Rough Diamond Evaluation In-Person Course
Every rough diamond carries a three-billion-year story in its inclusions, its morphology, its colour. One wrong read is the difference between a winning deal and a devastating loss. In two days of private, hands-on training, you’ll develop the eyes of an expert — and the credentials to prove it.
Learn to read a
rough diamond.
Not just grade it.
All-Inclusive Course
Investment R15,500
Includes DDL assistance, online campus access & internationally recognized certificate · Studio Margate KZN
Why This Course Exists
Most people look at a rough diamond.
Very few can read one.
“Inclusions aren’t flaws. They’re the diamond’s signature — its geological autobiography. When you learn to read them, you don’t just see a stone. You see a story.”
— Corlia Roberts
The diamond industry rewards knowledge and punishes guesswork. A misread colour, a missed inclusion, an incorrect yield estimate — any one of these can turn a profitable parcel into a loss. And in the rough diamond trade, deals move fast.
Corlia Roberts built this course because she watched too many aspiring dealers enter the market without the foundational skills to protect themselves — or their clients. This is the course she wished existed when she started.
It’s not a classroom lecture. From the moment you arrive, you work with real rough diamonds. Every principle is applied immediately — weight estimation, colour assessment, clarity mapping, yield calculation, market pricing. You leave not just knowing the theory, but having done the work.
Your Instructors
Corlia Roberts.
The woman who rewrote
diamond education in SA.
Corlia Roberts didn’t just enter the diamond industry — she helped shape how it teaches. After completing her GIA training, she spent decades building a methodology that turned a complex, opaque trade into something accessible, learnable, and deeply human.
Her philosophy is simple: a diamond is not a product. It is a geological event. When you understand how it formed — the pressure, the time, the journey from deep within the earth to your loupe — you stop guessing and start reading. And when you read diamonds, you make better decisions.
She has trained professionals at mining houses including Rio Tinto and helped hundreds of students obtain their Diamond Dealer Licences. She established Corlia Roberts Diamond Education in 1998 alongside her then husband Evan Roberts — founder of DiamGold Academy — building a family institution that has shaped the industry in South Africa for nearly three decades.
Today, Corlia steps back from the classroom but remains the heart of CXD — advising, guiding, and holding the standard. Evan continues to support the Diamond Dealer Licence process, bringing his deep regulatory knowledge to every application. And their daughter Xanchia now leads the teaching — carrying her mother’s methodology and her father’s expertise into every course she runs.
When you train with CXD, you’re not learning from one person. You’re learning from a family that has lived this industry for thirty years. That’s not a credential. That’s a legacy.
The 2-Day Masterclass
Two days. Every angle.
Total transformation.
Each session runs 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM — focused, immersive, and practical from the first hour. No stressful written exams. You demonstrate your mastery with stones in your hands.
Day One · Foundation
Day Two · Mastery & Market
You learn to see what most people miss — crystal structure, morphology, the story written in every surface and inclusion. By midday you’ll be working with real stones under a loupe.
- Rough diamond characteristics & crystal structure
- Diamond formation & geological journey
- Shape analysis & morphology classification
- Professional tool usage: loupe, UV penlight, tester
- Colour grading techniques for rough stones
- Clarity assessment & inclusion mapping
- Weight estimation methods
- Surface condition evaluation
- Authenticity testing — real vs simulant
You take everything from Day 1 and apply it to the market. Yield calculations, pricing, how to buy from miners, how tenders work — and how to get your Diamond Dealer Licence.
- Cut potential assessment & yield calculations
- Quality sorting: gem, near-gem & commercial grades
- Market valuation using Rapaport & IDEX price lists
- Tender houses & buying from small-scale miners
- Industry standards & certification processes
- Diamond Dealer Licence: legal & SADPMR requirements
- Fluorescence & its impact on value
- 4 Cs for rough & polished stones
- Building your diamond business
What Makes This Different
Not a group course.
Not a theory lecture.
A private masterclass.
There are diamond courses. And then there’s this. Here’s what you won’t find anywhere else on the South Coast — or most of South Africa.
