Engraved Star Setting
Bead Setting Fundamentals

Being able to set diamonds and gemstones will add another dimension to your jewellery making. Star setting is a traditional way to grain set a small diamond to make it appear larger and can enhance your designs with decorative elements. ‘Star setting’ is a term used to describe a diamond or gem set at the centre of an engraved star. The gem is secured by tiny beads of metal at the edge of the centre of the engraved star.

This workshop introduces bead setting as a technique for securing small stones in metal. This class will start with learning how to set up hand gravers – tools necessary for cutting recesses in metal – to fit our hand, followed by using those gravers to set stones through the raising of small “beads” from the metal surface surrounding the stones. The graver skills learnt during this workshop will help you with future bright cut setting work.

When: 6:30pm - 9:00pm
Duration: 6 weeks (15 hours)
Class size: Maximum 8 people
Cost: $625

As part of Joynton & 107 Projects, The Bench will provide subsidised courses to residents in the Zetland, Sydney area. For further information please email us at jewellery@thebench.sydney

ABOUT THE COURSE


Prerequisite

You must have completed Learn to Make Jewellery - Stone Setting
This course is ideally suited to those who have completed the stone setting course at The Bench or equivalent. Specifically, one that takes an in-depth approach to using micromotors and hand setting tools.

Course Objectives

Students will then learn about how to design a mounting for their bead settings, as well as basic bead setting format types such as star setting.  Note that this workshop does not go into the more advanced “pave setting”. 

Setting up your bench to improve the quality of your practice and posture.

How to successfully set up your gravers for engraving and setting.

Step-by-step demonstrations followed by a series of practical exercises to build confidence and develop an understanding around the anatomy of stones and perfecting your mount construction.

Top tips on measuring, marking and using a micromotor.

Incorporate the popular Flush style of setting.

How to accurately prepare your metal before setting, including finishing and pre-polishing

A session on tool making allowing each student to leave the course with their own personal set of tools that can be used to practice this technique in their studio

Develop technique and hone skills whilst forming a deeper understanding of the relationship between precious gemstones and their mounts.

Our small class size offers you the chance to for peer to peer engagement as well as experience individual guidance and 1:1 time with your tutor. Allowing you to receive tailored advice to deepen your knowledge and understanding of the mount making and Flush setting process.

Depending on the flow, we occasionally allow those wanting to work until 9:30pm.

Course Outcomes

Students will prepare copper samples for practicing these techniques and will create a simple design using star setting and basic engraving as texture on pre-cast silver jewellery (supplied by The Bench). The skills you learn can be used later with pendants, bracelets and earrings.
Bead Setting Fundamentals is a fantastic workshop to LEARN, PRACTICE & PERFECT!

You will be introduced to industry standard machinery and equipment that will help you to refine your approach to jewellery making. Everyone will complete one semi-precious star set silver jewellery and build confidence that’s needed for future bright cut setting work.

What’s Included

  • $75 Bead setting kit

  • 2.5mm High Speed Steel Vallorbe Square Graver

  • Wood Mushroom Handle

  • Copper practice plates

  • CZ and semi precious stones Round 3mm

  • Swiss Beading Tool

  • Sterling Silver sheet

  • Polymorph plastic (similar to thermoloc)

  • Wax dob stick

  • Extensive notes

  • Consumables like drills, burrs etc

(OPTIVISOR or magnification is recommended! Please bring along with you). The Bench Sydney do provide Optivisors and magnification loupes for each student. However, if you have your own preferred prescription - please BYO.

We feel it’s important to acknowledge the fees for both classes are a little more than our usual pricing structure. We try to provide all essential materials and will always help those less financially able to attend classes. These courses involve substantially more materials than other classes whence the pricing structure. We have instalment plans available and can always adapt this JUST FOR YOU! Please email us if you have any questions or concerns.

The Tutor: Erin Keys

Erin Keys has over 20 years experience as a jeweller, designer and educator with a diverse range of achievements in various facets of craft and design. Participating in nearly 100 exhibitions in Australia and overseas since 1999, her practice spans one-off exhibition pieces, bespoke commissions and a limited edition laser cut production range available through several stockists.

Erin has taught beginner to advanced jewellery courses at Sturt Summer School, JamFactory, SquarePeg Studios and is currently a sessional teacher at UNSW Art & Design.

For the past 10 years Erin has had extensive involvement with design and education, working as a Jewellery Design Developer for over 5 years at one of Australia's leading design companies Dinosaur Designs and for Louise Olsen X ALEX AND TRAHANAS.

The Bench workshop

The Workshop

The Bench is a modern, light filled, industry standard workshop focusing on education and training. It is a relaxed and friendly place to learn traditional and contemporary jewellery techniques, a space to develop ideas and projects such as ring making, silver jewellery and stone setting gems. We provide concept based jewellery classes to the absolute beginner, the aspiring maker and to the professional jeweller.

The Bench is a safe working and learning environment, complete with a wide inventory of tools and equipment, such as Vaniman polishing extraction, enamelling kiln, fume cabinets, micromotors, soldering torches, rolling mill, tumbler, ultrasonic and more.

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.

Joynton Avenue Creative Centre in Green Square

Joynton Avenue Creative Centre in Green Square

 

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

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

Hair tie: If you have long hair, please bring along something to tie it back with
Closed in shoes: We will be working with hot, sharp and heavy tools, so please wear shoes, which will protect your feet. Avoid wearing loose flowing garments.
Sketch book/note book/ pen and/or pencil: Please bring along a notebook for your own notes and design ideas. Notes will be provided to complement the techniques you will be learning but you may wish to make your own notes.
Remember: If you use glasses for reading and /or close up work please remember to bring them along.
OPTIVISOR or magnification is recommended!

Book your course

Questions?

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