For your Calendar
Select from the categories below to view our upcoming events, courses and exam dates:
Gem & Mineral Shows | Monthly Meetings | CGA Open Houses | AGM | Webinars
General Interest Courses | Career Courses | Advanced Courses | Toronto Professional Program | Vancouver Professional Program
Preliminary Level Fellowship Exams | Professional Level Fellowship Exams
Understanding Diamond Imitations – Toronto – November 21 & 22, 2026
November 21 @ 9:30 am - November 22 @ 3:00 pm EST
General Interest | Understanding Diamond Imitations | Toronto | November 21 and 22, 2026 | 9:30am-3:00pm
This 10-hour (2 day)course will help the student to recognize the physical and optical properties of diamonds and diamond imitations. Gemmological instruments are used to distinguish between imitations of diamonds such as cubic zirconia, synthetic moissanite, Zircon and synthetic spinel. We will build on the knowledge learned in Talking Diamonds.
Syllabus:
- Use gemmological instruments to identify diamond and its imitations.
- Observing and recognizing levels of dispersion and brilliance with the naked eye.
- Use a loupe to observe hardness, double or single refraction, surface features, internal features, treatments and composite stones.
- Use of a thermal conductivity diamond tester.
- Use of a polariscope to help identify diamond simulants.
- Use of UV light to identify diamond simulants.
- Use of a gemmological microscope to identify hardness, double or single refraction, pavilion flash, surface features, internal features, treatments and composite stones.
Requirements:
- 10x triplet jeweller’s loupe
- gemmological tweezers
- gem cloth
- students may bring their own or purchase from the CGA