The Gemological Institute of America’s New York branch has added an evening Graduate Diamonds Program class beginning Jan. 5, 2006.

It will run concurrently with the Graduate Diamonds program, which was previously scheduled and is now fully enrolled. Classes will be held at GIA’s New York Education Center, 270 Madison Ave. at 39th St., Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6 to 9 p.m., and will run through April 27.

Dan Campbell, director of GIA New York, said demand for GIA education has grown steadily at that location. He noted that there are only a few seats left in all currently scheduled gemology classes for the remainder of this year, and 2006 gemology classes are filling quickly.

Students in the Graduate Diamonds program at Night will learn to grade diamonds using the International Diamond Grading System created by GIA. Students will learn how to assess the quality of diamonds based on the Four Cs using a loupe and a microscope. Those who complete the program will have learned to detect treatments, synthetics, and fracture-filled diamonds and gain an understanding of proportion grading and how cut affects light return, beauty, and value. They will receive the GIA Graduate Diamonds Diploma.

To enroll in GIA’s Graduate Diamonds Program at Night in New York, call 800-366-8519, ext. 3063, or outside the U.S. and Canada call 212-944-5900. E-mail nyedu@gia.edu, or visit www.gia.edu for more information.

JCK