Diamond Education - Become a Diamond Dealer
South Africa's Premier Diamond Education
We provide world-class diamond education trusted by major mining companies, government agencies, and jewelry professionals worldwide.
The diamond
industry starts
with knowledge.
South Africa sits on some of the world’s most significant diamond deposits, and its regulatory framework is one of the most rigorous on earth. Corlia Roberts Diamond Education – CXD has been educating diamond professionals since 1998, from aspiring dealers to mining house staff to retail jewellers. We teach what the industry actually needs.
Who We Are
Not a training company. South Africa’s most trusted diamond education.
Built by a family that lives
this industry.
“Rough diamonds are geological storytellers. Inclusions aren’t flaws — they’re how nature signs its work. When you understand that, everything changes.”
— Corlia Roberts
Corlia Roberts Diamond Education was established in 1998 by Corlia Roberts — GIA-trained, and one of South Africa’s most respected diamond educators. Alongside her then husband Evan Roberts, founder of DiamGold Academy, she built a teaching philosophy rooted in storytelling and pattern recognition rather than rote memorisation.
Today, their daughter Xanchia leads the teaching — carrying her mother’s methodology and her father’s regulatory expertise forward. Corlia advises. Evan supports the DDL process. Xanchia teaches, guides, and walks every student through their journey personally.
When you contact CXD, you’re not reaching a call centre. You’re reaching Xanchia on WhatsApp — directly. That’s how we’ve always worked, and it’s not changing.
Courses & Services
Find your path
into the diamond industry.
Every course is built on Corlia Roberts’ methodology — narrative-driven, practically focused, and designed to create real competency, not just certificates. Choose the programme that matches where you are and where you want to go.
Rough Diamond Evaluation Masterclass
2-day private hands-on course. Maximum 3 students. Real rough diamonds from hour one. Your technical ability certificate for the DDL.
Online · Self-Paced · Anywhere
Rough Diamond Digital Course
14 comprehensive lessons. Lifetime campus access. WhatsApp mentoring. Study from anywhere — the same curriculum, your own schedule.
Diamond Grading Course
Master polished diamond grading using the internationally recognised GIA system. Includes an accompanied jewellery store visit (full experience).
Gold · Silver · Platinum · Palladium
Gold & Precious Metals Course
The complete PMJ permit pathway. Theory, compliance, testing and market knowledge across all four precious metals. Online or 3-day in-person.
DiamGold Academy · Margate · 3 Days
Jewellery Manufacture & Design
Learn goldsmithing from a master with 30+ years at the bench. Walk away with a piece you made yourself and an internationally recognised certificate.
Diamond Dealer License
Expert assistance with your full DDL application — business plan drafting, SADPMR forms, document checklist and submission support.
CXD × DiamGold Academy · Most Exclusive Offering
Don’t just learn
to evaluate diamonds.
Trade them live.
There is no other experience like this in South Africa. The Rough Diamond Evaluation: Diamond Tender Experience takes you to a live Johannesburg diamond tender alongside Xanchia and Evan Roberts — where real rough diamonds are bought and sold in real time. One day of preparation. Two days at the tender. Maximum two clients per trip.
What’s Included
Who Studies With CXD
The diamond industry
has room for many
kinds of experts.
Our students don’t come from one background. They come from every corner of the precious stones economy — from people just discovering their passion for diamonds to seasoned professionals seeking formal credentials.
What they share is a belief that knowledge is the only real advantage in this industry. A misread stone, a missed inclusion, an incorrect yield estimate — the market punishes ignorance quickly. CXD students leave knowing what they’re looking at.
Not sure which course is right for you? WhatsApp Xanchia directly — she’ll ask you a few questions and point you to the right path. No sales pressure, no complicated intake forms.
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Corporate & Retail Teams
We provide in-house training for jewellery retailers and industry businesses. Past clients include Jack Friedman Jewellers at the V&A Waterfront, Cape Town.
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International Students
Our digital campus is accessible worldwide. The online courses and WhatsApp mentoring model works for students in any country, any timezone.
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Aspiring Diamond Dealers
You want to buy and sell rough diamonds legally. You need the technical qualification and the DDL. We give you both — the course, the certificate, and full licence guidance.
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Small-Scale Miners
You’re recovering rough diamonds and need to understand what you have — and how to sell it legally. CXD trained professionals for Rio Tinto. We can train you too.
