Natural, Cultured & Imitation Pearls Introduction Course

Available Date 22 – 26 July 2018 / 5 Days
Price Per Person BHD 1,250 / USD 3,300
Summary This is a short course (5 days) on natural and cultured pearl characterizations and treatments. Course attendees will gain a better understanding of pearls, with a focus on natural pearls, the instrumentation used for their identification as well as extensive hands-on experience on selected samples from DANAT’s collection.
Audience • Gemology and Jewellery enthusiasts
• Laboratory professionals
• Jewellery industry professionals e.g. designers, values, sales persons
Programmed Structure 

 

The pearl course is designed in two sections; a basic but comprehensive introduction to the different species of molluscs and the biology behind the formation of a natural pearl within these animals along with information on the procedures used for pearl cultivation. Natural and cultured pearls are explored in detail, including their history, internal structures as well as their various treatments. This knowledge sets the foundation for the next section of the course; the scientific analysis of pearls using advance equipment to characterize natural and cultured pearls accompanied with lab sessions and hands-on experience with samples from DANAT’s collection.
Equipment Used •      Microscope & Luminescence using Ultra Violet (UV) lamps
•      X-Ray microradiography
•      X-Ray micro-Computed Tomography (X-ray micro-CT)
•      Luminescence under X-Rays
•      Chemical analysis using Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence (EDXRF)
•      Trace elements chemical analysis using Laser Ablation- Inductively Coupled Plasma- Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS)
•      Raman spectroscopy
•      Photoluminescence spectroscopy
•      Ultra Violet-Visible-Near Infrared (UV-Vis-NIR) Spectroscopy