General Interest

Pre-registration is required for all courses. Classes that have not filled by 7 days prior to the start date are subject to cancellation.

Everyone on the CGA property  is asked to wear a mask to help stop the spread of Covid-19 and its variants.

All courses take place in the CGA classroom, Suite # 105, 55 Queen Street East, Toronto.

Please note that all the current prices for classes and tools are on the current registration forms.  Please download a current registration form if you wish to register in any of General Interest Courses.  Old forms will no longer be accepted.

Talking Diamonds

This 5-hour course provides practical easy to understand information about diamonds. It is intended for anyone interested in learning more about these fascinating gems. Learn about diamond formation, the physical and optical properties of diamonds, the process for cutting, faceting and polishing of diamonds, how the 4 C’s (cut, clarity, colour, carat weight) affect beauty and value and the use of a loupe and diamond tweezers. Students will need a 10x triplet gem loupe, tweezers and gem cloth for this course.
Talking Diamonds Registration Form

Syllabus:

• formation of diamonds
• diamond mining
• cut and fashioning
• imitations and synthetics, with hands-on examples
• recognizing typical inclusions
• buying considerations

Requirements:
10x triplet jeweller’s loupe (students may bring their own or purchase from the CGA)
gemmological tweezers (students may bring their own or purchase from the CGA)

• 10x triplet jewellers loupe (single magnifying lenses, doublets or instruments with a focal length of more than a few inches are inadequate)
• jewellers tweezers (cosmetic tweezers and stiff utility tweezers may not be used)
• students may bring their own instruments or purchase from the CGA

Download a registration form from the Short Courses area of the Education/Course Forms page. Complete, sign and follow the directions on the form to submit.

Understanding Diamond Imitations Course (NEW) (Formerly Diamond & Diamond Imitations)

This 10-hour (2 day)course will help the student to recognize the physical and optical properties of diamonds and diamond imitations. Gemmological instruments are used to distinguish between imitations of diamonds such as cubic zirconia, synthetic moissanite, Zircon and synthetic spinel.  We will build on the knowledge learned in Talking Diamonds.
Understanding Diamond Imitations Registration Form

Syllabus: Use gemmological instruments to identify diamond and its imitations.
1.   Observing and recognizing levels of dispersion and brilliance with the naked eye.
2.    Use a loupe to observe hardness, double or single refraction, surface features, internal features, treatments and composite stones.
3.    Use of a thermal conductivity diamond tester.
4.    Use of a polariscope to help identify diamond simulants.
5.    Use of UV light to identify diamond simulants.
6.    Use of a gemmological microscope to identify hardness, double or single refraction, pavilion flash, surface features, internal features, treatments and composite stones.

Sessions:

• Time: 9:30 am – 3:00 pm (half hour lunch break)
• Fee: $399
• November 09 & 10, 2024

Requirements:

• 10x triplet jeweller’s loupe (students may bring their own or purchase from the CGA)
• gemmological tweezers (students may bring their own or purchase from the CGA)
• gem cloth (students may bring their own or purchase from the CGA)

Download a registration form from the Short Courses area of the Education/Course Forms page. Complete, sign and follow the directions on the form to submit.

These general interest classes do not require approval under the Ontario Career Colleges Act, 2005.