APPRAISER PROGRAM SET FOR NEW ORLEANS

The Jewelry Insurance Appraisal Institute will offer a course for jewelers in appraising for insurance purposes April 12-15 in New Orleans, coinciding with the American Gem Society Conclave.

The Certified Insurance Appraiser (CIA) course is the basis of the recently published ACORD 78 & 79 insurance industry appraisal standards. Topics to be covered include how jewelry is insured, the role of the appraisal in insuring jewelry, what constitutes a good insurance appraisal, how insurance valuations should be determined, what details the underwriter needs, the role of the appraisal in jewelry replacement, how insurance companies define appraisals, and the appraiser?s responsibility to insured and insurer. Students will be trained to assist agents, underwriters, and adjusters. The program concludes with a session on marketing CIA skills to insurance professionals.

Course prerequisites are a Graduate/Certified Gemologist degree (or the intent to obtain a G.G. within 12 months of completing the course) and three years? practical jewelry experience.

Contact JCRS Jewelry Underwriting and Claim Mitigation, 3345 Grand Ave., Suite #4, Oakland, CA 94610; (510) 444-4811, fax (510) 444-1950, www.jcrs.com.

AGS OFFERS TRAINING COURSE

The Diamond Promotion Service has developed a new course, ?How to Manage Training,? for the American Gem Society. Geared toward store owners and managers, the session follows on the heels of well-received DPS courses presented at the 1998 AGS Conclave. Course developer Diane Warga-Arias will offer the new program at upcoming trade shows. There?s no charge for AGS members to attend the workshops. Participants can purchase the course materials for $119.

For information, contact the American Gem Society, 8881 W. Sahara Ave., Las Vegas, NV 89117; (702) 255-6500, fax (702) 255-7420.

CANADIAN JEWELERS ADAPT JEF COURSE

The Canadian Jewellers Institute plans to adapt the Jewelers Education Foundation?s (JEF) Graduate Sales Associate course. The course consists of 15 lessons covering all major jewelry product categories as well as business basics. CJI plans to introduce the course this fall. Those who successfully complete it will earn the designation of ?Graduate Jeweler.? The course will continue to be available to American jewelers through the American Gem Society.

For information, contact the Canadian Jewellers Institute, 27 Queen St. East, Suite 600, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5C 2M6; (416) 368-7616, fax (416) 368-1986.

GERMAN ASSOCIATION SLATES GEMOLOGY COURSE

The German Gemmological Association (DgemG) in Idar-Oberstein, Germany, offers four courses that run from August through December. The association?s next complete Diploma Course in English is scheduled from Aug. 2 to Dec. 10.

The diploma course consists of the following individual units: Gemmology Diploma Course from Aug. 2 to Oct. 29, Commerical Gemmology from Nov. 2 to Nov. 5, Pearls/Organic Substances from Nov. 8 to Nov. 12, and the Diamond Diploma Course from Nov. 15 to Dec. 10.

For information, contact the German Gemmological Association, P.O. Box 12 22 60, 55714 Idar-Oberstein, Germany; (49-6781) 43011, fax (49-6781) 41616.

GOLDSMITH COURSES FROM METAL KITCHEN

The Metal Kitchen provides workshops, seminars, and studio time for goldsmiths at its New York training facility. Among the upcoming courses are ?Working in Gold,? ?Jewelry Rendering,? ?Jewels of Italy,? and ?Pricing for Maximum Sales & Profitability.?

For information, contact Metal Kitchen, 113 Mercer St., New York, NY 10012; (212) 334-9394, fax (212) 334-6155; metalkitchen@erols.com.

TYLER SCHOOL OF ART ANNOUNCES ASSISTANTSHIPS

The Tyler School of Art, Temple University in Philadelphia is accepting applications for three assistantships for its Metals/Jewelry/CAD-CAM master of fine arts degree program for the fall of 1999. Each grant includes $7,750 in stipends and full tuition remission. The recipients will be assigned teaching and teaching-support duties in the Metals/Jewelry/CAD-CAM area. Temple University also invites minority candidates to apply for the Future Faculty Fellows Program. These fellowships carry up to an $8,000 annual stipend and full tuition remission. Contact Professor Stanley Lechtzin, Tyler School of Art, Beech and Penrose Avenues, Elkins Park, PA 19027; (215) 782-2863, fax (215) 635-2861, e-mail: stanlech@astro.temple.edu.

STANDARDS COURSE FOR APPRAISERS

This year, the American Society of Appraisers (ASA), a multidisciplinary organization, is offering a 15-hour course on ?Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice? six times in six different cities.

The course is for appraisers of all types of properties needing to demonstrate knowledge of the Uniform Standards document of the Appraisal Standards Board of the Appraisal Foundation. All 10 standards are addressed as well as competency, ethics, and departure provisions. The course includes discussion of case studies and concludes with a one-hour exam.

For information, call ASA?s education department at (800) 272-8258.

FRIEDMAN GROUP SETS MANAGEMENT SEMINARS

The Friedman Group, a retail training and development organization in Lakewood, Colo., offers a Retail Store Management Seminar Series. Programs in the series are ?Retail Management Training Camp,? ?Retail Employee Development Course,? and ?Multiple Store Supervision Course.? Audiotapes of the seminars are available along with reference manuals. For information, call (800) 351-8050 and mention priority code 631.

AGS OFFERING SEPTEMBER COURSE

The American Society of Appraisers is offering its Master Gemologist Appraiser Course Sept. 16-19 in Washington, D.C. Graduate Gemologists and jewelry appraisers with equivalent diplomas are eligible to attend.

Topics to be covered include introduction to the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice, insurance documentation and basic insurance principles; qualitative analysis of gemstones and jewelry; standards for report writing; metals and methods of manufacture; decorative treatments; contemporary, period, art, and collectible jewelry; diamonds; colored stones; watches; natural and synthetic gemstones; and gemstone treatments. Students will be required to take the Farnsworth/Munsell Color Vision Test.

Accredited Senior Appraisers of ASA who successfully complete this course and register the required laboratory equipment will be awarded Master Gemologist Appraiser certification.

For information, call the ASA education department at (800) ASA-VALU.