Learn Jewellery MakingPart of the JDMIS learning network

From first beaded bracelet to silversmithing — a beginner's road into jewellery

Materials

Silver, gold, platinum — 6 facts that change how you buy and make

Handmade silver on turquoise wood — the maker's metal.

Six facts, chosen because they change real decisions at the bench and the
counter.

  1. Karat is a ratio, not a quality score — 24k pure; 18k = 75% gold; 9k
    = 37.5%. Lower karat = harder + paler + cheaper. The setting job decides
    the karat.
  2. Silver tarnish is chemistry, not defect — sulfur in air makes the
    black layer; storage bags and regular wear slow it.
  3. Sterling is 92.5% silver — the alloy adds working strength; fine
    silver (99.9%) is softer and fuses differently (bezel strip!).
  4. Gold is bench-friendlier than its price suggests — 9-14k solders and
    polishes easily; the cost risk is the reason practice happens in silver.
  5. Platinum is dense — a platinum ring weighs ~60% more than the same
    ring in 18k gold, and costs in labour too.
  6. White gold is usually plated — rhodium gives the cool white; it wears
    and gets re-dipped. Palladium whites skip that.

Deeper materials knowledge is part of the
gemmology and trade education
at the school — and the Precious Metal Arts ladder
puts all three metals under your hands in sequence.

What students say

“Attended the courses here and it's worth way more than what you have to pay for. The instructors are all super approachable and welcoming everytime they see you. The tools needed are provided and you get to bring home the crafts that you make during the class. Even the class schedules are pretty flexible. I enjoyed myself here a lot and will definitely sign up for more classes.”

— Nebulla L. (Singapore) · published student feedback

“I am using the skills in my everyday life and my spare time has become very productive.”

— Shirley M. (Philippines) · published student feedback

Free ways to explore

No sign-up, no payment — start with any of these.

TTake the 2-minute course finderFREE
Answer a few questions, get personal course recommendations.TThe complete course guideFREE
Every course, family and diploma in one PDF.FFree gem webinar replaysFREE
Full recorded sessions on gems and the jewellery trade.PPlay Name That GemFREE
The school's free gem-identification game.

Keep exploring

Wax carving for beginners — jewellery before it is metalHow wax carving works — carving, milling, spruing, casting — and why it is the sculptor's Your first silver pendant — saw-piercing your own designA first silver pendant project — transferring a design, saw-piercing curves, filing clean Saw-piercing basics — blade tension, posture and turningHow jeweller's saw-piercing works — choosing blades, setting tension, posture, turning corYour first silver ring — what you actually make in classA first silver ring project deconstructed — measuring, sawing, soldering, shaping and poli

Try a one-day jewellery class

Short experience classes at JDMIS need no tools, no experience and no commitment — a single session gives you a real taste of the craft.

Visit jdmis.edu.sg