Ensign launches jewellery edu programme for buyers

New Delhi, Apr 13: Ensign, a Delhi-based Gems and Jewellery Design Training Center, has launched an education programme for prospective diamond jewellery buyers and will also provide services of an independent appraiser.

The programme, meant for housewives, jewellers and students in diamond appraising, offers various courses along with basic and advanced training in gems and jewellery.

The training would involve jewellery design, diamond grading, gemology, computer-aided design and manufacture, metal setting, casting, filing, refiners and rubber mould making techniques.

''The services of an independent appraiser are of increasingly importance in today's complex market environment. Diamonds have become more costly and many unheard treatments and ethical issues have come up,'' Ensign CEO Smita Chaudhry said.

Purchasers always face the issue of diamonds being misrepresented in colour, clarity or weight. Worldwide services of independent diamond appraisers are preferred since they do not sell diamonds nor jewellery and are not paid by a seller.

''In most cases diamond grading does not give an exact value; appraisers do that. Most of grading institutes have labs or services worldwide and do not sell diamonds,'' Dr Smita said.

''There can be slight differences in the grades and prices of the same diamonds graded and priced by different labs. Helping promote honest transactions will be the role of Ensign as a diamond appraiser,'' Dr Smita added.

Ensign has signed a Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with Director General of Resettlement (DGR), Ministry of Defence, for training the retiring personnel for civil employment, and with Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC).

Ensign will provide jewellery design training to defence personnel at its institute for their quick employment as well as self employment after retirement.

Short and long term certificate and diploma courses will be offered in the appraisal.

UNI