Peter began his career as a diamond grader, and then as the Director of Education at the Gemological Institute of America, the world leader in gemological services and education. He left the G.I.A. to join Harry Winston as a Sales Executive and Gemologist, where he enjoyed great success at a young age. He was recruited by Tiffany & Co. serving as Director and Senior Vice President in several positions in the Jewelry and Manufacturing Divisions. Ultimately, as Executive Vice President, he oversaw and managed over 400 employees as head of the entire jewelry division. Of many accomplishments, his vision and execution for brand differentiation and the marketing of diamonds was instrumental in the initial success and growth of Tiffany & Co. He led the effort for international brand extension and repositioning, and he conceived and founded the Tiffany & Co. permanent collection.

After eight successful years, Peter left Tiffany to start his own business, P.C. Schneirla, Inc., a unique luxury goods firm and consulting company specializing in the purchase and sale of fine gemstones and important jewelry for private customers. During that time, Peter was the lead consultant for the start-up company, DeBeers LV, a joint venture between Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton, and DeBeers. Peter was then asked to return to Harry Winston as Vice Chairman in charge of product development and worldwide sales. Here too, he led international brand development and extension, resulting in dramatically increased sales and renewed worldwide company recognition. Most recently, Peter was hired back to Tiffany & Co. as Chief Gemologist. In this role, he traveled extensively developing key prospects and corporate partners and was the resident public relations expert, company spokesman, and in charge of high jewelry sales.

As a gem and jewelry expert, Peter has been asked to examine, consult and advise on significant private and museum collections, including pieces from the British Crown Jewels and the Hope Diamond. Importantly, he secured the ownership of the Tiffany Diamond during the firm’s LBO (1984) and supervised its grading. Peter has also sold many notable gemstones including the Rockefeller Sapphire, and he has supervised the cutting and polishing of several significant diamonds that yielded D Internally Flawless finished stones in excess of 35 carats.

Throughout his career, Peter has been asked to consult for high profile businesses and organizations, including Aber, Buccellati Inc., Chanel Inc., Cora Diamonds, the College Board’s Office of Academic Affairs, DeBeers, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Fenway Partners, Kennecott Minerals Company, Maurice Templesman and Son, Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton, the National Museum of Natural History of The Smithsonian Institution, Shearson Lehman Brothers, and U.S. Trust Co. Peter has also served as President of the Israeli tech company, Worthy, operating in the virtual auction space, to manage their initial start-up. He has served on the Board of Directors of the American Foundation for Analytical Psychology, The American Gem Society and the Jewelers Vigilance Committee, a non-profit association to advance ethical practices in the jewelry industry.

Peter holds a Certified Gemologist Degree from the Gemological Institute of America, and has achieved the status of Fellow of the prestigious Gemological Association of Great Britain. He has taught at The New School for Social Research and was a faculty member of the Jewelry Design Department of the Fashion Institute of Technology. In addition to appearing on CNN, Good Morning America, and the Charlie Rose Show, he was dubbed “the Indiana Jones of the gem world” by the Philadelphia Inquirer Magazine. Peter wrote and published “Tiffany:  150 Years of Gems and Jewelry,” and curated their sesquicentennial exhibition at The Field Museum of Chicago and The American Museum of Natural History.

As a spokesperson for Tiffany & Co. and Harry Winston, and as an entrepreneur, Peter has delivered presentations internationally on topics as diverse as sales training, hard asset investing and corporate sustainability. He is an engaging lecturer whose notable presentations include "America Designs for Its Women" at Sotheby’s auction house, the 100^th anniversary celebration of the Gem and Mineral Hall at the Smithsonian Institution, “Gemstones and Jewelry: Adornment or Investment?” at U.S. Trust, and “The Life and Career of Jean Schlumberger,” which has been positively received by audiences all over the world.

Peter has traveled extensively to most of the important worldwide gemstone and diamond mining locations. He is an accomplished competitive international fly-fisherman, outdoor photographer, painter, and musician.