Courses
Below is a list and brief description of the individual jewelry making classes offered at our school. Click on the name of the jewelry class for more information.
Graduate Bench Jeweler Program
The Graduate Bench Jeweler program provides students with the 8-week Jewelry Technician program plus an additional 4 weeks of advanced classes. Students will learn Advanced Stone Setting, Ornamental Hand Engraving, and Platinum Fabrication. They are also given the choice of either Wax Carving or Computer Aided Design. Students graduating will be proficient in mainstream jewelry repair and stone setting skills using gold, silver and platinum. Graduates are prepared for JA Level II Bench Jeweler Certification and beyond.
Classes are held Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Benches are fully stocked with all the tools and materials you will need. It is not necessary to purchase any tools prior to arrival.
Jewelry Technician Program
The first eight weeks of the Graduate Bench Jeweler program, known as the Jewelry Technician program, is based around a commercial bench jeweler’s "job box". Students learn in an environment similar to a working repair shop where they will be responsible for keeping tracking of materials and working at an efficient pace. Core skills are taught encouraging confidence, consistency, and speed through the development of fundamental techniques. Graduates leave with the ability to gain employment as entry or intermediate level bench jewelers and are prepared for the JA Level I Bench Jeweler Technician Certification.
Class Details:
Advanced Stone Setting
Jewelers with intermediate stone setting experience are amazed at how fast they learn in this truly extraordinary class, while advanced stone setters are impressed with the wealth of new concepts they learn. The new and innovative techniques taught in this hands-on workshop dramatically improve craftsmanship.
- Prong Setting Fancies: Princess Cut, Marquis Cut, Pear Cut, Emerald Cut, Baguette Cut
- Channel Setting: Rounds, Princess Cut, Inlaid Channel
- Invisible Setting: Grooved Princess Cuts
- Bead Setting and Pavé: Bead & Bright Cut, Thread Setting, Pavé, Advanced Pavé
- Plus... Flush setting, Gypsy, Bezel Setting, Tool Making, Graver Sharpening
Class Details:
Bench Jeweler Comprehensive
During this five-day power workshop, students learn basic bench skills, jewelry repair, troubleshooting, and time saving techniques. Our video integrated classroom is the ideal environment for learning the intricate techniques of bench jewelry
- Tool Identification
- Sawing
- Filing
- Soldering
- Torch Theory
- Ring Sizing
- Re-tipping
- Re-pronging
- Chain Repair
- Finishing
- Polishing
Class Details:
Ornamental Hand Engraving
This "strategically progressive" course supplies students with the basic techniques necessary to become a skilled engraver. Jason gives a historic overview of engraving while presenting the primary cuts required to build a solid foundation. Students learn proper hand engraving position, graver grinding and sharpening. Each student practices with individualized assistance and instruction:
- Tool Making
- The Art of Scrolls
- Profitability of Engraving Skills
- Execution of Stylized Cuts
- Floral Patterns
Class Details:
Cost: 5-Day Workshop; $1,042.25, includes kit fees and taxes.
Instructor:
- Jason Marchiafava Read Bio
Soldering Secrets
Learn the most specialized torch techniques required to make professional jewelry.
Soldering Secrets
This course will teach you how to avoid costly trial and error methods as you work with precious metal soldering. Learn the most specialized torch techniques required to make professional jewelry.
Students will learn:
- Torch solder theory
- Torch types and applications
- Solder varieties and uses
- Large and small scale soldering
- Welding techniques
- Types of joints
- Safety issues
Class Details:
Stone Setting Comprehensive
Learn professional stone setting techniques, tool making and bench tricks in our five-day workshop designed to enhance the jeweler's primary skill level. This class places special emphasis on bur control, flex-shaft use, graver use and sharpening. Students practice setting both diamonds and fragile colored stones in many setting styles, including:
- Bezel Setting
- Flush Setting
- Prong Setting (round and fancy)
- Channel Setting
- Gypsy Setting
- Cluster Setting
- Bead & Bright Cut Setting
Class Details:
Stone Setting Essentials
This 3-day workshop is designed for anyone who is interested in exploring the art of stone setting, or if previous training lacked technical approaches.
Students will learn:
- Bezel setting
- Flush setting
- Prong setting
- Bur and flexshaft control
- Bearing theory
- Tool making
Class Details:
Wax Carving with Kate Wolf
Wax is an amazing material! In this hands-on workshop, the students explore innovative approaches to wax carving with an emphasis on encouraging confidence and creativity. Working primarily with File-A-Wax, there are live, highly magnified demos of many wax techniques. Kate welcomes personal projects or projects are supplied. Students also learn affordable lathe and milling techniques that save time and improve accuracy. Students must have basic bench jeweler skills for this program.
Kate shares her expertise in this workshop by teaching the advanced techniques of:
- Design
- Bezel Fabrication
- Faux Granulation
- Hollowing
- Wax Repair
- Layout
- Prong and Channel Work
- Flame Techniques
- Tool Making
- Carving
- Contour Fit Bands
- Mirror Images
- Finishing
Class Details:
