Engineering Your Way Out
Develop your ability to solve jewelry fabrication problems and learn solutions to common design and fabrication challenges. Design and create a hinged bracelet or necklace. Students create a “map” of their project, learn to make irregular shaped bezel settings for unusually shaped stones, add hinges and where to place them for irregular shapes and using stainless steel wire, solder sterling terminations to the steel, add a hook clasp and complete your project.
Students are guided through the process along with discussion, case studies and actual examples of problems as well as their solutions. We will explore the interplay of movement and functionality in jewelry and the approach from the wearer’s point of view (ie: does it sit funny on the neck, is it too heavy, does the pendant flop over). The real benefit to this class is learning how to engineer your jewelry projects as you discover solutions to common design and fabrication challenges. Step-by-step handouts are supplied along with samples. Basic fabrication and soldering required.