Richard T. Liddicoat
Encyclopedia
Richard T. Liddicoat
"Father of Gemology
"
. Those who had the privilege of knowing and working with him have been able to expand the frontiers of gemology by “standing on the shoulders” of this giant.
s on the basis of color, clarity, and cut. A central feature was the D-to-Z color grading system for faceted colorless to light yellow diamonds—the vast majority of diamonds seen in the trade.
Beginning in 1953, GIA instructors taught this grading system to hundreds of students so they could evaluate their own diamonds. Subsequently, many of these students asked GIA to set up a procedure whereby they could submit their grading worksheets, and eventually the diamonds themselves, for an independent assessment. And so, GIA issued the first GIA Diamond Grading Report in 1955.
Expanding GIA’s Reach through EducationIn 1942, as Director of Education, RTL developed an intensive one-week lab class that was launched at the American Gem Society (AGS) Conclaves in Philadelphia and Chicago. The class gave jewelers the opportunity to work with equipment in a classroom setting under the guidance of GIA instructors.
The number of international students grew under RTL’s leadership. In 1970, RTL arranged for instructor Glenn Nord to teach in Israel. The following year, Kenzo Yamamoto and Yoshiko Doi began teaching GIA classes in Japan (since then, nearly 3,000 graduate gemologists have been trained at GIA’s Japanese affiliate). From these early beginnings, GIA has established 13 schools in 14 countries.
RTL became editor of Gems & Gemology in 1952, and eventually editor-in-chief until his passing in 2002. He led a procession of notable mineralogists
, gemologists, and other scientists who contributed groundbreaking articles to the journal. Over the years, he would write more than 40 articles, editorials, and news items for G&G..
RTL also participated in writing three important books for gemologists. The first edition of Richard Liddicoat’s Handbook of Gem Identification, published in 1947, presented “simple and often conclusive” tests to identify gems. Now in its 12th edition (4th printing), it is one of the most widely read textbooks in gemology. The Diamond Dictionary, first published in 1960 and now in its 3rd edition (1993), provides a standard reference for diamond terminology. The Jewelers’ Manual, a handy reference guide to gemology and jewelry for the working jeweler, was first published in 1964 and is now in its 3rd edition (1989).
RTL’s contributions to spreading gem and jewelry knowledge were immortalized with the creation of the Richard T. Liddicoat Gemological Library and Information Center in 1989. Although Shipley had begun a library
in the very first days of GIA, RTL was the one who envisioned a world-class, state-of-the-art library that would serve not only GIA staff and students, but also jewelers, gemologists, and consumer
s worldwide. Today, the Liddicoat Library is the largest gemology and jewelry library in the world. At almost 9000 square feet (836.1 m²), it houses over 30,000 volumes and journals as well as extensive collections of photos, videotapes, and other media resources.
in the early 1930s, the Institute’s resources were devoted to identifying gems and to documenting the properties and techniques that would aid in their identification. Late in 1948, Shipley assigned RTL to New York to lead the expansion of that new branch. As director of GIA New York and the GIA Gem Trade Laboratory, RTL was responsible for integrating the facilities of the two labs. The early identification work was typically a group effort among staff members who became known as the “Liddicoat brain trust.”
By the 1970s, the GIA Gem Trade Laboratory staff was examining large numbers of gemstone
s, including the grading of diamonds and the identification of colored stones and pearl
s. Sensing the need for a group of scientists who would focus on the many emerging technical challenges in gemology, RTL formally established the current GIA Research Department in 1976.
"Father of Gemology
Gemology
Gemology or gemmology is the science dealing with natural and artificial gems and gemstones. It is considered a geoscience and a branch of mineralogy...
"
Timeline
- March 2, 1918 Born in Kearsage, Michigan to Richard T. and Carmen Beryl (Williams) Liddicoat.
- June 28, 1940 Joins the staff of GIAGemological Institute of AmericaThe Gemological Institute of America, or GIA, is a nonprofit institute dedicated to research and education in the field of gemology and the jewelry arts. Founded in 1931, GIA's mission is to protect all buyers and sellers of gemstones by setting and maintaining the standards used to evaluate...
as assistant director of education - Fall 1941 Helps develop the Diamolite; publishes (with Shipley) his first article for Gems & GemologyGems & GemologyGems & Gemology is a quarterly scientific journal published by the Gemological Institute of America. Each issue is devoted to research on diamonds, gemstones, and pearls. Topics include geographic sources, imitations and synthetics, treatments, and identification techniques...
