Classes & Courses

JEWELERS MUTUAL CONTRIBUTES TO JEF

Jewelers Mutual Insurance Co. has made its third $5,000 contribution to the Jewelers Education Foundation of the American Gem Society. The contribution will help JEF to provide business and management training to fine independent jewelers nationwide.

“Jewelers Mutual’s commitment to proper appraising and insurance documentation is a theme which JEF is proud to carry to retail jewelers,” says JEF President David Rotenberg of David Craig Jewelers in Langhorne, Pa. “Both organizations are interested in helping professional jewelers retain profits.”

For information on JEF sessions or to book a speaker, contact

Glory Looper, American Gem Society, 8881 W. Sahara Ave., Las Vegas, Nev. 89117; (702) 255-6500, fax (702) 255-7420

NEW YORK CITY YWCA PLANS JEWELRY CLASSES

The YWCA of the City of New York has announced its spring schedule of jewelry-related classes.

The classes are: “Metalsmithing Techniques: Hollowware and Jewelry,” “Wax Carving and Design for Jewelry,” “Jewelry,” “Pearl and Bead Stringing,” “Polymer Clay Jewelry Inspired by Textile Patterns,” “Basic Jewelry” and “Enameling on Metal.” The classes meet one evening each week (some classes also are offered in the afternoon) for four to 14 weeks and range in price from $85 to $265.

YWCA of the City of New York, 610 Lexington Ave., New York, N.Y. 10022; (212) 755-4500, fax (212) 223-6438

APPLICATIONS DUE FOR JA SCHOLARSHIPS

Applications are due April 1 for 1996 scholarships from the Jewelers of America Center for Business Studies.

Winners can use the scholarships for any of the 10 correspondence courses produced by the Gemological Institute of America (diamonds, diamond grading, gem identification, jewelry display, counter sketching, colored stones, colored stone grading, pearls, pearl and bead stringing, and gold and precious metals.

Applicants must be at least 18, be a permanent resident of the U.S. and have at least two years in the industry or one year with a JA member. Anyone already enrolled in a GIA course will not be considered. Only one person per company per state is eligible.

Applications are available from the

Jewelers of America Center for Business Studies, 1185 Sixth Ave., 30th Fl., New York, N.Y. 10036; (800) 223-0673

JUERGENS & ANDERSEN TO TEACH PEARL STRINGING

Juergens & Andersen Co. will offer free pearl stringing classes during the JCK International Jewelry Show in June in Las Vegas. The company says its simple stringing techniques will save you time and money. For information on the private lessons, contact

Juergens & Andersen Co., 55 E. Washington St., Chicago, Ill 60602-2180; (800) 621-8333, fax (312) 782-0048

SPEAKERS ANNOUNCED FOR WORLD JEWELRY SUMMIT

The Gemological Institute of America has announced the speakers for the GemFest Europe World Jewelry Summit, to be held April 20 concurrently with Basel ’96 in Switzerland.

The event, to be held 3-5:30 p.m. in the Montreal Hall at the Basel Convention Center, will feature keynote speaker William Boyajian, GIA president.

Also speaking will be Naim Attalah, former chief executive of Asprey, London, England; Henri Barguirdjian, president of Van Cleef & Arpels Inc., New York, N.Y.; Franois Curiel, Christie’s international jewelry director, Geneva, Switzerland; Silvia Grassi, vice president of Casa Damiani, Milan, Italy; Klaus Hammer, managing director of Swarogem, Wattens, Austria; Ben Janowski, president of Janos Consultants, New York, N.Y.; Stephen Lussier, a director of De Beers/Central Selling Organisation, London, England; Fred Mouwad, vice president of the Mouwad Group, Bangkok, Thailand; and Hiroshi Norioka, president of Daiichi Trading Co., Kobe, Japan.

“Since its inception three years ago, GIA GemFest Europe has gained international recognition and established itself as one of the most prestigious events for all gem, jewelry and gemology professionals,” says Fred Stocco, director of GIA Italy. “With state-of-the-art updates, in-depth analyses of issues and innovative industry perspectives, GemFest Europe provides a window into the worldwide jewelry and gemstone sector.”

