
The position has been newly created.
Pollard will oversee IGI’s educational offerings and diploma programs that comprise 14 gemology schools around the world, as well as online learning.
IGI education encompasses gemstone grading, jewelry design, and instructional seminars and webinars.
“I am pleased that John is taking on this important role. At IGI, we have always felt a responsibility to provide proper gemological education to all who choose to enter this field. Only then can we have a strong industry, trusted by consumers,” said Roland Lorie, IGI CEO.
“For over 40 years, we have educated tens of thousands of people and we intend to continue reaching more people in more places, increasing knowledge and confidence among professionals and consumers alike.”
Pollard and IGI have worked together on different projects for more than a decade. Since 2020, he has been designing curriculum and training for many of IGI’s clients, including top luxury brands, IGI said.
Pollard has also been a consultant for diamond producers, diamond sellers, and other labs, around the globe.
He has hosted educational seminars at JCK Las Vegas, AGS Conclave, the GIA Alumni Association, and IGI trade conferences.
He was recently the director of education at PriceScope.com. He has also held management roles in different industry-related companies since 2005, working across traditional retail and ecommerce.
Pollard got his start in a different kind of education than gemstones when he worked as a Texas public school educator. He was twice awarded his district’s Education Foundation Award of Excellence.
With degrees in education, gemology, and music, Pollard remains involved in youth education advocacy and serves on the board of directors of Music for All.
The Latest

The Museum of Arts and Design's new exhibition features 75 pieces by the designer, best known for her work in the “Black Panther” films.

Making its auction debut, "The Glowing Rose" is expected to fetch $20 million at the November jewelry sale in Geneva.

They were attacked on Oct. 15, as approximately 40 miners without licenses marched on the mine’s gate.

You deserve to know what you are selling–to protect your customers as well as your business and your reputation.

It took the masked thieves less than 10 minutes to steal eight irreplaceable jewels from two display cases in the museum’s Apollo Gallery.


Gemologist Lauren Gayda has previously worked at The Clear Cut, Taylor & Hart, and Effy Jewelry.

In 2026, the jewelry retailer will celebrate a milestone only a small percentage of family-owned businesses survive to see.

The upcoming show provides savvy retailers with the opportunity to stock their cases with best sellers in advance of the holiday season.

The new showcase dedicated to Italian jewelry design is set for Oct. 29-30.

Take a gaze at the sky with this pair of platinum diamond-set star earrings with blue lace agate drops.

Jeffrey Zimmer's decades of leadership at Reeds Jewelers are defined by integrity, a love of sourcing gemstones, and a heart for community.

The new high jewelry design and production process takes 30 days or less from concept to completion, the auction house said.

The holiday catalog for 2025 features never-before-seen images of more than 100 one-of-a-kind masterpieces.

The brand has released a second installment of its collection of traditional and non-traditional commitment heirlooms.

Corey rescued New England chain Day’s Jewelers, preserving its legacy with strong people skills, pragmatism, and a “get-it-done” attitude.

Charles Robinson Shay was sentenced to life in prison plus 120 years while his accomplice, Michael James McCormack, got 75 years.

Timepieces at Luxury will take place at The Venetian and, like Luxury, will be invitation-only for the first two days.

The auction house named a new global head of jewelry, as well as a new head of the jewelry department for the Americas.

As chairman of Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers, Tom Dixon has been tasked with honoring the past and shaping the future of the family-run store.

Katty Villapando Lyte and Mica Rencher received a $10,000 grant for their business, Shimmer Culture LLC.

The parents of the Dallas Mavericks rookie bought their engagement ring at a Day’s store in Bangor, Maine, in 1997.

The UK-based brand sourced the gemstones, which are fully traceable, from an artisanal mining community in Tanzania.

The trio of Advent calendars include a version with 18-karat gold and lab-grown diamond jewelry in a red lacquer jewelry box.

Created in collaboration with Nymphenburg Porcelain, the lock is part of a four-piece collection that took two years to bring to fruition.

Jewelry industry veteran Alisa Bunger has taken on the role.

The company and industry leader’s two-decade tenure with De Beers will come to a close at the end of the month.

“The Winter Egg” set the world auction record for a Fabergé piece twice at previous Christie’s sales.