Which Jewellery Diploma is the right choice for me?
At Jewellers Academy, we offer four one-year Jewellery Diplomas, and if you’re unsure which one is right for you, read on!
In this post, we’ll outline the differences between our traditional Diploma courses focused on silver and gold jewellery making. We also have the Diploma in Silver Metal Clay which focusses solely on that magical material (click here for more details about that course).
Here’s an overview of our Diploma Pathway:
(Foundation in Silver Jewellery - 5 weeks)
Year 1 - Diploma in Silver Jewellery
Year 2 - Diploma in Fine Jewellery
Year 3 - Advanced Jewellery Diploma
To clarify, our Foundation in Silver Jewellery course is not part of the main Diploma program. Instead, it serves as an introductory course for those who want to dip their toe in the water before joining the Diploma in Silver Jewellery.
take the quiz
We have a handy little quiz on the button below that checks your experience level and lets you know which Diploma is right for you.
foundation in silver jewellery
EXPERIENCE LEVEL: COMPLETE BEGINNER
This is a 5 week taster course designed for the complete beginner wanting to dip their toe into making jewellery. You are not required to complete this course, you can go straight to the Diploma in Silver Jewellery.
Who is this course designed for?
Complete beginners wanting to try silver jewellery making for the first time.
Tool kit available?
Yes. You can find the full tool list here >
Materials kit available?
Yes. You can find the full materials list here >
What will I learn?
Bench skills - sawing, filing, drilling, soldering, polishing
You will make silver rings, pendants and earrings
Learn more and enrol now:
Diploma in Silver Jewellery
EXPERIENCE LEVEL: BEGINNER LEVEL TO INTERMEDIATE
Who is this course designed for?
This course is designed for you if you would like to learn how to make silver and gold jewellery. We do not presume any knowledge of jewellery making and start from beginners level helping you learn the basics of sawing, soldering, filing and polishing metal. We move on from here to help you learn how to work with gold, stone setting, wax carving and much more. If you have done some silver jewellery making and want to learn more this is also for you as it will give you a good recap on the basics before moving onto more advanced skills.
Tool kit available?
A limited number of toolkits will be available to order including the majority of items you will need. If you already have tools you may want to just purchase any additional tools you need. You can find a full tool list here >
Materials kit available?
Yes. We will have a limited number of materials kits available. These will have prepared bags of materials for each week including silver, gold and gemstones. There will also be some additional scrap metal provided for practicing.
You are welcome to source your own materials. You can find the list here >
What will I learn?
Bench skills - sawing, filing, drilling, soldering, polishing
Working with silver - rings, doming, pendants, earrings, granulation, hinges, rivets, chain making, findings making
Working with gold - wedding ring making, stacker rings, mixed metal pieces
Stone setting - flush, cabochon, tube, collet, claw, solitaire, using cast settings, sea glass
Wax carving - ring, pendant and stone setting
Jewellery business and photographing your jewellery
Learn more and enrol now:
diploma in fine jewellery
EXPERIENCE LEVEL: INTERMEDIATE TO ADVANCED
Who is this course designed for?
This course is designed as the perfect follow on from the Diploma in Silver Jewellery.
If you have not done that course you can enrol straight onto the Fine Diploma with the right level of experience.
What experience do I need to do the Diploma in Fine Jewellery?
Here is a list of techniques that you need to either be proficient at or have tried to be able to succeed on this course:
Have a very good understanding of the silver jewellery workshop, tools, materials, use of pickle etc.
Be proficient at stone setting including tube, claw, bezel and flush/gypsy settings
Proficient at soldering multiple joins onto one piece
Have made at least one collet setting - (If you haven't done this you could take a look at our online collet setting course) https://learn.jewellersacademy.com/p/stone-setting-collet-setting-channel-setting-course-bundle
Have done some basic wax carving. We have some free courses that you can try before the course starts in September. Here are the links https://learn.jewellersacademy.com/p/make-a-wax-carved-ring https://jewelleryschoolonline.teachable.com/p/wax-signet-ring/
Have worked with gold
If you have any questions about this do please get in touch contact@jewellersacademy.com
Toolkit available?
No. This course is designed for jewellers with experience so you will already have the majority of tools you require.
You can find out more about the tools needed for this course here >
Materials kit available?
Yes. We will have a limited number of materials kits available. These will have prepared bags of materials for each week including silver, gold and gemstones. There will also be some additional scrap metal provided for practicing.
You are welcome to source your own materials. You can find the list here >
What will I learn?
Advanced bench skills - reticulation, keum boo (gold leaf), filigree, box clasps
Advanced stone setting - claw setting with round, oval, pear and cushion cuts, double gallery claw, pear-shaped collet, star stone setting, marquise 5 stone set ring
Working with gold and silver
Creole hinged earrings, lockets, tennis bracelet
Advanced stone setting in wax
Gemstone masterclass, jewellery design and rendering
Working on your own final project design
Termly business sessions for fine jewellers
Learn more and enrol now:
advanced jewellery diploma
EXPERIENCE LEVEL: ADVANCED
Who is this course designed for?
This course is designed as the perfect follow on from the Diploma in Fine Jewellery.
If you have not done that course you can enrol straight onto the Advanced Diploma with the right level of experience.
You need to be able to make all the pieces covered in the Diploma in Fine Jewellery (listed above). You also need to book in for a call with us so we can chat to you about your level of experience.
Toolkit available?
A stone setting toolkit worth £399 plus international shipping is included in the price of the course.
You can find a list of the tools needed for this course here >
Materials kit available?
No. At this level you are able to source your own and you have more choice of metals to work from
You can find a list of the materials for this course here >
What will I learn?
Advanced stone setting: eternity ring split claw, pave, baguette setting, tension setting, channel setting, halo setting
Brooch making, rivets, kinetic jewellery, ring construction for larger stones
Mixed media catwalk jewellery
Russian Wedding Rings
Gold filigree
Hollow hinged bangle
Termly jewellery business sessions for fine jewellery
Learn more and enrol now:
Fancy a chat?
If you feel you would benefit from speaking with one of the team about the right course for you we’d love to chat with you via Zoom. We have different booking links depending on what you are considering:
Foundation and Diploma in Silver
If you have questions about the Diploma in Silver and whether that course is right for you this is the link you need
Diploma in Fine Jewellery and Advanced Jewellery Diploma
If you are a more advanced learner wondering which course is for you, this is the link you need to chat with a member of our staff who has done all of our Diplomas!
Diploma in Silver Metal Clay
If you have questions about the Metal Clay Diploma this is the link you need