Aspiring gem and jewelry professionals in Shenzhen, China attended the regions first on-campus GIA (Gemological Institute of America) Graduate Diamonds Course in early July. The program, offered through Peking University Resource College, teaches students the art and science of diamond grading with hands-on experience. Students learn to grade D-to-Z diamonds using the 4Cs of Diamond Quality and the International Diamond Grading System™ and how to detect treatments and laboratory-grown diamonds.

“Making gemology education accessible to students around the world is integral to our mission,” said Duncan Pay, GIA senior vice president and chief academic officer. “At PURC, students gained hands-on experience in a safe space and are now equipped with the tools and knowledge to succeed in the gem and jewelry industry.”

All of GIA’s in-person instruction follows local government guidelines and have precautionary measures to protect health and safety.

“Launching GIA courses in Chinese will provide more high-level talents for the jewelry and art industry to promote the development of the industry” said Liu Xiong, Dean of Peking University Resource College Cultural Relic School.

The college will offer GIA’s Jewelry Design, Jewelry Essential Intensive, Graduate Diamonds, Diamond Essential Intensive and Colored Stone Essential Intensive programs throughout 2020. The Institute will offer Blended Graduate Diamonds and other lab classes in 2021.

For more information call or email GIA Taiwan at +886 2 2771 9391or giataiwan@gia.edu or contact PURC at +86 0755 2535 8189 or class@pkugia.cn.

GIA Graduate Diamonds Course through Peking University Resource College held in July 2020. Photo by GIA.