Recorded WebinarsOct 02, 2020
Watch: The ‘Microteers’ Talk About Photographing Gem InclusionsGradingApr 21, 2021
A Day in the Life: Zhanna Beissekova, Head Gemologist at IGR London
Beissekova has been dreaming of gemstones since she was a sandbox excavator.
Zhanna Beissekova is the head gemologist at IGR London.
London—Zhanna Beissekova starts her day with a gemstone in one hand and a strong cup of coffee in the other.
As the head gemologist at IGR London, a women-run gemological lab founded by designer Thelma West, Beissekova is tasked with overseeing every aspect of the gemstone grading process.
When she heads to the lab in the morning, one of her first stops is the station where the parcels arrive.
“I come in and take a peek to see what we’re getting today. It’s always exciting. It’s almost like a kid when you open your Christmas presents,” she said. “It’s like ‘Oh my God!’”
Every morning is Christmas morning for Beissekova, who revels in all the different gems and jewels that pass through the lab.
“In gemology, it’s very important how many gemstones and [pieces of] jewelry you see because you may know a lot, in theory, but it’s important to see the items,” she said.
Gemologists swap stories and inclusion pictures all the time, she said, all to the benefit of the field at large.
Beissekova, who earned her diamond and colored gems diploma from The Gemmological Association of Great Britain in 2016, is especially animated when talking about inclusions.
“You look at one inclusion, then there is another one. Then you figure out what actually happened to this stone, what story it’s telling you, where it’s from. That’s the most exciting thing.”
Grading is her favorite part of the job, she said, and she’s fascinated by how every stone, even within the same species, is different from the other.
As the head gemologist at IGR London, a women-run gemological lab founded by designer Thelma West, Beissekova is tasked with overseeing every aspect of the gemstone grading process.
When she heads to the lab in the morning, one of her first stops is the station where the parcels arrive.
“I come in and take a peek to see what we’re getting today. It’s always exciting. It’s almost like a kid when you open your Christmas presents,” she said. “It’s like ‘Oh my God!’”
Every morning is Christmas morning for Beissekova, who revels in all the different gems and jewels that pass through the lab.
“In gemology, it’s very important how many gemstones and [pieces of] jewelry you see because you may know a lot, in theory, but it’s important to see the items,” she said.
Gemologists swap stories and inclusion pictures all the time, she said, all to the benefit of the field at large.
Beissekova, who earned her diamond and colored gems diploma from The Gemmological Association of Great Britain in 2016, is especially animated when talking about inclusions.
“You look at one inclusion, then there is another one. Then you figure out what actually happened to this stone, what story it’s telling you, where it’s from. That’s the most exciting thing.”
Grading is her favorite part of the job, she said, and she’s fascinated by how every stone, even within the same species, is different from the other.
“I love when you put it under the microscope,” she said. “You look and there’s a whole other world.”
A handful of colorful gemstones graded at IGR London
There’s always a new specimen to see, which is partly why, Beissekova said, it’s helpful for gemologists to share their findings.
Sometimes, when looking through the microscope, she’ll see something especially interesting and have to call over some colleagues to show off her findings.
Just like some people find shapes in the clouds, Beissekova finds her own in gemstone inclusions and can’t keep the fun to herself.
“The imagination goes wild. Some may look like a flower or the Northern Lights.”
Lighting the Spark
Before she spent her days peering through a microscope, Beissekova studied business management and did administrative work for an oil and gas company in her native Kazakhstan.
But it wasn’t for her.
Her grandparents worked in Kazakhstan’s mining and gas industries, sharing stories that planted a seed of interest in geology early in life that, later, evolved into an interest in gemology.
“One day, I decided to have an expedition of my own. I went to the playground and I dug up a hole, but I didn’t find anything. Just some pebbles, but I said, ‘Oh OK, that must be it.’”
Her grandfather explained that mining was slightly more involved than that, telling her that you can also find gemstones deep in the earth.
