Classes & Courses

JEF ANNOUNCES CLASS SCHEDULE

The Jewelers Education Foundation of the American Gem Society has announced the classes it will present at meetings of AGS guilds, Jewelers of America state affiliates and Gemological Institute of America Alumni Association chapters, as well as at the JCK International Jewelry Show. As of press time, here are the scheduled dates, speakers, topics, sponsors and contact telephone numbers:

  • May 2 – John Michaels, “Jewelers’ Responsibility for Customer Goods,” New England AGS Guild. (603) 625-8442.

  • May 17 – John Michaels, “Jewelers’ Responsibility for Customer Goods,” Connecticut JA affiliate. (203) 246-6566.

  • June 7 – Bill Farmer, “Turn Customers into Friends,” JCK Show. (800) 257-3626.

  • June 8 – Tom Tivol, “From New Hire to Team Player,” JCK Show. (800) 257-3626.

  • June 8 – Linda Abell, “Make Your Sales Soar,” JCK Show. (800) 257-3626.

  • June 8 – Mark Moeller, “Theatrics, Fun and More Sales,” JCK Show. (800) 257-3626.

  • July 30 – Andy Meyer, “Crossing the Threshold to High-Ticket Sales,” Mississippi JA affiliate. (601) 875-4842.

  • Sept. 11 – Mark Moeller, “How to Separate Baby Boomers from Their Money,” New England AGS Guild. (603) 625-8442.

  • Nov. 9 – Bill Farmer, “How to Turn Customers into Friends,” Illinois JA affiliate. (217) 528-5230.

Jewelers Education Foundation, E. County Rd. E., #524, White Bear Lake, Minn. 55110; (612) 653-3919, fax (612) 653-3920.

ASA TO PRESENT COURSE IN LAS VEGAS

The American Society of Appraisers will present “Introduction to Personal Property Valuation” during the JCK International Jewelry Show in Las Vegas.

The course, which will be held June 11-14 in the Imperial Palace Hotel, covers general valuation theory and principles, appraisal terminology, the three approaches to value and the economic principles influencing valuation. The course is the first in a series of four comprising the basic ASA education requirements for membership designation and can lead to advancement to the level of master gemologist appraiser.

The tuition is $375 for ASA members, $425 for others. The ASA group rate for the Imperial Palace hotel is $69 for single or double occupancy.

American Society of Appraisers, 535 Herndon Pkwy., Suite 150, Herndon, Va. 22070; (800) ASA-VALU.

REVERE ACADEMY PLANS COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM

The Revere Academy of Jewelry Arts in San Francisco, Cal., has announced the most comprehensive offering of classes and workshops in its 16-year history.

Highlighting the program, which runs from June 2 to Aug. 27, are short hands-on seminars in granulation, platinumsmithing, anticlastic forming, pewtersmithing, fold-forming, hinges, metal weaving, repoussé and mokume gane, as well as the school’s regular program of 30 classes.

Experts and working professionals from around the U.S. and Canada will teach the classes. Among the instructors are Kent Raible, a German-trained master goldsmith with an international following for his award-winning granulated gold jewelry; Charles Lewton-Brain, a German-trained master who pioneered the technique of fold-forming; Randy Stromsoe, who will discuss pewter and whose work is represented in such museums as the Vatican and the Smithsonian; Hratch Nargizian, who recently joined the school’s permanent faculty and will teach repoussé and chasing; and Edward Friedman, a master goldsmith and diamond setter who will teach students how to force, weld, polish and set in platinum.

The school was established in 1979 by Alan Revere, a German-trained master goldsmith. Revere has won several international jewelry design awards, written the book Professional Goldsmithing and created a new series of instructional videotapes. (The second in Revere’s new series on “professional jewelry repair” starts on page 202 of this issue.) The school presents a regular program of short intensive classes and special guest workshops. Students who complete a prescribed program can earn either of two state-approved diplomas as a jewelry technician or graduate jeweler.

Revere Academy of Jewelry Arts, 760 Market St., Suite 900, San Francisco, Cal. 94102; (415) 391-4179, fax (415) 391-7570.

SUMMER JEWELRY PROGRAM SCHEDULED IN GEORGIA

The summer Professional Jewelers Trade Program at Georgia State University will be held June 5 to Aug. 11.

The program focuses on skills with commercial application. Courses are “Beginning Jewelry,” “Beginning Stone Setting” and “Jewelry Casting and Fabrication.” Students who show proficiency in the specified skills of each course level will receive a certificate of completion.

Division of Continuing Education, Georgia State University, P.O. Box 4044, Atlanta, Ga. 30302-4044; (800) 268-5470 or (404) 651-3496.

NYU SCHEDULES SUMMER APPRAISAL COURSE

A summer program in appraising will be presented July 10 to Aug. 4 by the New York University School of Continuing Education.

