by Silver Works | Mar 8, 2023 | Jewellery Classes
We want to tell you about all the exciting things we have coming up at Silver Works this month of March.
For those of you visiting our beautiful city for St. Patrick’s Day Weekend we are running our Make a Shamrock Charm class.
You can make your very own shamrock charm at our studio and enjoy some craic with a complementary glass of Guinness! We will teach you the metal smithing process of creating a charm in sterling silver and you can personalise your charm with different textures and add an initial to the disc. ☘️
How much are we talking?
€85 PP and you get to keep your gorgeous pendant/charm.
Why Silver Works?
Unlike traditional institutions, our priority is to help you learn & develop a new skill, not profit.
You will be taught by highly experienced goldsmiths, working within the industry who has an abundance of jewellery design experience.
What’s Included?
We provide Tea & coffee and some chocolate.
All tools and equipment, drills & aprons are provided for the duration of the course.
All the silver needed to make your charm, if you would like to purchase a chain to put it on we have them on offer at discounted prices or else you can put them on your own chain or bracelet.
After you have finished
That’s it – your charm has been handmade by you! Add it to your necklace to wear as a pendant or add it to your charm bracelet as a keepsake of a time well spent! If you wish to purchase a necklace to add it to, we offer special discounts for our class goers – 20% off on all chains.
We really can’t think of a better way to spend two hours over this Paddy’s Day weekend.
So, gather your crew, phone a friend or come by yourself. We promise to give you a warm Irish welcome and a unforgettable creative experience.
What else is going on this March?
Also happening this month is our 5 Week Introductory Jewellery-making Course starting Wednesday 15th of March.
This course is perfect for those of you who want to immerse yourselves in a new creative outlet. It is especially suited to anyone serious about improving their jewellery making skills.
On this course you will learn:
⚒ How to make a plain ring band to your exact measurements.
⚒ How to drill holes using the micromotor and use the shaving technique of sawing.
⚒ Make the bezel set for your stone of choice using the gas tank to solder.
This course runs over a 5 weeks and costs €350. Click here for a full break down of what to expect on this fun and interactive course.
Our ever popular, Forge Your Own Ring classes will be running frequently throughout the month of March so you can always book at a time and date that suits you.
As with all our courses, our professional teachers will be here to guide you along the way.
We can’t wait to welcome you to Silver Works!
by Silver Works | Feb 9, 2023 | Jewellery Classes
Silver Works Wax Carving
For those of you who are serious about your jewellery skills and want to know it all, our Weekend Wax Carving Course is an unmissable workshop.
What is Wax Carving and How it Works
For centuries, jewellery artisans have been sculpting their own jewellery designs from wax. This ancient technique dates back nearly 6000 years and is still widely used to this day by contemporary jewellery designers.
Beginning with a piece of jeweller’s wax, different techniques are used to file and carve the wax into your desired shape. Then, the wax is sent to a caster to be cast into metal. Finally, your piece of jewellery will be ready for the finishing touches such as polishing and gem stone setting.
How we do it here at Silver Works
To begin, you will start by deciding what you want to create. You can bring your ideas into your first class or even email them on beforehand to get some feedback before you come in. We recommend that you bring in some images or simple sketches to articulate your idea, as this will make the most of your class time.
The Wax Carving Process
You have the option to design a ring or a pendant. Once your design is clear, you will carve and file your design into the piece of wax. The wax is smoother and much nicer to work with rather than carving within the silver directly, this is why this technique is often used within the industry.
Once you’re finished carving your design, it’s then ready to be cast.
From Casting to your Finished Pieces
Once we receive your carved wax ring, we send it off to a professional casting company who use an ancient process called “Lost Wax Casting” to cast your ring in silver. First a plaster mould is made of your wax, the mould is then placed in a kiln overnight to allow the wax to be burned out, finally molten silver is poured into the cavity where your wax used to be, creating an exact replica of your design! We then clean and polish your pieces so they’re ready to be worn.
Is our Wax Carving Weekend right for you?
Wax carving is an essential skill set for anyone who wants to explore the possibilities of jewellery design and making. It is also a great way to experiment with an affordable material and develop designs that are only possible using wax.
When and Where is the Course Happening?
Our Wax Carving Weekend happens right here in our Silver Works studio on Drury Street in the heart of Dublin. This two day course allows for plenty of time to bring your creative designs to life. Beginning on Saturday from 10 – 5.30pm and continuing on Sunday from 10 – 2pm. Our central Dublin location means there are plenty of lunch options to choose from.
*Please note: Finishing touches will be applied two weeks after your course weekend on a Saturday from 10-1pm, when you will be able to take home your finished piece!