And that’s how the spark was lit.
Finding a career in gemology, however, is not easy to do in Kazakhstan, Beissekova said, because the jewelry trade is small and hard to join. So, she packed her things and headed to London to study.
After learning a bit more about gemology, she knew it was the only choice for her and set out to build a career.
‘Who You Know Is Very Important’
Beissekova’s days as a gemologist can be hectic, juggling ringing phones and report requests.
Though she normally works 9-to-5, her days can run longer if it’s busy or she’s participating in a talk or webinar.
She doesn’t seem to mind at all.
“When you do something that you love, I would say that it’s not enough.”
Throughout her busy days, she has the support of her team behind her. They usually meet up in the morning to talk over coffee and see how everyone is doing.
The team at IGR London is small, so they are always checking on each other. It’s a team effort at the lab, for sure, with every stone examined by more than two people to compare notes and confirm the grading.
When Beissekova isn’t grading gemstones, she’s helping to photograph them, leaning into her creative side.
She’s been snapping pictures since college and even took a course in jewelry illustration.
Despite her interest in photography, Beissekova is adamant that she won’t be changing careers anytime soon.
If she wasn’t a gemologist, she would be a jeweler, she said, but definitely isn’t considering a line of work outside of gems and jewelry.
“No, no, no, no,” she said. “I would never leave the industry.”
For those looking to join the industry, Beissekova shared some words of wisdom and harsh realities.
“Because it’s quite a niche occupation and industry, who you know is very important. It’s very hard to get into the industry and find a job.”
To land her job at IGR London, Beissekova, a newcomer to the industry and to London, had to get her face out there.
She recommends looking for internships and workshops, and participating in talks, seminars, and webinars. Show up where you can and ask questions.
And don’t forget to practice, she said, even if you’re just looking at your friends’ jewelry.
“Apart from having your education, your base and foundation that the university gave you, you always learn on the job,” Beissekova said.
“The industry is constantly changing, so you basically have to adapt and change yourself with it.”
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
More on Grading
The Latest
SourcingOct 02, 2026
De Beers, National Geographic Society Renew Okavango Eternal Partnership The partnership, a pledge to protect Africa’s Okavango River Basin, has been extended for an additional five years.
MajorsOct 02, 2026
Pandora Opens New $150M Manufacturing Facility in VietnamThe new facility, its first outside of Thailand, will boost its manufacturing capacity by 50 percent.
TrendsOct 02, 2026
Hearts On Fire Celebrates 30th Anniversary With Heart PendantThe special-edition “Dream” pendant, our Piece of the Week, was created to mark Hearts On Fire’s 30-year milestone with 30 diamonds.
Brought to you by
Meet Gemology’s Next Generation Microscope: GIA® Gemolite® NXT Professional EditionExperience gemstones with greater precision and comfort than ever before.
CrimeOct 01, 2026
Police Looking for 4 Suspects in $600K Smash-and-Grab RobberyDubai Jewelers in Springfield, Virginia, was once again the target of an armed robbery.
Weekly QuizOct 01, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
SurveysOct 01, 2026
Rolex Ranks Among Most Recommended Brands in US, Survey Says YouGov’s 2026 U.S. Most Recommended Brands report’s out, and a fast-fashion giant is sitting at No. 1 while Rolex is just shy of the top 5.
SourcingOct 01, 2026
Columbia Gem House Opens ‘Cutting Toward Change’ FundraiserProceeds from its jewelry raffle will benefit an organization working in India to combat silicosis, a lung disease affecting stone cutters.
Brought to you by
Your Piece Could Be the One Editors Talk AboutSubmit your pieces for a chance to win in this year's competition.
TrendsOct 01, 2026
Carolina Hurricanes’ Championship Ring Reveals Hidden Hockey Puck PendantThe rings, crafted by Jason of Beverly Hills, celebrate the hockey team’s Stanley Cup win with design elements that honor its traditions.
