REVERE ACADEMY EXPANDS GEMOLOGY PROGRAM
The Revere Academy of Jewelry Arts in San Francisco, Cal., has added a class on “Detecting Treated Diamonds” to its gemology program.
The one-day class teaches participants how to use standard gemological instruments to evaluate a diamond’s authenticity and determine if it’s treated, fracture filled, laser drilled, synthetic or a look-alike.
The academy also offers two other classes in its gem program: “Gem Identification” and “Diamond Grading.”
All of the school’s classes are short and intensive. The gem program is headed by Cortney Balzan, a nationally recognized expert and speaker who is a Graduate Gemologist and Master Gemologist Appraiser. “The academy’s gemology [program] is ideal for the working professional who has a hard time getting away from the store,” says Balzan. Most classes are held over a long weekend, so participants can fly to San Francisco Thursday night and back home Sunday night.
For more information, fees and a free informational videotape, contact
Revere Academy of Jewelry Arts, 760 Market St., Suite 900, San Francisco, Cal. 94102; (415) 391-4179.
APPRAISING WORKSHOP SCHEDULED IN VIRGINIA
Registration is under way for a gems and jewelry appraising workshop to be presented April 18-20 by the Master Valuer® program in the McLean Hilton, McLean, Va.
Experts in various fields – from mining to gem treatments – will discuss the latest markets, gemstones, jewelry designs and manufacturing methods. They’ll also introduce and expand information on current valuation methods. Tuition is $450.
Separately, Master Valuer® announced it has been granted trademark registration protection and status in Canada. Master Valuer® is an international course covering research, identification and valuation of gemstones and jewelry. It combines a jewelry appraising correspondence course with hands-on workshops.
In addition to McLean, workshops are scheduled May 23-25 in Denver, Colo., and Oct. 18-20 in Toronto, Ontario.
Master Valuer®, P.O. Box 1844, Pearland, Tex. 77588; (713) 485-1606 telephone and fax.
ASA ANNOUNCES SPRING SCHEDULE
The American Society of Appraisers has announced its spring schedule of courses.
The “Master Gemologist Appraiser” class will be held March 21-24 in the Hilton, St. Louis, Mo. Tuition is $450 for members, $475 for non-members.
“Introduction to Personal Property Valuation” ($375 for members, $475 for non-members) and “Master Gemologist Appraiser” ($450 for members, $550 for non-members) will be held May 31 to June 3 in the Imperial Palace in Las Vegas, Nev.
American Society of Appraisers, P.O. Box 17265, Washington, D.C. 20041; (800) ASA-VALU or (703) 733-2126.
GIA VISION 2000 CAMPAIGN RECEIVES MORE DONATIONS
The Gemological Institute of America announces two more donations to its Vision 2000 campaign.
Michal Ferman, Roisen & Ferman, a diamond cutting and importing company in New York City, will donate $100,000 over three years. The first contribution will be used to help develop reasonably priced instruments that allow anyone to detect a fracture-filled stone or differentiate a natural diamond from a synthetic. “Any such instrument will be a major achievement and will benefit the entire diamond and jewelry industry,” says the company’s Jacques Roisen.
Jim Littman, GIA’s director of development, says Roisen and Simon Ferman will be inducted as sovereigns into the GIA Legion of Honor in recognition of their contribution.
Andrew Cohen Inc., New York City, made a contribution to Vision 2000 to establish the Andrew Cohen Jade Collection in GIA’s Richard T. Liddicoat Library and Information Center. The collection will comprise books on jade and jade carving and will be open to students, jewelers and the general public.
“Jade is one of my favorite stones, and as a market, outside of Asia, is still young and undeveloped,” says Cohen. “The market and the art of jade cutting have a lot of room to grow as China opens. Also the potential of jade cutting is largely unexplored. I like to think I’m contributing to the evolution of creativity in carving.”
Says GIA Library Director Donna Dirlam, “This kind of generosity and interest in the study of gemstones is something this industry needs in order to thrive.”
GIA’s Vision 2000 campaign is aimed at raising capital funds from individual and institutional donors to improve educational programs, broaden research and development activities, provide scholarships and student aid, and expand GIA’s outreach in international jewelry centers.
SCHOOL EXPANDS WATCH, CLOCK REPAIR PROGRAMS
The National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors School of Horology in Columbia, Pa., announces it will expand its watch and clock repair programs.
The school, licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, offers courses on beginning, intermediate and advanced levels. A modular approach allows students to proceed at their own pace.
Students study in two fully equipped classrooms and have access to the exhibits and library of the Watch & Clock Museum of the NAWCC. The museum has more than 8,000 items illustrating timekeeping from the 16th century to the present day.
NAWCC School of Horology, 514 Poplar St., Columbia, Pa. 17512; (717) 684-8261, fax (717) 684-0878.
The American Management Association offers two new course catalogs.
One catalog details seminars scheduled in many major cities now through October. General seminar topics include accounting, communication skills, financial management, human resources, insurance, leadership skills, management skills, marketing management, purchasing management and sales.
The second catalog lists self-study courses that fall under the general categories of management, planning, quality, finance/accounting and sales/ marketing.
Participants receive continuing education units good toward certificates from the association.
American Management Association, P.O. Box 169, Saranac Lake, N.Y. 12983-9985; (800) 262-9699.