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JEWELRY DESIGN AND REPAIR

Trades

Career Outlook

Your New Career

You can work for a local jeweler, start a career in jewelry design and repair or make money creating your own pieces of jewelry and selling them on your own or at a local shop. The opportunities are plentiful; whichever you choose, you'll have the skills for the job.

Many Jewelry Design and Repair Technicians enjoy the independence and flexibility of operating their own businesses. There is always demand for professionals who can use their knowledge and skill to make damaged or worn family heirlooms look like new. Jewelry Design and Repairs can enjoy independence in this challenging and creative career!

Your New Skills

Work with people's most prized possessions: engagement and wedding rings, family heirlooms, sentimental gifts, and keep them in beautiful condition. Apply the skills you learn in your training program diligently for a successful and secure future.

You'll learn every important part of being a Jewelry Design and Repair Technician.

The basics. The bench jeweler's tools, history of jewelry and a summary of metals, soldering and casting.
Design techniques. Design elements, design parameters, sketching, three dimensions, form and function, designing with findings.
Common Jewelry Store Repairs. Evaluating items to be repaired, watches, pearls, bead stringing, engraving.
Stones and stone setting. Carat weight and style, diamonds, rubies, sapphires and other gemstones, setting stones in channel mountings, plate setting, prong replacement, and more.

Your New Diploma

Earn your Jewelry Design and Repair Career Diploma at home in as little as eight months by studying just an hour a day for your new career. Expert instructors and support staff – dedicated to helping you complete your coursework – will be just a phone call or an email away.

Program Overview

Learn Jewelry Design and Repair at home. You'll get the support you need while learning at your own pace, with the Continuing Education Center Jewelry Design and Repair Program.

Whether you wish to work for established jewelers or start your own business, the Jewelry Design and Repair Program from the Continuing Education Center will provide the skills you need to succeed.

You'll learn about:

Tools used by jewelers
Common repairs done by jewelers
Colored gemstones, diamonds,
and jewelry design
Home-based businesses and other forms
of jewelry retailing

Tools and Supplies Included!
The Continuing Education Center Jewelry Design and Repair Program provides you with a broad range of tools and supplies to provide you hands-on training in Jewelry Design and Repair.

Contact the Continuing Education Center Today.

Find out more about the Continuing Education Center's Jewelry Design and Repair training that includes:

All the books, lessons, and learning aids you need
Rotary tool, soldering equipment, and other tools used by jewelers
Graded projects that provide you with hands-on experience
Unlimited toll-free instructor support
Access to student services by website, phone, and email

Program Outline

Instruction Sets
Your program consists of seven Instruction Sets written to take you step-by-step through the techniques and skills you'll use in your new career.

Here's how it works
Your first Instruction Set will be sent immediately after your enrollment has been accepted. Other Instruction Sets will follow as you complete your exams, so that you will always have learning materials to work with.

You will need access to a Microsoft® Windows®-based computer (running Windows Vista or later) and the Internet in order to complete your program with the Continuing Education Center.

Here is an overview of what you'll learn and the order in which you'll receive your lessons:

Instruction Set 1

Learning Strategies
The advantages of learning at home; types of study materials; types of examinations; accessing and using the features of our website; determining what kind of learner you are; establishing a study schedule; using study tips; preparing for and taking examinations.

The Bench Jeweler's Tool
Choosing and organizing the workspace; constructing an inexpensive and portable work surface; descriptions and uses of saws, files, pliers, hammers, mandrels, dapping and forming blocks, vises and common household tools.

Instruction Set 2

History of Jewelry and a Summary of Metals
Amulets; jewelry to denote rank and authority; metals as coinage and in jewelry; acid testing gold and silver; alloys; characteristics and uses of platinum; finishing, polishing and cleaning jewelry metals.

Project 1: Monogram Pendant
Design elements; examining the metal; scribing; transferring the pattern; drilling a pilot hole; cutting out the pattern; trimming, finishing, and polishing.

Learning Aids:
• Saw Frame
• Packet of Saw Blades
• Brass Sheet
• Hardwood Bench Pin
• Packet of Jump Rings
• 6” Double Cut File
• Polishing Cloth
• High-Speed Twist Drill Bit
• Gesswein Catalog Request Form

Instruction Set 3

Soldering
Types of fuels, torches, and flames; "easy," "medium," and "hard" flow solders; using flux; repairing and soldering chains and bracelets; controlling flow; protecting gemstones.

