2024 Presenter Robert Gessner

A profile photo of Dr. Robert Gessner working in a mine, likely in East Africa.

A Career in East Africa: Tanzanite and Zambian Emerald
Robert Gessner, BSc (Hons) in Geology; GG (GIA)

“I had the wonderful fortune of spending a geological career from 2003-2009 in Tanzanite and from 2009-2015 in Zambian Emeralds, respectively. Join me as I share geological and gemological highlights of both world class gemstones and deposits.” -Robert Gessner

Headshot photograph of Dr. Robert Gessner

Robert Gessner has spent his 20-year career in the colored gemstone, diamond and jewelry world. As a trained geologist, he spent a total of 13 years on some of the world’s most famous large-scale and professionally run mines, namely TanzaniteOne for tanzanite and Gemfields’ Kagem Mine for emeralds.

In 2015, Gessner ventured from Africa to the United States and completed his Graduate Gemologist (GG) certification at the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). Today, between managing, sales and gemology with a well-known independent jeweler in Dallas, Gessner provides his personal clients with an in depth, personal and worldwide access to the finest, most unique and personal diamonds, colored gemstones and jewelry.