What is silver metal clay?

Silver clay is a manufactured material made from silver particles, an organic binder and water. The clay can be moulded, shaped and textured. Once it is dry it is fired. Basic pieces can be fired with a jewellers torch (a creme brule torch will do!). More advanced pieces are fired in a jewellers kiln. The result is real 999 fine silver of hallmark quality.

Do I need a jewellers kiln to complete this diploma course?

Yes, for the projects in this Diploma you will need access to a jewellers kiln. This needs to be a programmable kiln that you can set the temperature. You can find out more about kilns here https://www.jewellersacademy.com/blog/which-kiln-should-i-buy-a-guide-for-jewellers

If you don't have one already, this is a great excuse to get one! You will be using it to fire complex silver clay pieces including rings. You will also use it for enamelling and firing pieces with glass.

We recommend either the Prometheus Mini Kiln 1 or the Paragon SC2

What experience do I need to do the Diploma in Silver Metal Clay?

No experience of working with metal clay is required as the course starts from beginners level and quickly moves on to more advanced projects and masterclasses through the year. If you have some experience of working with metal clay then the first week of the course may be a refresher for you before you build on your existing knowledge.

What are the benefits of learning jewellery making online?

You can watch me answer this question

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzFACNelG1M

What is the minimum amount of time I should spend each week on my Diploma training?

We recommend 6-7 hours per week.

If you can set aside the same day every week and get into a routine that will help you achieve this Diploma qualification. We release the content for the week and then you can decide when you watch it and work on your pieces. At our studios in Hatton Garden we had students that were working full time take the weekend option of this course successfully and you can too!

Is there a way to see what a lesson looks like before committing to the full course ?

Take a look at this free course to give you an idea of what the weekly courses are like https://jewelleryschoolonline.teachable.com/p/make-a-silver-name-necklace

When does enrolment close?

The 18 month payment plan will end on 7th March 2025. Tool and materials kits are limited and are available on a first come first served basis so we recommend early booking. We expect to close for enrolment in June 2025.

What do I need to make for assessment on the diploma?

You can watch me answer this question here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zslWFXTqXU

What happens if I have holiday/business trip booked during the term time?

The course is split into terms that follow the same pattern as the school terms (in the UK). If, however, you are away on holiday/for work etc each term is flexible and you can plan your time to catch up on pieces when you are back. There is also workbench time scheduled into the course to allow you to catch up or finish off any projects. There is an additional two weeks at the end of terms 1 and 2 and an additional 4 weeks at the end of term 3 which is built into the course for this reason. (There are 4 weeks after term 3 as you have an additional final project to complete).

Additionally, you can watch me answer this question here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUCXbZ6Hi04&feature=youtu.be

What is the marking process for the Diploma?

Three times during the year you will send your work to London, UK for assessment. You will pay for postage and any customs charges accrued for sending your work to us. We will cover the post of postage and any customs charges for returning the work to you.

You can watch me talk more about the marking process here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXW1ethMZIs&feature=youtu.be

Is all the course material released at the start of the course, or is it released as you go along?

The course content is released weekly during term time, each Monday you will receive an email with a summary of the material and the content will be available on the course portal for you. You get lifetime access so once each week is published you will have ongoing access.

How can I stay accountable and motivated on an online course?

The structured style of the Diploma will help you with this. Each week has a set project to complete and these need to be finished ready to submit for marking at the end of each term. You will be investing money in your own development which can also help focus your mind. We would recommend scheduling time for your learning each week, for example Monday is jewellery day and nothing can interrupt that (in a perfect world!). Having this time scheduled can give you a structure as if you were attending an in-person class. You will also receive weekly emails regarding the course content to keep you on track.

There are assessment deadlines each term that will also help keep you on track. The assessment deadlines are non-negotiable and you will be required to post your work to us each term by a certain date and send us a copy/photo of your recorded delivery receipt as proof of sending. If you do not meet the assessment deadlines (even one of them) the highest you can be assessed at is a pass level even if your work is of a higher standard. Think of it like not turning up for your university exams. Holding you to these assessment deadlines helps keep you motivated and prepared for when you are running your own business or working for another jeweller.

What support do I get as a student on the Diploma?

You get:

1-2-1 mentoring sessions over live video at a time that works for you

Fortnightly LIVE Zoom sessions with a course mentor in a small group to get the support you need

Exclusive access to the Diploma in Silver Metal Clay student Facebook Group to share your weekly progress, ask questions and get feedback. This group opens before the start of the course in September.

When does payment start if I sign up for a payment plan?

If you choose a payment plan it starts immediately and the payment goes out on the same date each month so if you sign up on the 8th of the month, the payments will go out on the 8th of each month until the plan is complete and the course is paid in full. If you prefer your payment to go out on a certain date e.g. on 1st of the month we suggest signing up on that date as unfortunately we aren’t able to change the date.

Is this course eligible for an Advanced Learner Loan?

As we are a private educational institution unfortunately our courses aren’t eligible for the Advanced Learner Loan.

We do offer payment plans to help you spread the cost.

I'm not in the UK, how do the payments work with the exchange rate?

The monthly payments will fluctuate slightly with exchange rate fluctuations and can go down as well as up. If you want to start a monthly payment programme and then pay off in full when the exchange rate is in your favour you can do this by getting in touch with us contact@jewellersacademy.com

Is the Diploma externally accredited?

This course is accredited by the Jewellers Academy. It is not associated with any other awarding body and there is a reason for that. We did look at different courses and mapping the content to national criteria but found that they were all very administration heavy, there were lots of written essays and work to do that we felt had nothing to do with being a successful jeweller. This course is all about helping you learn the skills to make jewellery from metal clay and to go onto starting a business if you want. We don’t care if you can write essays or not! And neither will your customers!

What level Diploma is it that is awarded if I am successful?

To pass this course and be awarded with the diploma certification you need to achieve 60% or above. To calculate this, we add up all of your marks at the end of the year and calculate your percentage. Students are given a full transcript of their marks. The hard copy diploma certification is stated as ‘successfully completed’ for the diploma they are awarded.