InFocus | Fine Jewellery Watches
Polish your skills...
Several organisations in the UAE offer certified jewellery and gemmology courses.
- By Neesha C. Salian, Staff Writer
- Published: 00:00 September 23, 2006
Several organisations in the UAE offer certified jewellery and gemmology courses.
Every year, gemstones and precious metals such as gold, silver and platinum worth millions of dollars are mined, graded, polished, traded and employed in innovative designs for rings, bracelets, neckpieces and other accessories. However, while most of us are spellbound by the sparkle and sheen of the finished products, it's easy to forget that a huge number of skilled artisans, technicians, gemmologists and even retailers play an important role in the process.
Intensive training
These professionals undergo intensive training and gain extensive experience in processes such as identifying and grading gemstones, jewellery design and setting up a jewellery business. Training courses such as these are especially relevant in a market such as the UAE, as the region is fast becoming an important distribution centre especially for polished diamonds, among other gemstones and metals. This factor has compelled several organisations including the Dubai Diamond Exchange (DDE) to offer courses for professionals from the field as well as for people who are looking at getting involved in the sector.
Says Noora Jamsheer, CEO of DDE, "The Dubai Diamond Exchange, which manages the rough diamond trade in the country, and the diamonds and coloured stones sector at Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) have a mandate to organise educational training courses on areas related to the sector. In this connection, the DDE recently organised a three-week gemstone identification course, with a special focus on the identification and grading of coloured stones. The course was conducted by an instructor from the International HRD Institute of Gemmology at the Antwerp World Diamond Centre and is certified by the same institute.
"The gemmology course recently organised by DDE included extensive training and guidance in identification and systematic classification of important gemstones, with the objective of developing trained gemmologists who have both theoretical knowledge and practical experience. It focused on the basic principles of identification and systematic classification and also included an introduction to discrimination between natural versus synthetic rubies, sapphires and emeralds. Students received the 'Gemstone Identification' certificate on completion of the course," says Jamsheer. More courses are planned depending on the demand and requirement from the market and the members of DDE.
Says Tawfic Farah, Executive Director for Diamonds and Coloured Stones at DMCC, "The DMCC has also tied up with the Gemmological Institute of America (School of Business) to conduct sector-specific seminars and courses as and when required by the sector. The most recent course was a 'Jewellery Firm Manager Marketing Training' seminar held in July."
The International Gemological Institute (IGI), considered the largest independent gemmological organisation in the world with laboratories in Antwerp, New York, Hong Kong, Mumbai, Bangkok, Tokyo, Dubai, Los Angeles and Toronto, also offers programmes related to diamond grading.
The courses IGI offers in the UAE include the six-day Polished Diamond Grading Programme aimed at expanding the knowledge and experience of professionals, jewellers and gem enthusiasts. Students are taught diamond grading based on 'The International Grading System (4C's)' on diamonds of various shapes and sizes. A team of experienced gemmologists provides participants with intensive practical training. Each participant is provided with a lab manual and a diamond grading kit as part of the programme.
Gemmology courses
"IGI is also the first gemmological institute offering a practical rough diamond grading course. The six-day Rough Diamond Grading Programme aims at delivering practical knowledge on subjects such as diamond sorting and clarity, colour, sizes, weights and shapes, sorting for cleavage and sawing, identifying diamonds, synthetics, simulated stones and treatments, pricing and evaluation and sorting of rough diamonds according to quality, among others," says Nico D'Haemer, a graduate gemmologist and Managing Director, IGI, Dubai.
"IGI has also launched a Coloured Stone Identification Programme in keeping with the trend and the increasing demand for coloured stone jewellery. Students are awarded the official IGI diploma issued from its headquarters at Antwerp, Belgium, on successfully completing the programmes. These diplomas are internationally recognised."
D'Haemer says that IGI also plans to organise short courses for frontline staff at jewellery stores and retail outlets. "The course will cover coloured stones, diamonds and pearls. This will improve the knowledge and competency of sales staff and they would become more equipped to handle consumer queries with confidence." There are also plans to launch a month-long professional Jewellery Design Programme in the near future.
Established in 1996, the 700-member Dubai Gold and Jewellery Group (DGJG), promotes Dubai's jewellery industry both locally and internationally. It also conducts training programmes in coordination with leading training organisations. The DGJG conducts three types of training programmes that focus on soft skills, jewellery designing and diamond and coloured stone identification.
"In terms of soft skills training, DGJG organises training for all levels of an organisation, such as owners and managers, middle-level management and sales staff," says K.P. Baiju, General Manager, DGJG. "Jewellery designing course is for anyone in the trade and for those looking to get into the jewellery industry. Our diamond and coloured stone identification course is conducted in coordination with HRD and the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). Annually, we train about 500 students who enrol for various courses that DGJG offers."
The relevance of the sector has also prompted the government to back a programme that will help the UAE nationals participate more actively in the jewellery industry.
According to Naji Al Mahdi, Programme Manager, The Jewellery Institute, Dubai Women's College, Higher Colleges of Technology, "Dubai has developed rapidly over the past 30 years into a major world centre for the jewellery sector. There are currently more than 800 jewellery businesses here with estimated annual revenue of $3 billion.
"The rapid growth of tourism and population has led to the expansion of all the segments of jewellery industry with the largest growth being in the retail sector. However, the jewellery industry is largely owned and operated by non-UAE nationals. In the light of the fact that there aren't many nationals who own jewellery businesses or employed in the sector, the Dubai Women's College has been offering UAE nationals an Advanced Diploma Programme in Jewellery Business Management since February 2005," says Mahdi.
This programme has been developed in partnership with Damas and Mohammad Bin Rashid Establishment for Young Business Leaders with the aim of creating opportunities for greater inclusion of UAE nationals within the jewellery industry. The first 17 students who enrolled in the programme will graduate soon. Twenty additional students have also enrolled in the programme and will be joined by a group of 24 students who will be admitted in February 2007.
According to Mahdi, the programme provides graduates with business management abilities and technical skills required for the establishment, management and development of the increasingly complex business operations and technologies related to jewellery industry.
Business entrepreneurs
The programme produces jewellery business entrepreneurs capable of developing a business plan in accordance with the criteria of funding agencies and commercial banking organisations, as well as starting and managing their own jewellery business.
"Although the programme prepares graduates as future employers in the jewellery industry, there are many opportunities for them at entry level management positions within the jewellery industry. Damas has also offered to fund graduates and provide them with franchising opportunities," says Mahdi, who adds that currently, with the exception of Dubai Women's College, none of HCT's other institutes, or the UAE University and Zayed University, offer this programme.
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