Ring Sizing
Determining proper fit; using a sizing gauge; down sizing; upsizing; removing pits, blemishes and porosity; sizing stone set rings; sizing patterned bands; using a band sizer.

Project 2: Link Identification Bracelet
Fabricating common links; determining the amount of stock needed; making the center; choosing a lettering style; attacking the center.

Learning Aids:
• Propane Torch Tip
• Spark Lighter
• Easy Silver Wire Solder
• Safety Goggles
• Unlined Nitrile Gloves
• 20-Gauge Brass Sheet
• Cross-locking Tweezers
• 14-Gauge Round Brass Wire
• Pickling Compound

Instruction Set 4

Casting
Casting in cuttlefish bone; wax model making; sprueing and investing the model; the electric kiln; casting under vacuum; casting with a centrifugal casting machine.

Mold Making
Making RTV molds; making rubber molds; wax injection.

Project 3: Stone Set Pendant
Creating a design; making the wax model; making a mold for casting; pouring the metal; finishing the pendant.

Learning Aids:
• Round Brass Wire (3 pieces)
• Green Carving Wax
• Cuttlefish Bone (2 pieces)
• Lead-free Wire Solder
• Simulated Garnets (4)

Instruction Set 5

Jewelry Retailing — Home Based Business
The business plan; legal obligations; marketing; networking; sales options; the home office.

Jewelry Retailing — Store Based Business
Types of retailing; major trends; functions of a retailer; organizational functions; store layout; function of sales personnel.

Graded Project 1: Monogram Earrings
Craft earrings to match the pendant you made in Project 1.

Graded Project 2: Chain Resizing
Shorten a chain, remove a clasp and solder the links together to make a continuous loop.

Learning Aids:
• Brass Sheet (1” x 3”)
• Brass French Ear Wires (2 pair)
• 2 Double Cable Chains
• Packet of Sawblades
• Padded Mailing Envelopes and Labels
• Wire Solder and Flux

Instruction Set 6

Colored Gemstones and Diamonds
Characteristics; carat weight; cut styles; diamonds, rubies and sapphires; other gemstones.

Common Jewelry Store Repairs
Evaluating items to be repaired; watches; pearl and bead stringing; engraving; fixing eyeglass frames; installing safety chains.

Project 4: Bezel-Set Onyx Ring
Forming the band; making a bezel; setting the stone.

Learning Aids:
• Steel Ring Mandrel
• Oval Black Onyx
• Sterling Silver Bezel Wire
• Needle File
• Pickling Compound
• Binding Wire
• Easy-Paste Solder
• Copper Tongs
• Medium-Paste Solder
• Round-Nose Pliers
• Sterling Silver Sheet, 1/2” X 3/4” X 26 gauge
• Sterling Silver Sheet, 1/4” X 2 3/4” X 20 gauge
• Color Supplement — Gemstone Gallery

Instruction Set 7

Stone Setting
Setting round diamonds and faceted stones; setting fancy shaped stones; setting stones in channel mountings; plate setting; prong replacement; prong retipping.

Jewelry Design
Design elements; design parameters; sketching; three dimensions; form and function; designing with findings.

Graded Project 3: Three-Stone Prong Set Band
Designing the ring; laying out the band; installing the heads; pre-polishing; setting the stones; finishing.

Graded Project 4: Ring Resizing
Resize two rings, making one larger and one smaller.

Learning Aids:
• Two-speed Rotary Tool and Bristle Brush Accessory
• Sterling Silver Settings (6)
• Sterling Silver Wire, 4”
• Round Cubic Zirconias (6)
• Gold-filled Wire, 9”
• Sterling Silver Wedding Bands
• Medium-Silver Paste Solder
• Easy-Silver Paste Solder
• Color Supplement — Jewelry Design
• Padded Mailing Envelopes and Labels

Work Experience Option

Online Library and Librarian
Students in the Continuing Education Center have access to an online library for use during their studies. Students can use this library to do the required research in the courses they complete or can use it for general reference and links to valuable resources. The library contains helpful research assistance, articles, databases, books, and Web links. A librarian is available to answer questions on general research-related topics via email and to assist students in research activities during their studies with the Continuing Education Center.

We reserve the right to change program content and materials when it becomes necessary.

Tuition

$898.00

Your tuition includes all books, learning aids, unlimited instructional and student support services.