DE BEERS DIAMOND PIPELINE COURSE 2024

De Beers have returned to Hatton Garden in their new building on Charterhouse Street alongside parent company Anglo American plc. As part of their return and commitment to the industry, they are running a diamond pipeline course for businesses in the Hatton Garden area.

This prestigious and bespoke new course will be run over 5 days, several times a year over the next few years. Course content will explore all stages of the diamond pipeline starting with geology and diamond growth, through the rough and polished diamond processes, finishing with retail marketing. Those who wish to attend must have a direct connection with Hatton Garden and have a strong interest/ experience in the artisan industry. Application details can be found below course content overview.

Before the course begins, attendees will be required to complete a short e-learning course, which should take around 4 hours to complete. Hosted on a secure web-based platform created by De Beers, the 3 modules contain a series of bitesize chapters which students can complete at a time to suit them prior to attending the 5-day workshop. These modules will include a delve into the origins of diamonds and a review of how recovery techniques have changed over time. Module 2 explores a diamonds journey and the various human processes that transform a diamond from its rough to polished form. In module 3 students examine the technical process of jewellery manufacturing before looking at the art of selling and the importance of branding.




The below detail has been provided by Jodine Perrin, Director of Education & Training at De Beers Institute of Diamonds

Monday – We begin with introductions and an overview of the main learning outcomes from the eLearning modules, which students have completed in advance. This is also an opportunity for students to register their specific learning outcomes for the lab-based portion of the course. We then work through a variety of sessions including an online presentation and Q&A session, which members of our exploration team host. This gives students the opportunity to ask questions about the upstream led processes and find out more about where diamond originate. We run a session exploring our Building Forever strategy, which is hosted by a member of our ‘Social & Community Development’ team. In the afternoon our Research Team take students through the growth of diamonds, and the resulting properties which make them rare and unique. The session contains several interactive exercises.

Tuesday - The Tuesday session covers the process of sorting and valuing rough diamonds. Throughout the day students are taken through a series of exercises (handling rough diamonds throughout the day) designed to give them an overview of the rough sorting process. Towards the afternoon we switch focus and learn how the various categories of rough diamonds are then valued for subsequent sales. The day is full of hands-on exercises and hosted by experts from this area of De Beers.

Wednesday - On Wednesday we turn our attention to polished diamonds and take students through a series of hands-on exercises designed to showcase each of the 4Cs (Carat, Clarity, Cut & Colour). Each exercise is designed to replicate the laboratory-based grading processes so that students build up an appreciation of grading polished diamonds. It also serves as base learning, in advance of the rough to polished session which is held on Thursday morning. This session is presented by an expert from the De Beers laboratory grading team.

Thursday – Here we focus on the Rough to Polished journey. During the morning session our students review the traditional techniques of the planning process which is critical when cutting and polishing diamonds. We then move to the more advanced techniques and students are asked to complete a series of exercises to plan a series of outcomes from examples diamonds. Each exercise is designed to highlight the expertise of trade professionals, whilst also highlighting some of the external factors which can influence commercial decisions. On Thursday afternoon students will be introduced to Consumer Confidence. We review the De Beers strategic actions in this field including the design and use of its Screening and Verification instruments. Again, the afternoon contains a series of activities so that students gain hands-on experience of using the technology, as well as benefitting from experts within our De Beers teams. They also get to examine lab-grown material and learn about the difference between these and natural diamonds.

Friday - Today students begin the day at our De Beers Jewellers store in Bond Street. We spend the morning exploring the importance of tracking and reviewing customer trends in the world of branding. We also spend time looking at the jewellery designs in store and preparing students for the afternoon session which focuses on design. The morning session is hosted by the Store Manager of Bond St, as well as a member from the De Beers Strategy team. After making our way back to Charterhouse Street, students are joined by a Senior Lecturer from the British Academy of Jewellery, who takes students through an afternoon of practical workshop sessions designed give them an appreciation of the world of jewellery and design processes. Finally, we review our original learning desires, and then present students with their Certificate of Completion.