In-house tutor

Originally from Auvergne, France, our Assistant Gemmology Tutor Dr Juliette Hibou FGA joined the Gem-A team in September 2018. Juliette graduated from Université de la Sorbonne with a BA in Classics in 1995 and again in 2005 with a PhD in Art History specialising in nineteenth-century French furniture. In 2018, Juliette graduated with her Gemmology Diploma from Gem-A and was awarded the Anderson-Bank Medal for best theory paper. Before becoming a Gem-A Tutor, Juliette spent four years as an Art History lecturer at Queen Mary, University of London following a ten-year stint at London’s Victoria & Albert Museum where she worked on curation projects which included the redisplay of the jewellery collection in the William and Judith Bollinger Gallery.

In-house tutor

Charles (Charlie) Bexfield FGA DGA EG is 23 years old and from Hertfordshire. At the age of 18 he started working with his father full time at Daniel Bexfield Antiques, an antiques business which specialises in fine antique silver and objects of vertu situated in Covent Garden, London. Charlie also photographs and catalogues the auction for ‘The Finial’ magazine, a bi-monthly publication for The Silver Spoon Club of Great Britain. In 2017 he returned to education and studied at Gem-A to attain his Gemmology Diploma and Diamond Diploma and was invited to return to teach the prestigious courses alongside his current commitments. Charlie went on to further his studies and graduated from The Federation of Education in European Gemmology (FEEG) in the summer of 2018.

In-house tutor

Hailing from Miami, Florida, Lily Faber FGA DGA EG studied Art History at Vassar College in upstate New York before pursuing a master’s degree in Fine and Decorative Art from the University of Glasgow, Scotland. She swiftly secured a coveted junior specialist position in the silver department of Christie’s auction house in London. Jewellery-making courses at Kensington and Chelsea College and the London School of Jewellery led to evening classes at Gem-A, where Lily obtained her Gemmology Foundation and Diploma qualifications. Lily continues to add to her credentials and recently qualified as a European Gemmologist from the Federation for European Education in Gemmology (FEEG). She joined the Gem-A team as a gemmology tutor in May 2017, and has represented the Association at the recent FEEG symposium in Madrid, Spain. 

In-house tutor

Pat Daly FGA DGA EG is a senior gemmology instructor at Gem-A and has been an independent valuer since 1984 and an IRV since 1987. He started his trade career with James Walker Ltd (a multiple retail jeweller), and took the N.A.G. and Gem-A courses during this time. He began his gemmological studies under the tutelage of renowned gemmologist Basil Anderson. He then worked for David Harris Ltd (a manufacturer/second-hand jewellery dealer) in Hatton Garden, eventually joining Gem-A as a gemmology instructor in 1993.

Visiting tutor

Originally from rural Staffordshire, Matthew Handley DGA has been teaching the Diamond Diploma at Gem-A on both a permanent and freelance basis since March 2018. Matthew has over ten years’ experience working with jewellery. After completing his MA in History of Design at the Royal College of Art, he began his career in the jewellery department at Bonham’s, one of the world’s oldest and largest auctioneers of fine art and antiques. Matthew now works as an independent antique and fine jewellery specialist and has a particular interest in naturalistic diamond-set jewels from the nineteenth century. Matthew is also a member of The Society of Jewellery Historians.

Visiting tutor

Delyth Du Plooy FGA DGA BSc (Hons) is our Diamond Diploma evening class tutor. With over 30 years in the jewellery trade she has a wealth of experience and knowledge from roles as a jeweller, store manager, jewellery appraiser, pawnbroker and gemstone and diamond buyer. Delyth has obtained Gem-A’s Gemmology and Diamond Diplomas as well as a 1st class BSC (Hons) in Gemmology from Birmingham City University, graduating in 2017 with the highest overall marks that year. Delyth is Office Manager for Ruppenthal UK Ltd, the London branch of one of the largest coloured gemstone suppliers in Europe, Ruppenthal KG.