Intensive Study Syllabus
SIX WEEK INTENSIVE STUDY
From absolute to beginners to experienced jewelry makers, ANY level student can take these courses. This series involves foundational learning, so each week builds on the previous week's lessons. The full 6-week immersion will prepare you for the Argentium Instructor certification and give you a complete overview of this material and the skills you need to create amazing work! Enroll now to save your bench as the classes are limited to 5 students.
Get a strong foundation of skills that can be applied to all precious metals used in the craft.
Techniques and projects covered in the six weeks:
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Intricate pierced work and sawing
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Ring making
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Granulation + Texturing
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Surface Embellishments
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Finishing work
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Working in gold (18k or 22k)
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Torch fire enameling
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Custom mechanisms, ear wires and posts
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Fusing and soldering
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Flush mounting stones- three different methods
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Fabricating and setting bezels for a variety of stone shapes
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Jump rings
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Filigree and open wire work
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Custom clasps and chain making
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Sizing ring shanks
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Hollow beads
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Hollow rings
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Composition, layout and design
WEEK 1 – RINGS AND BANDS
Making rings with Argentium is simple and easy. Learn how to fuse, solder, twist wire, texture and fuse granulation for surface decorations. Also learn to resize your rings up/down.
Students will have the opportunity to finish six different rings.
Skills + Techniques Covered:
SAWING
FUSING AND SOLDERING
FLARING RINGS
JUMP RINGS
WIRE WORKING
TEXTURING
GRANULATION
SURFACE EMBELISHMENTS
SIZING AND RE-SIZING RINGS
FINISHING TECHNIQUES
Projects:
2mm square soldered ring
Fused 2mm stack ring
Twisted wire ring
Jump ring band ring
Thick band hammer texture
Flared band with spinner
WEEK 2 – FUSING AND FLUSH SETTING
You will learn detailed saw piercing, roller printing, fusing surface decoration, making ear-wires, and patinas on metals. Learning to flush mount stones will give you the skills to take your projects to a higher level of ornamentation. Three different ways of flush mounting will be covered.
Skills + Techniques Covered:
INTRICATE PIERCED WORK AND SAWING
TEXTURING
FINISHING WORK
FUSING AND SOLDERING
FLUSH MOUNTING STONES
JUMP RINGS
WIRE WORK
CUSTOM MADE BALE
Projects:
Sawing squares in lines
Sawing waves
Fusing layers to flush mount from front and from behind
Sawing round disc, fusing & flush mounting
Flush mounting on copper for practice
Earrings
Setting over 40 stones
WEEK 3 – EARRINGS AND GRANULATION
Making four pairs of earrings, you will learn to fuse jump-rings and bezels, make granules, slump sheet over fused wires, set cabochon stones on granulated earrings, make filigree wire for filigree earrings with open wire-work, make mechanisms and twisted wire earrings with posts.
Skills + Techniques Covered:
SAWING
FUSING
MAKING JUMP RINGS
BEZELS
MAKING GRANULES
SETTING CABOCHONS
CREATING MATCHED PAIRS
OPEN WIRE WORK
MECHANISMS
EAR POSTS
FINISHING TECHNIQUES
Project Details:
Slumped leaf shape Shepherds hook
Twisted square wire hoop w/post
Earrings - granulated & fused w/thin bezel
Earring mechanisms
Open wire work with working mechanism
WEEK 4 - CLASPS AND MECHANISMS
The right components can make or break a showpiece. Learning how to make your own simple clasps and chain is an important step in designing and creating original work.
Skills + Techniques Covered:
FUSING AND SOLDERING
PRODUCTION TIPS
TOGGLE AND CHAIN, TWO BOX CLASPS, INTERLOCKING JUMPRINGS
CHAIN MAKING MADE EASY
COMPOSITION AND DESIGN
Project Details/Materials:
Chain bracelet + toggle clasp
Interlocking jump rings
Oval Box Clasp
Box clasp
WEEK 5 – BEZELS AND SHANKS
Learn how to fabricate bezels and four different varieties of ring shanks. Learn how to make a split shank ring with a large oval bezel, a textured ring with a bezel and a granulated ring with a faceted stone. Create your own ring patterns based on the ring size you desire and learn layout techniques for fused and granulated decoration. This class will give you confidence and develop your abilities to create bezels to fit onto ring shanks. Upon completion of the projects you will have four stunningly beautiful rings.
Skills + Techniques covered:
SAWING
FUSING AND SOLDERING
FORMING RING SHANKS
SETTING OVAL & ROUND FACETED STONES
GRANULATION
DESIGNING RING PATTERNS
SURFACE EMBELLISHMENTS & TEXTURING
Projects:
Three wire ring w/bezel oval cab
Oval bezel on textured shank
Granulated ring - faceted stone
Gallery wire w/rectangle onyx cab
WEEK 6 – HOLLOW FORMS
Two beads and two rings will be taught, each involving different types of fabrication skills. Making a bead, you will learn to use dapping tools, form wires to fit a curved surface and patterning for proper alignment for a more “finished” design. Projects will feature your individual pattern layout, enhancing your surface fusing and embellishment skills.
Skills + Techniques covered:
SAWING
DAPPING AND DOMING
FABRICATING
WIRE FORMING
PATTERNING
SURFACE EMBELLISHMENTS
FUSING 3 DIMENSIONAL
OVAL AND ROUND HOLLOW FORMS
Projects:
1/2 round hollow band
Hollow ring
Lentil bead
Oval hollow bead