Gemology
Learn identification, cutting rough, evaluating finished cuts, setting stones in jewelry, natural vs synthetic, and a birthstone chart. Each lesson uses the classroom layout: video (TV-style embed) plus a Scribd-style reader for step-by-step instruction. Replace default videos in academy-gemology-track.php or via Academy Admin.
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Lessons
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Course overview — tools, safety, and how to use this class
(20 min)
How the track is organized: video + workbook reader, PPE, and professional lab vs home study.
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How to identify gemstones — observation & testing workflow
(38 min)
Visual clues, RI, optic character, hardness, SG, and when to send to a lab.
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Natural vs synthetic — lab-grown, simulants, and practical checks
(32 min)
What “synthetic” means, common simulants, and test strategy without destroying the stone.
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How to cut rough stones — orientation, preform, faceting & cabbing basics
(42 min)
Reading rough, dop sticks, faceting machine vs cabbing, polishing routes, and safety.
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How to evaluate cut stones — proportion, symmetry, polish, and color
(36 min)
Colored stone and diamond-style criteria, windowing, extinction, and value factors.
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Setting gemstones in jewelry — prong, bezel, and protecting the stone
(40 min)
Seat prep, bur selection, prong vs bezel, heat-sensitive gems, and final checks.
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Birthday stones — modern birthstone chart & traditions
(28 min)
Month-by-month reference (modern US list), alternate traditions, and care notes.