Explanation of the precious metals most commonly used in jewelry making. Platinum, Gold, Silver and other basic metals. Karats and Colors of Gold: detailed explanation of karat and colors of gold with hands on exercises for pricing.

Practice of single and multiple ring sizing. Size enlargement. Size reduction. Use of the stretching and compression machine. Shank replacement.

Metal piercing projects starting with simple nameplates, script, bold and free style. Techniques to produce from simple to complex layouts. Starting with a drawing and progressing into your own design.

Design and create a script lettering monogram. Starting from an idea you will plan, draw, cut, file, sand and polish your project. You will also plan and design a decorative bail.

Starting from an idea, you will create a custom design to frame with an outline and four prongs. Learn how to build a frame, the steps to follow and the positioning and technique for setting a pendant or a coin.

All finished pieces will go through polishing procedures. Caution exercised during the polishing steps for certain pieces. Practice of polishing include step by step finishing tasks. Safety rules and objects.

Fabricate and size a platinum band. Soldering of platinum findings. Platinum stone setting. Note: Cost of Platinum and solders not included in the cost of the course and must be purchased separately by the student.

The open market of metals. Alloys. Mixing of metals with alloys Raising and lowering of karat gold. Precious metal pricing explained in detail and calculated. Reducing and increasing the karat of gold.

Creation of a handmade ring and attachment of a finding to create a solitaire diamond ring.

Improve the handling and flame adjustments of the torch. Starting from raw metals, after forming, cutting, assembly by multiple soldering techniques, multiple jump rings and other forms of metal shapes are used to create a custom made fabricated bracelet.

The complete CAD (Computer Aided Design) course is included in this extensive program making full use of all computer drawings and 3d printing technology. 

Starting with a raw casting, you will learn to file, sand and finish a freeform ring. After multiple ring sizing exercises are completed, stone setting findings are attached and the stones are properly placed and set.

Ultrasonic, steam, electro cleaning and other alternatives to provide final luster. All techniques explained and practiced.

Through an extensive set of additional jewelry making projects, a higher degree of complexity is added to drill and master many tasks completed during the preparation cycle of the program.

Melting. Alloying, Rolling and Stretching metals. Torch adjustment. Oxidizing vs. reducing flames. Creating ingots. Plates and wires. Tempering and annealing.

Completion of multiple stone setting exercises. From basic round stone shapes to most common fancy shaped gemstones (Oval, Emerald, Pear, Trillion, Baguette,  Marquise, etc.) These techniques include Prong, Channel, Burnishing and Pave stone setting styles.

In order to develop precision and control for the shaping of metal wires and to learn how to design and better control multiple attachments, a filigree design is provided for custom creating and assembly with multiple solder points.

Creatie a fully finished identification bracelet starting from scratch. Different exercises are included in this ID bracelet. Handmade link chain, hidden lock, figure 8’s, and ID plate with tubing hinges and cutout design.

Basic design of two different colors of metals. This exercise is designed to help understand the sequence and colors of metals for jewelry designs and construction.

Plating demonstrated by the use of solutions in an immersion bath. Use of a plating rectifier machine. Gold plating, rhodium plating, copper and nickel plating techniques.

Additional practice of more than 50 projects, most require stone setting layout and performance. These projects are practical exercises of diverse stone setting styles classes.
Most of the pieces handled in this segment must be created by the student.

Making of a line of wedding band starting with raw metals.

Different textures and finishes applied to complete different designs of bands.

Practice of advanced diamond setting techniques. Pave in two beads. Graver design. Complex layouts. Advanced stone setting tasks are introduced and practiced. Layout and planning of jewelry models for designs with stones.

Make wire settings for different sizes and round, oval, marquise and emerald shaped gemstones. This method provides a sense of symmetry and reinforces the control of heat for a multiple attachment in a small distance & introducing new soldering techniques and props.

Start from an inspiring idea and move on to drawing, layout and perform a complete antique reproduction of a brooch with complex symmetrical precision piercing, fine gallery detail. Installation of a pin system and bail.

After the finishing process of a solitaire ring mounting, a Tiffany style setting is properly placed and attached. Stone setting and finishing.

Finishing touches: Florentine, satin, sand blasted, hammer finish, laser and diamond cut finishes.

Additional practice of jewelry work include repairs, assembly and finishing. Ring sizing with increasing  difficulty. Replacement and repair of hinges and locks. Use and understanding of findings. Soldering and assembly. Re-tipping and re placement of prongs. 

Design, plan and make links, assembly, solder and finish designers chains and bracelets.

this part of the design uncovers hand making as well as molds and designs made by duplication techniques.

This includes the creation of jewelry designs and the instruction for developing complete jewelry lines starting from an idea and progressing into the production of your own designs.

Build a custom made ring with a basket setting for the given stone. Follow directions to precisely produce the metals used for the creation.  Form a handmade ring and assemble into a custom made creation by adding your own signature design final touches.

Training for working with hollow jewelry pieces. Design, layout and execution of a designer pair of earrings, starting with the preparation of metal, layout, assembly and creation of a unique design. Installation of spring loaded Omega mechanical systems.

Starting with a blueprint or a live piece all measurements must be calculated and duplicated in scale with the given metals to fully recreate a live piece object in perfect scale. From selecting, planning and full assembly.

Special tools and personal protection. Preventing metal contamination. Handling of platinum scrap and filings. Melting. Soldering, brazing and welding. The platinum group of metals. Stone safety. Properties of solders.

Jewelry store operations. Industry sources. Wholesalers, Transactions. Security. Marketing tools. Interactive sales training with hands-on costing and basic jewelry appraising guidance. Costs. Suppliers. Resources. Organizations.

Creation of original links by designing, building, duplication, connection, assembly and finish. Exposure to linking by hinging as well as safety mechanisms.

Bezel pendant design for cabochon stone: Practice the sweat soldering technique by creating a custom designed pendant. Planning, design, setting and finish.

By making perfect fitting shapes, adding decorator’s designs and properly placing a hinge system when the design requires it, fabricate a pill box or locket. Bail and closure attachment to be designed by the student.

Given an outline, you will construct a custom made bracelet by preparing and installing hinges, creating each individual link and going through the designing and construction stages: Designing, planning, assembly and finishing.

Findings, tools and other supplies and suppliers related to the jewelry industry will be introduced to the student.

Soldering gold to platinum, solders you should use. Metal stress relief and sequence of finishing. Setting stones in platinum and why it is considered a dead metal. Finishing techniques. The marking laws.