Associate Editor Lauren McLemore headed out West for a visit to Potentate Mining’s operation hosted by gemstone wholesaler Parlé Gems.
GIA to hold lab classes at Atlanta jewelry show
The Gemological Institute of America will teach hands-on instruction in colored stone and pearl grading from Feb. 25 to 28 in conjunction with the Atlanta Jewelry Show.
Atlanta--The Gemological Institute of America will teach hands-on instruction in colored stone and pearl grading from Feb. 25 to 28 in conjunction with the Atlanta Jewelry Show.
Held in the show venue, the Cobb Galleria Centre, these lab classes allow attendees to get GIA certification without traveling to the organization’s West Coast headquarters.
From Wednesday, Feb. 25 through Friday, Feb. 27, the three days leading up to the show, the colored stone lab teaches the GIA system for grading color, cut and clarity of a variety of gemstones from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
In this course, attendees will learn the relationship between light and color and the industry standard for describing hue, tone and saturation. Completion of the course is required for GIA GG and Graduate Colored Stones diplomas, and will cost $1,612 (for payment by check) or $1,662 (by credit card).
Meanwhile, the pearl grading lab will take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 28, which is the opening day of the show. Instruction will cover the buying and selling of Akoya South Sea, Tahitian, and freshwater pearls.
Attendees also will learn about GIA’s “7 Pearl Value Factors,” post-harvest treatments, imitation pearls, pearl-testing practices, and the differences between natural and cultured pearls.
Completion of this course is required for the GIA Graduate Pearls Program. This lab class price is $472 (for payment by check) or $522 (by credit card)
Since class space is limited, early registration is encouraged by contacting Judy Lince at jlince@atlantajewelryshow.com or 1-800-241-0399.
The Atlanta Jewelry Show will be held on Feb. 28 to March 2, 2015.
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