Make a Silver Pendant with Gemstone Workshop

Meet Elena, the maker behind Vitrum Veritas. My love affair with jewellery began about 15 years ago in Florence, Italy.I originally went there to study jewellery making and design, and very quickly discovered that I had fallen completely in love with the craft. I studied everything from jewellery history and symbolism to design, gemmology, soldering, stone setting and wax carving. I later continued my training at Metallo Nobile, a school specialising in traditional Italian techniques, where I learned hand engraving, pavé setting and Florentine fretwork. I eventually continued my jewellery education in London at Holts Academy, now the British Academy of Jewellery.But jewellery wasn't the only thing I wanted to explore. I've always been fascinated by making things with my hands, and over the years I've happily collected creative skills wherever I could find them — from enamelling and stained glass to mosaics, gilding, pottery and weaving.For a while, my career took me in a rather unexpected direction, but the creative world kept calling me back.I returned to jewellery making and couldn't have been happier. Alongside working as a bench jeweller, I began teaching again, and that's when I realised just how much I love sharing the craft with other people.I've taught everything from beginner jewellery courses and silver ring workshops to wax carving, gemstone setting, hand engraving and pearl stringing. I've worked with both small and larger groups and learned how to adapt activities for adults with very different levels of experience and confidence.But my favourite part of teaching isn't actually the finished piece.It's the moment when someone looks at what they've made and suddenly realises:"I made this."There's something incredibly special about watching someone who doesn't consider themselves particularly creative discover that they can make something beautiful with their own hands. That moment — when curiosity turns into confidence — is what keeps me coming back to teaching.Why Vitrum Veritas?Vitrum Veritas is my little world where all of these passions come together: jewellery, glass, mosaics, gilding, history, craftsmanship and a healthy dose of curiosity.I love traditional techniques, but I also love experimenting and finding unexpected ways to use them. My jewellery is often inspired by historical pieces, symbolism, nature and the wonderfully whimsical details of the past — bows, birds, flowers, gemstones and objects with a story to tell.My workshops are an invitation to slow down, get your hands dirty and discover the joy of making something yourself.You don't need to consider yourself an artist. You don't need any previous experience. You just need a little curiosity.I'll take care of the tools, techniques and guidance. You get to play, experiment and leave with something that didn't exist before you walked through the door.