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.

Current Course Offerings

Code
Course
Duration
Price
GA
Gem Appreciation
 1-day 5 hours $199
IGI
Intro to Gem Identification
2-days 10 hours
$399
DIA
Talking Diamonds
1-day 5 hours
$199
DDI
Understanding Diamond Imitation Course (Formerly Diamond & Diamond Imitations)
2-days 10 hours
$399

Current Class Dates

Gem Appreciation
April 20, 2024 – Toronto
July 10, 2024 – Toronto
July 27, 2024 – Toronto
TBA – Calgary

Intro to Gem ID
May 25 & 26, 2024 – Toronto
June 26 &27, 2024 – Toronto

Talking Diamonds
May 04, 2024 – Toronto
July 06, 2024 – Toronto
TBA – Calgary

Understanding Diamond Imitations (Formerly Diamond & Diamond Imitations)
June 08 & 09, 2024 – Toronto
July 30 & 31, 2024 – Toronto

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 . 

 

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
  • June 08 & 09, 2024
  • July 30 & 31, 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)
Registration:

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.

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

 

Sessions:

Toronto location registration form -Toronto

  • Time: 9:30 am – 3:00 pm (5 hours plus half-hour lunch break)
  • Fee: $199
  • May 04, 2024
  • July 06, 2024

Calgary location (NEW)

  • TBA
  • Time: 9:30 am – 3:00 pm (5 hours plus half-hour lunch break)
  • Fee: $199


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)


Registration:
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.

Gem Appreciation

This 5-hour course explores the nature of gemstones and their timeless allure, and investigates why it’s more important than ever to know a little before buying. Birthstones are generally the most highly recognized of the gems on the market today, and serve as our focus for exploring the variety of gem treasures available, many of them little known to the average consumer. A guided look, including hands-on work with the jewellers loupe and tweezers, helps fine-tune our eyes and opens up the wonderful world of gems.
Gem Appreciation Registration Form

Syllabus:

  • the nature of gemstones
  • mastering the jewellers loupe
  • distinguishing between glass and natural gems
  • nature, properties of common “birthstones”
  • understanding measures of gem quality
  • caring for gems
  • pre-purchase considerations
  • brief overview of gem identification instrumentation 

Sessions:

Toronto Location  Gem appreciation Toronto registration form

  • Time: 9:30 am – 3:00 pm (5 hours plus half-hour lunch break)
  • Fee: $199
  • April 20, 2024
  • July 10, 2024

Calgary Location (NEW) 

  • TBA
  • Time: 9:30 am – 3:00 pm (5 hours plus half-hour lunch break)
  • Fee: $149


Requirements:

  • 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

Registration:

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.

Intro to Gem Identification

This 10-hour, 2-day, hands-on course, focuses on gem identification. Building on the visual inspection skills acquired in Gem Appreciation, we investigate other physical and optical properties that help identify the natural, synthetic and imitation gems. Small, simple pocket instruments open up a whole new dimension for gem testing. These instruments are provided for use during the course, but students should bring their own gem loupe and tweezers.
Suggested prior knowledge:
  1. Gem Appreciation Course
 
Syllabus:
  • Specimen preparation
  • Polariscope
  • Visual inspection
  • 10x loupe
  • Care of instruments
  • Microscopes
 
Sessions:
  • Time: 9:30 am – 3:00 pm (10 hours + half-hour lunch break each day)
  • Fee: $399
  • May 25 & 26, 2024
  • June 26 & 27, 2024


Requirements:

  • 10x triplet jewellers loupe (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

Registration:

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.