Final Practical Assessment & Certificate Presentation
You complete a hands-on evaluation exercise — stones in hand, no written exam — to demonstrate your mastery. Then you receive your Internationally Recognised Certificate in Rough Diamond Evaluation & Grading, recognised by SADPMR and the global diamond industry.
Your Next Step After the Course
The Diamond Dealer License.
Your legal gateway to the trade.
This course doesn’t just teach you to evaluate diamonds.
It sets you up to trade them legally.
The Diamond Dealer Licence (DDL) is issued by the SADPMR — the South African Diamond and Precious Metals Regulator. Without it, you cannot legally buy or sell rough diamonds in South Africa. With it, you can build a legitimate, profitable business in one of the world’s most exciting industries.
We have guided hundreds of students through this application. It’s complex, it’s paperwork-heavy, and most people get it wrong the first time. We make sure you don’t.
Complete Your Course
Earn your internationally recognised certificate in rough diamond evaluation.
DDL Application Guidance
We walk you through the full SADPMR documentation checklist and requirements.
Everything at R15,000
One investment.
Everything you need to start.
- 2-day intensive private masterclass with real rough diamonds
- All professional evaluation tools & equipment on site
- Internationally recognised certificate (SADPMR-aligned)
- Diamond Dealer License application guidance & support
- Lifetime Digital Campus access — video tutorials, guides & updates
- Personalised instruction tailored to your pace & goals
- WhatsApp mentoring with ongoing expert access after graduation
- Light refreshments during sessions
- Accommodation recommendations on request
Course Logistics
INVESTMENT
R15,500
DURATION
2-Day Practical
CLASS SIZE
Max 3 Students
DATES
Flexible
LOCATION
Margate, KZN
Reserve Your Private Session
Two days that change
how you see diamonds forever.
Private sessions mean we can book around you — there’s no intake queue, no waiting list for a fixed date. WhatsApp us, tell us when you’re available, and we’ll confirm your session.
Maximum 3 students per session. Once your dates are confirmed, your spot is secured with a deposit.
💎
Hands-On Practical Training
2 intensive days of working with real rough diamonds. Learn by doing, not just reading.
🌐
Lifetime Online Access
Continue learning with our comprehensive online course materials – yours forever.
🏆
International Certificate
Receive globally recognized certification in rough diamond evaluation upon completion.
📋
Dealer License Support
We guide you through the diamond dealer license application process.
📅
Flexible Scheduling
We work around YOUR schedule. Book when it suits you best.
⭐
30 Years Experience
Learn from industry veterans with three decades in diamond education and trading.
📱 Personal WhatsApp Mentoring Included
Get direct access to our rough diamond experts for ongoing support throughout your learning journey.
Ask questions, get advice, and receive personalized guidance – it’s like having a personal diamond mentor in your pocket!
Frequently Asked Questions
Our course is perfect for beginners, jewelers, gemologists, investors, collectors, and anyone interested in entering the diamond industry. No prior experience required – we start from the basics and build up to professional-level skills.
Completely flexible! We don’t run fixed schedules. We book your 2-day course when YOU can attend – weekdays, weekends, or any dates that work for you. Just contact us with your preferred dates.
Yes! We provide all the rough diamonds, tools, and equipment needed for the hands-on training. You’ll work with a variety of real rough diamonds to gain practical experience.
We guide you through the entire diamond dealer license application process, including required documentation, legal requirements, and industry compliance. Our 30 years of experience helps streamline this often complex process.
That’s what the lifetime online access is for! You’ll have permanent access to all course materials, video demonstrations, reference guides, and updates. Plus, you can always contact us for additional support.
We conduct courses in Ramsgate, Margate, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Exact location details will be provided when you book. We can also discuss alternative arrangements for groups or special circumstances.
Just bring yourself and a notepad! We provide all specialized equipment, tools, rough diamonds, and course materials. Light refreshments are also included during breaks.
Yes, the course includes hands-on practical assessments to ensure you can confidently evaluate rough diamonds. Don’t worry – our instructors provide plenty of guidance and support throughout.
Our certification is recognized by the South African Diamond & Precious Metals Regulator, diamond dealers, gemological institutes, and industry professionals worldwide. It demonstrates your competency in professional rough diamond evaluation.
You must be logged in to post a comment.