Introducing our new Gemmology tutor – Deborah Mazza

Do you wish you had more knowledge about gemstones? To feel more confident when talking to customers or when choosing stones to buy? We have just created a new one-day Gemstones Masterclass and want to introduce our new expert tutor Deborah Mazza.

Tell us a little bit about yourself and what you do

I was born in Sicily, I am bilingual as my mother is English and my father Italian. I moved to Germany in 1984 and trained as a gemmologist with the Deutsche Gemmologische Gesellschaft and the Gemmological Association of Great Britain. I taught gemmology to English classes in the German Gemmological Association, and besides buying and selling gems, I also worked as a jewellery valuer. I then attained a bachelor in Business in 2006. When I moved back to the UK I carried on jewellery valuations with my own company. I hold the Certificate of Appraisal Theory with the National Association of Jewellers and also teach with Gem-A (the Gemmological Association of Great Britain)

What’s been your general career path?

All through my career, I have worked with gems and jewellery, it has been my life passion and it still fascinates me. I worked in the gems and jewellery trade in Idar-Oberstein, Germany, the gemstone centre in Europe; there they buy and sell gemstones to the whole world, it is still the leading gem lapidary and carving centre.

I have also finally started making jewellery, which I was unable to do before due to family commitments.

What are your goals for the future?

My children have grown up and moved out, allowing me to collaborate in writing Vladyslav Yavorsky’s latest book, Terra Connoisseur – Gemstones, and organising trips to meet Idar-Oberstein’s craftspeople.

I have just finished my bachelor in Art History at Goldsmiths University. In autumn 2018 I am starting my masters, as I think we need a theory of jewellery and gemstones similar to the theory of art.

What is your favourite gemstone why?

I have no favourite gemstone, which sounds strange, because I just love them all for their wide colour variations and effects, this is the main reason why I wear lots of jewellery, now also made by myself.

Find out more about Deborah’s work on her website http://www.laetherstone.com/

You can join Deborah for our new Gemstone masterclass. Learn about gemstone identification, cleaning and handling, colour, hardness, durability and much more. If you enrol for a weekday class you will also visit A E Ward gemstone suppliers in Hatton Garden 

To find out more about the course and to enrol click here