J. Wolf Kuehn, B.A., M.A., PDP (SFU), Dipl. oec., F.G.G. started his education as a gemmologist at the German Institute for Gemstone Research in Idar-Oberstein under Prof. Schlossmacher while studying physics at the University of Freiburg, Germany. He is a Fellow of the Gemmological Association of Germany (F.G.G.) and diploma holder of Gem-A (F.G.A. since 1985); he holds a B.A. in Music from the University of Freiburg and a Master’s degree in Economics and Business Administration from the University of Augsburg (Dipl. oec.) and Simon Fraser University, Canada (1978 M.A., PDP).
He is a professional member (retired) of the “British Columbia College of Teachers” and has worked as a high school teacher, choir conductor and piano accompanist in Germany, Canada and South America; he taught various gemmology courses at Kwantlen Polytechnic University and since 2012 at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver.
Wolf Kuehn has a family background in gemmology and jewellery. His father was a master goldsmith and former president of the Goldsmithing Guild in Bavaria, Germany; other family members are goldsmiths and gemmologists.
As the CEO and Director of Education of the Canadian Institute of Gemmology Wolf has been involved in gemmology for over 45 years: among course development projects and publications his “Gem Colour Manual (1983)” and “Gemstone Inclusion Library (1996)” have widely been recognized as valuable tools for gemmologists around the world. He has been a contributor to several books and also works as a gemmological consultant.
Wolf has travelled extensively to over 60 countries on all continents and visited numerous gem mining areas – see Study Tours to South America, the Emerald Mines in Muzo, Colombia, the Gem Fields in Australia, “Jade” exhibits in China, Search for Jadeite in Guatemala and burial sites in Peru (movie).
He has been invited as an official observer and consultant to the PLE (Parlement Lycéen Européen des écoles de bijouterie et métiers d’art) since 1996 and as a speaker to conferences in Europe, South America and Asia.
As a long-time member of the Austrian Alpine Club (OeAV) Wolf has rock and ice-climbed in the Alps, the Rocky Mountains (Canada and USA), the Andes in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Patagonia (Argentine). His most exciting tours have been climbs to Chacaltaya (5,421 m) in Bolivia, the Nevado del Ruiz (5,321 m) in Colombia, a mountain bike ride down the Chimborazo (6,268m) volcano in Ecuador and a remote boat excursion to the Angel’s Falls and diamond mining locations in Venezuela.
He is also project manager in the subsidiary Gemlab Research & Technology and works with research scientists in the development of advanced gemmological testing equipment such as the GL Gem Spectrometer and the GL Gem Raman system.