Wax Carving for Gemstones

Hosted in an extraordinary and professionally equipped workshop, you will be guided through designing a piece of jewellery to include gemstones and learn how to carve your wax to fit an exact stone (particularly useful for irregular shaped stones).

Over 4 days and presented over 2 weekends (to allow time for casting), you will build on your existing lost wax carving skills as you carve a ring to include a bezel setting for faceted and cabochon stones. Cast in silver or gold, you will learn how to professionally finish your piece and securely set your stone.

Are you ready to level up and start making money? This course will advance your skills in jewellery design, refine your wax carving skills and provide you with the knowledge required to set various cuts stones and confidently say “Yes” to more challenging custom jobs.

Essential prior learning and basic understanding of lost wax casting and foundation level jewellery making is required (use of wax, hand tools/micromotors etc). You must have completed Designing in Wax and Learn to Make Jewellery Stage One.

Or provide evidence of completing the equivalent level programs.

You do not need to have stone setting skills. This is a great course for those interested in combining the two techniques.

Learn to create bezel settings for a variety of different shaped stones and different ways of finishing them. Lots of tips and tricks will be covered along the way. Wax is a great way to make one-off bespoke jewellery or replicable production pieces and collections. Casting can be a fantastic introduction to working with precious metals that you may have been too nervous to have worked with before.

Design and manufacture - Understand how to design, prototype and manufacture unique wax models for reproduction

Carving a seat for different shaped stones - Use the micromotor to create a wax design that fits with your own unique style.

Techniques in wax - How to carve your wax to fit your exact stone and prepare your wax piece for casting.

Methods of clean-up procedures - You will acquire knowledge of how to remove casting sprues and professionally polish your finished design.

Stone Setting - Create, carve and set a bezel setting for a brilliant cut or cabochon cut stone.

Confidence - Feel more confident designing jewellery and incorporating gemstones.

You will build on your existing Lost Wax Carving skills as you carve a ring to include a setting for your stone, that you will then learn to set, leaving with brand new skills and a spectacular new piece of bling!

The first weekend will focus on carving your design in wax to include a well-fitted seat and bezel for your selected stone. On the following weekend, you will clean up your casting, ensuring perfect stone placement, before learning to set your stone in the metal.

A materials pack is supplied for your project.