History & Education
@ Ilan Taché Photography
Our history
IGEM sheds light on, certifies and enhances the value of gems and jewelry, with rigor, education and neutrality.
The history of the Institut de Gemmologie de Montréal (IGEM) began in 1995 with the founding of the École de Gemmologie de Montréal (EGM).
In 2018, EGM acquires the first independent gemological laboratory in Quebec, equipped with high-tech instruments (FTIR, DiamondView™, AMS2…) to offer advanced certification services. In 2019, the Centre d’Évaluation des Bijoux et des Gemmes sees the light of day, to support individuals and professionals in valuing their jewelry with objectivity and transparency.
In 2021, these three entities – school, laboratory and center of expertise – join forces to form IGEM: a unique institution that trains, certifies and sheds light on the true value of gems and jewelry.
In line with this continuity, IGEM launches Gemwheel born of the Institute’s expertise, Gemwheel selects, transforms and creates jewelry with a history, combining emotion, traceability and heritage value.
Pedagogy and values
At IGEM, we believe that gems are much more than objects of fascination.
They are silent witnesses to the history of the Earth, to the hand of man, and to the bonds we forge through time.
Whether rough or cut, set in jewelry or preserved for their rarity, gems deserve to be understood, analyzed, passed on and valued with rigor and respect. In a world where value is often blurred, we have chosen transparency, education and rigor.
IGEM is an independent institution, born to shed light on the true value of gems and jewels – their scientific, cultural, heritage and, sometimes, financial value.
We train future professionals and enthusiasts alike. We support individuals and institutions alike. We analyze, certify, assess and pass on. And we do all this with the conviction that knowledge is the most precious of guarantees.
Through our school, our laboratory, our expertise and our enhancement projects, we are working to build a multi-cultural gemological reference point between Europe and the Americas, capable of promoting a demanding, human and enlightened vision of jewelry and gems in Montreal and beyond.
Igem
Our Values
Requirement
high scientific and ethical standards
Transmission
personalized learning, case studies, training open to all
Transparency
clear diagnostics, independent advice
Passion
the love of gems and jewelry as a common thread
Our team
At the Montreal Gemological Institute, our team is made up of permanent staff and consultants selected according to project and training requirements. We make a point of combining scientific, technical and entrepreneurial expertise. This diversity of backgrounds enables us to offer lively training courses, rooted in the reality of the field and nourished by the most recent advances in gemmology and the business world.
Gemmologue FGA, WGF and Accredited Senior Gemologist (AGA)
Marie-Hélène Corbin
President of IGEM
A former professional in the field of real estate assets, Marie-Hélène has always been keen to combine technical expertise with an understanding of the market. After assisting collectors and private individuals at jewelry and gemstone auctions, she founded the first independent gemmological laboratory in Quebec, before grouping her analysis, expertise and training activities under a single entity: the Institut de Gemmologie de Montréal (IGEM).
Her career is a perfect illustration of the Institute’s philosophy: a gemmology rooted in practice, connected to the market and looking to the future. At the helm of iGEM, she is committed to raising the profile of gemmology in Quebec, by training professionals capable of combining scientific rigor, ethics and business acumen – the three pillars of a rapidly evolving sector.
Graduate Gemmologist ING, GIA, HRD, DUG Nantes
Nathalie Gaudfrin Arboleda
General Manager, IGEM
With over 20 years’ experience in the world of jewelry and precious stones, Nathalie embodies the link between excellent academic training and top-level field experience.
Having worked for Cartier, Hermès and Philippe Tournaire, she has held key positions – senior coloured stone expert, head of the gem department or in charge of gemological identity.
A researcher, teacher and passionate gemmologist, she is now putting this dual expertise to work at IGEM to develop its three areas of expertise: teaching, laboratory and jewelry appraisal.
Her approach combines scientific rigor, aesthetic sense and professional pragmatism, to train students who are ready for a lasting career in the world of jewelry.
WGF Gemmologist
Sarah Balthazard
Professor at IGEM
Coming from a jewelry background, Sarah first worked for over 10 years in Canadian jewelry and watch stores such as Birks and Lavigueur, before completing her training in gemology and jewelry appraisal.
Her knowledge of the field – from customer advice to gemological analysis – enables her to convey a concrete and accessible vision of the trade.
As a teacher at iGEM, she makes it a point of honor to bring gemmology alive and human, by sharing her passion for stones and her eye for detail.
For her, every student must leave the Institute with solid expertise and a realistic understanding of the market – just like the school’s DNA: learning by doing, to better understand gems.
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