Goldsmith Course

Lesson 1 • Measurement and Precision

Teaches use of calipers, gauges, and scales for accurate metal measurement. Precision measurement underpins every fabrication and stone-setting task.

Lesson 2 • Essential Hand Tools

Identifies and demonstrates use of files, pliers, hammers, and gravers. Correct tool selection and grip form the basis of all manual goldsmithing tasks.

Lesson 3 • History and Craft Overview

Traces goldsmithing from ancient civilizations to modern practice. Establishes cultural and technical context for all subsequent skill development.

Lesson 4 • Precious Metals and Alloys

Introduces gold, silver, platinum, and common alloys used in jewelry. Students distinguish metals by karat, purity, and physical properties.

Lesson 1 • Sawing and Piercing Techniques

Covers jeweler's saw frame setup, blade selection, and controlled cutting. Accurate sawing reduces material waste and improves component fit.

Lesson 2 • Annealing and Metal Hardness

Explains work hardening and the annealing process to restore ductility. Students learn torch technique and quenching to control metal temper safely.

Lesson 3 • Forming Sheet Metal

Introduces dapping, doming, and bending sheet metal over mandrels and stakes. Controlled forming creates three-dimensional components from flat stock.

Lesson 4 • Filing and Refining Edges

Teaches progressive filing to achieve flat, curved, and beveled surfaces. Clean edges are essential for strong solder joints and professional appearance.

Lesson 1 • Basic Butt and Seam Soldering

Teaches closing rings, soldering sheet seams, and joining wire ends cleanly. These joints form the structural basis of rings, bezels, and chain links.

Lesson 2 • Torch Control and Heat Management

Develops torch handling for precise heat application on small components. Controlled heat prevents overheating, pitting, and solder flooding.

Lesson 3 • Troubleshooting Solder Failures

Diagnoses and corrects cold joints, solder balling, and incomplete flow. Systematic troubleshooting builds confidence and reduces material loss.

Lesson 4 • Sweat Soldering and Assembly

Covers pre-tinning surfaces and flowing solder to join flat components. Sweat soldering enables precise placement of decorative elements and findings.

Lesson 1 • Shank Profiles and Variations

Explores flat, half-round, D-section, and tapered shank profiles. Profile choice affects comfort, strength, and the visual weight of the finished ring.

Lesson 2 • Finishing Ring Surfaces

Applies filing, sanding, and polishing to bring rings to a refined surface. Surface quality at this stage determines the effectiveness of final polishing.

Lesson 3 • Ring Sizing and Shank Fabrication

Calculates blank length for target ring sizes and forms shanks on a mandrel. Accurate sizing and round forming are prerequisites for all ring construction.

Lesson 4 • Bezel Setting Construction

Teaches cutting, forming, and soldering fine-silver and gold bezel strips. A well-fitted bezel is the foundation of secure cabochon stone setting.

Lesson 1 • Setting Quality and Security

Evaluates stone security, level seating, and surface finish around settings. Systematic inspection ensures pieces meet professional durability standards.

Lesson 2 • Channel and Flush Setting

Teaches setting calibrated stones in channels and flush within metal surfaces. These settings suit geometric designs and stones requiring full protection.

Lesson 3 • Prong Setting Fundamentals

Covers four- and six-prong settings, seat cutting, and prong forming. Prong settings maximize light entry and are standard for faceted gemstones.

Lesson 4 • Bezel Setting Stones

Demonstrates pushing and burnishing bezel walls over cabochon girdles. Even pressure and correct wall height produce a secure, clean bezel set.

Lesson 1 • Hammer and Punch Textures

Demonstrates planishing, matting, and patterned punch textures on metal surfaces. Hammer textures add tactile and visual contrast to polished areas.

Lesson 2 • Engraving Basics

Introduces graver sharpening, hand position, and cutting lines in metal. Engraving adds personalization and decorative detail to finished goldsmith work.

Lesson 3 • Etching Metal Surfaces

Covers resist application, acid etching, and neutralizing etched metal safely. Etching creates recessed patterns and tonal contrast across large surface areas.

Lesson 4 • Roller Printing and Fold Forming

Uses a rolling mill to impress textures and explores fold-forming sheet metal. These methods produce complex surface effects efficiently from flat stock.

Lesson 1 • Ultrasonic and Steam Cleaning

Explains ultrasonic cleaner operation and steam cleaning for final preparation. Clean surfaces reveal true polish quality and prepare pieces for inspection.

Lesson 2 • Abrasive Finishing Sequence

Establishes the progression from files through emery papers to pre-polish. Each grit stage removes scratches from the previous, building toward a flawless surface.

Lesson 3 • Patination and Oxidation Finishes

Applies liver of sulfur, ammonia fuming, and heat patinas to create color effects. Selective patination enhances texture contrast and adds artistic depth.

Lesson 4 • Hand Polishing and Burnishing

Teaches burnishing tools and hand polishing for areas inaccessible to wheels. Hand methods preserve detail and prevent rounding of sharp decorative edges.

Lesson 1 • Capstone Project Execution

Plans and fabricates a complete multi-piece collection applying all course skills. The capstone demonstrates mastery of design, fabrication, setting, and finishing.

Lesson 2 • Complex Fabrication Planning

Sequences multi-component fabrication to manage solder grades and heat exposure. Logical build order prevents earlier joints from re-flowing during assembly.

Lesson 3 • Design Development and Sketching

Translates design concepts into technical sketches with dimensions and material notes. Structured design development reduces fabrication errors and material waste.

Lesson 4 • Hinges, Catches, and Findings

Fabricates tube hinges, box catches, and jump ring connections from raw metal. Functional findings elevate pieces from decorative objects to wearable jewelry.