young age, Rebekah has worked in what she calls her dream job for nearly three decades.
As Rebekah advanced in her profession, she often heard about The Gemological Institute of America (GIA), known as the world’s foremost authority in gemology and leading source of knowledge, standards, and education in gems and jewelry. Her new goal was to advance her training and knowledge at GIA.
Her first boss and mentor Master Jeweler Dave Lowrie wrote GIA a letter lauding his star employee and landing her one of only two scholarships given to students. GIA helped Rebekah fill her desire to comprehensively understand the nature of gems. With her inherent aptitude for design and standards of excellence, she excelled and in six months earned her GIA Graduate Gemologist credentials.
After becoming a Graduate Gemologist and jewelery designer, Rebekah worked for Captured Elegance Jewelers in Escondido, California. It was there her jewelry design skills flourished. Not only did she design beautiful jewelry, but she painted her renderings in watercolor, which were often presented to clients along with the finished piece of jewelry. Many of her clients were celebrities and athletes, including professional golfers Lee Trevino and Mark O’Meara.
The national membership warehouse club Costco Wholesale hired Rebekah as head gemologist, where she negotiated the purchase of hundreds of carats of gems each day, sorted and graded them.
Training future gemologists soon became her vocation when GIA moved its campus to Carlsbad, California, where Rebekah lived. She was one of more than 300 applicants vying for six positions being offered. She was hired by the prestigious organization as a Resident Graduate Gemology instructor – the youngest instructor on staff at the time. From there, she moved to England and was instrumental in opening the GIA London campus where she served as lead instructor.
During her tenure at GIA, Rebekah advanced to Senior Resident Graduate Gemology instructor and worked closely with Gem Trade Laboratory scientists to further increase the scope of her knowledge. She had access to the latest research and information on gem treatments, enhancements and identifying new synthetic stones.
After a successful career with GIA, Rebekah relocated to Raleigh in 2006 with her family. Prior to founding Earth Pebbles Gemology, an independent jewelry and gem appraisal company, Rebekah was a corporate appraiser for Bailey’s Fine Jewelry and Jolly’s Jewelers in Raleigh.
Rebekah Anderson’s Education and Affiliations
Raleigh Chapter Officer, The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) Alumni
Member and Founding Officer, Raleigh Chapter, Women’s Jewelry Association (WJA)
Graduate Gemologist, The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) 1989
Certified Gemologist, American Gem Society (AGS), 1997-2011
Member, National Association of Jewelry Appraisers (NAJA), 2011
GIA Gem Trade Laboratory (GTL), Carlsbad, CA, 1996, 2002
Special lab training on diamond grading and fancy colored diamonds
GIA Alumni Association, Chapter member Carlsbad, CA
GIA Alumni Association, Chapter member and GIA Ambassador
America Gem Trade Association (AGTA) Conference, 1997- 1999, 2001 – 2004, 2012
National Association of Jewelry Appraisers (NAJA) Winter Conference, 2012
GIA Commencement, Carlsbad, CA, 2000
GIA Jewelry Appraisal Course, 1996
GIA Carlsbad, CA, Lecture, Benitoite, 1997
GIA Carlsbad, CA, Gems and Gemology Challenge, 1997, 1998, 1999
GIA International Symposium, Participant and event associate, 1997, 1999
GIA Carlsbad, CA, Colored Stones Essentials, 1999
GIA Pearl Grading Course, 1999
GIA Diamonds Essential Course, 1999
GIA Carlsbad, CA, Chatam Gems Inc, Chatham Gems Lecture, 1997
GIA Career Fair, Carlsbad CA, One-on-One Counselor for participants, 1997