The event is organized by the GIA European Alumni Association and coordinated by Guido Giovannini-Torelli, editor of Diamond Insight.

Gemological Institute of America, P.O. Box 2110, Santa Monica, Cal. 90407-2110; (310) 829-2991, ext. 208; fax (310) 829-2269

SALES TRAINING PROGRAM MARKS 20th ANNIVERSARY

The Jewelers Sales Training Program offered by Concept Learnings Systems Inc., Morehead City, N.C., is marking its 20th anniversary.

The program – a collection of more than 70 training sessions – developed out of interviews with retail jewelry customers, sales personnel, managers and executives from all types of retail jewelry operations. The interviews centered on what constitutes excellence in selling fine jewelry, says Bill Colbert, program director.

Diagnostic tests reveal what skills sales associates need, then the store manager serves as chief trainer.

On the occasion of the program’s 20th anniversary, two recent participants offered their praise. “Participation by our sales groups has been very enthusiastic and our sales are up,” says Chuck Rhodes, director of education for Gross Diamond Centers in Louisville, Ky. “Even members of our sales groups who were marginal have blossomed as a result of the program.”

John Laughter, chief executive officer of Shelley’s Jewelry in Hendersonville, N.C., agrees. “Our sales picture would not be as rosy if we were not using the program,” he says. “[Employees] feel like they are a part of the program because they have a say in selecting the sessions which will be used at specific training meetings.”

The program is $275 for the manager’s edition and $17.50 for a sales associate training set.

Concept Learning Systems, P.O. Box 1371, Morehead City, N.C. (919) 726-0161

MASTER VALUER SCHEDULES APPRAISING WORKSHOPS

The Master Valuer Program will hold gems and jewelry appraising workshops April 18-20 in Washington, D.C., and May 23-25 in Denver, Colo.

The classes are open to anyone with an interest in jewelry valuation. There are no prerequisites. The classes stress professional standards of gems and jewelry methodology and report writing for insurance, divorce, estate, tax and damage claims. Discussion will include the latest U.S. government regulations and new guidelines for insurance appraising proposed by the Jewelers Vigilance Committee.

Enrollees in the Denver workshop will have the option to be part of a Colorado Gemological Association field trip to a newly opened U.S. diamond mine.

Master Valuer Program, P.O. Box 1844, Pearland, Tex. 77588; (713) 485-1606, telephone and fax

GIA BOOKSTORE EXPANDS OFFERINGS

The Gemological Institute of America Bookstore has expanded its categories of reference material covering all aspects of gemology and jewelry.

New arrivals include books on jewelry design, famous designers and art in jewelry. International gemological publications in German and Chinese have been added to current listings in Spanish, French, Portuguese, Italian, Thai and Japanese texts.

Among the new listings are books on Greek gold, Spanish silver, international hallmarks, gem lore and luxury lighters, fountain pens, perfume and handbags. Also new are videotapes on jewelry-making, lapidary and jewelry repair. Charts are available on fracture-filled diamonds, gemstone properties, enhancement detection and gemstone durability.

For a copy of the GIA Bookstore catalog, call (800) 421-7250 or (310) 829-2991, ext. 703.

GIA TO OFFER COURSE IN CHINESE

The Gemological Institute of America will offer its graduate gemologist program in the Mandarin Chinese language beginning in April.

“We developed this program in recognition of the high value the Chinese people have traditionally placed on gems and the growing interest in gemological training among Chinese jewelers and consumers,” says GIA Vice President Brook Ellis. “The work of Chinese students who have come here to participate in this program since it began in 1993 has significantly extended professional jewelry training worldwide and brought us that much closer to the goal of international standards for the gem and jewelry industry.”

GIA Education Services, Dept. PR51L, P.O. Box 2110, Santa Monica, Cal. 90407-2110; (310) 829-2991, ext. 292; fax (310) 828-6589

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