HOW IT ALL STARTED
Hi, my name is Dimitri Zlatev, and I’m Obsessed with Gemmology (Hence the name – Gemmology Obsession 😊). I was born and raised in Bulgaria, in a small town called Yambol near the Black sea.
My father is a highly professional welder; my mother is a Nursery Teacher. At an early age, I was very energetic, and my parents decided to sign me up for Latin and Ballroom classes. After ten years of training and competitions, I had to leave dancing behind and move to the UK.
A NEW BEGINNING
I packed my suitcase and took a flight to London on my own, and I decided to live in Oxford as I had previously visited my father when he used to work there. (He currently works in Antwerp, Belgium – not involved in the Diamond industry)
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My passion for jewellery grew when I started my jewellery-making business in 2012, specialising in genuine gemstone jewellery, mainly in bracelets and pendants. I had one mission in my business plan:
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Total Disclosure on each Gemstone
We all have been scammed before by purchasing a gemstone that wasn’t the real thing, and my main focus was to provide certificates with full Disclosure for everything I sold. I loved the idea of buying a piece of jewellery, knowing which country the Gemstone has come from if it had any treatment or was it completely natural.
WALES
In 2013 I decided to move to Cardiff as I was missing the sea and needed a change and when you find someone you love, you can relocate anywhere with them.
Why Wales? – Asked no one ever!
Wales has over 1,680 miles (2,700 km) of coastline and is mostly mountainous with its higher peaks in the north and central areas, including Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa), its highest summit. The country lies within the north temperate zone and has a changeable, maritime climate, and we also have Barry Island (Gavin and Stacy Reference 😊)
The video was taken on a camping trip at Llyn Idwal.
MY STUDIES
I was so interested in Gemmology that in 2016 I decided to invest in myself and start my journey of becoming a Gemmologist.
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Where else to study other than the Gemological Institute of America (Established in 1931, GIA is the world’s foremost authority on diamonds, coloured stones, and pearls. A public benefit, nonprofit institute, GIA is the leading source of knowledge, standards, and education in gems and jewellery.)
It was super easy to study as everything was online with instructors, only a phone call away if needed.
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My first course was GIA Coloured Stone Essentials (May 2016) It was a three months course providing me with a lot of knowledge and information not just on Gems, but on the industry as well.
A month after completing the course, I landed a job in a luxury Jewellery & Watches boutique working with some of the fashion and high-end brands the likes of Rolex, Breitling, and Gucci to name a few.
In March 2017 I completed my second course with the GIA – Jewellery Essentials, and the year after I did Diamond Essentials which earned me the credentials GIA AJP (GIA Applied Jewellery Professional Diploma)
After a few years working for a corporate group, in January 2019, I decided to leave and start work for a family-owned jeweller in the heart of Cardiff city centre. Working for an independent jeweller gives you the freedom of being able to have your input and be creative when it comes to displaying jewellery and watches.
In April 2019, I decided to close my Jewellery business and focus more on educating myself and being more involved in the industry. I started visiting Trade shows like IJL – London, Spring Fair, CMJ with the company I’m working for.
When I thought my passion for Gemmology couldn't get any stronger, I enrolled in GIA Diamonds & Diamond Grading course. The most significant moment in my career and a massive step towards my Gemmology Degree.
I have a wide variety of Diamonds, Gemstones, Minerals and Rocks, and my collection is growing every day. It’s vital to know how nature shapes the world and how gemstones have been helping us to discover more about the world we live in.
I invite you to explore my site, learn about my passions, and explore what excites and interests you as well.
Then in 2020, Covid happened
When you find yourself with so much time on your hands during the lockdown, your brain starts to tick and tries to figure out a way to keep occupied. I wanted to do something with Gemmology, maybe an educational blog to pass my knowledge and share my gemstones with the world.
The Creation of Gemmology Obsession
Why the name? Well, that was easy. I'm a Gemmoholic and Obsessed with Gemmology. I wanted to create a platform I can connect with like-minded people and share what we know on the ever-growing subject of Gemmology
Education Meets Art
I've never been into painting or drawing as a kid, and in 2020 I wanted to learn and combine my passion for Gemmology with my new passion for painting.
Diamonds & Diamond Grading
After a very long 18 months, I have passed GIA's Diamond & Diamond Grading course.
This has been an outstanding experience I will never forget. I've learned so much about formation, mining, lab-grown, manufacturing etc., and GIA has changed my view on Diamonds dramatically. I wasn't a big fan of Diamonds before, I always preferred Coloured stones, but now I'm hooked
