I am currently studying Gemology though the G.I.A. I am also
working in an apprentice position at a small jewelry
manufacturing company in Chicago. I am interested in this field
as a career. Could someone please help me by sharing
about good schools and education opportunities
anywhere in the U.S.A. I am 18 years old.
I am currently studying Gemology though the G.I.A. I am also
working in an apprentice position at a small jewelry
manufacturing company in Chicago. I am interested in this field
as a career. Could someone please help me by sharing information
about good schools and education opportunities anywhere in the
U.S.A. I am 18 years old.
Try the Society of American Silversmiths for a good listing of
schools. A great list can be found on Bob Mitchells 1995 (not
the 1996) CDROM for metalsmiths , as well Lapidary Journal Buyers
Guide has a good list of schools.
It depends what you want to do and how much money you have to
spend. I like the Revere Academy courses (San Francisco), GIA is
good and they have at least one scholarship for their classes
(June Schwarz scholarship?) for young people who work for a
jeweler in some way who draw a jewelery design.
I strongly recommend Alan Revere’s book ‘Professional
Goldsmithing’ as a great step by step self teaching aid for
professionals, same for his series of videos which he and Rio
Grande sell.
You might note that the JA and GIA and Paris (texas) jewelry
schools have collaborated on a new set of standards and tests for
the jewelry industry, if you go through those you will be well
placed for the future. Contact these for more info:
Email: reveracad@aol.com
Revere Academy Email
http://www.jewelers.org/
Jewelers of America site. good for consumers, a little
smarmy and sales-talk like, a little slow loading for my taste.
http://www.ids.net/~slvrsmth/sashome.htm
The Society of American Silversmiths (SAS), info, artisan gallery,
links, l articles.
http://www.gia.org/
The Gemological Institute of America site-very comercial but
interesting.
http://www.pathcom.com/~simon/see_jane.htm
See Jane Draw. A really nice site for metals/jewelry folks. Not to be
missed.
Brain Press
Box 1624, Ste M, Calgary,
Alberta, T2P 2L7, Canada
Tel: 403-263-3955 Fax: 403-283-9053
Email: @Charles_Lewton-Brain
Metals info download web site: Learning Center - Ganoksin Jewelry Making Community
Product descriptions: http://www.ganoksin.com/kosana/brain/brain.htm
Hi,
My name is Marc Williams. In response to your request on
schools, here is my suggestion… Get yourself a copy of any
National Jeweler magazine or JCK magazine. Go to the back in the
classified section and look under schools. There are several of
these listed in each publication. Off hand I can tell you that
Experience is your best teacher. Trial and error is the best way
to learn. It is very good that you are in apprentice-ship now. I
started in this feild when I was 18 and I wouldn’t choose to do
anythingelse. Watch and learn everything anyone is willing to
share with you… Sometimes it is hard to find anyone who will
share actual techniques with another jeweler… Beleive me I know
this from experience. However you can overcome this by not being
afraid to try different ways of doing things. You will be
suprised what you can learn by your mistakes… By the way
Stewarts school for jewelers in Jupiter Florida is a great
school. They will be listed in those magazines I mentioned… In
the mean time any time you want to know anything please feel free
to E-mail me at “tdwgold@msn.com” I will give you the besty
advice I can… I know all too well what it is like to have to
learn from someone who isn’t willing to teach, therefore I would
never deny any jeweler a straight answer and help them with
anything I can… It was only 8 years ago when I started and now I
can honestly say that I learned pretty much everything on my own
wether it be by trial and error or reading books and watching
videos… Don’t be afraid to ask… Marc Williams tdwgold@msn.com
There are two little known schools that teach metalsmithing and
the lapidary arts in the southeast: John C. Campbell Folk School
, Brasstown, NC, 1-800-FOLKSCH and theWilliam Holland School of
Lapidary Arts, Young Harris, GA 1-706-379-2126. Both teach
residential classes in one week increments…Holland’s current
fee is $225 per week which includes room, board and tuition.