Level: All Skill Levels
Requirements: None
Program: Winter
Status: Wait List
Length: 2 Days
Tuition: $ 280
Materials: $ 0
Date: March 03, 2012 - March 04, 2012
Time: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Location: Metalwerx

Using a 10x loupe and a microscope, students will learn the basic identification techniques for determining differences between natural gemstones from synthetic, and imitations.

Treatments and the detection of treatments from past to present day will be discussed as well as the effect these treatments have on durability, care, and price of the gemstone.

There will be hands on training with microscopes and loupes to give students the opportunity to test gemstones.

This course will be beneficial to a novice as well as an experience jeweler. During the class students will also have an opportunity to purchase stones from Barbara Lawrence.

Barbara Lawrence has a wealth of gemstone knowledge with over 30 years experience in the industry. She regularly travels overseas to find the finest gemstones at the very best prices. From Jaipur and Sri Lanka to Bangkok and Hong Kong, she scouts everything from Alexandrite to Zircon, always keeping an eye out for new discoveries. As past president of American Gem Trade Association (AGTA), and a member of ICA, and the JVC, she is committed to keeping herself and her customers well informed about new gemstone treatments and new synthetics in the marketplace.

Materials & Tools
There is no materials fee for this course. Students are welcome to bring some stones that they have questions about (There will be no appraisals of gems belonging to students, only identification where possible) Please make sure to keep them in a separate container labeled with you name so they are not confused or mixed in with the other stones on the table.