MajorsSep 05, 2023
BIJC Announces Jewelry-Focused High School ProgramGradingDec 06, 2023
GIA Debuts Revamped Graduate Jeweler Program
By mixing creative and practical skills, the new course hopes to fill the industry’s bench jeweler gap.
The Gemological Institute of America has revamped its Graduate Jeweler Diploma Program.
Carlsbad, Calif.—The Gemological Institute of America’s Graduate Jeweler Diploma Program will be back next year, with a few new elements.
The program, taught at the Carlsbad campus, was on hiatus for 18 months to make revisions and update equipment. In late 2022, GIA enlisted educator, master goldsmith, and jewelry designer Alan Revere to update the program.
The redesigned course will teach a wide range of skills in the hopes of creating a new generation of designers who can also repair and refurbish jewelry, helping to fill the current need for bench jewelers.
“This program is a significant leap forward in jewelry manufacturing education, blending foundational technical knowledge of bench jewelry with a focus on creative expression and how to apply these skills in the industry,” said GIA.
The 28-week program focuses on traditional jewelry fabrication, teaching essential skills including sawing, piercing, measuring, layout, filing, forging, bending, twisting and advanced torch techniques, as well as soldering, annealing, and brazing.
To meet the growing consumer demand for custom jewelry, students will also learn hand fabrication, wax carving, and lost wax casting.
There will be creative projects that let students produce their own designs, as well as technical ones that involve jewelry repair, a skill jewelers look for in an apprentice.
It also offers gemstone setting training and lessons on casting, wax carving, laser welding, metallurgy, and hand engraving, with expanded lessons on fancy-shaped stones and setting with gravers.
GIA’s classrooms have also been stocked with new equipment to allow students to practice and hone these skills.
Related stories will be right here …
The program, taught at the Carlsbad campus, was on hiatus for 18 months to make revisions and update equipment. In late 2022, GIA enlisted educator, master goldsmith, and jewelry designer Alan Revere to update the program.
The redesigned course will teach a wide range of skills in the hopes of creating a new generation of designers who can also repair and refurbish jewelry, helping to fill the current need for bench jewelers.
“This program is a significant leap forward in jewelry manufacturing education, blending foundational technical knowledge of bench jewelry with a focus on creative expression and how to apply these skills in the industry,” said GIA.
The 28-week program focuses on traditional jewelry fabrication, teaching essential skills including sawing, piercing, measuring, layout, filing, forging, bending, twisting and advanced torch techniques, as well as soldering, annealing, and brazing.
To meet the growing consumer demand for custom jewelry, students will also learn hand fabrication, wax carving, and lost wax casting.
There will be creative projects that let students produce their own designs, as well as technical ones that involve jewelry repair, a skill jewelers look for in an apprentice.
It also offers gemstone setting training and lessons on casting, wax carving, laser welding, metallurgy, and hand engraving, with expanded lessons on fancy-shaped stones and setting with gravers.
GIA’s classrooms have also been stocked with new equipment to allow students to practice and hone these skills.
"Our objective is to instill students with a proficiency in safe practices and jewelry manufacturing techniques that exceed industry standards by setting the bar higher," said GIA Senior Vice President of Education and Chief Academic Officer Duncan Pay.
“Leveraging decades of experience in teaching Jewelry Manufacturing Arts, coupled with the expertise of master goldsmith and award-winning jewelry designer Alan Revere, we've developed a program that hones not only classical technical skills but also integrates cutting-edge tools and equipment within our state-of-the-art classrooms.”
The project-based course teaches techniques that can be applied to fine jewelry manufacturing and retail jewelry repair, letting students build up a portfolio to share with potential employers and clients.
The program dates are Jan. 22 – Aug. 1, 2024; May 13 – Nov. 21, 2024; and Sept. 9, 2024, to April 7, 2025.
For more information about the program, visit the GIA website.
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
More on Grading
The Latest
Supplier BulletinAug 13, 2026
Your Piece Could Be the One Editors Talk AboutSponsored by American Gem Trade Association
FinancialsAug 13, 2026
Pandora’s ‘Talisman’ Collection Shines, Lab-Grown Diamond Sales FallIn the United States, second-quarter sales were flat amid soft consumer sentiment and lower in-store traffic.
AuctionsAug 13, 2026
This Gold Cadbury ‘Conundrum’ Egg Set a World Auction RecordThe 22-karat gold egg, sold at Batemans Auctioneers in the U.K., was part of a 1980s treasure hunt ad campaign for Cadbury Creme Eggs.
Brought to you by
Why More Jewelry Retailers Are Hosting Turnkey Estate Buying EventsRetailers are seeking new ways to attract customers, increase traffic, and create revenue – Estate buying events are a popular solution.
