FAQs

We would love to help you to learn how to make jewelry. We offer lots of beginner classes. Check out our page on How to Get Started with Classes. When you go to a class page, it tells you if it's a beginner class or if you need previous experience. If the class is a beginner class, the prerequisites area will let you know that no prior experience is needed! You can start with a short 3 hour Intro to Soldering class, or take our Jewelry 1 - Basics class to learn all of the basic skills to make a pendant and a sterling ring with a custom stone setting. This is a popular class because it is a prerequisite for other classes, and is a great place to start!. You can also take Lost Wax Casting 1 - Basics to learn how to carve wax and cast jewelry, or learn how to fire colorful glass on metal in Enameling 1 - Basics, or learn how to etch copper in our Electrolytic Etching- Etching Without Acid class. Metal Clay 1- Basics introduces you to the amazing world of Metal Clay

If you miss an in person class session, you can register for Open Studio time to make up that time. Open studio sessions are 3 hours long, so perfect timing!

Yes, we absolutely teach goldsmithing. In fact, goldsmithing is the craft of making jewelry scale objects, even if they're made of other metals, like silver alloys or copper based metals. Most of our classes teach skills that you can use with gold, from Jewelry 1 to more advanced classes. Since gold is very expensive, we practice in base metals, like copper and brass, and sterling silver. To learn more about working with gold, try our Jewelry 6 - Gold workshop.

Class projects are a time for practice and learning. We recommend learning new skills first and then try them later in gold. Even when a new design is going to be made in gold, jewelers will often work out the details first in less expensive metal like sterling.

Class projects are a time for practice and learning. We recommend learning new skills first and then try them later in gold. Even when a new design is going to be made in gold, jewelers will often work out the details first in less expensive metal like sterling.

You can register online or by phone. To register online, just click on any class on our calendar or browse by techniques section to open the class details page. There you can see prices, upcoming dates, prerequisites and pictures of class samples. Just click the registration button to add the class to your cart and then check out to register.

Click on any class on our calendar to find out if it’s still available. If it’s sold out, you’ll see a note at the top of the page or next to that date. When a class is sold out, we add a link to the waitlist and you can sign up to be notified when a spot opens up. If it’s a popular class, like Jewelry 1 - Basics, we recommend signing up for the first available class. Then put yourself on the waitlist for any earlier sessions, and we can transfer you if a spot opens up.

Online registration closes 24 hours before the first class session. Feel free to call us or email to find out if space is available.

We love to help people make wedding jewelry! We recommend booking a private lesson. Check out our page on private lessons and feel free to contact us to book a lesson to make your rings.

Kids are some of our favorite students and here at Silvera Jewelry School we feel honored to introduce the craft to them. We don't offer kid specific classes, but they're welcome to join our regular workshops. The minimum age is 11 years old, but we invite parents to contact us about their child to discuss options. Students under 18 years old will need to have a waiver signed by a parent or guardian before attending class.

We offer classes that range from a few hours, one day, a few days and also weekly classes that meet once or twice a week for 2-8 weeks. Students can customize their course schedule by signing up for the classes that suit their interests in fabrication, metal clay, casting, stone setting, enameling, etc. Check out our class calendar and click on any class for availability and more details on dates and hours.

If you’re looking for a semester of jewelry classes, you can immerse yourself in jewelry classes for a few months by signing up for one of our series, like jewelry fabrication (6 classes) or casting (5 classes). These courses are offered weekly and consecutively. You can sign up, for example, for Jewelry 1 - Jewelry 6. Each class follows the next in the same time slot on the same day of the week. This is a great way to learn jewelry! If you’d like to sign up for all of the classes in a series, contact us to discuss a discounted price for registering for multiple classes.

We do offer payment plans. We also sometimes offer a limited number of scholarships for classes or tools. Sometimes we have tools that have been donated to the school that we can give to students. Please contact us for more information.

Students can cancel or transfer up to 21 days before their class starts. After 21 days, we can’t offer credit, refunds or transfers, but we can try to sell your spot to another student. Check out our Class Policies page for more details.

Our beginner classes don’t require any previous experience. If a class requires some previous experience, it will be written in the prerequisites section on the class page. Click on any class on the calendar or browse by techniques page to go to its details page for that info.

We offer a lot of classes and offer them at different times throughout the year. Sign up for our email newsletter or follow us @silverajewelryschool on Instagram or Facebook to get updates. You’re welcome to contact us with questions about any class. If you sign up for the waitlist for a class, we will contact you when it gets scheduled again.

Yes! We offer live Zoom classes. You are right there with the instructor and can ask questions. Our class format allows you to work in real time during class so that you can get help as needed. Teachers bring the class to you, and format it so that it’s the same as being there in person. Classes are also recorded, so you can watch them as many times as you want.

The Zoom app is free and it’s easy to login and join class. We offer in-person, online only, and hybrid classes that mix in-person and online students. You can browse and filter our class calendar to see any of these formats. The class details page (just click on any class on the calendar to go to the details page) will tell you by date which classes are online, in person or both.

Online classes often include a kit of materials that is mailed to you. The kit includes materials, like metal, for your practice project.

All you need is a computer, tablet or smartphone to join your class. The Zoom app is free and easy to use. And your instructor can help you navigate the program the first time you use it. You can even login with a second device, like a smartphone or tablet, and use it as a camera to show your work area. This helps the teacher to see you work and offer the best help.

You will need tools to participate. All tools required for online classes are listed in the class description, which you can access through our class calendar. A PDF with links for those tools is emailed to you after you register.

Yes! Online classes are recorded. You can access recordings of staff classes for 1 year. Guest instructor classes are recorded, too, and available for 30 days after class.

