Due to the present economic situation and COVID-19 restrictions this program and all practical classes have been suspended for 2023 until further notice.
Advance in your career by obtaining the Accredited Gemmologist (C.I.G.)® designation. This program is a Professional Development Program (PDP) and is designed for students already working in the jewellery industry. It requires a minimum of employment history of 3 years (preferably jewellery retail sector) and ideally a science background at college or university level or equivalent.
The following courses are for practising gemmologist appraisers, jewellery professionals and candidates who have completed gemmology courses at C.I.G. and/or other institutions; it is primarily designed for Canadian residents.
GEM 210 DIAMOND GRADING
Theoretical and Practical Course
- Course Type: Combination of correspondence course and weekend/during week (2 1/2 days) workshop. DIAMOND GRADING certificate
- Prerequisite: A.G. (C.I.G.) diploma or equivalent (please contact us)
- Fee: $ TBA includes home study lessons (must be completed prior to workshop), grading projects with actual diamonds, study materials and exam fee (no HST) but does not include the textbook “Diamond Grading ABC: Handbook of Diamond Grading” by Pagel Theisen, 2007 (price $ 90)
In ten (10) assignments you learn the basic knowledge to buy, sell and evaluate diamonds effectively.
In five (5) practical sessions you grade diamonds for clarity, colour and cut (according to GIA and European (CIBJO) grading standards) including performance and device based approaches such as AGS (American Gem Society) ASET, Hearts & Arrows (Ideal Scope), Cut Advisor and others. Special procedures for assessing the quality of mounted diamonds will be shown.
Course Content: 1. Introduction to Diamond Grading 2. Determination of Colour Grades 3. Clarity Nomenclature and Grading 4. Cut and Proportions 5. Evaluation of Colour, Clarity and Cut 6. Diamond Grading Procedure 7. Representation of external and internal features 8. Practical Grading of Clarity, Colour and Cut 9. Proportionscope and Fancy Cuts 10. Grading Tools, Recutting, Diamond Imitations, HPHT Treatments, Synthetic Diamonds
IMPORTANT: The practical grading workshop must be taken during a C.I.G. scheduled class. Diamonds cannot be mailed out.
GEM 230 COLOUR GEM GRADING
- Course Type: Correspondence Course.
- COLOUR GEM GRADING certificate after written and practical exam.
- Prerequisite: Fine Jewellery Expert (C.I.G.), GEM 220 or equivalent (please contact us)
- Fee: $ TBA includes 10 correspondence lessons, practical grading project (available as home-study kit), colour charts, appraisal guide-lines and the required text: The Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald Buying Guide. Colour vision test provided.
In the correspondence part of this course appraisers, buyers and sellers of colour gems will learn what causes colour in gemstones and how to describe and evaluate them. Course topics include: the four C’s of coloured gems, the theory of light and colour, quality factors in emerald, ruby, sapphire and other gems.
GEM 250 GEM IDENTIFICATION II (Advanced)
In this advanced course students will learn state-of-the-art techniques (including immersion-scope, gemstone magnetism, IR-VIS-NIR and Raman spectroscopy with hands-on practice), etc. designed to identify confidently any gemstone encountered in the market place. Between 100 and 120 challenging gems including the most recent synthetic diamonds and their treatments are available for testing. Max 5 participants.
- Fee: $ TBA includes comprehensive study guide and materials (copy of “Gemstone Inclusion Library”), use of lab equipment and study stones. Recommended text-book: Gemology by Peter Read. Download course flyer (PDF). This course is not available by home-study.
- Prerequisites: Fine Jewellery Expert (C.I.G.), GEM 210, GEM 220, GEM 230 or equivalent (please contact us)
Here a brief list of man-made gems in our study collection: Chatham, Kashan, Ramaura, Knischka, Lechleitner, Regency, Biron, Lenix, Gilson, Tairus rubies, sapphires, emeralds, alexandrite, opal, moissanite, synthetic CVD and HPHT grown and treated diamonds and many others. Gem enhancement techniques such as polymer impregnation (jadeite), heat-alteration, surface colour diffusion, irradiation, HPHT and glass filling are studied.