Jewellery: stone setting I

What is the course about?

This course will introduce you to specialist techniques for making mounts and setting cabochon and cut stones and develop a piece of jewellery that incorporate these stone-set elements. Ideal for those with some jewellery-making experience looking to enhance their work and add to their skill set, or for those who are more experienced an opportunity to set you own stone-setting projects with guidance from our expert tutor.
The course is for jewellers with some experience rather than complete beginners, introducing you to specialist techniques for making mounts and setting cabochon and cut stones within your pieces.

What will we cover?

We will look at different mounts for cabochon and cut stones, and how to apply them within a piece of jewellery. We will practise making claw and tube settings for faceted stones and consider the preparation of the setting prior to setting the stone. Guiding you through the actual setting of a stone and producing a piece of stone-set jewellery to your own design.

What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...

- Make a variety of settings for both cabochon and faceted stones
- Make a French collet from wire
- Set round gem stones in claw and bezel settings
- Realise one finished piece of jewellery with a set stone.

What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?

The course is designed for people who are reasonably confident in jewellery-making skills.

You must be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions, demonstrations, hand-outs and health and safety information, and be prepared to take part in group discussions. You should be happy using numbers and able to do simple measurements and calculations.

How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?

You will be taught through demonstrations and shown photographic examples of jewellery to illustrate how the above skills are developed. Support and advice by the tutor will be given throughout the whole course.

Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?

City Lit provides most of the basic tools and equipment you will need for jewellery-making, including base metals, chemicals and sundries. However you will need some specific items for this course, such as saw blades, emery paper, two burrs, two to three stones and some silver wire, sheet and tube. The cost of this will be around £15, depending on your choice of stones. We would recommend that you bring your own needle files if possible.

You are advised that sensible footwear must be worn in the studio. For health and safety reasons no sandals, open shoes and small pumps can be worn, even in hot weather.

Please bring your own apron and safety glasses.

When I've finished, what course can I do next?

City Lit offer a wide range of short and year-long courses in Jewellery design and making, from beginners to advanced, and for professional development.

Suitable follow-on courses may include:

VV697 - Jewellery: stone setting II
VV835 - Jewellery making: all levels
VV362 - Introduction to stone setting: casting with stones

Your tutor will be able to advise you on your course.