The Diamond Course ND OL 2015 Diamond Council of America 2015
Progress Evaluation Reminder If you have not yet completed Progress Evaluation 3, please do so before continuing further with your coursework. The DCA Diamond Course includes three Progress Evaluations. These come after Lessons 2, 8, and 15. Each one has three separate components a Learning Evaluation, a Training Evaluation, and a Satisfaction Evaluation. Detailed instructions for Learning Evaluations are in the Testing Center section of the DCA s website. Instructions for Training and Satisfaction Evaluations are in the Evaluations section. If you have other questions or need help, please contact us. You can use this website just click on Help. You can also email studenthelp@diamondcouncil.org or phone 615-385-5301 / toll free 877-283-5669.
In This Review: The Last Step Exam Options Grading and Completion Studying for the Exam Lesson Checklists THE LAST STEP Congratulations! You have come to the Final Review for The Diamond Course. The time and effort you ve invested in this phase of your career training will soon be formally recognized, when you are Diamond Certified by the Diamond Council of America. Your DCA certification identifies you as a true diamond professional, and confirms that you have achieved some very important objectives: You ve gained knowledge and skills that establish a solid foundation for your success in diamond retailing. You ve demonstrated your commitment to integrity and expertise in your work, and have increased your value to your company s professional team. You ve shown that you can learn by combining organized independent study with the resources available in your store and your own experience. This review is designed to send you into your exam well-informed and confident. 1
Now it s time to take the last step in this course: To prepare for and pass The Diamond Course Final Examination. If you re among the sizable percentage of adult learners who feel somewhat anxious at the prospect of structured testing, relax. You ve already done a great job on the 14 Lesson Self-Tests and the three Learning Evaluations. You can expect to do equally well on the exam. If you think you may have forgotten how to study for tests, you re not alone in that, either. This review will walk you through the process and give you helpful guidelines. When you ve finished, you ll be ready for a successful examination. Your review will help you organize your study, identify the main points of each lesson, and recognize areas that need further attention. 2 EXAM OPTIONS When you have successfully completed all three Progress Evaluations, you are eligible to take the Final Examination. The exam consists of multiple-choice questions just like the ones on the Self-Tests and Learning Evaluations. The testing procedure and the number of questions depend on how you decide to take the exam, and there are two basic options: Open-Book Exam You take the exam without supervision and you can look through the course to find answers. If you choose this option, the exam will have 100 questions. Open-book exams are taken online. Closed-Book Exam You take the exam under the supervision of a proctor designated by your company, and you cannot check the lessons or other references. If you choose this option, the exam will have 60 questions and you will receive special recognition from the DCA. Closed-book exams can only be taken by mail.
Most students take the exam open-book, and this option will be automatically available to you when you have completed all Progress Evaluations. If you wish to take the exam closed-book, please notify the DCA, and arrangements will be made. (Email studenthelp@diamondcouncil.org or phone 615-385-5301 / toll free 877-283-5669.) GRADING AND COMPLETION The Final Examination is graded like the Learning Evaluations. The grade you receive will be a percentage based on correct versus total answers. There are two limits on course completion that you need to keep in mind: Academic Limit The minimum grade target for the Final Examination is 75%. If your grade is less than this, you may retake the exam once. If you do not reach or exceed the target on the second attempt, you must re-enroll in order to complete the course. A good way to begin the review of each lesson is running down the checklists and marking off items you re confident you know. Time Limit All required coursework, including the Final Examination, must be completed within 12 consecutive months from the date of enrollment. If you do not meet the time limit, you must re-enroll in order to complete the course. (Your completion deadline is noted on the Course Instruction Sheet that was emailed to you after you enrolled. It also appears on the Welcome page of the Student Learning Center.) 3
