The International Gemmological Institute will offer a five-day Rough Diamonds course beginning in September 2002. Previously, the course was available only in Antwerp, Belgium.

The class will cover the following topics: rough diamonds—crystallography, chemistry, and properties; mining, diamond production, and rough diamond characteristics; sorting rough diamonds—color, clarity, jewelry and industrial quality; marking a rough diamond for fashioning; diamond fashioning—steps in the cutting process; and diamond simulants, synthetics, and treatments.

The course will be held Sept. 23-27 at 589 Fifth Ave., and tuition is $1,100. Guest speaker Fred Fish of Sarin Technology will explain and demonstrate the latest developments in rough-diamond production.