Which course shouild i do?

M

msLondon

Community member
Joined
Jun 7, 2008
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Some much needed advice please.

I've been thinking about doing a new course in the New Year (I've just started a year long silver jewellery making course)

Should i do the GIA pearl distance learning course with the one day lab course, that starts Feb 2009

Has anyone done this course?

OR...

A 2 day stone setting course

Does anyone here make their own pearl jewellery, using other materials/metals? Rings etc

Many thanks:)
 
I do not know much about the course content of the GIA course, however, if it does not qualify me as a legitimate gem grading professional at the end of it, then I would pass it personally.

I would, as a hobby, love to make my own jewellery and learn silver and goldsmithing, as well as stone setting properly.

If I were lucky enough to win the lottery etc., then I would give up the day job right away, and go and do a full time jewellery design and goldsmithing course, and make my own jewellery.

Jewellery making will require some financial outlay for tools, findings, stones and beads etc..., and it is NOT cheap as a hobby, as there is no guarrantee that your goods will sell.

Just my 2p, good luck, whichever you choose :)

DK :)
 
The GIA course is good to get the basics, but the new course that's being prepared will be superior. Far better to wait for that. In the meantime enjoy the stonesetting! Who says you can't do everything?!:D
 
I can't believe this thread...I can't believe that I didn't read it yesterday! I JUST applied for the GIA course in pearls to complete the Graduate Pearls program. I assume that is the course that is being re-structured. Does anybody know when this newly redesigned course will be ready? Perhaps I could call GIA and negotiate to take it at the later date. Since so many people suggested that msLondon wait for the new course, I would really appreciate any information.
 
jshepherd said:
If you are considering taking the Pearls course you should wait until the new one comes out. Things are progressing (slowly) on that front.
Click to expand...

I think i read on another thread something about the GIA update (this was dated sometime in 2007) Does anyone know why it's taking so long.

Oh... thanks everyone for your help,:D i will be taking the stone setting course and will wait for the new GIA course

Judi, theres no harm in asking GIA to postpone your course until a later date-GOOD LUCK
 
Last edited:
I will let you know if I find out any more information from them(GIA).
 
Go with Stone Setting- much more useful in the long term, and honestly, Strack & PG can tell you way more than the current GIA Pearls Course.
 
Yes Ashley, u r right, I've learnt so much from PGers and i should try and get a copy of Strack. Thanks for the advice
 
The new course has been under way for some time now. In fact, I received my first list of questions from GIA in August of 2006. I think that was around the time the course was being started.

In March (or was it April...?) of 2007 I took the GIA writer and a photographer on a fact-finding trip to China and Hong Kong. We visited Zhuji, Weitang and Xuwen in China. I went as the "guide". It was an amazing experience - I learned a ton.

Since then the assignments have been going out on to peer review on a regular basis. I have not been part of the writing of the course, but I participate in the editing and reviewing as it comes. It is a slow process because the assignments are written, put through internal review then external review, written again, and put through another internal review. When the course is completed the images are added.

I don't know when it is going to be done, but it would not surprise me if we were well into 2009 before it hits the press.

One thing I can say, however, is that it will be so much better than the current edition. It is light-years ahead. It will be worth the wait.
 
Waiting patiently.

Waiting patiently.

Thanks for the update, Jeremy. I'm one of the hundreds (or thousands) wanting and waiting for the new course. I guess it's going to be a few months yet.
 
I completed the course and grading lab at the end of last year, but it sounds like it would be worth repeating when it is updated. Yes?
 
I would suggest taking the stone setting course over the GIA Pearls course. I think you'll get more out of it.

If you want to take a GIA distance course, I would recommend the Colored Stones distance course. The Pearl chapters in this course will give you great info and you'll learn a lot of nifty stuff about other gemstones. I didn't feel that the current Pearls course gives you any more info than what is covered in the Colored Stones course.
 
I recently finished the GIA Pearl course and found it to be good, however, it could be updated. This course is not the end of your pearl education - you really need to continually be doing your own research in order to keep up to date.
 
I just talked to GIA education department and they are not aware of a revision that will be offered any time soon. I asked specifically if it would not be in the next 2 months and the answer was no. So, as Jeremy suggested, it will probably be well into 2009. I am going to take this course and hope to take the revised edition, as well. I feel like the course will probably cover less than I have gleened from P-G and Straack's seminars at the AGTA show in Tucson.
 
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