STUDYING FOR THE EXAM You ve probably been using many things you learned in the course. Normally, you don t need to study what you already know, so your review should go fairly quickly. You might need to re-read a few lessons, and you re likely to discover some facts you overlooked when you first studied the material. There s no substitute for being prepared for your exam. Cramming the night before probably won t do much more than rob you of good night s sleep. This review is designed to send you into the exam well-informed and confident. It will help you organize your study, identify the main points of each lesson, and recognize areas that need further attention. Before you start, let s recap some of the study tips you received in Lesson 1: Set your review schedule and stick to it. Pick a quiet, comfortable place to study. Whenever your attention begins to lag, take a short break. The next section of this lesson includes checklists of key terms and facts for every lesson in the course. The best approach is to review one lesson at a time. If you re going to take the exam open-book, you might aim at covering four lessons per study session. That way you ll complete the review process in about four days. If you ve decided to take the exam closed-book, it s probably better to tackle two lessons per session, so your energy and retention stay high. A good way to begin the review for each lesson is to run down the checklists and mark off items you re confident you know. Then go back to the lesson and look up anything you re not sure about. Make brief notes or highlight the material to reinforce your memory. Be sure to review your Self-Tests, Learning Evaluations, and the Learning Evaluation Feedback you ve received. Give extra attention to any questions you answered incorrectly. 4
If you re taking the exam open-book, your main concern is knowing where to find information. If you ve chosen the closed-book option you need to continue through the checklists until you ve marked off everything, and you re able to respond to each item without looking back at the course material. For extra practice, you might give this review to a coworker or friend and ask them to quiz you. If you have questions or concerns about the Final Examination or any other aspect of your coursework, please contact the DCA. Diamond Council of America 3212 West End Avenue, Suite 400 Nashville, TN 37203 Phone: 615-385-5301 Toll Free: 877-283-5669 Fax: 615-385-4955 Email: studenthelp@diamondcouncil.org Website: www.diamondcouncil.org LESSON CHECKLISTS Because some terms and facts are discussed in more than one lesson, they may be duplicated in the following checklists. To get the complete picture of any term or topic, check all the references when you re reviewing for the Final Examination, or refreshing your memory after finishing the course. 5
LESSON 1: The First Step blemish clarity characteristic inclusion metric carat polish proportions symmetry What diamonds are made of (the chemical element). The four primary factors in determining diamond value. Which value factors are related to natural rarity. Which value factor usually has the greatest effect on a diamond s beauty. The standard unit of weight for diamonds. The usual basis of a diamond s clarity grade. The normal market range of diamond color. What the term cut refers to when it s used descriptively. The most popular cut for diamonds. The factors that affect cut quality. The function of the FTC. 6
LESSON 2: Carat Weight carat grain (weight) grainer light-half melee per-carat price point total weight The standard unit of weight for diamonds. Equivalents for carats, points, grams, and ounces (as given in the lesson). How fractions and similar terms for weight are used among diamond professionals. The devices most professionals use to weigh diamonds, and their accuracy. The FTC standard of accuracy for weight representations. How weight is rounded in the US, and the accuracy this represents. How to calculate per-carat price from total cost, and vice versa. What per-carat price reflects. The average weight for the center diamond of an engagement ring. The name and weight of the largest gem quality diamond that has yet been discovered and authenticated. The name, color, and weight of the largest polished diamond of all. 7
LESSON 3: Clarity abrasion bearding blemish cavity chip clarity clarity characteristic cleavage (inclusion) cloud extra facet feather fracture included crystal inclusion knot laser drill hole natural pinpoint plot Terms to use and avoid when discussing clarity. The distinction between blemishes and inclusions. How clarity characteristics tend to occur (or what causes them). The benefits clarity characteristics can provide. The standard magnification for clarity grading under FTC guidelines. Instruments used to grade clarity. The five criteria for assessing clarity characteristics. The basic approach to clarity grading. What a clarity grade reflects. Which view of the diamond normally counts most in setting the clarity grade. The six main grade categories in the GIA Diamond Clarity Grade Scale and how these are defined. The total number of grades in the GIA clarity scale. The purposes of a clarity plot. 8 The percentage of gem quality diamonds that are flawless.
