stone setting course

I have been using a limited amount of stones in my jewellery for some time now, but recently have felt that its about time that I start using such a fabulous resource some more. I really want to add more colour to my pieces and think that using gem stones would give my work a bit more of a WOW factor.

My existing stone set pieces have been set using outworkers in Birminghams Jewellery Quarter, which has worked well. Stone setting is a specialist trade and my knowledge of it has been limited and so last week I took the plunge and went off for a stone setting course.


Based in Kegworth in Leicestershire, ‘In The Studio’ jewellery school is a perfect location for a short course, set by a cottage garden, with B&B attached, I would highly recommend it. The tutor was John Russel who has worked as a setter and tutor all his life. His classes were technically precise and John clearly has a passion for teaching traditional skills. 

By the end of the week I had set rings in a selection of styles including star, rub over, claw, cluster, and pave. When John passed my channel setting as a good professional standard I was so proud.

Now all I have to do is choose which stones I want to use in my work, I am thinking peridot to transform my silver turtle into a green sparkly turtle! I feel a shopping trip coming on….

My weeks work. (very bling!)