You can learn more about the course details here https://silverworks.ie/weekend-wax-carving-course/
by Silver Works | Jan 5, 2023 | Jewellery Classes
If your New Year goal is to be more creative in 2023 we think you should take a look at the exciting courses we’re offering here at Silver Works this January.
Usually associated with a post-Christmas come down, January can feel a little lacklustre to say the least. But it doesn’t have to be that way, January could be the month where you discover your new passion and get excited about discovering your creativity.
So let’s get something in your diary to kick-start the new year. At Silver Works we have a wide range of courses to suit all tastes and levels.
Our ever-popular Forge a Silver Ring class will be in full swing again this January. You can learn to make your very own ring from scratch to a stunning finished piece that you will treasure forever. Every ring is individual and you can choose from 3 different textures or combine them to make it even more unique. You even get to choose the finish you want. We have a wide range of dates and times to choose from so head over to our booking page to find out when you can start your jewellery making adventure.
Our One-Day Gem Setting Class is particularly popular with those looking for a friendship date. This class is the perfect place to start if you want to try your hand at jewellery making or want to develop your skills further. You can enjoy a full day in the heart of Dublin, lunching wherever you choose and at the end of the class, you will have a beautiful piece of jewellery to take home to remember your special day. Our next available class is Sunday 29th 10.00am
For makers with a little more experience you can enjoy the creative freedom of our 9 week Design and Make Tuesdays. You can take your piece of jewellery from concept to finished piece with the trusted guidance and support of our team here at Silver Works. Currently there is only one space left for Design and Make Tuesdays so grab your spot fast before it’s gone!
Our first Introduction to Metal Clay of the year takes place on 21st of January. Metal clay is a magical medium that starts out as soft clay that can be shaped and moulded into a unique design. When it is fired it turns into real fine silver! Join us on an exploration of this unusual medium and find out its endless possibilities.
Demand for our 5 week Introductory Jewellery-Making Course is as high as ever with all dates in January already sold out. For those of you with your heart set on this course, we do have two dates in late February with availability. Early booking is recommended to avoid disappointment.
We understand how daunting it is to start something new and how easy it is to lose it, if you don’t use it. We pride ourselves our Dublin city-centre jewellery making classes, kept intimate with just 6 spaces in each class, to help you feel more comfortable and relaxed. Our teachers will do their best to get to know your outcome goals so that they can support you in the best way they can.
So if you’re looking to keep your spirits up this January or perhaps you’re looking for a meaningful gift for a loved one, why not book yourself or a friend into one of our fun and creative classes.
Click here for a full list of classes and courses available at Silver Works. Keep an eye on our social media @silverworksdublin for the latest updates and announcements.
by Silver Works | Dec 8, 2022 | Jewellery Classes
We all love a good engagement story, the proposal, the ring – we want to hear every detail of how it all went down. It’s one of those stories we find ourselves joyously sharing over and over with friends and loved ones. We keep it happily stored in our life tale archives to take out one day for the grandchildren. But what about the wedding ring story? Often it’s an unremarkable trip to the jewellers, nothing to shout about.
Wedding Ring’s Big Day
Here at Silverworks, we don’t want the magic to end and think it’s time that wedding rings got their own dreamy love story, that’s why we created our Wedding Ring Workshop. What better way to keep creating special memories in your pre-wedding adventure, than to make the rings that will adorn each other’s hands for the rest of your lives.
How it Works
Sitting side by side at our Silverworks workbench, you can share the experience of creating the most special piece of jewellery you may ever own. Even if you’ve never made jewellery before you can be assured that our team of talented and experienced teachers will guide you step by step through the making process so you can be sure to leave with something you will truly cherish.
Why Handmade Trumps Shop-bought Every time
As a community of craftspeople and designers, we believe nothing beats handmade. We think having a ring made by the hands of your true love is handmade at it’s very best. The mark of the maker, the expression of love and care that is embedded in every piece. Every time you look at your beautiful ring, you will be reminded of your love for one another.
An Experience of a Lifetime
Our specially designed 4 hour Wedding Ring Workshop can be an unforgettable experience that is something truly unique. Dare we even say, your wedding ring story could eclipse your engagement story. Here at Silverworks we will certainly do all we can to make it a fun process that will hold a special place in your heart for years to come.
What to Know More?
Come and chat to us at the Wedding Ring Journal Live at Dublin’s Convention Centre on the 14th & 15th of January 2023 where you can ask all your questions to our expert. If you can’t wait till then, head over to our Wedding Ring Workshop FAQ page for all the details and book your place for the New Year.
by Silver Works | Nov 10, 2022 | Dublin, Jewellery Classes
3 Classes To Sign Up To This November at Silver Works Dublin
We’re just one week into November and already, diaries are filling up as we go full steam ahead into the party season. Dare we say it but before we know it, Christmas will be well and truly upon us. We’re here to remind you that among the chaos, don’t forget to factor in a little fun, – the mindful, creative kind as well as all that partying.