LESSON 4: Color blue white champagne fancy color diamond fluorescence hue master stone saturation tone The colors included in the diamond palette. One color that s not in the diamond palette. The normal market range for diamond color. The cause and appearance of fluorescence. Why diamonds naturally occur in different colors. The most common trace element in diamonds, and what color it causes. How a diamond s color is evaluated or measured. The grades of the GIA Diamond Color Grade Scale, and how they relate to color appearance. The number of grades in the GIA color scale. The three color components analyzed for fancy color diamonds. How hue, tone, and saturation relate to the rarity and value of fancy color diamonds. How different fancy colors compare in rarity. The color of the Hope Diamond. 9
LESSON 5: Cut Shape and Style baguette bezel facet branded cut brilliance brilliant cut crown culet dispersion emerald cut facet fancy cut fancy shape fire girdle mixed cut pavilion scintillation shape standard round brilliant step cut style table Which of the 4Cs is almost always most important in a diamond s beauty. The three components of diamond s optical performance. The main sections of a cut diamond. The three basic styles of diamond cut. The number and names of facets on the standard round brilliant. The classic fancy shapes. Examples of historical and novelty cuts. When branded cuts became important in the marketplace. The two main categories of branded cuts, and what distinguishes them. Reasons why a diamond might be cut a certain way. 10 Factors that affect the cost of any cut shape and style.
LESSON 6: Cut Quality bow-tie effect bulge factor crown angle culet size finish fisheye hearts and arrows ideal cut ideal proportions keel knife-edge girdle length-to-width ratio make nailhead pavilion depth polish proportions shape appeal super-ideal cut symmetry table size total depth The three components of cut quality. Key proportions for round brilliants and fancy shapes. How light travels in diamonds with effective proportions. What happens to light in diamonds that aren t properly proportioned. Why cutters vary proportions. How proportion variations can affect weight yield, appearance, and durability. The main concerns in judging symmetry and polish. Individual factors considered under symmetry. The qualities that distinguish a true ideal cut. What the hearts and arrows pattern indicates. How graders traditionally evaluate cut. Instruments available for evaluating cut. The grade scales the AGS and GIA use for cut quality. The man whose mathematical analysis of diamond cut became the basis for most of today s ideal cuts. 11
LESSON 7: Diamond Jewelry ballerina ring bangle bar setting bead setting bezel setting buttercup setting casting channel setting cluster setting cocktail ring crossover ring diamond anniversary band diamond solitaire die-striking electroforming eternity ring flush setting gypsy setting halo ring hand fabrication illusion setting invisible setting karat gold lariat lavaliere pavé setting prong setting right hand ring setting slide straight line bracelet studs tennis bracelet tension setting Tiffany setting Y necklace The most frequent occasions for giving diamond jewelry. How many US couples mark engagement with a diamond ring. The centuries in which history first recorded a diamond engagement ring, and the diamond engagement ring became a mainstream American tradition. The most popular choice for engagement rings. The anniversaries most closely associated with diamonds. The distinctive features and symbolism of the Three-Diamond Anniversary Ring and Journey Diamond Jewelry. The emotional messages that right hand rings represent. The comparative advantages of prong and bezel settings. The primary categories of diamond jewelry for men and women. Important sources of inspiration for diamond jewelry designs. 12 Techniques for manufacturing jewelry, and the types of jewelry they re used to produce. How custom-made and mass-produced jewelry compare in features and cost. How the metal the jewelry is made of contributes to diamond jewelry s appeal. The karat and European systems for rating gold content. How karat rating relates to cost and wearability. Why platinum jewelry is more expensive than comparable items made of gold. How platinum purity is measured and marked. FTC guidelines on gold and platinum. Alternative metals that are now being used for diamond jewelry. Elements that help to define branded jewelry s signature. Factors to consider when helping customers select jewelry.
