The Definitive Gemstone Series
The Emerald Course
A comprehensive learning journey designed to help you deepen your understanding, develop a critical eye on assessing emerald jewels, and ultimately discuss emerald with confidence.
Whether you are taking your first gem-steps or looking to advance your existing knowledge, the Emerald Course offers a structured, engaging, and supportive learning experience that turns insight into action.
What you’ll learn during The Emerald Course
- What defines an emerald
- How emeralds form and why they’re so rare
- The key quality factors that define exceptional stones
- How origin, inclusions, and treatments influence appearance and value
- How to distinguish natural, synthetic, and imitation emeralds
- How gemmological laboratories identify and test emeralds
- Best practices for buying, handling, and caring for emeralds
- How to assess and speak about emeralds with confidence
Course experience
- 2+ hours of video instruction covering the science, history, quality factors, treatments, and identification of emeralds.
- Lesson summaries to help reinforce key concepts and support retention.
- Glossary and additional resources for further learning and reference.
- Final assessment and certificate to validate your learning and celebrate your achievement.
Estimated completion time: approximately 3 hours, including all videos, reading materials, and assessment.
Course Curriculum
From gemmology to jewellery design, history to laboratory testing, this course provides a complete presentation of SSEF’s perspective on one of the world’s most fascinating gemstones.
Who is this course for?
- Jewellery Professionals and sales associates who want to discuss emeralds with greater confidence and accuracy.
- Gemmology students seeking a focused introduction to emeralds, their characteristics, treatments, and identification.
- Jewellery designers looking to better understand emerald quality, cutting, durability, and use in jewellery.
- Collectors and gemstone enthusiasts who want to deepen their knowledge beyond the basics.
- Traders and buyers interested in treatments, origin, laboratory reports, and the factors that influence market perception.
- Anyone with a curiosity for emeralds, from their geological formation to their cultural significance and place in the modern gem trade.
No prior gemmological knowledge is required.
The course is designed to be accessible to newcomers while offering valuable insights for those already familiar with gemstones.
Why Take the Emerald Course?
Created by SSEF, this course goes far beyond the basics.
It provides a complete framework for understanding emeralds through science, observation, and practical gemmological knowledge.
Combining expert content, engaging visuals, and decades of laboratory experience, The Emerald Course offers one of the most comprehensive introductions to emeralds available online today.
Meet your host
Julia Griffith, FGA, DGA, EG will be your main host throughout the course. As Head of Education at SSEF, she brings a wealth of teaching experience and a passion for making gemmology accessible, engaging, and relevant to today’s industry.
Along the way, you’ll also hear from Dr. Michael Krzemnicki, Director of SSEF, Dr. Laurent Cartier, Chief Strategy Officer at SSEF, and Benoît Repellin, Worldwide Head of Jewelry at Phillips, who will share their expertise and unique perspectives from across the world of gems, jewellery, and auctions.
Course FAQ
How much does it cost?
The Emerald Course costs 350 Swiss Francs. Once you have enrolled, you can start learning immediately and progress through the content at your own pace.
How long do I have access?
You will have 6 months of access to the course from the date of purchase, giving you plenty of time to complete the videos, review the additional materials, and pass the assessment.
How is the course delivered?
The course is delivered entirely online through a specialised e-learning platform, providing access to all lessons, summaries, resources, assessments, and certification materials.
Do I need prior experience?
Not really. The course is designed for beginners while offering meaningful depth for experienced learners too. By exploring emeralds from multiple perspectives, including science, history, quality assessment, treatments, and laboratory testing, participants at all levels will find valuable insights.
Will I receive a certificate?
Absolutely. Upon completing the course and passing a short multiple-choice assessment, you’ll automatically receive your SSEF course certificate.
The Certificate is not a professional licence, gemmological qualification, professional certification or accreditation. It does not authorise the holder to practise any profession or represent a formal level of professional competence.
How difficult is the assessment?
Not difficult at all, especially if you have a genuine interest in emeralds and have worked through the course material. You only need 17 out of 25 correct answers to pass, and you can retake the quiz if needed.
What if I don't understand everything?
Don’t worry. The course is designed to make complex topics approachable and easy to follow. Each lesson includes a summary, and you’ll also have access to a glossary and additional resources to support your learning. The goal is not to memorise every detail, but to understand the concepts and develop confidence.
What is the key takeaway from this course?
The goal of the Emerald Course is simple: to help you discuss emeralds with confidence and evaluate them using the correct framework. You’ll gain a practical understanding of how emeralds form, how they’re assessed, how they’re treated and tested, and what questions to ask when examining or discussing them.