Buying Transparent Colored Gemstones with Clarity and Confidence
Fridays, October 31, 2025 - November 21, 2025; 12:00PM - 2:00PM PT (Pacific Time)
Whether you're a curious beginner, a jewelry lover, or a budding professional, Buying Transparent Colored Gemstones with Clarity and Confidence is your go-to guide for navigating the world of transparent gems with knowledge and discernment.
Across eight engaging modules, you'll journey with gemologist and jeweler Christine Dwane from the cultural legacy of ruby, sapphire, emerald (and yes, diamond), to understanding how gem anatomy, color grading, and cut quality influence value and beauty. Using tools like the Munsell system, you’ll decode hue, tone, and saturation—and learn how to spot issues like windowing, extinction, and poor brilliance.
You'll also explore durability in real-world terms, learning how hardness, toughness, and stability affect wearability and design choices are all covered in depth. With an overview on clarity types, enhancement treatments (like oiling and fracture filling), and how different origins—from Sri Lanka to Colombia—impact perception and price.
Ethics play a central role in this course. From mining practices and labor to lab-grown gems like flame fusion spinel and corundum, you'll gain a well-rounded understanding of today’s gemstone landscape. Real-world case studies and transparent sourcing examples bring theory to life.
Finally, you’ll build practical buying confidence with key questions to ask suppliers, a gem buyer’s checklist, and insights into trusted pricing guides like The Guide by Richard Drucker. Whether your goal is to collect, design, gift, or simply choose with greater clarity, this course helps you see beyond the sparkle—and into the story of each stone.
This course is available as a live online class. Please check this page for times and formats available.
No tools are required for this class. There is no kit for this class.
You'll need a computer, phone or tablet to use the free Zoom app for class, and some note taking materials.
Recordings of this class are available for 30 days from the final class session.
Prerequisites:
None- all are welcome, and there is a lot to learn for all levels of jewelers or gem lovers!
Instructor:
If a class is online, or is a combination online and in-person session, all students receive a link to a recording of the class demonstrations. In-person only workshops are not recorded. For staff instructor classes, students have access to the recordings for one year. For guest instructors, access is 30 days.
If a kit is included with the class, online students will have them mailed to them. Kits for in-person students are delivered at the beginning of the first class. More information about the kit is included with the supplies list which is emailed after registration.
International students may be charged an additional amount for shipping, because of the increased cost to ship abroad. Also, shipments to other countries may incur a tariff payable by the student. International students are welcome to contact us re: these costs and options for their materials. Please be sure that the address with your payment is the correct one for shipping.
If this class is offered online, it uses the Zoom app/website. Through Zoom, you’ll be able to see demos and follow instructions, ask questions and interact with your instructor. Zoom is easy to use and free for students to use for class, and works on most devices, like phones (iPhone, Android, etc), tablets (iPads, etc), and computers (Mac or PC).
Your instructor is also available during free Zoom office hours for questions and help.
For classes that include work time, online students work at home or in their studio. All of our recommended tools and the kit materials are chosen to be home studio friendly. Links to preferred vendors are provided in the supplies list sent after registration. Some classes, like our short demo only classes, don't require tools or materials to attend.
And now the fine print. Payment in full for class fees is due at the time of registration to reserve your place. We accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, and PayPal. Checks and cash are accepted only if you register at school. If you mail a check, your registration is not processed until it clears and the class may fill during the wait.
If the workshop is canceled by our school for any reason, all class fees will be refunded, or you can transfer to another class, or you can keep a credit on account with us for future classes or purchases,
Students can cancel, receive a credit or refund, or transfer to another class up to 21 days before a workshop, whether it is online or in person. No cancellations are accepted after the 21-day deadline, however, we will do what we can to try and sell your place to a qualified student. If we can sell your place, you can receive a refund less a $50 cancellation fee, keep a credit on account with us, or apply your fees towards a transfer to another class.
If you can’t make it to class, you may send a participant who has the necessary prerequisites in your place. Please call or email us immediately with any changes in the student participant information. If a class includes an online section, your class will be recorded and you can watch later to make up a class you miss.
Students must be at least 15 years old to attend a class, and students under 18 must have a legal guardian sign our liability waiver form. We have had younger students attend classes, on a case by case basis. If you’re interested in enrolling your child, please call or email us.
If you sign up for a class and fail to have the required prerequisites as listed in the class description, you are still subject to the 21-day cancellation policy, listed above.
Lodging and meals are not included for in person classes.
If you don't come to class, there are no refunds, credits or transfers.