LESSON 8: Treatments, Synthetics, and Simulants CZ diamond simulant diamond tester doubling flash effect fracture filling irradiation laser drilling synthetic cubic zirconia synthetic diamond synthetic moissanite treated diamond HPHT treatment The distinctions between treated diamonds, synthetic diamonds, and diamond simulants. How treatments are performed, and how they can affect a diamond s appearance. The one treatment that s always considered deceptive for diamonds. When gem quality synthetic diamonds were first produced, when they began to appear on the jewelry market, and their current status. Natural gemstones that are (or have been) used as diamond simulants. The most common simulants in terms of volume. Recent lab-created gem materials that are used as, or might be considered, diamond simulants. Points to address when representing synthetics and simulants, or disclosing treatment. Tests that can be used to separate diamonds from simulants, or to identify treated of synthetic diamonds. The products that can be identified with the instruments and tests available in many jewelry stores. Which treatments can t always be identified with complete certainty, and why not. 13
LESSON 9: Formation and Properties chemical composition cleavage (property) covalent bonding crystal habit crystal structure cube (crystal form and pattern) density diamond stability field dodecahedron (crystal form and pattern) macle Mohs Hardness Scale octahedron (crystal form and pattern) property refraction refractive index (RI) specific gravity (SG) toughness transparency hardness The ages of the oldest and youngest diamonds. The depth range inside Earth where diamonds formed. Diamond s chemical composition and crystal structure. The percentage of carbon in gem quality diamonds. The most common crystal form for gem diamonds. Why diamond and graphite have different properties. Diamond s rating on the Mohs Hardness Scale. The specific gravity, refractive index, and dispersion of diamond. How diamond formation relates to the 4Cs. The trace elements that color diamonds yellow or blue. 14
LESSON 10: Deposits and Sources alluvial deposit beach deposit conflict diamonds diatreme Kimberley Process kimberlite lamproite magma marine deposit pipe primary deposit river sorting secondary deposit How diamonds were delivered to Earth s surface. How primary and secondary diamond deposits were formed. How production from primary deposits compares with that of secondary deposits. The estimated total of diamond production for all of history, and current annual production. The world s oldest source of diamonds. The countries that now lead world diamond production. The top diamond producers measured by value and volume. The US states with diamond deposits or mines. How the conflict diamonds issue arose, the extent of the problem, and how it s being dealt with. 15
LESSON 11: Discovery and Mining grade indicator mineral open pit mining overburden recovery scrubber surface sampling test drilling When diamonds were discovered in South Africa. Equipment and methods used in diamond exploration. Factors that weigh in assessing the feasibility of mine development. The time and investment it took to discover and develop Canada s Ekati Diamond Mine. Where the world s most important beach and marine diamond deposits are located. The average size of a diamond pipe. The two ways of mining a diamond pipe. The average life span of a pipe mine. How diamonds are recovered from mined ore. 16 The weight of rock and ore excavated for each point of finished diamond weight.
LESSON 12: Diamond Cutting blocking brillianteering bruting cleaving cross-working diamond grit grain (crystal) kerf magic sizes sawing scaife window The principle that allows diamonds to cut other diamonds. When and where modern diamond cutting began to evolve. The variables considered in planning a diamond s cut. The crystal shapes best suited for cutting into round brilliants. The typical steps in diamond cutting. The two ways of dividing a diamond crystal. The advantages of laser sawing. When naturals are considered marks of good cutting. The advantages of automated cutting, and the weight range of diamonds most often produced by this method. 17
LESSON 13: The Diamond Industry ALROSA De Beers diamantaire diamond bourse diamond grading report Diamond Trading Company (DTC) independent jeweler manufacturer trade laboratory The two men who were important in the early history of De Beers. The slogan that provides the theme for De Beers promotional efforts. De Beers role in today s diamond industry. The world s leading diamond supplier companies by value and volume. The main suppliers of rough diamonds, and the primary sources of the diamonds they market. The industry centers where most diamonds are traded and cut. The largest diamond trading center and the largest cutting center. Key components of the diamond wholesale network and how they function. The types of services trade labs provide. Examples of traditional and alternative diamond retailers. Where most Americans purchase diamond jewelry, and why. 18
LESSON 14: The Mystique of Diamonds There are no Terms to Know for this lesson. The Greek word from which diamond comes, and its meaning. Old beliefs based on diamond s optical and physical properties. Other once-popular myths about diamonds. The month for which diamond is the official birthstone. Other times for which diamond is a birthstone or lucky gem. Wedding anniversaries especially linked to diamonds. The century and couple associated with the first diamond engagement ring recorded by history. Royalty and celebrities who have added to the romance of diamonds. The movie star who immortalized the line Diamonds are a girl s best friend. 19
LESSON 15: Care and Cleaning diamond cloth durability firecoat hardness stability steam cleaner toughness ultrasonic cleaner The three properties that contribute to diamond s durability. Agents and conditions that can damage diamonds or jewelry. Procedures for minimizing the risk of in-store damage to diamonds and jewelry. Four things to consider in helping customers select jewelry for lasting enjoyment. The types of jewelry normally exposed to accidental bumps and scrapes. Setting styles that protect diamonds, and those that require more careful wear. How karat gold alloys and platinum relate to wearability. Precautions for minimizing cleaning problems. Professional and at-home options for cleaning diamonds and diamond jewelry. 20 Conditions to check for before cleaning customers jewelry.