“Appraisal Studies in Fine Arts & Decorative Arts” will consist of seven required courses and one of two electives. The required classes are “Principles of Practice and Code of Ethics,” “IRS Legal Guidelines in Valuation of Fine and Decorative Arts,” “The Appraiser’s Role in the Insurance Industry,” “Research Methods for Appraisers,” “Appraising in Fine Art,” “Appraising 18th and 19th Century Furniture” and “Appraisal Writing Workshop.” Students may choose “Identifying and Appraising American Silver: 1800-1940” or “Appraising Estate Jewelry” as their elective. Those who successfully complete the course will receive a certificate.

Additional events will include a panel discussion on appraisal careers, a session on computer resources and optional excursions to galleries and auction houses.

School of Continuing Education, Division of Arts, Sciences and Humanities, 50 W. Fourth St., Room 332, New York, N.Y. 10012-1165; (212) 998-7130.

SPEAKERS ANNOUNCED FOR SANTA FE SYMPOSIUM

James P. Cecil, president of James P. Cecil Co., will present the keynote address at the Santa Fe Symposium on Jewelry Manufacturing Technology, to be held May 21-24 in Albuquerque, N.M. His presentation is titled “A Love Affair With the Customer: Seven Strategies to Irresistible Customer Relationships.”

Other featured presentations are “New Discoveries” by Dr. Bill Rapson, author and consultant to the South African Chamber of Mines and International Gold Corp. Ltd.; “The Effect of Polishing Procedures on Surface Properties of Gold Alloys” by Dieter Ott of the German Precious Metals Institute; “Hollow Tree Casting Technology” by Hamilton Solidum of Krementz & Co.; “The Art and Science of Stone Setting” by Carlos Lucyk of Tiffany & Co.; “Mechanical Testing of Finished Gold Jewelry and Components” by D.P. Agarwal and G. Raykhstaum of Leach & Garner Technology; “A Look at the Manufacturing of Emblematic and Corporate Award Jewelry,” by Richard J. Greinke of Award Concepts Inc.; and “Resistance Welding for the Jewelry Industry” by Bernie Wire of WireWorks. In all, more than 20 presentations are planned.

The symposium will be followed on May 25 by a workshop titled “Safety in the Workplace,” presented by industrial hygienist Paul Pryor, consultant Erich Salomon and Thomas R. Hales of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

Santa Fe Symposium, 3820 Academy Parkway N/NE, Albuquerque, N.M. 87109; (800) 952-6222 or (505) 344-3357, fax (505) 345-0097.

JA ANNOUNCES REGIONAL CONFERENCE IN FLORIDA

The Jewelers of America Center for Business Studies will offer a regional conference June 2-5 at the Radisson Twin Towers in Orlando, Fla. The conference will be cohosted by the JA affiliates in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.

Topics will range from designing jewelry to redesigning a store, from antique jewelry to creating matching bands for semimounts. Instructors will include Michael Coan of the Fashion Institute of Technology, Judith Reiss of the Pratt Institute, Chuck Bowman of Stuller Settings, James Porte of the Jewelry Marketing Institute and sales training consultant Shane Decker. Eileen Farrell, JA’s director of communications, will lead a discussion on “How to Use Real Jewelry Month & Other Great Promotions.”

JA also will administer the Certified Store Manager Exam June 2 following a review by Karen Kelly, director of training for L. Luria & Sons of Miami Lakes, Fla.

The conference itself is free, though participants must send a $20 deposit that will be returned upon their arrival.

Attendees also will have free time and are encouraged to make the conference a family event. The hotel rate for the conference is $72 for single or double occupancy. Discounted airfare rates are available through Delta Airlines. And special tour packages are available for Walt Disney World and other attractions around Orlando.

Jewelers of America, 1185 Ave. of the Americas, New York, N.Y. 10036; (800) 223-0673.

CANADIAN ASSOCIATION SCHEDULES CLASSES, EXAMS

The Canadian Gemmological Association will present three diamond grading and appraising courses in July. “Diamond Grading” is scheduled for July 10-14, “Jewellery Appraising” will be presented July 17-21 and “Advanced Diamond Grading” will be held July 24-28. The fee for each course is $625.

The association also announced its 1995 examination dates: CGA Preliminary Exam, June 26; CGA Diploma Theory Exam, June 27; and CGA Diploma Practical Exam, June 28.

For information on these classes and exams, contact the Canadian Gemmological Association, 1767 Avenue Rd., North York, Ontario M5M 3Y8, Canada; (416) 785-0962.

The association also announced the HRD Institute of Gemmology will present a diamond grading course at George Brown College in Toronto Aug. 21-29. The fee is $1,089. HRD Institute of Gemmology, P.O. Box 1106, Station Q, Toronto, Ontario M4T 2P2, Canada; (416) 368-4536.

MINERALOGICAL SYMPOSIUM HELD IN ROCHESTER

The 22nd annual Rochester Mineralogical Symposium was held April 6-9 in the Radisson Inn Rochester, Rochester, N.Y.

Topics discussed included “U.S. Mineralogy in the 19th Century Without Dana,” “Mineralogy of Micrometeorites,” “Origin of Pegmatites,” “Reminiscences on Great Minerals,” “What’s New in Minerals,” “How Do We Know What We Know: a Look at Data,” “Emerald Mining in North Carolina” and “Gem Mining In Brazil.”

A silent auction raised money toward future symposiums