Get Started on 2017 Continuing Education Recognition Program
May 8, 2017
Natural American Freshwater Pearls. Diamond Jewelry Manufacturing in India. Diamond Cutting in India.
These are just some of the gem and jewelry topics you will learn more about as you complete this year’s Continuing Education Recognition Education Program. Created for GIA graduates who hold a Graduate Gemologist or Gemologist diploma, the continuing education program includes a variety of engaging slideshows and animation, interactive self-testing, instructional videos and expert interviews, featuring the most up-to-date discoveries and research from GIA field gemologists who have traveled to the source. The program is designed to help graduates stay up to date with the latest gem and jewelry news and information.
You will have continuous access to the entire course – including the assignments, GIA eLearning courses and previous years' continuing education assignments and the multimedia archive – until the end of the calendar year. Each graduate who completes the Continuing Education Recognition Program will receive a certificate that displays their expertise and commitment to staying on top of gemological developments.
“The word is out amongst our graduates and corporate education clientele about the value and importance of this program,” says Kate Donovan, alumni relations manager. “Relevance is key in a competitive market, and this program gives GIA graduates the opportunity to keep up the standard of education they worked so hard to achieve. Having access to the entire gemological course data that new GIA students are currently using is invaluable.”
Be sure to complete all eight assignments by Dec. 31 to receive your Continuing Education Recognition Program certificate.
Here’s a brief overview of the 2017 assignments to date:
Assignment 1: Natural American Freshwater Pearls
From the unassuming rivers and lakes of America come the most sublime treasures: natural American freshwater pearls. They have been prized for centuries as evidenced by the numerous pearls found in Native American burial mounds. At one time, these treasures were more readily available, a byproduct of a once-thriving shell harvesting industry. Today there is less demand for mussel shells and many fewer shell divers. The result is that the recovery of natural pearls has become much more uncommon. In this interview, Gina Latendresse, president of the American Pearl Company, shares some unique and rare natural American freshwater pearls.
Assignment 2: Diamond Jewelry Manufacturing in India
The creation and use of jewelry for adornment has a tradition dating back thousands of years in India. Additionally, Indian jewelry is used to signify status and is often seen as a source of financial security. Indian jewelers have proudly upheld and continue to pass down traditional jewelry making methods, but they have also evolved and today, take advantage of a wide range of modern jewelry manufacturing technologies. A team from GIA visited a number of modern jewelry manufacturing companies in India in 2016. This video highlights some of what they witnessed.
Assignment 3: Getting the Most from Diamond Rough
India’s love affair with diamonds goes back thousands of years. Historians believe India was trading diamonds as early as the fourth century BCE. Culled from its streams and rivers, diamonds found their way into the hands of Indian royalty and gem lovers throughout the Western world. It is fitting that some of today’s most advanced technology is being utilized in the diamond manufacturing companies of India. Advances in diamond scanning and planning have resulted in a marked increase in yield from rough. This assignment tours several diamond cutting factories to observe some of this technology in action.
Don’t miss this chance to learn more valuable and exciting information from GIA’s top experts. Find out more about GIA’s Continuing Education Recognition Program. You can also contact the GIA Alumni Association at +1 760 603 4145 or email alumni@gia.edu.
Amanda J. Luke is a senior communications manager at GIA. She is the editor of the GIA Insider and Alum Connect and was the editor of The Loupe magazine.
