The Planetary Gems International Co., also known as simply "Planetary Gems"  is a family-owned business founded in 1995 by Rodolfo and Sofija Ciscato. Our website was launched in 1999, making it twenty-six years old to date. Our countless satisfied customers worldwide testify to our mission and dedication.

In the early 1990s, as a spiritual seeker and practitioner of the Transcendental Meditation (TM) technique, Rodolfo developed a keen interest in sidereal Jyotish astrology and the use of natural, untreated gemstones to counteract the negative effects of planetary influences.

Before moving to the United States in August 1991, Rodolfo earned a degree in petrochemistry from the Enrico Fermi Institute of Technology in Mantua, Italy. Dissatisfied with the dry and uninteresting industrial lab environment, he transitioned to working as an art restorer specializing in period buildings, primarily in Northern Italy. However, he continued to seek fulfillment and eventually became an apprentice jewelry designer and inventory gem control specialist for "Preziosi" in Verona, Italy. After arriving in the USA, Rodolfo earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from Maharishi International University (MIU) in Fairfield, Iowa. Sofija holds a BA in management, a degree in computer science from Buena Vista University in Ottumwa, Iowa, and a nautical degree from Novi Sad, Serbia. They have a son, Adrian Ciscato, who was born in Chicago.

Rodolfo and Sofija are founding members of the Planetary Gemologist Association (PGA), headquartered in Bangkok, Kingdom of Thailand.

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