Ready to transform your stones? Let us show you how. If you're staring at a collection of beautiful stones, now is the time your journey truly begins.

Stone setting is one of the essential stages of jewellery making. In this course you will be introduced to principles in mineralogy and gemmology, this will help you to undertake more complex stones, cuts and projects. This course will introduce students to some of the foundation skills required to set gemstones into jewellery. Gain invaluable tips for improving your bezel setting (Rub Over) techniques, work more effectively and develop your skills to set faceted or cabochon gemstone cuts in your designs.

You will explore concepts of jewellery design and manufacture, learn the fundamentals of how to construct a bezel from silver sheet and handset cabochon cut stones; increase your bench skills by practicing tube setting and start to master the art of flush setting (3 ways) using radiant brilliant cut stones.

This class is intended to be a technical course focusing on learning new skills, practicing, correcting and improving so that you may confidently continue to set stones outside of this course. We encourage you to design and make a piece of jewellery to include one or more of the settings. The design must be achievable when considering one’s skillset and the duration of the course.

In Stage Two jewellery at The Bench, you will experience the use of a range of jewellery tools and techniques in a friendly and relaxed environment. Your experienced tutor will guide you through a range of techniques to expand upon the fundamentals of introductory jewellery making. This class is designed to have a rotating specialisation each term E.g. Designing in Wax and Soldering Intensive.

When: 6:00pm – 9:00pm
Duration: 7 weeks (21 hours)
Class size: Maximum 8 people
Cost: $665

ABOUT THE COURSE

Prerequisite

You must have completed Learn to Make Jewellery Stage One - An Introduction or equivalent.

This course is ideal for those who understand the basic principles of annealing, soldering, saw piercing, filing and using equipment such as micromotors. You will need to provide evidence that you meet the requirements listed in this section. Those with some setting experience may still benefit from this workshop and can undertake more challenging exercises.

Course Objectives

There is a focus on fabricating well-finished, professional silver gem jewellery using semi-precious stones. You will gain confidence using new tools and equipment and develop greater material understanding. You will expand your industry knowledge and supplier information. You will learn how to make your own setting tools and broaden your knowledge of the anatomy of all stones.

You will be guided through the following techniques over the first few weeks:

Soldering - Learn how to effectively solder small and large-scale pieces using silver.

Different techniques - Soldering pieces with multiple solder joints.

Anatomy of a stone - Cabochon and faceted stones.

Mineralogy - Moh’s Scale of Hardness an in depth look at precious and semi-precious stones.

Findings/ connections - You will gain an understanding in how to attach clasps and connections or additional finer details such as joining smaller components.

Stone Setting - Make your own setting tools, seat stones using a micromotor and burrs, professionally finished bezel setting, flush setting and tube setting

Confidence - Feel more confident designing jewellery that includes stones.

Course Outcomes

This is a Stone Setting Stage Introduction at The Bench. The focus of this course is to refine your skills and produce a high standard silver gem set piece of jewellery incorporating one or more of the stone settings. The skills you learn can be used later with pendants, bracelets and earrings.

*Note that this workshop does not go into the more advanced setting E.g “claw setting”. If you are proficient in bezels, tube and flush setting you may contact us for future dates for more advanced setting techniques.
Get expert advice to help you set more efficiently and effectively or address troublesome setting issues. The focus of this course is to refine your skills and produce a high standard silver gem set piece of jewellery. The skills you learn are beneficial for future stone setting techniques such as flush, prong/ claw and more challenging shaped stones. Each student begins by hand making a bezel (the bit that surrounds and holds the stone).

Group discussions on how to design jewellery to include stones will occur each week and regular assistance outside of class hours.

You will be introduced to industry suppliers, standard machinery and equipment that will help you to refine your approach to jewellery making. Everyone will complete one or more semi-precious stone set silver jewellery item/s and learn the steps needed to make round & oval bezels. Some participants may make more than one piece of jewellery - a small selection of stones and metal are available to purchase.

Types of Settings

Setting: Setting is the general term for the way a diamond or gemstone attached to the piece of jewellery
Bezel Setting: A metal rim that surrounds the gemstone to secure it in place by the girdle. The bezel setting style is secure, but does not block light from entering the stone and creating brilliance.
Flush Setting: A flush setting is made by creating a tapered hole in which the diamond sits with the surrounding metal pressed around its rim, though unlike bezels, the metal does not fold over the top of the stone.
Tube Setting: It’s as simple as it sounds! A tube setting is an easy way of setting a gemstone, using a small amount of tube for the stone to sit in.

All of the gem setting techniques covered are fundamental and enable you to undertake more challenging designs or progress in to more advanced setting courses - time dependent we may cover Tab & Tension setting.

What’s Included

A material pack containing sterling silver sheet, tube, and cabochon gemstone for your own design (Project 1), an assortment of cubic zirconia gemstones and base metal practice plates, drills, bits, burrs, consumables and your very own setting tool is supplied.

You may wish to purchase additional materials such as sterling silver and/ or stones -discuss in class with your tutor.

We politely discourage you bringing in your own stones if you have not yet mastered basic stone setting. We promise you that we provide some spectacular stones to choose from.  If you wish to bring your own stone, please email The Bench at jewellery@thebench.sydney to discuss. A small selection of metal and stones are available to purchase.

Location

The Bench acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the traditional custodians of our land – Australia. The Bench acknowledges the Gadigal of the Eora Nation as the traditional custodians of this place we now call Sydney.

The Bench is located at the exquisite historic site, Joynton Avenue Creative Centre in Green Square, and is easily accessed by bus, train (Green Square Station), ride or walk.

The Bench cultivates inclusive, creative and accessible spaces for everyone to have the opportunity to feel safe and welcomed.

The building has full wheelchair accessibility, ramp access from street and park entrances, internal lift for access to upper levels and a unisex accessible toilet on each level.

THE BENCH, Joynton Avenue Creative Centre
3A Joynton Ave, Zetland NSW 2017

Please be aware that we are a very small operation. Voicemails are listened to once a week on a Wednesday. We understand that you may prefer to talk with a real live human, and we are very happy to speak with you too. However, we politely ask that you schedule a suitable time. Instead of leaving a voicemail, we recommend sending a brief audio text or text message with your enquiry. We are very prompt when replying to a text message or email.

Additional notes

All the tools you need for the course will be available at the venue; including an apron.

For health and safety reasons, please bring along with you the following

The workshop has air-conditioning/ heating. You will be comfortable!

• Please wear closed toe shoes (NO CROCS, NO SLIDES, NO HIGH HEELS, NO SHOES EXPOSING SKIN).

• (If possible) long pants should be worn - NO SHORTS.

• Avoid wearing loose flowing garments (exposed legs will not be allowed in soldering area).

• Sensory plugs are allowed e.g., Loops. NO HEADPHONES WITH AUDIO.

• Hair tie. If you have long hair, please bring along something to tie it back with.

• Peepers! Remember to bring your glasses if you need them. OPTIVISOR or magnification is recommended!

Book your course

Questions?

Email us at: jewellery@thebench.sydney
or call us on: 0406 794 112