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GIA offers new tools, programs to educate trade
June 10, 2009
Carlsbad, Calif.--The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) is offering a number of new tools and programs to educate students and members of the jewelry trade on diamonds, diamond grading, colored stones and jewelry sales.
First up are new large posters and a booklet on the GIA Cut Grading System for standard round brilliant diamonds.
One poster provides an overview of the GIA Cut Grading System and includes a table that summarizes the individual parameter ranges for each GIA Cut Grade. Images of round brilliant diamonds also show the range of appearance in each of the five Cut Grades and why a diamond belongs in a particular grade category.
The second poster defines the categories of the Cut Grading System: Finish, Culet Size and Girdle Thickness, with explanations and illustrations of each feature.
The booklet contains a number of Cut Grade charts and explains how to use them to plan the cut of a new round brilliant or how to estimate a Cut Grade. It provides some examples for using GIA Facetware to obtain a more specific estimate of the Cut Grade for a particular diamond.
According to Tom Moses, GIA senior vice president of research and laboratory, all the content in the new posters and booklet are compilations or summaries of information that's long been available but not into one place for cutters and manufacturers.
"The new materials go into more detail, add many photos, images and charts to better illuminate various points, and help answer any questions about the system," Moses said in a media release. "This puts all the information right at the client's fingertips."
These free educational tools will be available to members of the trade until the supply runs out. For more information, contact a Gemological Services Representative, either in New York at (212) 221-5858 ext. 3724, or in California at (760) 603-4500.
These materials also can be downloaded, at any time, from the GIA's microsite devoted to cut at DiamondCut.GIA.edu. Both posters are available as PDFs so clients can take the files to a printer if a larger size is desired.
The GIA is also expanding its recently launched eLearning program to include its core diamond course, "Diamonds and Diamond Grading."
The Diamonds and Diamond Grading eLearning course teaches the skills needed to judge and grade the color, clarity and cut of diamonds; how to determine proportions and estimate the carat weight of diamonds; the fundamentals of diamond treatments, synthetics and simulants; and much more.
According to Duncan Pay, director of the GIA's Course Development department, the institute integrated video clips, interviews with industry professionals, helpful animations and slide shows, directly into the materials.
"All of the multimedia features provide new depth on topics like discovery of mines and how diamonds are cut, graded and sold," Pay said in a media release. "We even added a review lecture at the end of most assignments, where Distance Education students benefit from an instructor-delivered presentation, similar to those enjoyed by our on-campus students."
GIA eLearning was launched in January with the Accredited Jewelry Professional (A.J.P.) diploma program.
To see a demonstration of GIA eLearning, visit GIA.edu/elearning. To learn more about GIA eLearning, call GIA Admissions at (800) 421-4250 ext. 4001.
Through its strategic partnership with the GIA, Jewelers of America (JA) is now offering its members a 10 percent savings on tuition for GIA Distance Learning courses and related lab classes.
GIA's Distance Learning program includes at-home course work and/or lab and online courses, covering the subjects of diamonds, colored stones and jewelry sales. Distance Learning students use the same course materials and textbooks as on-campus courses. Yet, they can study and complete courses at their own pace and schedule, since all materials are delivered to them.
JA members also save 10 percent on Distance Learning Lab classes, which can be completed at GIA campuses and regional centers in Atlanta, Chicago and Dallas.
"By facilitating savings on GIA's Distance Learning program, Jewelers of America members can receive unsurpassed gemological education and work toward earning a prestigious GIA credential at a price and structure that is accessible to them," JA President and Chief Executive Officer Matthew A. Runci said in a media release.
For more information, visit JA's Web site, Jewelers.org, and click on "Discounts on Education" in the "Education" section.
JA members should visit the "Members-Only" section of the site to check out GIA's Distance Learning brochure and download the GIA Distance Learning discount application.
Finally, GIA Thailand will celebrate its 25th Gemstone Gathering on June 24 at the Tawana Hotel in Bangkok.
The presentation, titled "Colored Gemstones--Mines to Markets," will be given by Dr. Dietmar Schwarz, research manager at the Gubelin Gem Laboratory in Lucerne, Switzerland.
The lecture will address the following:
--Trends of commercially traded colored gemstones (ruby, sapphire, emerald, alexandrite, spinel, topaz, garnet and others).
--Gem-producing countries and the regions from which these stones are recovered.
--The importance of gemstones to the local mining operations communities and the wider market in general.
"Dr. Schwarz is a well-respected gemologist who carries a wealth of knowledge on many different aspects of colored gemstones," said Kenneth Scarratt, managing director of GIA Southeast Asia and director of the GIA Laboratory in Bangkok. "We welcome him to GIA Thailand's Gemstone Gathering, an event that continues to provide the latest gemological information and research."
GIA Thailand's 25th Gemstone Gathering is complimentary and will be held on June 24 from 6:00 p.m-9:00 p.m. in the Murano Room on the second floor of the Tawana Hotel, 80 Surawongse Road, Bangkok.
Interested parties must RSVP before June 23 by contacting the GIA Laboratory Bangkok at (66) 2-632-4090, info@giathai.net or the GIA Thailand campus at (66) 2-237-9575, giathai@ksc.th.com.
For more information, visit the GIA Thailand Web site, GIAThailand.com.
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