East of England

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Craft

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Jewellery Making

Gemstone Bezel Setting Workshop

Gain a broad understanding of traditional handmade silversmithing practices using semi-precious gemstones.

Liz Taylor

5.0 (2)

ClassBento donates with every booking to

6 hours

1 to 4

£95 (£250 per class surcharge applies for private classes)

East of England

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Craft

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Jewellery Making

What you'll do

Gemstones have been used for jewellery making for thousands of years. In this course, you will enter the world of working with beautiful semi-precious gemstones, working with bezel setting in fine and 925 sterling silver.

In this stimulating day course, you will learn how to make rings, earrings, or pendants using processes that exploit the metal's outstanding physical, chemical, and aesthetic properties. With group sizes limited to four, you'll receive individual attention and support throughout the class. Explore your creativity and express yourself through crafting beautiful silver jewellery.

Through a set of teacher-led projects, you will create a couple of pieces of jewellery with cabochon gemstones. You will also learn piercing with a jewellery saw, soldering, filing, and polishing. This course aims to make you feel safe and confident in the workshop and have a good understanding of how to safely use the various pieces of equipment.

Learning outcomes:

Combine theoretical understanding and sequenced practical activities to develop skills in making a series of jewellery in semi-precious gemstones.
Learn the basic techniques of cutting, filing, soldering, and polishing, bezel stone setting, and shape forming.
Develop skills in making jewellery with rub-over bezel gemstone settings.
Recognise and handle silversmithing tools safely.
Develop skills in forming, annealing, and pickling metal.
Prepare silver prior to soldering or polishing.
Experiment with methods for adding texture and different finishing techniques.

There will be opportunities for individual interpretations to suit your own tastes. All silver and a choice of small to medium gemstones for this course are supplied. However, you are able to purchase extra silver or alternative gemstones on the day, should you wish to customize pieces or make additional ones. Tools will be provided, but if you have any, feel free to bring your own.

On completion of this course, you may want to enroll in the Beginners' Silver Jewellery course or attend 'returners' sessions on an ongoing basis.

Knowledge required

This course is suitable for beginners or those with limited prior experience of jewellery making.
Some manual dexterity is needed, but individual needs can usually be accommodated. Please get in contact if you wish to discuss your particular requirements. Please be aware the learning studio is not currently wheelchair accessible.

What you'll get

You will have the opportunity to make several pieces, including rings, pendants, and/or earrings.

What to bring

You may wish to bring a pen and notebook. I do provide handouts for some of the projects, but a pen and notebook might be handy.
You may also wish to bring an apron.
If you suffer from any respiratory conditions, you might like to bring a dust mask.
You can also purchase more silver to make extra pieces, so please bring cash to pay directly to your tutor.
Tools and consumables will be provided, but if you have any, feel free to bring your own.

Location

Pampisford, East of England

Exact location is masked for privacy. You'll automatically get the specific address after booking.

Gemstone Bezel Setting Workshop location

Your teacher

Liz Taylor

5.0 (2)

I am the owner of The Silver Bird, an artisan, handmade jewellery business based in a semi-rural village in Cambridgeshire. I specialise in bespoke commissions and customisable pieces, as well as teaching traditional jewellery making techniques.
I have recently retired from an 18 year career as a secondary DT teacher, over which time I taught hundreds of young people how to design and make novel, beautiful products, by exploring material properties and generating unique forms.
During this time, I completed a Masters of Education at Cambridge University, focusing on creative idea generation and development. This gave me a particular passion for biomimicry; using and replicating the nature through product design to make unique textures and forms.
I have taught adult silver jewellery making classes in several schools, and have designed my own teaching room to accommodate up to four aspiring silver-smiths.
Jewellery making with silver is easily the most addictive thing I have ever done. And that's before we talk about the enchanting world of gemstones! Whether you are into contemporary or classic pieces, you are learning for pleasure, or you want your own career change, I can help you fall in love with the processes and achieve your jewellery-making potential.
Contact me for an informal chat if you'd like more information of what I can offer. I look forward to making with you.

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