Students at NYC's Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) will receive lectures on Gemology II being taught by IGI Gemologist Mark Reyes, G.G., through the spring 2009 semester. Gemology II is part of the curriculum of FIT's Jewelry Design Associate Degree Program with a focus on gem identification, which the students are taught with laboratory equipment such as the gemological microscope, dichroscope, polariscope, specific gravity balance, refractometer, ultraviolet light, and spectroscope, among others. This association with IGI and the course is reflective of the former’s commitment towards education in the jewellery industry. IGI will provide each Gemology II student with a gemstone tool kit containing loupe, tweezers, a diamond shovel sorter, three color boats, a color grading tray and a diamond polishing cloth.

"The students have fully embraced this programme and it will no doubt be a rewarding experience – to help them further develop their knowledge of gemology and explore the tools of the trade, stated Reyes. "Being able to dissect a piece of jewelry has helped me excel at IGI and the experience should prove valuable to the students as they study bench techniques in addition to gem identification." Eighteen students are currently enrolled in the course, which began on January 28 and goes through mid-May 2009.

Reyes, a former FIT student, has over two decades of industry experience and has been with IGI for the last 16 years. As a student, selections of Reyes' work and projects were showcased in FIT literature that is still used today. His professional background includes model making, design, and assembly work at the bench.