SourcingAug 13, 2026
2,488-Carat Diamond, Largest Found in Botswana, Has a New Owner Lucara Diamond Corp., which recovered the “Motswedi” diamond from the Karowe mine, sold the stone for an undisclosed amount.
Weekly QuizAug 07, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
CollectionsAug 13, 2026
John Hardy Infuses ‘Icon,’ ‘Heishi’ Collections with ColorThe expanded collections now feature hand-cut gemstones like topaz, tanzanite, chrysoprase, chalcedony, smoky quartz, and fire opal.
Lab-GrownAug 13, 2026
Jean Dousset Opens Third StoreThe lab-grown diamond jewelry brand’s newest boutique is in Westfield Valley Fair in Santa Clara, California.
Brought to you by
Wedding Band Trends 2026: Personalization Takes Center StageColored gemstones, artisan finishes, mixed metals, and meaningful details are shaping demand in bridal jewelry.
SourcingAug 12, 2026
Eshed-Gemstar on the Painstaking Process of Cutting ‘The Legacy Emerald’The gemstone supplier and manufacturer acquired the remarkable 104-gram Zambian emerald at Gemfields’ auction in May.
CrimeAug 12, 2026
Elderly NYC Woman Targeted in Jewelry Swap SchemeTwo suspects offered to trade the woman a “winning” lottery ticket for her jewelry.
SourcingAug 12, 2026
Another Diamond Mine Poised to CloseFinsch has been in business rescue since May, and owner Petra Diamonds said it sees no viable path forward for the mine.
CrimeAug 12, 2026
Jewelry Store Employee Gets 20 Years to Life in Choking Death of BossMichel Patrick DeSalles was sentenced after pleading guilty to the 2017 murder of Omid Gholian, who owned a jewelry store in Manhattan.
MajorsAug 12, 2026
Frederick Goldman Names New SVP of SalesLongtime industry executive Beth Miller has taken on the role.
AuctionsAug 11, 2026
Verdura Unicorn Brooch With Royal Connection Up for Auction The brooch was owned by Virginia Fortune Ryan Ogilvy, who served as a lady of the bedchamber to Queen Elizabeth II for nearly 50 years.
MajorsAug 11, 2026
Signet Jewelers Selects Mattel Exec to Lead Zales, BanterJamie Cygielman will take on the role on Aug. 24.
IndependentsAug 11, 2026
Polly’s Fine Jewelry Co-Owner Richard Moore Dies at 69Moore, Polly’s husband, is remembered as a family man with an easygoing spirit and a love for sports and the outdoors.
ColumnistsAug 11, 2026
Creative Connecting: How to Sell Colored Gemstones to Gen ZDuvall O’Steen and Jen Cullen Williams share the best ways to display, present, and explain colored gemstones to younger customers.
Events & AwardsAug 11, 2026
NAJA Announces Lineup For 2026 Fall Virtual ConferenceThe mid-year conference for jewelry and watch appraisers will take place Sept. 5-6 on Zoom.
TechnologyAug 10, 2026
Colorado Jeweler Launches Customization Tool He Built HimselfHonest Hands Ring Co. Founder Benjamin Bosworth shared his thoughts on jewelry technology and why AI can never replace the human element.
MajorsAug 10, 2026
QVC Exits Chapter 11 Bankruptcy, Names New Interim CEOQVC Group President and CEO David Rawlinson is temporarily being replaced by a familiar face, former QVC CEO Mike George.
CollectionsAug 10, 2026
State Property Puts a Ripple in the ‘The Voyager’ CollectionThe brand also added two one-of-a-kind brown diamond pieces to the “Sanssouci” series of its “Gardens” collection.
MajorsAug 10, 2026
And IJO’s 2026 Vendor of the Year Is … Ostbye took home top vendor honors at the Independent Jewelers Organization’s show, held last month in Kentucky.
Supplier BulletinAug 07, 2026
Why More Jewelry Retailers Are Hosting Turnkey Estate Buying EventsSponsored by Stratus Estate Buyers
MajorsAug 07, 2026
Retail Veteran Pam Cloud Appointed President of Blue NileCloud, who will officially join Blue Nile on Monday, spent 26 years at Tiffany & Co. and founded jewelry brand Roseate.
MajorsAug 07, 2026
Pandora Appoints Paulo Garcia as New CFO Garcia will take over from the company’s current CFO, Anders Boyer, who is retiring at the end of November.
MajorsAug 07, 2026
Etsy to Lay Off 12% of WorkforceEtsy CEO Kruti Patel Goyal explained why the company is letting go more than 200 employees as its performance improves.
TrendsAug 07, 2026
Look Ahead with Syna’s Binoculars PendantThe “Star Gazer” pendant, our Piece of the Week, is Syna’s tribute to curiosity and the discovery of something new.
