Gemology Course
The purpose of the course is to provide excellent and accurate grading abilities of polished diamonds by microscope and by loupe, as well as to provide a comprehensive understanding of the world of diamonds including a business-oriented point of view.
Structure and learning hours
Our team teaches small groups. The course is taught over a period of 80 hours. These hours include theoretical material as well as practical work which includes the grading of over 100 polished diamonds by microscope and by loupe. The method by which sorting is taught is according to the GIA and their terminology.
The Learning Program:
THE DIAMOND – General background, history, the diamond mines, rough diamonds, cutting and polishing the diamond, the structure of the round brilliant cut diamond.
THE FOUR C’s – The 4 criteria to evaluate the diamond:
- Carat Weight – what is a carat? What is the significance of the weight of the diamond? What is considered a critical size?
- Clarity – reviewing the main Internal and external imperfections, their effect on the clarity grades, clarity grades, the criteria to determine the clarity grades.
- Color – Color grades, the criteria to determine the color grade, how to check the color of the diamond, master stones, how to work with master stones.
- Cut – Proportions and Finish. The influence of excellent proportions on the light breaking properties of the diamond. The Tolkowsky model for excellent proportions, How to evaluate the table size, pavillion depth and total depth. The importance of excellent symmetry and excellent polish of the diamond. How to check symmetry and polish.
Becoming familiar with the gemological certificate – analyzing the certificate.
METHODS to differentiate among inclusions, external imperfections, holes and dirt.
FLUORESCENCE – What is this phenomenon? The advantages and disadvantages, how to recognize a fluorescent diamond. The market attitude towards fluorescent diamonds.
GRAINING LINES – What are these lines, the different types of lines, their effect on the diamond, how to identify them.
FANCY SHAPES – The different shapes and how to analyze them according to the 4Cs. Emphasizing the importance of the Ratio of the fancy shape diamonds.
FANCY COLORS – What are the fancy colors and how they are created. How to judge their quality. Description of fancy colors in a gemological certificate. Trading fancy colors.
DIAMOND SUBSTITUTES -The common substitutes: Cubic Zirconia and Moissanite. How to identify them from a natural diamond.
SYNTHETIC DIAMOND & LABORATORY GROWN DIAMONDS – Production systems and trading, It’s effect on the natural diamond market.
TREATMENT OF THE DIAMOND – Laser drills, KM, Fracture filling, Color enhance by irradiation and heating, HPHT, Coating.
RAPAPORT PRICE LIST – Deep and practical explanation of the use of the list, commercial trades, business orientation for diamond markets all over the world.
PRACTICAL & THEORETICAL EXAM – Students who successfully pass the exams will be awarded a certificate of: “Diamond Gemologist (D.G)”
