Through a unique combination of hands-on training, one-on-one coaching and multimedia, the Diamond Grading class explores how to grade diamonds consistently and accurately using a modern gem microscope and a loupe. Students study GIA’s International Diamond Grading System™, explore time-saving shortcuts to determine a variety of grading factors, and are introduced to methods for reading a GIA Diamond Grading Report. You will spend more than 16 hours practicing grading techniques on diamonds that were carefully selected and graded by GIA. In the process, you will study how to recognize the most common diamond features. Students must pass a two-stone practical exam to complete the class successfully. Once you have completed the class you will keep a Lab manual, tweezers, a loupe, a pointer probe, a gem cloth, a plotting pen set, a table gauge, a crown angle card and a color grading card.