: “A Solution to Diamond Color Grading Problems” - February 1946 After serving in the U.S. Navy during WWIIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, returns to GIA as director of research - August 1947 Publishes first edition of the Handbook of Gem Identification
- 1948 Named assistant director of GIA
- 1949 Named director of GIA New York and GIA Gem Trade Laboratory
- April 1952 Named executive directorExecutive directorExecutive director is a term sometimes applied to the chief executive officer or managing director of an organization, company, or corporation. It is widely used in North American non-profit organizations, though in recent decades many U.S. nonprofits have adopted the title "President/CEO"...
of GIA; assumes editorship of Gems & Gemology - April 1953 Officially introduces the GIA diamond grading system as part of new educational class in New York
- 1955 GIA Gem Trade Laboratory issues its first Diamond Grading Reports
- 1960 Co-authors first edition of The Diamond Dictionary
- 1962 Devises the “rapid sight” system for estimating diamond cuttingDiamond cuttingDiamond cutting is the art, skill and, increasingly, science of changing a diamond from a rough stone into a faceted gem. Cutting diamond requires specialized knowledge, tools, equipment, and techniques because of its extreme difficulty....
quality - 1964 Co-authors first edition of The Jewelers’ Manual
- 1970 Launches a series of extension education classes in IsraelIsraelThe State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
taught by Glenn Nord, marking GIA’s first global outreach - 1971 First GIA gemology courses taught in JapanJapanJapan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
(by an affiliate) - 1976 Receives the American Gem SocietyAmerican Gem SocietyThe American Gem Society is a trade association of retail jewelers, independent appraisers, suppliers, and selective industry members, which was founded in 1934 by Robert M. Shipley, who also founded the...
’s Robert M. Shipley Award - Creates the GIA Research Department under the leadership of Dr. D. Vincent Manson
- Spring 1981 Publishes first issue of Gems & Gemology in an expanded and redesigned format
- 1982 Creates the GIA Alumni Association under Robert Earnest. Chairs GIA’s first International Gemological Symposium in Los AngelesLos ÁngelesLos Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
- 1983 Steps down as president of GIA; named chairman of the GIA Board of Governors named Honorary Member of AGTA
- 1984 Named Man of the Year by the Consolidated Jewelers Association of New York named a Founding Organizer of ICA
- 1985 Receives Modern Jeweler magazine’s Lifetime Achievement Award
- 1987 Receives the Morris B. Zale Lifetime Achievement Award. Becomes the first Honorary Lifetime Member of the Gem Testing Laboratory of Great Britain
- August 1989 Honored with the dedication of the Richard T. Liddicoat Gemological Library and Information Center at GIA
- 1991 Named to the National Home Study Council’s Hall of Fame
- 1992 Named GIA Chairman of the Board for Life
- 1995 Receives GIA League of Honor Lifetime Achievement Award
- June 2000 Life-size bronze statue created by staff member Michael Clary, placed at the entrance of GIA Carlsbad
- July 2001 Receives the AGS Lifetime Achievement Award
- July 23, 2002 Richard T. Liddicoat died at his home in Santa MonicaSanta MônicaSanta Mônica is a town and municipality in the state of Paraná in the Southern Region of Brazil.-References:...
of cancer.
Notable contributions
Richard T. Liddicoat was GIA’s driving force for 60 years. Following the example set by GIA’s founder, Robert M. Shipley, RTL positioned GIA as a leading international educational institution, grading laboratory, manufacturer of gemological instruments, and research centerResearch center
A research center is a facility or building dedicated to research, commonly with the focus on a specific area. There are over 14,000 research centers in the United States...
. Those who had the privilege of knowing and working with him have been able to expand the frontiers of gemology by “standing on the shoulders” of this giant.
Architect of the international diamond grading system
In 1953, RTL introduced the GIA diamond grading system - a practical approach to grading the quality of colorless to light yellow polished diamondDiamond
In mineralogy, diamond is an allotrope of carbon, where the carbon atoms are arranged in a variation of the face-centered cubic crystal structure called a diamond lattice. Diamond is less stable than graphite, but the conversion rate from diamond to graphite is negligible at ambient conditions...
s on the basis of color, clarity, and cut. A central feature was the D-to-Z color grading system for faceted colorless to light yellow diamonds—the vast majority of diamonds seen in the trade.
Beginning in 1953, GIA instructors taught this grading system to hundreds of students so they could evaluate their own diamonds. Subsequently, many of these students asked GIA to set up a procedure whereby they could submit their grading worksheets, and eventually the diamonds themselves, for an independent assessment. And so, GIA issued the first GIA Diamond Grading Report in 1955.
