• In this hands-on course, you’ll learn:
• The fundamentals of diamond cutting techniques
• How to assess a rough diamond for optimal yield
• The polishing process to achieve maximum brilliance
• Essential tools and equipment for precision cutting
• The business side—pricing, market trends, and opportunities

Whether you’re an aspiring polisher, a jeweler looking to expand your expertise, or an entrepreneur wanting to step into the industry, this course gives you both the skill and the strategy to succeed.

Traditional Diamond Cutting & Polishing

Reviving the Craft. Honouring the Hands.

Step into a world where precision meets patience, and brilliance is born through human touch. This immersive course invites you to learn the older, revered techniques of diamond cutting and polishing — the very methods that shaped history’s most treasured gems.

Taught by experts who honour the rhythm and tradition of handcraft, you’ll uncover the secrets of cleaving, bruting, faceting, and polishing — all without the shortcuts of modern machinery. Whether you’re a gem enthusiast, artisan, or aspiring lapidary, this course is your gateway to mastering the skills that once defined an era of craftsmanship.

What You’ll Learn

Step into the shoes of a traditional diamond cutter and polish your skills the old-school way:

• The correct use of traditional and modern tools used in diamond processing

• How to set up and level a scaife polishing bench for optimal diamond finishing

• Techniques for balancing and maintaining all cutting and polishing equipment to ensure consistent, high-quality results

• How to use both mechanical and semi-automatic tangs and dops

• How to mount and set diamonds into various pots for accurate alignment and stability

• Use of crown and pavilion gauges, girdle markers, and other precision tools

• How to use a 10X cutter’s loupe to evaluate a diamond for imperfections, inclusions, and potential areas for removal

• How to correctly use the loupe to judge clarity and plan cutting procedures

• Identifying and reading the grain direction across different crystal shapes

• Recognizing crystal symmetry, axis, planes, forms, and habits of rough diamonds

• Understanding what defines a well-made round brilliant cut diamond — from proportion to symmetry

• The blocking process for both the crown and pavilion

• Cutting crown facets at proper angles, evenly spaced from table to girdle

• Measuring and cutting the table facet for correct percentage size

• Creating a perfect 90-degree square of crown mains, and accurately forming the in-between bezel facets

• Cutting pavilion mains and intermediate facets to align with crown facets using a precise plumb line

• Understanding the critical angles of both crown and pavilion, and how table size affects brilliance

• Brillianteering: placing the remaining facets on both crown and pavilion to complete the round brilliant cut

• Evaluating brilliance and fire based on proportion, symmetry, and polish — and how these impact a diamond’s beauty and value

• Diamond Sawing – Learn how to carefully saw a rough diamond using heritage techniques that require patience, precision, and a steady hand.
• Bruting by Hand – Discover how to round the diamond’s girdle using the age-old method of bruting, where one diamond shapes another.
• Classic Faceting – Understand the timeless geometry of facet placement and how to unlock a stone’s brilliance without relying on modern automation.
• Traditional Polishing – Work with the original polishing wheel — the scaife — and master the feel, rhythm, and finesse needed to bring a diamond to life.
• Tools of the Trade – Explore traditional tools and their uses, from early saws to polishing tangs, learning to trust your hand and eye.
• Philosophy of Craftsmanship – Embrace a deeper understanding of the artisan’s mindset — where every cut is intentional, and every polish tells a story.

This training not only gives you the hands-on skillset of a traditional cutter, but also the ability to analyze and critique your own work to the highest professional standard.

Bridging Eras: Where Old-School Craft Meets Modern Innovation

In a time when artificial intelligence and high-precision machinery are revolutionizing the diamond industry, it’s easy to forget how it all began — with hands, intuition, and the steady rhythm of tradition.

At Corlia Roberts, we believe the future of diamonds lies not in choosing between old and new, but in understanding both.

Our new Diamond Cutting and Polishing Course revives the traditional techniques of sawing, bruting, faceting, and polishing — while also acknowledging the powerful role of AI, laser technology, and data-driven design in today’s diamond pipeline.

Why Learn Diamond Cutting & Polishing?

Mastering diamond cutting offers valuable career and business opportunities in the jewelry industry.

By learning this skill, you can:

• Increase the value of rough diamonds.
• Work in jewelry manufacturing, diamond trading, or custom cutting.
• Start a diamond business and control the entire process from rough to retail.

 Location: South Africa

This course is taught in South Africa at the Corlia Roberts training centre, with limited seats to ensure one-on-one, focused instruction.

You’ll receive an internationally recognized certificate upon completion, making it ideal for both personal development and professional advancement.

Book Your Spot — Limited Spaces Available!

Because this is a hands-on, heritage-focused course, space is limited to ensure individual guidance.

👉 Chat with us on WhatsApp to reserve your seat, ask questions, or find out if this course is right for you.

Xanchia Roberts – 079 969 9580