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Jewellers & Retailers
Deepen your knowledge of the stones you work with and sell. Our grading and precious metals courses turn good jewellers into exceptional ones.
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Investors
Understand rough and polished diamonds before you put money into them. Learn to read certificates, price parcels and spot misrepresented stones.
The DDL Pathway
Want to trade
rough diamonds legally?
Here’s the path.
The Diamond Dealer Licence is not optional — it is a legal requirement to buy or sell rough diamonds in South Africa. The pathway is clear, and CXD guides you through every step, from your first course to licence approval.
The PMJ Pathway
Want to work with
gold and precious
metals legally?
In South Africa, buying, selling or working with gold, platinum and palladium without a Precious Metals Jeweller’s Permit (PMJ) is a criminal offence. The pathway requires both practical and theoretical training — and CXD provides both, in partnership with DiamGold Academy.
The CXD Difference
What makes us
worth choosing.
CXD Diamond Education has been South Africa’s trusted home of professional diamond education since 1998. Founded by GIA-trained educator Corlia Roberts and carried forward by her daughter Xanchia Roberts, CXD has spent nearly three decades turning complex diamond knowledge into practical, accessible expertise for students across South Africa and internationally.
Our diamond education programmes cover every corner of the industry — from rough diamond evaluation and polished diamond grading to precious metals training, jewellery manufacture, jewellery appraisal, and Diamond Dealer Licence assistance. Whether you’re starting from zero or formalising decades of hands-on experience, CXD’s diamond education approach meets you exactly where you are.
What makes CXD’s diamond education different is its foundation. Corlia Roberts didn’t build a curriculum — she built a philosophy. Rough diamonds are geological storytellers. Inclusions aren’t flaws; they’re signatures. When you understand how a diamond formed, the pressure it survived, the journey it made from deep within the earth to the tip of your loupe, you stop guessing and start reading. That methodology, developed over thirty years of real-world diamond education, is at the heart of everything CXD teaches.
CXD’s diamond education programmes have trained professionals at Rio Tinto, staff at Jack Friedman Jewellers at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town, and hundreds of aspiring diamond dealers who have gone on to obtain their Diamond Dealer Licences from the South African Diamond & Precious Metals Regulator (SADPMR). Our certificates are SADPMR-recognised and accepted as proof of technical ability for Diamond Dealer Licence applications across South Africa.
In partnership with DiamGold Academy — founded by Evan Roberts, Xanchia’s father — CXD offers the complete precious metals education pathway, including the Jewellery Manufacturing Course and Gold & Precious Metals Training required for the Precious Metals Jeweller’s Permit (PMJ). Together, CXD and DiamGold form South Africa’s most comprehensive family of diamond and precious metals education.
Our diamond education is delivered in three ways: in-person private masterclasses at our studio in Margate, KwaZulu-Natal; online self-paced courses through our Digital Campus at corliaroberts.co.za; and blended formats that combine both. All in-person sessions are privately booked around your schedule, with a maximum of three students per session to ensure personal attention. Every course includes lifetime access to the Digital Campus and ongoing WhatsApp mentoring from your instructor.
If you’re ready to begin your diamond education journey — whether your goal is a Diamond Dealer Licence, a professional appraisal credential, or simply a deeper understanding of one of the world’s most extraordinary natural materials — WhatsApp Xanchia directly on 079 969 9580. A single conversation is all it takes to find the right path for you.
CXD Diamond Education
A Family, Not a Corporation
CXD is Corlia, Xanchia, and Evan Roberts. You deal with us directly — on WhatsApp, personally. That’s been true since 1998 and hasn’t changed.
Regulatory Expertise
Xanchia and Evan Roberts bring deep SADPMR knowledge to every DDL application. We know what the regulator expects — and we make sure your submission reflects that.
GIA-Trained Methodology
Corlia Roberts trained with the GIA and built a teaching framework that turns complex diamond science into deeply memorable, practical knowledge.
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Personalized Learning
No two students are alike. We tailor every program to your specific goals, learning style, and career objectives for maximum impact.
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Hands-On Practice
Every in-person course uses real rough and polished diamonds and practical exercises that mirror real-world industry scenarios.
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Flexible Delivery
Choose from online, in-person, or blended learning options. We work around your schedule, not the other way around.
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Industry Standards
All training meets international standards and is recognized by major industry players and gemological institutes globally.
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Ongoing Support
We don’t disappear after graduation. When a difficult stone or a complex deal comes up, you have direct WhatsApp access to your instructor.
