American Institute of Diamond Cutting

Diamond Cutting and Polishing Programs

Students are accepted for enrollment in January of each year. Students are advised to send their application as early as possible since enrollment space is limited. Each program leads into the other.

Duration: 20 Week (maximum each program)
Clock Hours: 600 (maximum)

Enrollment Fees: U.S. $150.00 (inclusive of tuition)
Toal Program Cost: U.S. $7,500.00 (each program)

Program/Course	Approx. Duration	Tuition
Beginners Diamond Cutting	3 to 5 months	$7,500
Intermediate Diamond Cutting	3 to 5 months	$7,500
Advanced Diamond Cutting	3 to 5 months	$7,500

At the completion of each program the student is granted the internationally recognized diamond certificates from AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF DIAMOND CUTTING, INC.

The tuition cost includes all practice diamonds and equipment while attending the Institue, there are no hidden or additional cost to the student. The three programs when combined offers the student a firm foundation in self-employment. The programs covers round brilliants, fancy cutting, sawing, bruting, recutting, and repairing. The programs also include finished diamond grading and rough diamond grading. All instruction is individualized. A catalog is available on the diamond cutting programs, application is included. Please note all information in the catalog is outlined on this website.

The art of Diamond Cutting, once acquired allows the student to become employed at almost any level in the Jewelry and Diamond industry. The following are some of the job positions that would be available:

Sales consultant (jewelry and diamond stores).
Managers for retail (jewelry and diamond stores).
Diamond buyers for retail outlets.
Diamond buyers for wholesale outlets.
Travel consultant for major diamond firms.

Diamond consultant for private companies.
Diamond factory supervisor.
Diamond cutter for diamond production factories.
Rough Diamond broker for small and large companies.
There are many job positions available to the graduate diamond cutter. The knowledge acquired gives one the opportunity to become self-employed.

ENROLLMENT

To enroll in the programs an application is required to be filled out and submitted with two passport size photographs and a fee of $150.00 which is part of the tuition cost. Only one application is required for all three diamond cutting programs.

Three sequential and separate programs in diamond cutting is offered:

BEGINNERS DIAMOND CUTTING PROGRAM

A. PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

To introduce the beginner student to the art of diamond cutting, a basic knowledge of its history, optical and physical properties and crystalline forms.
To teach the student how to block and brillanteer sawed diamonds, emphasizing theory, application and practice.
To develop the student to a level where they will be capable of cutting a well made brilliant from the bruted (rounded) state to the finished product without supervision or assistance.

B. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

How to look for and identify the grain in a sawed (four point) diamond.
How to look for and identify the crystal symmetry, axis, form and habit of diamond crystals.
How to use the 10X cutters loupe, crown and pavilion gauges, girdle marker, mounting and setting of diamonds in various pots
How to use both the mechanical and semi-automatic tangs and dops for cutting and polishing.
How to use the loupe to identify inclusions and determine the practicability of their removal in elementary procedures.
Learning the difference in brilliance as a result of proportions and the qualities required for a well cut diamond.
How to block a diamond, i.e. put it in eight-square, both crown and pavilion.
How to cut crown facets on angle and equidistant from table to girdle, how to measure a table for percentage size.
How to make all mains on crown into a perfect square of 90 degrees, by eye evaluation, and make the in-between facets (bezels).

How to cut the pavilion mains and its in-between facets on angle and how to match them to the top crown mains.
Knowledge of the critical angle for both crown and pavilion and variation of table size for maximum brilliance.
How to make a culet.
How to brillianteer a diamond, i.e. putting the 40 remaining facets on both crown and pavilion.
How to calculate the finished weight of a cut diamond to within a few points from the rough before even attempting to cut.
How to judge and what to look for in determining a fine made round brilliant diamond.
Techniques on maintenance and balancing of all cutting equipment to ensure top performance for a high standard of work.
Methods used to prepare and charge a diamond wheel and how to maintain optimum cutting and polishing surfaces.

C. PROGRAM COMPLETION STANDARDS

Each student will be assigned specific tasks for completion without supervision or assistance and a final passing evaluation grade will be given.
The student must demonstrate that they are able to cut a round brilliant from a sawed and bruted state to the finished product.
The student must demonstrate that they are capable of doing minor repairs to a broken (4 point) diamond with satisfactory results.

A certificate will be awarded to those students who successfully complete the prescribed program.

