What is your background?
I’m from Iowa. I graduated with a degree in Philosophy from the University of Iowa with a plan to go to law school. After graduation, I went on a student trip to Columbia where locals were trying to sell me Emeralds. Upon returning home my fascination in gemstones grew and I decided to look further into where I can gain more knowledge in this field. In 1976, I discovered a course at the GIA and took my curiosity to the next level.
At the GIA, I met my partner Patty from Hawaii who was working at GIA’s Research Department. Patty became the “curator of gems and minerals.”
How did you get into our industry?
After graduating from GIA, I returned to Iowa but continued to visit Patty in California. After a couple of years of traveling back and forth, we decided to start our own business called “
Robert J. Galask
” in Los Angeles in the 606 S. Hill building.
What is your specialty?
We traded in diamonds, colored stones and eventually manufactured jewelry. I was once a partner in an Amethyst Mine in Uruguay. I used to go to Brazil to buy rough diamonds. I have a diamond cutting facility in Bangkok. We carry...
