- Online learning platform
- Flexible learning – fit your study around work
- Gain unique insight into De Beer Group’s best technology and processes
DeBeers Diamond Foundation Course
Great reasons to book
- Learn with the world’s leading diamond company, De Beers Group Institute of Diamonds
- Level: Beginner
- Entry requirements: No prior knowledge and skills are necessary for this course
- Duration: Distance learning over a four-month period. Within each module there are chapters that break the learning down into bite-size pieces with chapter study lengths, ranging from 10 to 30 minutes on average, enabling you to study at your own pace.
- Location: Online
- Qualification: Certificate of Completion for the Diamond Foundation Course from De Beers Group
- Cost: £280.00 (discounted to £180.00 for BAJ customers)
Course overview
The Diamond Foundation Course is a perfect overview of the entire diamond pipeline for retail staff, or for those simply wishing to extend their current level of expertise into new areas.
This is an online course using a bespoke website, designed by De Beers Group Institute of Diamonds to bring a more interactive learning experience to students.
Topics include
Diamond growth and properties
Travel to the surface and exploration
Diamond mining and recovering
Rough sorting and pricing
The polished 4Cs
Cutting and polishing
Jewellery design, marketing and retail
Synthetics diamonds, simulants and treatments
Entry requirements
No prior knowledge or skills are required to take the course but some prior jewellery knowledge may be advantageous. This course is suitable for those without a previous qualification in jewellery at a level 3 or higher. Applicants must find an employer, who will employ them as an Apprentice and provide them with a minimum of 30 hours of employment per week.
If Apprentices do not have Functional Skills L2 or equivalent qualifications in Maths and English, they must complete them during the course.
BAJ will carry out an initial assessment of Apprentices’ existing skills, knowledge and behaviours prior to enrollment.
Fees & funding
No cost to the Apprentice.
For more information about cost for the employer, please click here.
Apprentices will be paid by their employer the Apprenticeship wage (as a minimum) in the first year and the national minimum wage thereafter.
Progression
On completion of the foundation level course, we highly recommend progressing onto the Synthetic Diamond Detection Course in partnership with De Beers Group to gain a more in-depth, technical understanding of diamonds. Students can also opt to top up their learning by attending a separate 1 day ‘Introduction to the 4Cs’ laboratory workshop, to gain hands on experience working with diamonds.
The British Academy of Jewellery also offers a diverse range of specialist intensive courses to help individuals develop their jewellery knowledge and skill set in an area such a CAD and gemstone studies. We also provide a Jewellery Diploma Programme, which will equip you with all the knowledge and skills you need to design, make and sell jewellery.
