Richard Liddicoat

Richard Liddicoat–Mr. GIA

In this episode, Mr. GIA . . .

Can you name one person who, during your lifetime, changed the course of your life in an extraordinary way? Was it a parent, a teacher, a historical figure, or maybe a serendipitous acquaintance? One person stands out among all others - Richard T. Liddicoat. Sunday, March 2, 2025, would have been Mr. Liddicoat’s 107th birthday. Although he passed away in 2002, his memory lives on in me.

In 1985, as a resident student at The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) in Santa Monica, CA, I was invited by Richard T. Liddicoat Jr. (then Chairman of the Board) to his office.

As a student of human nature, lover of gems, and lifetime GIA advocate, he would visit every Resident (on campus) Colored Stone/Gem Identification classroom just before each class was to graduate. He would often bring samples of unique gem materials submitted to the GIA Gem Trade Laboratory for the students to see. Or he would simply stop by a classroom to discuss industry trends, the latest developments in synthetics, or whatever the hot topic of the day happened.

I can’t remember what he spoke about the day he visited our classroom because when he asked, “Any questions?’ Everyone sat there, blank expressions on their faces, horrified to speak. After all, this was Mr. Liddicoat–who wrote the book on Gemology. A jewelry industry icon. The Father of Modern Gemology, Mr. GIA! Needless to say, our group was somewhat intimidated.

At that time, along with the Gem Identification Lab Manual, Liddicoat’s book, Handbook of Gem Identification (first published 1947), was assigned to each student as an additional reference tool for learning what to look for and what tests were necessary to prove the identification of unknown gemstones. My copy was well thumbed, and I always searched for identification clues that the "Lab Manual" simply did not provide.

In the dead silence, my hand shot up enthusiastically, “Mr. Liddicoat, would you sign my copy of your book?”

“Absolutely,” He said. “Stop by my office after class.”

So, I did . . .

I’ll never forget what he asked me that day: “What are your plans after graduation? We want you to return as an instructor. We're always looking for young people with your enthusiasm.” His uncanny ability to cultivate people was like mining for gems: He always looked for the good in others.

For those of you who knew Mr. Liddicoat–whom many GIA staff affectionately called RTL–he was our leader, friend, and patriarch for over 60 years. RTL treated everyone at GIA like his son or daughter. During his visits to the Carlsbad campus long after his retirement, he would stroll the halls, greeting students and colleagues by name and taking the time to chat and encourage each individual.

His accomplishments encompassed many aspects of gemology: Liddicoat created the internationally recognized diamond grading system, expanded GIA’s education programs, elevated the Gem Trade laboratory and research functions, developed instruments to aid gem identification, wrote ground-breaking articles and books, was Editor and Chief of Gems & Gemology, and was the visionary behind the idea of a world-class gemological library, which now bears his name: The Richard T. Liddicoat Gemological Library and Information Center.

In honor of his birthday, I hope you will take a few minutes to reflect on the values he imbued: integrity, respect, authenticity, and willingness to go the extra mile for anyone who needs encouragement and direction.

He will forever hold a special place in my heart as Mr. GIA, just as he does for millions of students around the globe.

I'm Patrick Ball, thanks for listening, see you in the next episode.

(Updated: February 22, 2025)

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