This month we’ve got plenty happening with our almost daily Forge A Ring classes which are proving more and more popular with teams and Christmas parties and we’re hosting our first gold version of the bestselling class at the start of December due to popular demand to make gold pieces during the class.
Here’s the low down of which classes to sign up for this month.
The Make a Silver Charm class walks you through a ten-step process to make an initialed silver charm or pendant. You’ll be able to wear the charm as a pendant and can make use of a special discount to purchase your own necklace to add your charm to or add it to your favourite charm bracelet.
You can choose from eight different shapes for your charm, including (but not limited to) a circular disc, diamond, star, square, or heart and will learn different hammering techniques to create your own texture on the charm.
Choose to add your initials before drilling a hole in the top of your charm so that it can be added to your bracelet or necklace once complete. Final touches allow you to decide if you want a super sparkly or edgy matte finish for your charm. With the guidance of our expert teachers, you’ll learn how to create your desired finish using the polishing machine.
The class takes place over a two-and-a-half-hour period and by the end, you get to walk away with your finished, handmade charm, totally unique to you.
Our One Day Gemstone Setting Class is the perfect place to start if you want to try your hand at Jewellery Design and making or if you have existing skills from previous courses and want to develop your skills further and this one – happening on 27th November – marks our final Gemstone Setting class of the year. So if it’s been on your 2022 bucket list to invest in your creative skills, this is your chance to tick it off before the year is out.
The class size is kept small so that our students benefit from getting the most out of their time with our teachers and so that you feel comfortable and confident exploring your new skill.
In this fun, flexible, one-day class, you’ll learn how to set gemstones using a flush setting into a sterling silver ring or pendant. Gemstone setting can be a little tricky so to enable a focus on this skill in particular, all sterling silver rings and pendants are pre-made for you to practice setting your stones into.
Spend the morning practicing on copper before going all in on the real thing and setting your gemstones into your final sterling silver piece in the afternoon.
This class is open to all learning stages, with the support and guidance of our expert goldsmith tutors who are there to guide you throughout.
While not technically happening in November, this is a class you’ll need to book ASAP due to high demand.
We’ve been inundated with requests to offer a class where you can make your own ring, in gold, and here it is!
For those of you who want to learn from scratch how to make a ring of your own, you now have the chance to do so in solid gold. For those who prefer more delicate styles to their rings, you can opt to use the 2mm square wire. The alternative is to use a 4mm sheet, the same as our bestselling Forge a Silver Ring class, but in solid gold.
With the help of your expert teacher leading the class, you’ll learn the basics of jewellery making step by step and walk away with a stunning gold ring of your own making to love and cherish.
Book one of our best-selling jewellery-making workshops at Silver Works Dublin this November
by Silver Works | Oct 18, 2022 | Jewellery Classes
We are very excited to be announcing our BRAND NEW class, Forge a GOLD Ring at Silver Works Dublin.
You may be thinking that this class sounds a little familiar, and you’re right. Due to very popular demand, this new class is a twist on our classic, best selling, Forge a Silver Ring class.
Time and time again, we receive questions and requests about whether you can do the Forge a Ring Class, making a gold ring instead of silver and until now, this was something you had to leave to our expert tutors and goldsmiths to do for you after the class. Part of the joy of the Forge a Ring class is that you get to walk away with your brand new, handmade ring at the end of the class so going forward, we’ll be running a special edition, gold version of the Forge a Ring class every 6-8 weeks.
What this means for you is that if you prefer to wear gold jewellery, you can come in specially to this class and make a gold ring of your own. It’s the same class and the same process as the original Forge a Silver Ring class but it’s slightly more bespoke with more time spent with each student to enable you to make the ring using gold and to suit your style.
The first Forge a Gold Ring class will be held on Saturday 5th November with just 5 spaces available. To find out more, visit our booking page here.
Got questions? Check out our FAQs below.
Do we need prior experience to do this class?
Absolutely not! This is a fun, interactive class designed for anyone to take part in! We teach you from scratch.
Do we get to keep the ring at the end?
Yes you do! It’s your ring to love and cherish after the class
I don’t like the thickness of the band, can I make my ring thinner or thicker?
We offer a standard 4mm size band or a 2mm square wire band- which you can texture and finish any many different ways! Unfortunately as we have to order in the gold especially these are all the options of width that we can offer for this class
Can one of our group do the forge a ring class and one of us do the charm class?
Unfortunately not, as they are two very different procedures, they are really two separate classes that need 2 separate teachers.
Find our full FAQs here
