Our goldsmithing course here at Antidotum Studio lets you acquire professional jewellery making skills. The course programme covers technical aspects (processing and use of precious and base metals as well as coloured gems in jewellery making) and the key basics of ergonomics and design. Our trainees have exclusive access to complementary courses in photography, 3D modeling, perspective drawing and design thinking.
Course Programme
Term 1: basic techniques (part 1)
Basic goldsmithing techniques 1:
- Introduction; admin matters
- Precious metals and base metals (features, properties and function), hallmarking
- gemstones and jewellery adornments (features, properties and function of patinas, enamels and plastics)
- sheet metal cutting (shears, guillotine, jeweller’s saw, jeweller’s table saw); using calipers
- sheet metal forming, annealing, finishing, drilling
- making chain links
- soldering, pickling
- surface finish methods
- round and flat band rings
Recommended complementary courses: Amber, Shells, Enamels in Jewellery, drawing, Art Clay.
Term 2: basic techniques (parts 2)
Basic goldsmithing techniques 2: melting, casting, rolling mill, drawing
- synclastic and anticlastic rings
- patinas
- soldering different materials
- earring construction
- brooch construction, ‘hollow forms’, element matching „
- dapping and drawing tubing
Recommended complementary courses: Amber, Shells, Enamels in Jewellery, drawing, Art Clay
Skills test (basic goldsmithing techniques 1 and 2)
Term 3: advanced techniques (part 1)
Advanced goldsmithing techniques 1:
- inlay
- cabochon bezel setting
- riveting techniques
Recommended complementary courses: Amber, Shells, Enamels in Jewellery, drawing, Art Clay, repoussé, design (practice).
Term 4: advanced techniques (part 2)
Advanced goldsmithing techniques:
- mass production (forming and cutting dies, hand press, preparing a model for casting)
- use of fabrics and plastics (resins, acrylics)
- hinges
- cubic zirconia setting – encased
Recommended complementary courses: Amber, Shells, Enamels in Jewellery, drawing, Art Clay, repoussé, design (practice)
Skills test (advanced goldsmithing techniques 3 and 4)
Term 5: setting gemstones
Setting gemstones:
- advanced stonesetting techniques: prong setting, bead setting, channel setting, setting angular stones, making a crown setting
Recommended complementary courses: Amber, Shells, Enamels in Jewellery, drawing, Art Clay, repoussé, design (practice), design (tutorials), historical reenactments.
Term 6: precision practice
Precision practice:
- fabricating advanced clasps (bayonet clasps, box clasps, etc.)
- constructing spring-link cufflinks
- threading
- optional: working with gold
Recommended complementary courses: Amber, Shells, Enamels in Jewellery, drawing, Art Clay, repoussé, design (practice), design (tutorials), historical reenactments.
sprawdzian umiejętności (egzamin), związany z wystawieniem świadectwa MEN
We offer 6-month internship opportunities to our graduates at one of the following tutors’ studio:
Roman Kowalkowski – artistic development, developing creative thinking, unique jewellery, contest-oriented practice, help with creating collections needed for joining Goldsmithing Artist’s Association and Association of Polish Artists and Designers.
Piotr Małysz – designing jewellery, mass production, collaborating with gallery, achieving accurate quality of production
Remigiusz Grodzicki – atelier, mass production
Robert Szklarski – making replicas of historical objects
