WELCOME TO THE
GÜBELIN ACADEMY
Keen to share our expertise with the wider public, in 2013 Gübelin opened the Gübelin Academy in Hong Kong, which today also offers courses in Shanghai and Switzerland. Inspired by one of the world’s most celebrated gemmologists, Eduard Joseph Gübelin, the Gübelin Academy aims to share the company’s longstanding expertise in imparting passion, emotion and knowledge in the fascinating world of coloured gemstones. Geared to professionals as well as enthusiasts and connoisseurs of coloured stones, the Academy offers a series of modular programmes providing a unique fast-track training into the wonderful world of coloured gems.
GüBELIN
EDUCATION
Our Trainers
Lily Sheung
Since her childhood, Lily Sheung has been developing a deep understanding and valuable knowledge of the Asian gemstone market, especially jadeite and coloured gemstones, through her family business. Combining her understanding of and passion for gems with her love of writing, Lily Sheung pursued her career as a columnist for the Hong Kong Economic Journal. During her line of work, she has cooperated with many internationally renowned jewellery brands. Throughout her career in the industry, Lily has always focused on empowering others through sharing knowledge. It is her unique expertise in the Asian gemstone market coupled with her knowledge of coloured gemstones and passion for teaching that brought her to the Gübelin Academy in 2016. At the Gübelin Academy, Lily is responsible for developing the Chinese market and the international visibility of the Gübelin Academy, teaching in-depth gemmological classes to a wide public. Owing to her education at the Gemmological Association of Great Britain (Diamond Member and Fellow of the Gemmological Association), Lily is well-equipped with the knowledge and skillset necessary to train her students in the most effective manner. Lily continues to lead the Gübelin Academy by her ability to explain profound gemmological concepts in a simplified manner to impart knowledge to her students.
OUR TRAINERS
Juliana Landmann
Juliana's passion for gemmology started at the age of seven when she had the chance to accompany her father to the Tucson Gem & Mineral show for the first time. It was love at first sight, and since then, she knew her career would have to involve gemstones and working with people. After completing her education in Business & Marketing, as well as Jewellery Design, Juliana managed her own jewellery brand in Brazil for several years. Later, she moved to London, where she studied at the renowned Gemmological Association of Great Britain and worked for nearly a decade at De Beers Jewellers.
Over time, Juliana's enthusiasm for helping people grew stronger, leading her to become an accredited coach & trainer. In 2021, she combined her passion for gemmology and working with people by joining the Gübelin Academy. Now, she shares her expertise with students from all over the world in her warm-hearted and inspiring classes.
Our Trainers
Carolyn Franco
Carolyn Franco (FGA, Gem-A) began her career in education and communication, but her lifelong fascination with gemstones guided her professional journey. Starting as a speech-language pathologist in the United States, she refined her ability to convey complex ideas clearly, a skill that would later prove invaluable to her global career.
Driven by her love of languages and teaching, she relocated to Brazil where she taught English to business professionals. It was during this time that she first became captivated by Brazil’s extraordinary coloured gemstones, sparking a passion that led her to pursue her first gemmology
course in Sao Paulo.
Eager to deepen her knowledge, Carolyn later earned her Graduate Gemmologist qualification from the prestigious Gemmological Association of Great Britain. This achievement allowed Carolyn to merge her teaching expertise with her passion for the intricate beauty of coloured gemstones.
In 2023, Carolyn joined the Gübelin Academy, where her approachable teaching style and gemmological knowledge empower students from all backgrounds to explore the fascinating world of gemstones with confidence. Her unique journey and enthusiasm continue to inspire aspiring gemologists and gemstone enthusiasts alike.
Our Trainers
Jonathan Muyal
Jonathan Muyal (GG-GIA, FGA-Gem A) has over 15 years of expertise in gemmology. With a focus on research, he spent eight years as a research gemmologist at the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), primarily working on coloured stone origin determination projects and building a reference collection. As part of his research, Jonathan has also traveled extensively to mining and gem market locations around the world.
In addition to his fieldwork, Jonathan has authored and co-authored numerous research publications and articles in collaboration with leading authorities in gemmology. His specialty is photomicrography of gemstones, and he has gained international recognition, winning multiple awards for his work. His photomicrographs bridge the realms of art and science, creating a space for conversation between gemmology and contemporary art.
Jonathan is also a skilled lapidarist and holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in visual arts. He seamlessly combines his artistic background with his gemmological expertise and photomicrography skills, bringing an artistic sensitivity to his work. His love for history, people and culture is reflected in his fluency in several languages, having studied around 10 languages over the years.
Jonathan joined the Gübelin Gem Lab in 2022 and most recently became a Gemmological Specialist at the Gübelin Academy, where he shares his knowledge and expertise with gemstone lovers from around the world.
Operations
Annekathrin Pekarek
Annekathrin began her career in advertising in Germany, where she quickly discovered her organizational talent and a passion for working with people. After relocating to Switzerland in 2011, she joined Gübelin and spent nearly a decade working as a Team Leader and Supply Manager. While she had always held an affection for gemstones, her passion for coloured gemstones grew significantly after she attended the Academy Courses. This, coupled with her keen interest in science and history, made her transition to the Gübelin Academy a natural choice.
In her role as the Operations Manager for the Academy and the recently opened Gem Museum, Annekathrin expertly combines her strong communication and organizational skills with her friendly personality. She acts as the primary point of contact for future students and gem enthusiasts from around the world, sharing her passion for gemstones.
