Location

The Diamond Education College is located in the South African Diamond Centre building in downtown Johannesburg.

The SA Diamond Centre is the hub of the South African Diamond Industry and is the home of major industry organisations such as the South African Diamond Board, the Diamond Bourse of South Africa, the Diamond Merchants' Association of Southern Africa, the Rough Diamond Dealers' Association of South Africa, The Diamond Development Company and many others.

In addition, the Centre houses more than 100 diamond dealing companies, polishing factories, manufacturing jewellers, shipping companies and diamond equipment supply companies.

The physical address of the college is:-

Diamond Education College
Suite 607, 6th Floor
SA Diamond Centre
225 Main Street
Johannesburg 2001
SOUTH AFRICA

Click here for a map

The phone, fax and e-mail are:-

Phone: +27 11 334-5917
Fax: +27 11 334-5917
Email -
Skype: dec_joburg (for Chat only)

About the College

The lecturer of the Diamond Education College is Dennis White. His achievements include:

• More than 40 years experience in the diamond industry

• Trained  in the United Kingdom on the Piermatic automatic polishing machines.

• Specialist in polishing  all sizes of round brilliant and fancy cut diamonds.

• Considered a Master in the diamond industry

• Biggest diamond cut & polished by Mr.White -  finished weight   84 carats – fancy yellow, Baraion cut.

• Managed production of a De Beers Site holding company and amassed a wealth of experience and expertise in the diamond industry

•  Purchased rough diamonds direct from the diggers, mining companies and tender houses.

• Traveled to various African countries sourcing rough diamonds.

•  Involved in alluvial diamond mining operations in Equatorial Africa.

• Opened his own business and is well knows for his knowledge and integrity in the diamond industry.

• Qualified gemmologist 

• Member of Board of Directors – Diamond Merchants Association of Southern Africa.

• Member of Masters Diamond Cutters Association.

At the end of 2009 Dennis decided it was time to “give back” knowledge and information to empower prospective entrants into the diamond industry and joined the family of the Diamond Education College as a lecturer.

During the course of the Rough Diamond Evaluation and Grading course students will have an opportunity to meet the founder of the diamond school, Tienie Barnes, who also will share with his experience in the industry. His achievments include:

• Is a Master Diamond Cutter

• Managed one of the largest diamond cutting works in South Africa

• Owned and operated his own diamond cutting works

• Invented the diamond marking machine

• Introduced a Rough Diamond Evaluation & Grading course for the first time anywhere in the world

• Founded the original Diamond Education College during 1996 and was the first institute in South Africa to offer full training to all South Africans

• Has been lecturing on diamonds for over 40 years

• Is a qualified gemologist

• Is a graduate in Criterion Reference Instruction (CIR)

• Is a graduate in Interaction Management

• Has a diploma in Allen Management (California)

• Is a member of the Diamond Merchant's Association of South Africa

• Is a member of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses

• Developed the training standards for the diamond industry for the MQA

• Wrote the training material for the education of students wishing to comply with the diamond industry training standards

SA Diamond Centre Facilities

Restaurant Facilities

All students have access to SA Diamond Centre's two restaurants (one of them is Kosher), which offers a wide variety of meals.

Banking Facilities

All students have access to Banking Facilities. The Diamond Centre houses agencies of:-

• Nedbank
• Standard Bank of South Africa

Diamond Grading Facilities

All students have access to Diamond Grading Facilities. The Diamond Centre houses the offices of:-

• The Gemmological Institute of America (GIA)
• The European Grading Laboratory (EGL)