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INTERMEDIATE DIAMOND CUTTING PROGRAM

A. PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

To continue the training of the beginner student or person who has achieved the equivalent level of skill in diamond cutting, to the intermediate level in the craft.
To teach the student the theory and process involved in cutting a whole rough diamond, to apply the theory at the cutters' bench and acquire the necessary skills.
To teach the student the rounding (bruting) process of a diamond in obtaining maximum weight.
To bring the student to a performance level where they will be able to cut a round brilliant from any diamond and to acquire the requisite skills necessary as a qualified diamond appraiser

B. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

How to cut and identify the grain in a cleaved and whole diamond.
How and where to open a window in a whole diamond.
The most advantageous way to cut a whole diamond (2 and 3 point grain) and the use of the leveridge gauge to determine this.
How to prepare diamonds for bruting (rounding the outer circumference of a diamond).
How to round the diamond by bruting on the bruting machine and to obtain maximum spread through this process.
How to facet any girdle symmetrically and cut girdle facets with equal progressive spacing.
How to recut Old-miners and Old-European cuts to modern proportions.
How to preliminary cut and facet any round brilliant.
How to identify inclusions, where they lie, and the feasibility of their removal.
How to determine when an inclusions should be left in a diamond without affecting its value.

How to tilt the table to improve its spread giving greater weight retention to the finished diamond.
How to achieve the most advantageous proportions and critical angles through the modern techniques of proportion analysis.
How to affect the color of diamonds in the rounding and cutting process.
How to improvise in setting and holding procedures.
The use of press pots to increase the speed of cutting any round diamond given
The exacting process of color grading with comparison diamonds and the different color grading systems.
Color- its effect on value, causes and artificial alteration.
How to appraise and grade a diamond taking into consideration internal and external factors, utilizing the binocular microscope.
Diamond merchandising and marketing.
The use of the binocular microscope, proportion scope, leveridge gauge, ultra violet lamp and color grader.

C. PROGRAM COMPLETION STANDARDS

Each student will be assigned specific tasks for completion without supervision or assistance and a final passing evaluation grade will be given.
The student must demonstrate that they are able to cut a well-made brilliant from a whole rough diamond to the finished product.
The student must demonstrate that they are able to make major repairs to a broken diamond with satisfactory results.
The student must demonstrate the ability to recut old-mine and old-European cut diamonds to modern proportions.
The student must demonstrate the ability to determine orientation and planning of a diamond to obtain maximum weight and value.
The student must demonstrate the ability to grade and appraise a finished round brilliant.

A certificate will be awarded to those students who successfully complete the prescribed program.

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ADVANCED DIAMOND CUTTING PROGRAM

A. PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

To prepare the student who has completed the intermediate level, to further become proficient in every technique involved in the manufacture and grading of diamonds.
To teach the student how to sort and buy diamonds both in the rough and cut state and how color, clarity and shape affect prices.
To bring the student to a performance level where they are able to cut a fancy shape diamond and to acquire knowledge of cleaving and sawing techniques.
To bring the student to develop and attain the confidence and skills necessary for self-employment.

B. PROGRAM OUTLINE

Learning the different varieties of diamond crystals and polycrystalline aggregates.
Structural defects and the internal structure of diamond crystals.
Optical, mechanical, electrical, thermal and chemical properties of diamond crystals.
The study of impurity centers in rough diamond crystals, their cause and effect.
How to select diamonds for fancy shapes, determining their ultimate form when in the rough.
How to determine color in diamonds, both natural and artificial, and its effect on buying and selling.
How to select rough diamonds for purity, color, size, shape and unusual qualities.
How to determine whether a whole rough diamond is to be cleaved, sawed or remain whole.
The process used in cutting and shaping elliptical diamonds such as marquises, ovals, and pear shaped diamonds etc.
Classification of rough gems and industrial diamonds.

How to cut odd-shaped diamonds and do free form cutting
How to improvise tools for diamond cutting.
Use of the polariscope when analyzing stress and strain.
To acquire the technique and process of sawing a diamond.
The feasibility of removing inclusions from a diamond by lasering, so its quality is improved and as a result its value and saleability is increased.
Integrating automated equipment in a production factory environment.
How to construct cutting, bruting and sawing benches and adhere to the stability required for such equipment.
Laws, rules, customs and regulation as it relates to the diamond industry.
How to start your own business, corporation verses partnership and proprietorships, licenses and laws pertaining to the diamond business.

C. PROGRAM COMPLETION STANDARDS

Each student will be assigned specific tasks for completion without supervision or assistance and a final passing evaluation grade will be given

The student must demonstrate that they are able to evaluate a rough whole diamond and determine the appropriate processes of cutting, which will appreciate the value of the finished product.
The student must demonstrate that they are able to cut fancy-shaped diamonds from the rough state to the finished product without assistance.
The student must demonstrate that they are capable of sawing an octahedral diamond in a minimum amount of time
The student must demonstrate that they are able to appraise the finished product to a high degree of accuracy, buy and sell rough diamonds profitably

A certificate will be awarded to those students who successfully complete the prescribed program.

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