Mara, how did you like Diamond Essentials & have you gone into the grading at all?

[2Bmarried]

I searched on the topic of "GIA COURSE" and read your past postings. I''d like to start the Diamonds & Diamond Grading in the next week or so, as a hobby of sorts. I would love it if I could finish by the time the extension class gets here the last week in June. I''m used to the distance learning thing, but wanted to get your take on the estimated completion time and any other input you have! I know what it states in the course catalog for completion time, but I''d like to know if you think it''s accurate, etc.

Just curious.......

Thanks!

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

another course is offered by YourGemmologist.com

You should consider it also

 

[Mara]

Well I only took DE so far..and didn't FINISH it...I was too lazy to take the tests, hehee. I just wanted all the materials really. So if I want to go at it again, I'd have to pay all over.




Anyway, DE was super easy...if you have hung out on Pscope for more than a month, you probably know what they will ask. I didn't get to the 2nd course...yet.

The virtual school thing was easy, you do things on your own for the first course and submit tests on your own. But I think for the 2nd and 3rd classes you have to take some in-house tests? Not positive.




I recommend it if you are serious in doing it. Otherwise it's just expensive to learn what you basically find out here from Pscope anyway. I felt like I was taking remedial diamond studies with the first class, after hanging on Pscope for 4 months. hehee.

 

[pqcollectibles]

I can't imagine that Wedding Planning got in the way at all, either, Mara!

I saw the "Your Gemologist" classes listed, Garry. Is there any Industry recognized Certification that comes as a result of taking those classes??

 

[Daisyma02]

I took the Diamond Essentials Class and I Competed in a week. To Me it was just so intereting and I couldn't put down the reading material and just kept at it. It was actually very easy to do. I am right now waiting to take the test to complete Diamond Essentials so I can get my Certificate. I am also taking Colored Stones Essentials and Jewelery Essentials. When I finish all three I will get a Certificate showing that I completed the AJP course (Accredited Jewelery Proffesional)
I will then continue on to become a Graduate Gemologist and I can't Wait!

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

no PQ, but he also acts as a tutor in GAGB Great Britan courses. These are far more technical / less sales oriented than GIA courses. Like the courses we run here in Australia - they are not for everyone. Lots of Physics and Chem etc.

Robert is pretty passionate about his teaching - you can get a feel for it on his website. He has a reputation for being a cut nut hater too. But if I held a grudge against all of them I would not have anyone to talk too

 

[Mara]

You can talk to me Garry!

 

[pqcollectibles]

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On 3/31/2004 12:02:06 AM Cut Nut wrote:

no PQ, but he also acts as a tutor in GAGB Great Britan courses. These are far more technical / less sales oriented than GIA courses. Like the courses we run here in Australia - they are not for everyone. Lots of Physics and Chem etc.

Robert is pretty passionate about his teaching - you can get a feel for it on his website. He has a reputation for being a cut nut hater too. But if I held a grudge against all of them I would not have anyone to talk too

----------------

The pricing was rather attactive. A flat fee of less than $50/year to cover the course offerings. Proceed at your own pace set up. I'm glad to know there is good technical information available. That would augment the sales approach of the GIA courses.

I WUB you Garry!!

You can talk to me anytime!!

As long as you take me skiing!!

And don't forget the Foster's!!

 

[2Bmarried]

Thanks for the input, everybody!

I just registered for the Yourgemologist.com course & should be receiving my password via email in a matter of time. I think the price is great for the wealth of knowledge that is truly out there. The self-paced program will be nice & the fact that I'm doing this more as a hobby right now than anything else sways me more toward those courses. I think once I've gone through that I'll have a greater understanding of many aspects of the diamonds & colored stones, etc. Then I might bite the bigger bullet and go through GIA for the recognition that they hold. I think it's a good idea to get my feet wet and see if everything holds my interest once I've really been exposed to it. Certainly should be worth the price.

I'll let you know once I've begun the course and browsed around a bit. Though I won't be able to compare it to any other gem course (since this is my first), I do like the fact that it should be more infused with technical info than "sales" information. Should make for a good education. We shall see...........

 

[Mara]

Funny...I got a letter from GIA yesterday that said that they noticed I hadn't actually finished my course from last year, and they wanted to offer me a one-time extension until late April! So I will take advantage of that..yay!

Now I can finally submit my tests and this way if I go ahead with the other classes, I won't have to re-take this one.

 

[2Bmarried]

That's good! Saves you some cash for that next (non April Fool's Day) diamond purchase!!

 

[Daisyma02]

I Took my Test for Diamond Essential and passed. YEAH! The test itself took me about 40 minutes and I took it at the Local Library. The Material from GIA arrives very Fast, once you submit to get your test sent GIA is very fast about getting it there. It was basic to me but I am so glad I took it. Now I am waiting for my Jewelery essentials test.