Danat providing intensive training in gemmology

Manama : The Bahrain Institute for Pearls and Gemstones (Danat) has been conducting an intensive professional training programme for its new recruits at the Institute’s headquarters in the World Trade Centre.

Designed to introduce the new generation of Bahraini graduates to gemmology, the programme is spearheaded by Danat CEO and renowned industry expert, Kenneth Scarratt.

The training programme includes the use of classic gemmological analytical instruments while educating graduates in the field on gems’ geological genesis and biomineralisation, gem treatments and gem synthesis as well as the various features identified for testing including assessments of colour, measurements and treatment of stones.

“The education of the country’s future gemmologists is an important part of the Danat mandate and promise,” explained Scarratt adding: “We have been conducting practical sessions with our trainees, building on their theoretical knowledge of the instruments and their different applications in gemmology.”

“By the end of this initial two-year training programme, each gemmologist will be able to operate every instrument and provide correct interpretation of the results. 

At the same time, we expect our new trainees to study, sit for, and pass external examinations in gemmology before specialising further in a gemmological discipline,” he added.

As part of Danat’s commitment to the development of the local industry and human capital, the institute’s 35-strong staff will grow as new and existing trainees will be encouraged to specialize in a number of gemmological disciplines: the solid-state physics and/or chemistry of particular gemstone or pearl species, microscopy and photomicroscopy, various forms of spectroscopy (FTIR, UV/visible, Raman) and real-time microradiography / CT imaging.