Classes are recorded live, so because of privacy issues, we can't sell just the recordings. But students, including those in different time zones, will sometimes register but not attend the live classes. Instead they just watch the recordings and email the teacher or come to office hours for individual help. Many have said that the class demonstrations are so good and thorough that it's easy to learn with the recording.

International students can choose to have a kit shipped to them or source the materials themselves. It is an additional charge to ship kits outside the US, and students are responsible for any taxes, tariffs or duties. If an overseas student would like to source their own kit materials, we can send them a list and descriptions of what's needed, and the cost of the kit may be refunded. Please feel free to contact us if you have more questions. The EU is requiring VAT to paid on shipments. Students can provide their VAT number for any fees due, or pay the fees upon receipt of the package.

Online students will need tools to participate. All tools required for online classes are listed in the class description, which you can access through our class calendar. A PDF with links for those tools is emailed to you after you register. Our instructors work hard to minimize the required tools, and to make it easy for you to order them.

Many students start making jewelry at home, and our classes focus on home friendly tools. For example, we start students off with hand held butane cooking torches, like the ones used for cremé brulee. These can solder jewelry from small earrings on up to bracelets and cuffs. They are safe to use in your kitchen, and safe to use indoors.

We also choose safer chemicals and materials to minimize any risk to your health. We believe in using the best tools and materials for making and for your health! Joe Silvera, one of the founders of Silvera Jewelry School, wrote one of the first books on the topic of soldering at home, Soldering Made Simple: Easy Techniques for the Kitchen Table Jeweler.

Check out our free video, Easy setup for a Home Studio for Jewelry

We can help you become a bench jeweler, but we don't offer certification. For a certificate, you would need to attend an accredited school that offers a jewelry degree. Silvera Jewelry School offers classes for professionals, artists, bench jewelers and hobbyists, but does not offer degrees or certificates.

We have helped many of our students to either get jobs as jewelers or to start their own business to sell their designs. You don't need a degree to become a jeweler, but you do need skills and a portfolio of jewelry you have made. Even with a certificate, employers want to see a portfolio of jewelry that demonstrates your range of skills. Our classes can provide you the training to make your portfolio. To sell your jewelry, you will need a resale license and business license. We also offer business classes to help you get started in a career as a jewelry artist.

Yes, we do offer a class called Jewelry Repair that teaches skills specific to that task. To repair jewelry, you should first know how to make jewelry and how to fix your mistakes. Jewelry repair specialists should know how to fabricate jewelry, and how to set stones. It’s also helpful to know basic lost wax casting, because a lot of classic fine jewelry is cast. We offer all of these classes.

Absolutely! We offer a series of classes called Start your Jewelry Business. This is a 4 part series that teaches business skills for jewelers, including designing a line, marketing, photography, social media and more. Check our class calendar for upcoming dates. We also offer a class to help you to find your style as a jeweler, classed Growing your Voice.

Yes, you’ll need jewelry tools to work at home, like a basic set of tools. For example, OttoFrei.com offers our students a basic set of jewelry tools for fabrication at a good price. Plus our students get a code for a discount. Our onsite in-person workshops include use of tools. Each student has their own assigned bench with a complete set of tools, including a torch, soldering equipment, flex shaft machine and lots more. Online students will need to have their own tools to work remotely. Each class details a list of tools required and a complete supplies list with links for purchase is emailed when you register.

When you click on a class on the calendar, it will take you to a class detail page that includes a list of tools required. When you register, you’ll receive a detailed supplies list with links to recommended vendors.

Check out our free video on Easy setup for a Home Studio for Jewelry

Our onsite in-person workshops include use of tools. Each student has their own assigned bench with a complete set of tools, including a torch, soldering equipment, flex shaft machine and lots more. Online students will need to have their own tools to work remotely. Each class details a list of tools required and a complete supplies list with links for purchase is emailed when you register.

When you click on a class on the calendar, it will take you to a class detail page that includes a list of tools required. When you register, you’ll receive a detailed supplies list with links to recommended vendors.

If you’d like to see a starter kit, OttoFrei.com offers our students a basic set of jewelry tools for fabrication at a good price. Plus our students get a code for a discount. 

No, we don't sell precious or base metals at school. We have a list of recommended vendors.

Many of our classes include a kit of materials for the practice project, including metal, so no additional material is required. Since gold and silver scrap may be mixed or mismarked, results may be unexpected when you melt them together. Casting ingots from your scrap takes time and can take up valuable class time to prepare your sheet and wire. One recommendation is to instead send your silver or gold in for refining and collect the money or credit to use to purchase readymade alloy sheet or wire. If you’re interested in learning how to turn your scrap into sheet and wire, try our Jewelry 4 - Ingots, Forging and Hollow Forms workshop.

We have a limited selection of tools available for sale at school. It's best to contact us with a list of what you'd like to buy before you come by. If a tool is available online only, it will usually say so in the description in our online store.

We sell stones and cabochons at school. We also have a list of recommended vendors.

You can purchase gift certificates online. A PDF of the gift certificate is emailed to the address that you enter when you check out. You can use the quantity field to adjust the amount. Feel free to send us an email after your purchase with any requests, like the name of the recipient or if you want the amount split into smaller certificates.

Just call or email us with the amount and gift certificate number. Include the class name and date, along with your details like name, address, and phone number. For a purchase, contact us and we can apply the discount for you or send you a one time code to use.

No, we don’t repair jewelry. We can provide a list of local repair shops. You can learn how to make jewelry in class, but we don’t recommend taking up your class time on repairs. We offer open studio times for students. You can come in and use the skills you’ve learned in class to make repairs.

Yes, we accept donations and sometimes buy gently used tools. It’s best to contact us with a list and pictures of what you have to donate or sell. You can also post your tools on our Silvera Jewelry School Tool Marketplace on Facebook.