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Metal Jewellery 3: Fusion

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icon Domestic applicants only 

This seven-week, studio-based program challenges you with independent projects to take your work to the next level. Metal Jewellery 3 is ideal for students who either have previous course experience or who are making metal jewellery already and want to broaden their knowledge. You'll learn techniques like advanced soldering fabrication and etching and applications. You'll also venture into the world of nature casting and develop engraving skills with more advanced projects and themes of your choice. By the end of the program, you'll also be adept at spotting synthesized or assembled stones — or imitations. Graduate with the confidence to create custom jewellery pieces for clients and showcase your work through a final capstone project based on your own designs.

This is a non-credit program offered through Continuing Education and Training.

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Location

Length

Delivery
Campbell River
 Winter		 7 weeks In-person
Full-time

Registration opens June 2.

 

Overview

This intensive, seven-week program builds on our Metal Jewellery 2: Fundamentals program. However, it’s also suitable for students who have taken intermediate metal jewellery courses or who have significant experience in the field and want to go further. 

You’ll work on advanced projects based around themes of your choice. You’ll also become adept at identifying synthesized or assembled stones and working with clients on custom designs. Advanced technical training will take place in our cutting-edge design studio, giving you the tools and resources to hone your design and metalsmithing skills. 

This program’s intensive curriculum includes: 

  • Advanced soldering fabrication
  • Multiple-step soldering practices
  • Etching techniques and applications
  • Claw setting and flush setting for faceted gemstones
  • Torch-applied textures
  • Advanced engraving skills 

Courses

This course ventures into the world of custom design practices. We will discuss the key elements in developing a custom design for a show, client, or company, including how to approach design, costing, schedule for production and sourcing materials and the steps to get started. Students will work through specific samples as a group and then create practice designs for each other. Students will create a mockup for a custom design, cost the job and make a time schedule for production. Finally, you will produce one of your designs to test your estimation skills.

In this course students will explore the skills needed to combine hand engraving with machine engraving and how these processes are ultimately created in sequential design concepts. Students will combine engraving with other techniques such as stone setting, textures, and patinas, producing First Nations or contemporary-themed work. Daily projects will strengthen engraving skills with the addition of adding three dimensional shaping, forming and textures to produce a final piece.

This course is a continuation of Metal Techniques 2. Students will explore intermediate stone settings. We will look at setting practices such as claw settings and flush settings for faceted stones and how to create these settings. Students will create more complicated ring styles such as hollow form construction, and multi-step soldering with wire. Students will learn about etching copper and silver with two different processes. We will look at making jewellery with alternative materials which are non-metal. Students will have extra studio time to finish advanced projects to practice the skills learned in class.

As a continuation of Metal Casting 2, this course will cover the preparation of organic matter to be used as a casting pattern. This practice is one of the most unpredictable and the most beautiful when successfully executed. Students will gather samples from nature and learn how to prepare them to duplicate in metal. Additional considerations using the vacuum casting process will be demonstrated. The students will have the opportunity to melt scrap metal and pour it into an ingot mold, allowing each student to reclaim their scrap for repurposing into sheet or wire. One project must be completed from the nature cast technique.

In this course students will learn how to grade colored gemstones using professional grading practices. Students will be given more advanced stones to test and identify as we introduce man-made synthetic gemstones and organic man-made gemstones. They will learn the key differences between natural and synthetic stones through lecture and testing practices. Students will examine different cutting styles and how to recognize the cuts most used in today's gem market. Participants will have the opportunity to do some in-depth research into a gemstone of their choice. We will discuss further education in gemmological training and appraisal techniques.

For the final project of level 3, each student will be required to design and create a piece of finished jewellery of their choice with at least four techniques they have learned during this course. They must create a model or maquette of the design prior to starting. Students must also create a digital portfolio and photograph the final piece on a white background. They will need to describe the design inspiration, process for production, keep track of their time and name the final piece.

Schedule

Next scheduled dates: Jan. 4 to Feb 18, 2027.

Classes will run Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

 

Supplies

These items are mandatory for the first day of class. A detailed list, including a recommended supplier and estimated costs, will be provided to you prior to classes starting.

  • Beeswax or beeswax candle
  • Economy end cutters
  • Drill (twist) bits set
  • File handles
  • Files needle – fine (number four, 6")
  • Files needle – medium (number two, 6")
  • GRS graver square (2 mm)
  • Graver mushroom handle
  • Riveting hammer
  • Chasing hammer
  • Rawhide economy hammer
  • Copper sheet – 20 gauge
  • Copper sheet – 18 gauge
  • Brass sheet – 18 gauge
  • Combo half-round/flat pliers
    • Economy chain nose pliers
    • Economy flat nose pliers
    • Economy round nose pliers
  • Polishing buffs – yellow chemkote 3"
  • Polishing buffs –Finex muslin 3"
  • Jewellers 4" throat saw
  • Saw blades 3/0 per gross (12 dz)
  • Silver solder – easy
  • Silver solder – medium
  • Silver solder – hard
  • Split mandrels for sanding
  • Tweezers – cross lock curved
  • Tweezers – cross lock straight
  • Tweezers – utility
  • Polishing finger tape
  • Economy steel square (2")
  • Curved steel burnisher
  • Snap-on mandrel
  • Silicone polishing set
  • Ten Triplet loupes (18 mm)
  • Norton single sheet 600 emery paper
  • SuperQ setting burr (4 mm)
  • SuperQ setting burr (3 mm)
  • SuperQ ball burr (0.9 mm)
  • SuperQ ball burr (2 mm)
  • SuperQ ball burr (2.4 mm)
  • SuperQ hart burr (2.7 mm)

Careers

Our metal jewellery alum pursue independent work as artisans, but also find opportunities applying their technical skills in apprenticeships and other professional settings.

$34,800*

Annual estimated earnings for jewellers, jewellery and watch repairers and related occupations in BC. 
Career profile

*Based on WorkBC data

$46,926*

Annual estimated earnings for artisans and craftpersons in BC. 
Career profile

*Based on WorkBC data

Costs

The tuition for this program is $2,600.

How to apply

To register for this program fill out and submit the digital form. After we've received your registration form, you’ll receive an email from NIC with your next steps. Be sure to add @nic.bc.ca to your safe sender list.

Get started

Questions? Connect with our team at cet@nic.bc.ca or 250-334-5005. 

Related programs

Stack your training with the Metal Jewellery suite of programs.

Frequently asked questions

If you're already experienced in jewellery making, you may be able to start with Metal Jewellery 2 or Metal Jewellery 3. The appropriate level will depend on your skillset and safety knowledge. Contact cet@nic.bc.ca to book an interview with the lead instructor to get started. 

You'll have to supply a few things yourself (see the supply list above) and you'll be provided with a some materials for use in learning certain metal jewellery techniques. If you're planning on taking more than one level of metal jewellery design, you may be able to save yourself time by shopping for supplies for both programs at once. The studio itself is fully equipped with all the tools you'll need for making jewellery. If you choose to work metals such as sterling silver, brass or bronze, you can purchase these metals at a wholesale rate during class. If you want to work with gold, you may need to purchase further equipment. 

Yes, of course! You're welcome to bring in any metals or cabochon gemstones you'd like to work with. In Metal Jewellery 2 and 3, you can even re-purpose your previously used metal and gemstones from other projects. Check with the instructor to see if the supplies you have are suitable for the projects and techniques you'll be working on.

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