The International Grown Diamond Association (IGDA), a nonprofit organization representing leading names from the lab-grown diamond industry, has partnered with the International Gemological Institute (IGI) to provide thorough education about lab-grown diamonds. To that end, IGI’s eLearning course on the topic, along with all the institute’s diamond-related courses, are now being offered on IGDA’s Training and Education page.
Included With Membership
In the interest of improving professional awareness and knowledge on the subject, IGDA will underwrite the cost of IGI’s lab-grown diamond course for its members.
“IGI pioneered lab-grown diamond grading and is the leader in that sector today,” says IGDA Leadership Committee member Marty Hurwitz. “We believe their eLearning course should be a staple of IGDA membership, to ensure that lab-grown diamonds are interpreted fairly and factually.”
According to IGI, one eLearning course typically takes less than 45 minutes to complete. The curriculum is designed to teach core gemological facts, while emphasizing points of interest professionals can use in-store with clients right away. IGI’s courses are uniquely interactive, resulting in higher engagement than traditional online education. Users have the opportunity to answer questions along the way, verifying the material is understood, before proceeding to the next section. Each course ends with a 12-question quiz. When passed with a score of 80% or better the learner receives a PDF summary with all course material, along with supplemental information.
Affordable, Accessible Learning
“We know the diamond and jewelry industry can be very confusing to navigate,” observes IGI North American president Avi Levy. “Our goal is to deliver precise and current information that is affordable and accessible to everyone. For stores with more than five employees, we can arrange volume licensing, so the entire staff can benefit.”
Technological advancement within the lab-grown industry means that new developments will regularly be introduced. IGI anticipated the need for systematic updates over time when developing its eLearning courses.
“The range, variety, and quality of lab-grown diamonds coming to market will continue to become more exciting over time,” says Levy. “There’s a lot happening in our industry right now. Those who know the latest developments are going to serve their clients best.”
The International Grown Diamond Association
A component of IGDA’s stated mission is to serve as an “authentic knowledge source for lab-grown diamonds for both consumers and trade.” Along with ensuring fair and factual interpretation, encouraging ethical industry practices and standards, and fostering cooperation, the organization hopes to lead members across industrial, government, and consumer forums and work collectively to resolve any issues that impact the lab-grown diamond industry.
“Now, more than ever, lab-grown diamonds need a common voice and consistent message,” noted IGDA president Dick Garard. “As lab-grown diamonds experience expanding consumer acceptance and explosive growth in the market, we are pleased to provide the most reliable, up-to- date education on our platform in partnership with IGI.”
See the courses on IGDA’s Training and Education page.
See the courses on IGI’s eLearning Courses page.