The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) said that its new offering – the Advanced Synthetic Diamond Seminar – will be held in Mumbai, London, and at its world headquarters in Carlsbad, California.

While the seminars in Mumbai and London will be held in August, the Carlsbad seminar is scheduled for October this year. The seminars have been planned so that dates coincide with major gem and jewellery events or tradeshows in each city.

“Participants will have the opportunity to gain in-depth knowledge of advanced diamond identification techniques and to have hands-on experience with current production synthetic diamonds and the latest detection technology,” GIA elaborated when announcing the seminars. “While there are no pre-requisites, previous gemmological training or experience is recommended.”
 
The seminars will be conducted by GIA research scientists and experienced classroom instructors and will use a combination of lectures and practical lab instruction. The latter will include hands-on training on the latest GIA instrumentation for differentiating natural diamonds from CVD and HPHT synthetic diamonds and diamond simulants.

“Instruments include the GIA iD100™, GIA Diamond Check™ and GIA UV Lamp with Viewing Cabinet,” GIA enumerated.

The institute added: “The GIA research scientist presenting the seminar will have expert knowledge of synthetic diamond as a material, its identification and gemmological characteristics, along with the processes used by GIA’s laboratories to separate synthetic from natural diamonds.”

The GIA said that in order that the instruction imparted is effective, it will be limiting the number of seats at the seminar to 20 or fewer persons, depending on the location.
 
The institute has exhorted those interested to contact the GIA office in the relevant location.

The following information was released by GIA for the various seminars. However, the institute cautioned: “Details of future seminars will be posted (on) GIA.edu. Dates, course content and participating researcher are subject to change.”
 
Mumbai 

August 20 and 21 (1-day seminar offered on two different days)
GIA researcher: Dr. Mike Breeding, senior research scientist and manager, diamond analysis at GIA in Carlsbad; expert in diamond defects, treatments and colour origins
 
Registration: +1 800 41 999 14 / Email: eduindia@gia.edu
 
London

August 29 – 30 (2-day extended seminar)
GIA researchers: Dr. Ulrika D’Haenens-Johansson, senior research scientist at GIA in New York; expert in the defect physics of natural, treated and synthetic diamond materials; and Dr. Karen Smit, research scientist at GIA in New York; expert in diamond geology, geochemistry, treatment and synthesis.
 
Registration: Tel +44 20 7813 4321 / Email: gialondon@gia.edu
 
Carlsbad

October 10 – 11 (2-day extended seminar)
GIA Researcher: Dr. Sally Magaña, senior research scientist at GIA in Carlsbad; expert in diamond physics, treatments and synthetics.

Registration: Tel +1 760 603 4400 or +1 800 421 7250 ext. 4400 / Email: admissions@gia.edu