[pattye]

Hi All,

Just signed up for the new GIA pearl course, anyone else going to? How else to qualify as a GIA alumni and go on those great trips???

Pattye
so many pearls, so little time

[jshepherd]

The NEW pearl's course??? It is not done yet. They are still using the old one.

[pattye]

HUMMM, well, check out this:

News release dated today on the GIA website--If it is NOT the correct one I will be most upset!! They keep calling it the new course----

The JCK Las Vegas Show marks the launch of GIA's latest educational offering - the much anticipated GIA Pearls Course. Promising the most thorough and up-to-date pearl education available anywhere, the 11-assignment distance education course has been developed in collaboration with the world's leading trade organizations including the South Sea Pearl Consortium; Perles de Tahiti G.I.E.; and the Japan Pearl Exporters' Association.

GIA's new Pearls Course has been designed to teach:

a solid knowledge base in: natural, akoya, South Sea, Tahitian, freshwater, keshi, blister, and mabe pearls
GIA's 7 Pearl Value Factors(tm) - size, shape, color, luster, surface quality, nacre quality and matching post harvest treatments, imitation pearls, and pearl testing
a review of the most popular types of pearl jewelry
surefire sales techniques
The course is priced at $495 for an introductory period, and includes both a fascinating educational support video, which looks at pearl locations and pearl farming, and an in-store display wall chart which chronicles the role played by pearls throughout history.

Completion of the 11-assignments, six questionnaires, and a supervised final exam, will earn the student a GIA Pearls Certificate.

'Even experienced professionals need a course that accounts for the broad new range of pearl color and product lines,' said Joel Schechter, president of Honora. 'The round white akoya will always be a classic, but now there's Tahitian, South Sea, Chinese freshwater, and many more entering the market. GIA's Pearls Course teaches it all!'

Fran Mastoloni, vice president of Frank Mastoloni and Sons, is equally positive in his praise for the course. He said; 'GIA, and many of the world's most respected pearl experts, have produced the definitive pearls course. It's concise, up-to-date, and extraordinarily practical. And it will instantly become the industry standard.'

To gain practical, hands-on experience in grading pearls using the GIA Pearl Description System, students are encouraged to complement their newly found knowledge from the new GIA Pearls Course by also undertaking the GIA Pearl Grading Extension Class, introduced earlier this year. The additional, two-day or four-night, extension class is offered in various cities throughout the United States, and also on campus in Carlsbad, New York, Los Angeles, Italy, Japan and Hong Kong. The extension class also costs $495.

To enroll for the new GIA Pearls Course, the GIA Pearl Grading Extension Class, or to find out more about GIA's educational offerings worldwide call toll-free to (800) 421-7250 ext. 4001 or (760) 603-4001

Please let me know what's what, Jeremy and thanks in advance!

Pattye
so many pearls, so little time

[jshepherd]

That press release is about 10 years old. Knotty Panda posted the same release in April.

The problem with the GIA Site is that it shows old press releases, but the pages are always tagged with the current date. It appears as though the press release is new...

[pattye]

So when will the new course be ready? Approximately? THANKS!!

pATTYE
so many pearls, so little time

ps I called them and cancelled for now.

[knotty panda]

Naughty Panda!

So, the GIA course GEM149 is the old course not the 2007 course? Also, the Pearl Grading course is the old course not the new course?

And why in the WORLD do we have to ask you for this information! Why aren't they forthcoming about it? Ah, me and my rhetoricals!

(I talked to them about this last week and I elected to wait a few months before I do anything.)

[jshepherd]

I believe they are shooting for the end of this year. But as it is such a collaboration of so many people, I cannot imagine they would have an exact time.

I have been reviewing the course for them as it progresses and last week I received the Tahitian assignment. I believe this is the 4th assignment I have received.

[WeeGem]

That sounds interesting! Would I be able to take the course as a long-distance (international) student?

[GemGeek]

I have something to say about this subject.

The old press release was for their pearls course at the time it was created. This is a major revision, so technically it is not a "new" course.

You know the revised course is coming because Jeremy has contributed to it. GIA won't officially announce it until it's ready to go. They have good reason -- things change and they might have to revise it several times before they are sure it's ready to print. And they have stock on hand and will time the new course to coincide with the last copies of the old course.

The pearl grading lab class teaches you how the seven pearl factors are evaluated and lets you handle the goods. It does not teach you to assign letter grades to the pearls, but it's a good class and includes a fabulous natural color chart.

The trip was so popular that there were 160 people on the waiting list right after they announced it. Chances are that the waiting list will take any places given up on Part 2 to Japan, China & the Philippines.

They may not do a pearl tour again for a few years, if at all. They tend to rotate between Asia and South America. Past trips have been to see emerald mining in Columbia, sapphires in Thailand and gemstone mining in Brazil. The last trip was a diamond trip to Europe. Most of their trips are once-in-a-lifetime trips because of the entre' that the GIA is able to arrange.

My vote for next gemstone trip is Madagascar!

[GemGeek]

Originally Posted by knotty panda

Naughty Panda!

So, the GIA course GEM149 is the old course not the 2007 course? Also, the Pearl Grading course is the old course not the new course?

And why in the WORLD do we have to ask you for this information! Why aren't they forthcoming about it? Ah, me and my rhetoricals!

(I talked to them about this last week and I elected to wait a few months before I do anything.)

It should have the same course number after the revision. All their courses are revised periodically, both labs and books. They will tell people if they are asked, but it could be disruptive to make a general announcement when they don't yet know when they will finish, when it will be vetted, and when printing and packaging will be done.

FYI

[GemGeek]

Originally Posted by WeeGem

That sounds interesting! Would I be able to take the course as a long-distance (international) student?

Yes, the Pearls course is a distance course. The lab has to be taken in person, but it travels to major cities and overseas.

[pattye]

Thanks for your input, Jeremy and Blaire,

The fact is that a years-old press release should not be appearing under todays date. That is misleading and fradulent. I asked about the new pearls course, and was not advised correctly. However, when I called back, she agreed to cancel. I am very aware that Jeremy is working on the revision, and thought this might be THE Announcement.

(I am sort of joking about the trips--) Gems are fine with me too!

Pattye
so many pearls, so little time

[jshepherd]

I also want to add that the new course is being completely rewritten, from scratch. It will be wholly different than the last pearl course.

[GemGeek]

It's great of you to share your knowledge on it. In fact, it's comforting to know that they are tapping into state of the art information.