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Techniques Taught at Workshop 925

Jewellery making is a very broad subject, there are plenty of facets (had to be done) to this industry. This is what makes it so diverse and interesting -  you can pick and chose which direction you wish to follow. 

It is always worth trying new techniques out, it is often muttered in the workshop "Oh! I love this technique, I didn't think I would!" By trying new techniques, you also get an overall understanding about how something is achieved 

We cover a wide range of techniques at the workshop through weekend and term time classes.

Many techniques are taught during term time, however we strongly suggest attending masterclasses to really get to grips with more advanced techniques.

You will follow each part of the process step by step with a focus on the day on that technique and that technique only within a 7 hour session.

This will really allow you to understand the technique properly and all the ins and outs with all the specialist equipment out and ready for you; and more importantly give you time and tutor attention as the tutor is solely focused upon this technique for the entire session. 

Here are the techniques we teach within Workshop 925...

Core Skills -

Core skills are developed in both term time and weekend classes. In most beginner workshops you tend to cover a lot of core jewellery making skills. 

  • Piercing - cutting out your metal and learning saw control is essential and needs good time to practice.
  • Soldering - if you are really struggling with your soldering technique, the chain bracelet weekend workshop is a fantastic course to help you develop your technique. 
  • Jump Ring Making / Ring Making
  • Melt down scrap and re-purpose 
  • Ring Sizing
  • Filing
  • Forming the metal
  • Making Clasps - T Bars, S Hooks
  • Making earring findings

Other techniques - 

  • Granulation - We demonstrate granulation during term time classes.
  • Filigree - We address filigree during term times should students wish to work upon this technique.
  • Wax Carving - We look as basic wax carving during term time classes, however Stephen Barnett runs weekend masterclasses looking at signet rings, wedding bands, and stone set rings.

Polishing -

  • Stephen M Goldsmith (aka Polishing guru) runs excellent masterclasses at the workshop to really address polishing techniques. 
  • We also address polishing in term time classes however strongly recommend Stephen's classes to gain his tips and knowledge from his many decades within the industry. 

Hydraulic Press Techniques -

  • Press Forming - A technique we cover during term time classes
  • Pancake Dies -   A technique we cover during term time classes
  • Impression Dies -  A technique we cover during term time classes and during our weekend silver scrap workshop. 

Stone Setting -

  • Bezel Setting - We run bezel setting weekend classes and also cover this technique during term time classes. Once students are confident with setting bezel strip style settings, we move up towards thicker find silver sheet settings, utilising hammer setting methods, this extension is taught once students have some making experience. 
  • Tube Setting - Covered during our weekend masterclass with Krista and during term time classes. 
  • Pavè - Stephen Barnett Weekend Advanced Course, we do not cover this during term time classes. 
  • Channel Setting -  Stephen Barnett Weekend Advanced Course, we do not cover this during term time classes but do teach advanced students single stone channel setting. 
  • Grain Setting -  Stephen Barnett Weekend Advanced Course. 
  • Collet Settings (various shapes) -  Stephen Barnett Weekend Advanced Course- this is usually a 3 day course as there is a lot to cover. There are two areas to cover here, learning how to make the collets themselves and then learning how to set the stones within them and handle different stone shapes. We also cover some collet making and setting during term time classes for long term students who have built up setting experience - however mist students prefer to attend the masterclasses to gain in depth focus on this technique as it can be involved and require time to understand the concepts taught. 
  • Rex Collet -  Stephen Barnett Weekend Advanced Course
  • Eternity Rings -  Stephen Barnett Weekend Advanced Course
  • Claw / Prong -  Stephen Barnett Weekend Advanced Course. We also cover some collet setting during term time classes for long term students who have built up setting experience. 
  • Flush Setting - Advanced Flush setting with Stephen, however we also cover basic flush setting during term time classes. Stephen will address different shaped stones such as princess cut and marquise. 

Colour Techniques -

  • Gold Leaf - taught during term time classes, students are taught how to apply and prepare their piece for gold leaf. 
  • Kuem Boo - A differing technique from gold leaf which involves a diffusion bond. This is something we teach during term time classes.
  • Oxidising - We work with Platinol and lover of Sulphur, a technique we cover during term time classes.
  • Enamelling - Weekend Masterclass with Sally Lees. We do not teach enamelling during term time classes.

Texturing Techniques -

  • Etching - Weekend Masterclasses with Krista Thomson, we do not teach etching during term time classes.
  • Rolling Mill Texture Plates -  This is taught during weekend classes and term time classes.
  • Reticulation -  This is taught during weekend classes and term time classes.
  • Stamping - Letter and pattern stamps - This is taught during weekend classes and term time classes.
  • Texture hammers -  This is taught during weekend classes and term time classes.

Casting -

  • Sand Casting
  • Water Casting
  • Cuttlefish Casting
  • Broom Casting
  • Food Casting

Stringing, Knotting and Threading -

  • A weekend masterclass with Amy Hubbard teaching all these techniques within the day. 

Stone Cutting -

Sarah Reece offers stone cutting at her home workshop in Farnham, Surrey. She will be relocating to St Albans in 2025 and will continue to run stone cutting workshops from there. 

Gemmology - 

Stuart Pool from Nineteen 48 runs a weekend masterclass at the workshop covering key aspects of Gemmology. 

Photography - 

Cathy Pyle runs two excellent jewellery photography masterclasses at the workshop a beginners and intermediate course. We do not cover this during term time class.