General Interest | Intro to Gem Identification  | Toronto | November 14 and 15, 2026 | 9:30am-3:00pm

This 10-hour, 2-day, hands-on course, focuses on gem identification. Building on the visual inspection skills acquired in Gem Appreciation, we investigate other physical and optical properties that help identify the natural, synthetic and imitation gems. Small, simple pocket instruments open up a whole new dimension for gem testing. These instruments are provided for use during the course, but students should bring their own gem loupe and tweezers. (Suggested prior learning – Gem Appreciation course).

Requirements:

• 10x triplet jewellers loupe (magnifying lenses, doublets or instruments with a focal length of more than a few inches are inadequate)
• jewellers tweezers (cosmetic tweezers and stiff utility tweezers may not be used)
• students may bring their own instruments or purchase from the CGA