GIA Announces 2012 Course Schedule in Shanghai

First class completes Graduate Diamonds diploma program

CARLSBAD, Calif. – Oct. 18, 2011 – GIA (Gemological Institute of America) announced today that the second Graduate Gemologist (GG) program and a Jewelry Design class will be conducted at the School of Media Design at the Shanghai Jiao Tong University campus beginning Feb. 27, 2012.

The GG program in Shanghai was introduced this past August. Since then, the program’s enrollees have completed the Graduate Diamonds diploma program and have been working on the Colored Stones diploma program. Completion of both of these programs is required to obtain a GG. The students who complete these programs will receive their GG at a graduation ceremony on Jan. 20, 2012.

“We are honored to continue our role in fostering students in the Shanghai community through our educational services,” said Seung-Hae Moon, managing director of GIA Asia Pacific Education. “The curriculum we provide offers the in-depth, practical and relevant gemological knowledge needed for a successful career within the gem and jewelry industry.”

Seasoned GIA Taiwan instructors teach the six-month GG program and nine-week Jewelry Design program in Mandarin Chinese.

GG enrollees will learn how the 4Cs (Color, Cut, Clarity and Carat weight) relate to the value of diamonds; grade diamonds in the D-Z color range; use equipment to grade and identify gemstones; and detect synthetics, treatments, simulants and fracture-filled diamonds. They will be able to confidently speak the language of diamonds and colored stones to suppliers and vendors and knowledgeably guide customers through the buying process.

The Jewelry Design students will learn how to create professional design drawings and gain an understanding of design theory and artistry.

For more information on GIA programs offered at the Shanghai Jiao Tong University campus, contact GIA in Taiwan by phone at 866-2-2771-9391, email at giataiwan@gia.edu, or the Taiwan website at www.giataiwan.com.tw.