Seminars with Antoinette Matlins, PG

How about a special, exciting, educational event that will provide the opportunity to study diamonds, pearls, and gemstones in-depth, directly with gem expert Antoinette Matlins?

Antoinette Matlins is the author of many popular books such as Gem Identification Made Easy: A Hands-On Guide to More Confident Buying & Selling; Jewelry & Gems: The Buying Guide; Diamonds: The Antoinette Matlins Buying Guide; Colored Gemstones: The Antoinette Matlins Buying Guide; and The Pearl Book: The Definitive Buying Guide. These books help both consumers and jewelers increase their understanding and enjoyment of jewelry and gems. Ms. Matlins makes frequent appearances on national television and radio programs—such as Good Morning America, CBS This Morning, NBC’s Today Show, 20/20, and Jewelry Television—as well as many speaking engagements and “hands-on” seminars across the nation.

This exciting program has been designed for people who appreciate fine jewelry and want to know more about the gemstones themselves. And, as you might expect from Ms. Matlins’ reputation for making it easy to understand the complex world of gems, this program will be non-technical, requiring no gemological or scientific background—or inclination! Plan on having a fascinating, fun-filled, exhilarating weekend while you benefit from this substantive short course. Enjoy the added benefit of experiencing beautiful Woodstock, Vermont—one of the most picturesque villages in America.

Enrollment is limited and on a first-come, first-served basis. For additional information, contact Amy Wilson at (800) 962-4544.

What: The Antoinette Matlins Practical Gem and Jewelry Course for Jewelry Lovers, Collectors, and Connoisseurs

Basic Course: 3* days of hands-on learning with Antoinette Matlins on:

                     • Diamonds
                     • Colored Gemstones
       • Pearls
      • Gem Identification

*Optional: 4th day of additional lab work

ABOUT WOODSTOCK, VERMONT: An idyllic, picturesque New England village nestled in the lush Green Mountains along the banks of the gently winding Ottauquechee River, Woodstock is one of America’s most beautiful, authentic, historic spots. Visitors are immediately transported to a bygone era as they stroll past beautiful examples of Federal architecture, visit a working dairy farm, or stop in at Woodstock’s favorite meeting place, F. H. Gillingham’s, Vermont’s oldest general store, founded in 1886 and operated continuously to this day by the same family. Other points of interest include the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park within walking distance of the center of Woodstock, the Vermont Institute of Natural Science, and Billings Farm and Museum. Nature lovers

will enjoy the hike to the top of Mount Tom, overlooking the entire village, or just wandering the back roads. And for those who enjoy sports, there is an excellent Trent Jones golf course, indoor and outdoor tennis and swimming, biking, fishing and canoeing, and horseback riding. The quaint hamlet known as South Woodstock is located just 4 miles south of Woodstock, in the heart of Vermont’s horse country, where there are more horses than registered automobiles.

The Antoinette Matlins Gem and Jewelry Course for Jewelry Lovers, Collectors, and Connoisseurs May 2009 (Dates TBA) Woodstock, Vermont * Curriculum *
Thursday	6:30 PM–9:00 PM Welcome Reception and Dinner—At a Lovely Local Inn (Location for 2009 TBA) Opening Remarks—A Sparkling Eye-Opener A brief introduction that will open your eyes to the fascinating world of gems and jewelry, shattering many myths and setting the stage for an exhilarating weekend.
Seminar Location: The Woodstock Historical Society 26 Elm Street, Woodstock, Vermont
Friday	8:30 AM–12:30 PM Is It a Diamond? And If So, Is It a Good One? This covers everything you need to know before buying a diamond: how to use a loupe properly to examine diamonds; how each of the 4Cs affects diamond quality and value; all about diamond imitations (including those that fool electronic diamond testers) and synthetic diamonds; how treatments are used to improve appearance, and their affect on value; how to judge fancy-color diamonds; how to read a diamond grading report to get the whole picture. 12:30 PM–2:00 PM Break for Lunch (Participants are responsible for their own meals.) 2:00 PM–5: 00 PM Detecting Diamond Imitations and Treatments Hands-on: Examining diamond imitations, treated diamonds, and synthetics; learning how to spot treatments—with emphasis on easy techniques to detect new imitations, fracture-filled diamonds, HPHT treated diamonds, and synthetic diamonds.
Saturday	8:30 AM–12: 30 PM Colored Gemstones—A Changing World Here you will learn all you need to know before buying any colored gemstone. See and compare different varieties of colored gemstones—including recently discovered gemstones such as Paraiba tourmaline—along with imitations and synthetics. Learn how to judge colored gemstone quality. Find out about treatments used to improve colored gemstones, and how treatments affect value. Compare colored gemstone laboratory reports and see how they differ in the types of information provided and their reliability with regard to making buying decisions. 12:30 PM–2:00 PM Break for Lunch (Participants are responsible for their own meals.) 2:00 PM–5: 00 PM Gemstone Identification Made Easy Hands-on: Learn (or improve) skills to detect imitations and synthetics, and accurately identify gemstones of the same color using simple, portable tools. This puts the FUN back in FUNdamental!
Sunday	8:30 AM–12: 30 PM Understanding and Appreciating Pearls, One of the Rarest Yet Least Understood of All Gems An overview of the many different types of pearls now available—natural and cultured—and how they compare in appearance, durability, rarity, and cost; how to judge pearl quality; pearl treatments; what to look for and what to look OUT for. 12:30 PM–1:30 PM Presentation of “Certificates of Accomplishment”; general Q&A session; and closing remarks.
Monday— Supplemental Lab Day (Optional)	8:30 AM–2:30 PM Gem identification review of diamonds, colored stones, and pearls.

* Curriculum may change as the weekend progresses in order to focus on specific areas that best meet the interests and needs of participants.