GIA Alumni Collective Continuing Education Seminars:
NPA Exclusive Offer
Two hot-topic seminars available: Introduction to Diamond Treatments & Watch Fundamentals. Limited seats available.
* This offer may not be combined with any other offers or special pricing.
* Continuing Education offerings by the GIA Alumni Association™ (GIA Alumni Association, LLC) are considered avocational or recreational in nature and are not intended to prepare individuals for entry-level employment. They are non-credit bearing and do not lead to an academic credential.
Introduction to Diamond Treatments
Limited to 25 participants – Register now to assure your seat
LIVE Seminar / February 22 1:00 pm ET
Why This Seminar?
Many treatments have been developed to attempt to enhance a diamond’s color and clarity. A treated diamond may still be a beautiful and valuable gem, and ideally, the treatment is disclosed during the sales process; however, that may not always be the case. Understanding how to identify these treatments is important to help protect the value of the gems for both buyers and sellers, as well as maintaining the trust between a customer and retailer.
How Does it Work?
This seminar will introduce the most common treatments applied to diamonds in today’s market, with a focus on the treatments that can be reliably identified using standard gemological tools. Using a camera-equipped microscope, instructors will demonstrate identification techniques and how they examine diamonds treated for clarity enhancement. More advanced color treatments, which will often require advanced instruments to identify, will be covered briefly.
This seminar is ideal gem and jewelry professionals, retailers, sales associates, jewelry enthusiast and appraisers.
Laser drilling allows access to internal inclusions which can then be altered to lighten dark inclusions and improve the apparent clarity of the gem. Laser drilled holes may be detected able under 10x magnification, but higher magnification may also be necessary. Two examples are shown. Left Photo: Vincent Cracco/GIA. Right Photo: Shane McClure/GIA.
Topics Include
- How to identify the clarity treatments such as laser drilling and fracture filling.
- The challenges involved in the conclusive identification of some treatments.
- Situations for consulting a gem laboratory for reliable treatment identification.
Participants will be provided a digital reference guide and are encouraged to ask questions as they are guided by a GIA instructor who will share their expertise through illustrations, images and lecture.
Full price $195
NPA Member Exclusive Price
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Participants receive a digital reference guide. You will receive a Letter of Attendance upon completion.
Watch Fundamentals
Self- Guided Training – Register to Start Before April 30
The Watch Fundamentals Seminar is a must for anyone getting started in the watch industry, whether you’re involved in retail, purchasing, or appraising. You will gain an understanding of the basics of how watches work and what to look for when evaluating them. The seminar covers timepiece fundamentals including naming the components of a watch, understanding their functions, and identifying different types of watches.
If you want to be more informed and effective in your role in the watch industry, this seminar is essential.
How It Works
- Participants will have three months from the start of their seminar to access the content. The lessons are in multimedia format consisting primarily of images, photographs, animations, video, narration, and text-based content.
- A link to Frequently Asked Questions is provided as a resource in Blackboard.
- Upon completion of the lessons in Blackboard, students will receive a Letter of Attendance for their participation in the seminar.
Topics
Basics of watches including:
- History
- Language of watchmaking
- Types/styles/designs
- Technology
- Materials
- Market
- Complications
Full price $250
NPA Member Exclusive Price
-
Participants will have three months from the start of their seminar to access the content. The lessons are in multimedia format consisting primarily of images, photographs, animations, video, narration, and text-based content. You will receive a Letter of Attendance upon completion.