For any information please send us the form

    Synthetic stones

    This course teaches you to identify a wide range of synthetic stones and imitations, in order to know how to distinguish them from natural stones.

    Deepening on synthetic stones

    This course requires the basic gemmology course or another degree in gemmology as a prerequisite, in order to be able to study the various processes used in synthetic stones.

    Topics covered and tools available during the course

    • Flux: a process by anhydrous dissolution, i.e.  in a solvent, melted or flux, inclusions similar to those of natural stones.
    • Hydrothermal: process producing stones of high purity, dissolution, high pressure, high temperature.
    • Verneuil: melted process.
    • Fonte zonnale : floating  method.
    • Pulling: a process by vertical addition or Czochralski in the so-called “pulling  method”.
    • Skull : flux cubic zirconia (melting).
    • Diamonds: HPHT synthetic diamonds & imitations (Moissanite, CZ, Yag,etc.).
    • Instruments available: 10x loupe, tweezers, vertical/horizontal microscope, immersion liquid,  dichroscope, refractometer, polariscope, conoscope,  spectroscope, optical fiber, ultra violet and hydrostatic balance.
    Contact us

    Work equipment

    • Support: synthetic stones.
    • Optional Book: Identifying man-made gems (Michael O’Donoghue).
    • Optional Book: Gems Made by Man (Kurt Nassau).

    The courses are arranged according to your availability

    The dates & times of the courses are to be agreed between the student and the teacher. The schedules are Monday to Friday from 9am to 12pm and from 2pm to 5pm, and Saturday from 9am to 12pm. If you are not available during the day, a range can be agreed in the evening from 6pm to 9pm (except Saturday and Sunday).

    The total duration of the course is 24 hours, eight lessons of three hours.

    Price of the course, CHF 1200.

    This course is taught by David Arredondo, teacher responsible for gemmology and precious metals courses.

    A certificate is delivered following an exam. The test lasts three hours, consisting of a theoretical and practical part.

    Discover our training courses in
    Gemmology