TrendsOct 01, 2026
Amanda’s Style File: October’s Color Range This roundup of birthstone jewelry for October features vibrant tourmalines and opals with personality.
SourcingSep 30, 2026
Botswana’s President, De Beers CEO Say Diamond Demand Is RecoveringPresident Duma Boko spoke at back-to-back events in the city last week, touting Botswana’s stability and the diamond “bounceback.”
CollectionsSep 30, 2026
Oscar Heyman’s Holiday Book Is ‘A Living Archive’ The catalog showcases 112 new, one-of-a-kind pieces amid highlights from the jeweler’s historic archive.
SourcingSep 30, 2026
Gemfields Posts $98.5M Loss, Writes Down Value of Ruby MineIts Montepuez Ruby Mining operation in Mozambique, which is not yielding enough high-quality rubies, has taken a $125 million hit.
SurveysSep 30, 2026
Consumer Confidence Falls to 12-Year Low in SeptemberThose surveyed were worried about the present and the future, with write-in responses mentioning high oil and gas prices.
Events & AwardsSep 30, 2026
Jewelers of America, JA New York to Host Networking EventThe event will take place on the evening of Oct. 26 in New York City.
IndependentsSep 29, 2026
Christy Bromberg, Longtime Gift Buyer for Underwood Jewelers, Dies at 68She is remembered for her joie de vivre, upbeat personality, genuine interest in other people, and love of the Alabama Crimson Tide.
AuctionsSep 29, 2026
Dionne Warwick’s Jewelry Goes Up for AuctionOnline bidding is open now for Julien’s sale of items owned by the “Walk On By” singer, whose final album comes out this fall.
Events & AwardsSep 29, 2026
Matt Stuller to Receive 2027 Gem Award for Lifetime AchievementThe founder and executive chairman of Stuller Inc. is being honored for his impact on the jewelry industry at the 25th annual Gem Awards.
ColumnistsSep 29, 2026
Your Holiday Marketing Has a Bridal Blind SpotDecember is the most popular month to propose, and jewelers need to keep that in mind when planning their holiday marketing.
AuctionsSep 29, 2026
If You Love Cats, This Jewelry Auction Is for YouCat ladies of the jewelry world, unite. Sandy Lerner’s collection of cat jewelry and other objects is going up for auction Wednesday.
CollectionsSep 28, 2026
De Beers London Drops Water-Inspired High Jewelry Collection“Vibrations” features several firsts for De Beers’ high jewelry, including the use of chalcedony and diamonds sourced from artisanal miners.
CollectionsSep 28, 2026
Jessica McCormack Turns to Classic Motif for New CollectionThe “Bows” collection features three interpretations of the bow motif designed with Georgian and Victorian influences.
Events & AwardsSep 28, 2026
Guy Borenstein, Troy Underwood Among the Professionals Honored at AGS Conclave 2026The American Gem Society recognized industry members, one Guild, and a law enforcement official for their contributions to jewelry.
FinancialsSep 28, 2026
Instappraise, Jewelers Mutual Look to Simplify Jewelry InsuranceThrough a new system integration, customers can now receive instant personal jewelry insurance quotes at the time of appraisal.
WatchesSep 25, 2026
Smaller Rolex Watches Showing Strength on Secondary Market, Data ShowsFive of the 10 fastest-appreciating Rolex models on Bob’s Watches were Datejust 31 or Lady Datejust watches.
MajorsSep 25, 2026
Sherwood Family Buys Back Daniel’s Jewelers from Private EquityThe Sherwood family and AJS Creations CEO Tejas Shah purchased the jewelry chain back from Palladium Equity Partners.
Lab-GrownSep 25, 2026
Brilliant Earth Collabs with Elizabeth Taylor Estate on Jewelry Collection“The Elizabeth Taylor Collection” uses lab-grown diamonds and gemstones in contemporary designs inspired by the icon.
