How To Grade & Buy Diamonds: "Talk Diamonds" With Confidence!

This class will teach you about 'Grading Diamonds,' how to 'Buy At Wholesale' & how to 'Evaluate A Diamond Certificate' ...a certificate is more complete than a jewelry "Appraisal."

Class meets for 1 session of 6 hours plus a lunch break. A very full day! If you’re a jewelry maker you'll gain the technical & product knowledge needed to successfully incorporate diamonds in your work. For non-jewelers, maybe considering a diamond purchase, you'll be able to make a much wiser diamond buying decision with this information. (Non jewelers should also consider another class I offer: BUYING & SELLING JEWELRY "Facts The Public Needs To Know" ...lots of diamond info in that class.)

We'll cover the 4C’s, e.g., Carat weight, Clarity, Cut & Color. You will learn how to use a jeweler’s loupe with hands-on experience grading real diamonds. (A stereo, diamond grading microscope is available to use during class) We'll discuss diamond mining & major world cutting centers plus how diamonds trade through the marketplace ending up for sale to the public.

You'll learn about the wholesale diamond industry, where to purchase diamonds and how much to pay. We'll talk about natural diamonds, colored diamonds and synthetic diamonds as well as diamond “simulates” like YAG, CZ, GGG, Moissanite, etc.

Various diamond setting styles will be explained. Common diamond shapes, grades and public preferences will be discussed. By the end of the class you'll be able to "Talk Diamonds” like a professional. I will explain how to buy from dealers, how basic memorandums (memos) work and discuss how to price diamonds in the retail and wholesale marketplace.

I want to remove the "mysteries of the diamond business" allowing you to feel comfortable speaking with diamond dealers, jewelry retailers (e.g., jewelry store staff) or customers.

I’m a graduate of the G.I.A. (Gemological Institute of America) and have worked with diamonds my entire career of 40 years.