Seamless Edu Academy’s gemmology course from May 15

Termed ‘an intensive course in gemstones,diamonds and marketing’,the six-month course will be conducted at three levels – fundamental and advanced gemmology,diamond grading and assessment and international exposure to gemstone market,said Kedar Nigavekar,managing director,SeamEdu.

“The curriculum is a mix of practicals and theory that includes cutting and polishing techniques,gem treatments,gem identification,physical and optical preparation,types,treatments and marketing of diamonds,” Panjikar said.

A highlight of the course is that each student will get a set of laboratory instruments that will ensure enough practical experience for the student. “We have sets of these instruments and therefore we have restricted one batch to only ten students. We also have enough inventory of precious stones that they will get to handle,” Nigavekar said.

Students will also be taken on a weeklong tour to Bangkok and the gem market at Chanthaburi in Thailand. “Our aim is to give them international market exposure and show them how gemstones are traded,” said Panjikar,who is the first Indian woman to complete her doctoral thesis on gemstones from Heidelberg University in Germany. She said the course would have videoconferencing lectures by eight panel members from Germany,Italy,Singapore,Japan,Sri Lanka and Thailand,who will apprise the students of the gemstone market in their respective countries.

Students will also have to do an internship with a jeweller. “While P N Gadgil is one of the places for internship,we are also looking at tie-ups with other jewellers,” said Gadgil. The course fee is Rs 1.25 lakh,inclusive of the Bangkok travel and stay expenses,security deposit of the precious stones and tuition fees,Nigavekar said. Anyone above age 16 who has at least cleared SSC is eligible for the course.

“The global gemstone market is to the tune of Rs 10 lakh crore,of which only 10 per cent is in India,” said Saurabh Gadgil,partner,P N Gadgil Jewellers and vice chairman,SeamEdu. He added that there is a growing demand for qualified gemologists given that many foreign gemstone traders are venturing into the Indian market. “Consultancy,valuation,jewellery stores,e-marketing,jewellery designing,diamond grading,diamond sorting,gemstone trading are the other avenues for a gemologist,” Gadgil said.