Expanding GIA’s Reach through EducationIn 1942, as Director of Education, RTL developed an intensive one-week lab class that was launched at the American Gem Society (AGS) Conclaves in Philadelphia and Chicago. The class gave jewelers the opportunity to work with equipment in a classroom setting under the guidance of GIA instructors.
The number of international students grew under RTL’s leadership. In 1970, RTL arranged for instructor Glenn Nord to teach in Israel. The following year, Kenzo Yamamoto and Yoshiko Doi began teaching GIA classes in Japan (since then, nearly 3,000 graduate gemologists have been trained at GIA’s Japanese affiliate). From these early beginnings, GIA has established 13 schools in 14 countries.
Creating gem testing techniques and affordable instruments
RTL presided over four decades of innovation in gem instrument development at GIA, and established gem instruments as one of the Institute’s highest priorities. In addition to his early work with Shipley to develop the Diamolite, RTL’s scientific background enabled him to foster the development of instruments such as the prism spectroscope and the ProportionScope. His objective throughout instrument development at GIA was to provide jewelers with practical tools that could help them in the day-to-day operation of identifying gemstones.Reaching out to the world through books, publications, and a library
RTL believed in disseminating information to students and the gem and jewelry trade alike. His first article in Gems & Gemology, co-authored with Robert M. Shipley in 1941, was “A solution to diamond color grading problems.” (He later admitted that it was an overly ambitious title.)RTL became editor of Gems & Gemology in 1952, and eventually editor-in-chief until his passing in 2002. He led a procession of notable mineralogists
Mineralogy
Mineralogy is the study of chemistry, crystal structure, and physical properties of minerals. Specific studies within mineralogy include the processes of mineral origin and formation, classification of minerals, their geographical distribution, as well as their utilization.-History:Early writing...
, gemologists, and other scientists who contributed groundbreaking articles to the journal. Over the years, he would write more than 40 articles, editorials, and news items for G&G..
RTL also participated in writing three important books for gemologists. The first edition of Richard Liddicoat’s Handbook of Gem Identification, published in 1947, presented “simple and often conclusive” tests to identify gems. Now in its 12th edition (4th printing), it is one of the most widely read textbooks in gemology. The Diamond Dictionary, first published in 1960 and now in its 3rd edition (1993), provides a standard reference for diamond terminology. The Jewelers’ Manual, a handy reference guide to gemology and jewelry for the working jeweler, was first published in 1964 and is now in its 3rd edition (1989).
RTL’s contributions to spreading gem and jewelry knowledge were immortalized with the creation of the Richard T. Liddicoat Gemological Library and Information Center in 1989. Although Shipley had begun a library
Library
In a traditional sense, a library is a large collection of books, and can refer to the place in which the collection is housed. Today, the term can refer to any collection, including digital sources, resources, and services...
in the very first days of GIA, RTL was the one who envisioned a world-class, state-of-the-art library that would serve not only GIA staff and students, but also jewelers, gemologists, and consumer
Consumer
Consumer is a broad label for any individuals or households that use goods generated within the economy. The concept of a consumer occurs in different contexts, so that the usage and significance of the term may vary.-Economics and marketing:...
s worldwide. Today, the Liddicoat Library is the largest gemology and jewelry library in the world. At almost 9000 square feet (836.1 m²), it houses over 30,000 volumes and journals as well as extensive collections of photos, videotapes, and other media resources.
Protecting the public through research and gem identification
When Robert M. Shipley set up his Los Angeles laboratoryLaboratory
A laboratory is a facility that provides controlled conditions in which scientific research, experiments, and measurement may be performed. The title of laboratory is also used for certain other facilities where the processes or equipment used are similar to those in scientific laboratories...
in the early 1930s, the Institute’s resources were devoted to identifying gems and to documenting the properties and techniques that would aid in their identification. Late in 1948, Shipley assigned RTL to New York to lead the expansion of that new branch. As director of GIA New York and the GIA Gem Trade Laboratory, RTL was responsible for integrating the facilities of the two labs. The early identification work was typically a group effort among staff members who became known as the “Liddicoat brain trust.”
By the 1970s, the GIA Gem Trade Laboratory staff was examining large numbers of gemstone
Gemstone
A gemstone or gem is a piece of mineral, which, in cut and polished form, is used to make jewelry or other adornments...
s, including the grading of diamonds and the identification of colored stones and pearl
Pearl
A pearl is a hard object produced within the soft tissue of a living shelled mollusk. Just like the shell of a mollusk, a pearl is made up of calcium carbonate in minute crystalline form, which has been deposited in concentric layers. The ideal pearl is perfectly round and smooth, but many other...
s. Sensing the need for a group of scientists who would focus on the many emerging technical challenges in gemology, RTL formally established the current GIA Research Department in 1976.