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Career Focus
Every program includes business guidance, licensing support, and industry connections to accelerate your diamond career.
Start Your Journey
One conversation.
The right course for you.
Not sure where to start? WhatsApp Xanchia directly. Tell her where you are — what you know, what you want to do — and she’ll point you to exactly the right programme. No pressure, no complicated forms. Just a conversation.
diamondeducation@gmail.com · Education is Forever
The Global
Diamond Industry.
Gain comprehensive insight into the diamond industry’s complex ecosystem, from mining operations to retail markets, and position yourself for success in this prestigious sector.
Learn how to correctly use a loupe to identify inclusions and flaws and how they affect the value. In addition, you will study the different qualities resulting from diamond crystal growth such as Sawables, Makables and Industrial. This course also covers the diamond origin, mining, ore recovery, extraction, kimberlite surveying and diamond deposits. The student will be able on completion for example; read and compare lab reports of reputable internationally recognized diamond grading reports and certificates of the EGL, DIA, HRD and GIA. The most valuable skill obtained from this course is the ability to appraise both unpolished and polished diamonds. For this purpose of appraisal we will analyze the Rapaport Diamond Price List to calculate value.
We have launched a series of online courses, including live one-on-one online training via zoom. All of our online Diamond Cut, Identifying Lab-Grown Diamonds, Debeers Lightbox articles are now available as pdf, printable files.
The diamond industry plays a significant role in the global economy and has cultural and historical significance in various societies. The world diamond market is represented by diamond mining, trade in rough diamonds, diamond manufacturing, synthetic diamonds and Jewellery sales. The bulk of the world diamond mining is concentrated in nine countries, with their share in the global production in physical terms as high as 99%. Some of the world’s largest producers of natural diamonds are South Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Botswana.
The diamond trade involves a complex network of manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers. Major trading centers include Antwerp, Tel Aviv, Mumbai, and Dubai. Lab-Grown Diamonds: In recent years, there has been an increasing demand for lab-grown diamonds. These diamonds are created in controlled environments and have the same physical and chemical properties as natural diamonds but are generally more affordable. Where to purchase rough diamonds from. Research articles.
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Global Trading
Navigate international diamond bourses, understand market dynamics, and master the complexities of global diamond trading networks.
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Mining & Extraction
From kimberlite pipes to alluvial deposits, understand how diamonds are discovered, extracted, and processed in major mining operations worldwide.
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Market Trends
Stay current with industry developments, emerging technologies, sustainability initiatives, and evolving consumer preferences shaping the future.
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Regulatory Framework
Master the Kimberley Process, understand legal requirements, and navigate the regulatory landscape governing international diamond trade.
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Retail Markets
Understand consumer behavior, retail strategies, and the final link in the diamond value chain from wholesale to end customer.
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Processing & Manufacturing
Learn the journey from rough stone to polished gem, including cutting, polishing, and the technologies that shape modern diamond manufacturing.
Our Track Record
Trusted by the industry.
Built by experience.
1998
Year established — nearly three decades of continuous operation
31+
GIA
SADPMR
Recognised educator — certificates accepted for Diamond Dealer Licence applications
Our Training Locations
Experience world-class diamond and jewelry education in beautiful, professional settings designed to enhance your learning experience.
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Diamond Session Studios
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Flexible On-Site Training
We bring our expertise directly to you! Our mobile training solutions can be delivered at your preferred location across South Africa.
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Global Digital Campus
Access our comprehensive online learning platform from anywhere in the world with lifetime access to all course materials and updates.
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Jewelry Manufacturing Workshop
Professional jewelry manufacturing facilities equipped with industry-standard tools and equipment for gold and silver working.
Our Legacy: Company Update
We’re excited to announce that we are now operating as CXD International t/a Corlia Roberts Diamond Education – previously known as Corlia Roberts Institute of Diamonds. Same world-class expertise, same trusted team, enhanced international presence!
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Previously
Corlia Roberts Institute of Diamonds
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Now
CXD International t/a Corlia Roberts Diamond Education
🌍 Same Trusted Excellence • Now with Greater International Impact
This evolution reflects our commitment to expanding our international presence while honoring our rich heritage. All existing students, certificates, and partnerships remain fully valid and supported.
Ready to Start Your Diamond Journey?
Join thousands of successful graduates who have transformed their careers with our world-class diamond education. Your journey begins with a simple conversation.
“Your diamond education journey is just one conversation away!”
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