Study Diamonds at GIA

Diamond Essentials eLearning Course

This self-paced eLearning course lets you study at your convenience from your home or office and covers how to describe diamond jewelry accurately for effective and ethical sales conversations with customers. Key topics examined include the internationally accepted GIA clarity grading system, how diamonds are graded for color and how color affects value. Coursework includes how modern technology is changing the way diamonds are cut, the relationship between size and weight and how retail jewelry stores operate.

How to Earn: Distance Education
Duration: Self-paced with a three-month completion time
What You Earn: Diamond Essentials Certificate
Ideal For: Retail professionals and others interested in working in the gem and jewelry industry; diamond connoisseurs and diamond jewelry buyers. this course is required to earn the GIA Graduate Gemologist, Graduate Diamonds or Applied Jewelry professional diplomas via GIA Distance Education.

Diamonds & Diamond Grading eLearning Course

This eLearning course covers the skills needed to grade the color, clarity and cut of diamonds. Subjects explored include determining proportions and estimating weight; the fundamentals of laboratory-grown diamond, treatments, and simulants; and the effect of fluorescence on diamond body color. Other topics discussed include the role cut plays in the marketplace; the technical knowledge needed to make effective buying and selling decisions; and other segments of the diamond industry – dealing, cutting, manufacturing.

How to Earn: Distance Education
Duration: Self-paced with a 15-month completion time
What You Earn: Diamonds & Diamond Grading Certificate
Ideal For: Gem and jewelry industry professionals wanting to improve their diamond grading skills and knowledge; diamond connoisseurs and diamond jewelry buyers. The course is required to earn the GIA Graduate Gemologist or Graduate Diamonds diploma via GIA Distance Education.

Diamond Grading Lab Class

Through a unique combination of hands-on training, one-on-one coaching and multimedia, the Diamond Grading lab class explores how to grade diamonds consistently and accurately using a modern gem microscope and a loupe. Students study GIA’s International Diamond Grading System™, explore timesaving shortcuts to determine a variety of grading factors, and are introduced to methods for reading a GIA Diamond Grading Report.

How to Learn: On-campus study
Duration: Five days (35 clock hours); night or Saturday classes may be available at some campuses
What You Earn: Letter of Completion
Ideal For: Students earning GIA Graduate Diamonds diploma via Distance Education or industry professionals and individuals with prior experience working with diamonds who would like to improve their grading skills. This lab class is required to earn the GIA Graduate Gemologist or Graduate Diamonds diploma via GIA Distance Education.

Graduate Diamonds Diploma Program

This diploma program explores the GIA diamond grading methods to assess the 4Cs of Diamond Quality – Color, Clarity, Cut and Carat weight – and how they affect diamond value. Students use professional diamond grading equipment for the purposes of examining a diamond’s quality characteristics to grade and identify diamonds. Coursework also includes creating plotting diagrams; determining fluorescence; and detecting treated diamonds, laboratory-grown diamonds and diamond simulants. Other topics covered include the effect of fluorescence on diamond body color; the role cut plays in the marketplace; and important sectors of the diamond industry, including dealers, cutters and manufacturers.

How to Earn: Full-Time On Campus or Distance Education
Duration: 7 instructional weeks
What You Earn: Graduate Diamonds Diploma
Ideal For: Industry professionals and individuals who want a career in the diamond industry, including the skills and knowledge to grade diamonds. Completing the Graduate Diamonds program is required to earn the GIA Graduate Gemologist diploma.

Advanced Synthetic Diamond Seminar

Laboratory-grown diamond technology is evolving quickly, and with more laboratory-grown diamonds available in the market, the gem and jewelry trade needs to be prepared with tools and techniques that will help them distinguish natural from laboratory-grown diamonds. In these one- to two-day seminars (length may vary by location), participants will gain in-depth knowledge of advanced diamond identification techniques, including hands-on experience with current production laboratory-grown diamonds and the latest detection technology.

How to Earn: Offered at many GIA locations worldwide
Duration: One- to two-day seminar (length may vary by location)
Ideal For: Professional gemologists, pawnbrokers, retail professional and anyone regularly buying or selling loose diamonds or diamond jewelry. Previous gemological training and/or experience recommended.