We take a look at why so many people are picking up the tools and turning precious metals into wearable art whilst highlighting some of the individuals and duo's that have conquered the London jewellery world and contributed to what it is today.

Why Jewellery Design?

As an industry, jewellery design is lucrative. It's highly competitive but with its many hidden layers, there seems to be a place for everyone within it. For example, designers and artists with entrepreneurial instincts can use it to harness their creativity to make a name for themselves amongst the glitz and glamour of the fashion world. However, there's the other side to the jewellery business.

There are hundreds of markets across London, artisan fairs, boutique stores, that are all crying out for jewellery designers. Success at these craft fairs can be the answer for many jewellery designers dreaming of making it big. Tatty Devine for example, is a jewellery company that now has several of their own boutiques across London.

Their humble beginnings started on Portobello market, selling leather cuffs they had created themselves. After experimenting with acrylic jewellery, this duo of talented women caught the hearts of east London and then the country with their playful and colourful design. They filled a spot in the market, and have now made their jewellery business, hugely successful.

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Equally, for designers and makers such as Wolf & Moon and Rosa Pietsch, who have made perfectly successful names for themselves using crafts fairs around their area, which happens to be London, and through selling online and on Etsy.com. Other jewellers such as Roderick Vere, run a successful design and jewellery business through again selling online, but also teaching through websites such as Obby.co.uk and taking bespoke orders.

Whichever path you decide you would like to take, it is undisputed that jewellery is an entrepreneurial choice to launch your handcrafted business into.

If you've set your heart on making a business in the jewellery sector then firstly, you've got to learn how to work with metal and precious stones from some of the best jewellery making courses in London.

The Top 10 Best Jewellery Making Courses in London are:

  1. Design Your Own Silver Ring with The Ringsmiths
  2. Stacking Rings and Gemstone Setting with Creative Escape Studio
  3. Learn to Make Beaded Jewellery Live Online with Nadia Minkoff London
  4. Make a Chakra T-bar Necklace with Jules and Gems
  5. Discover the Art of Beaded Jewellery with Craft My Day
  6. Beginners Silver Charm Making with Collette Dawn Jewellery
  7. Porcelain Jewellery Workshop with Odile Cadiot Ceramics
  8. Stacking Rings Workshop With JBF Workshops
  9. Stone Setting: Collet Setting and Channel Setting Course Bundle with Jewellers Academy
  10. Make your Own Wedding Ring with Nude Jewellery

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Several councils such as Lewisham Council teach a range of jewellery design courses and universities such as Central Saint Martins hold several short courses in the various different aspects of jewellery design. However, if you aren't sold by the council classes and your budget doesn't quite reach the tuition fees of central London universities, then a great place to start is the creators and the artists themselves. There are so many makers out there, that are willing to pass on their skills, their knowledge and their invaluable expertise. To help, we've rounded up our best jewellery making courses in London below.

1. Design Your Own Silver Ring with The Ringsmiths

This class is designed to provide you with the essential groundwork needed for wax carving all whilst enjoying a glass of bubbly in a relaxed, creative environment. Carving wax gives you endless options to freely design whatever ring you want, as you are not limited to a silver wire or strip.

This technique allows you to create something 3D, abstract, classic, chunky, geometric or organic, so you can let your imagination run wild! The Ringsmiths, Ros Millar & Milena Kovanovic are two close friends and award winning jewellery designers & makers.

Running successfully since January 2019, The Ringsmiths found themselves going viral and selling out for months in advance thanks to a TikTok post from a student attending their popular silver ring making workshop. The Ringsmiths have since joined TikTok and regularly post similar videos showing the intriguing and fascinating process of jewellery making and silversmithing.

2. Stacking Rings and Gemstone Setting with Creative Escape Studio

A fabulous introduction to the world of jewellery making as you learn traditional silversmithing techniques while personally handcrafting a set of 3 silver stacking rings. With countless options of wire shape, surface finishes and textures to apply to your rings you’ll certainly be leaving with your own one of a kind stacking ring set. Creative Escape is a fully equipped and dedicated jewellery workshop and studio, offering short courses in silver jewellery making.

Book now on Obby

3. Learn to Make Beaded Jewellery Live Online with Nadia Minkoff London

In this interactive online class, you'll learn how to make a beaded wire connector also known as a bar, an essential building block in jewellery making! Once you've learned how to make the bar and wire wrap, you’ll use your new skill to make a necklace, earrings, and a pair of stacking rings.

Nadia Minkoff London is an established British brand that has been making and designing costume jewellery for over 20 years. They are now opening the doors of their working studio and wealth of knowledge to welcome you for a fun, relaxing and educational class in jewellery making.

4. Make a Chakra T-bar Necklace with Jules and Gems

Learn how to make a beautiful real gemstone T-bar Chakra necklace that also fits perfectly as a bracelet. Get creative and design your necklace with silver or gold. Afterwards it will be packaged nicely as a generous gift, or why not keep your creation as treat to yourself? Your expert teacher will guide you step by step through the wire wrapping techniques and teach you how to use the tools and materials needed to make this beautiful Chakra necklace, giving you a mini introduction to jewellery-making in this two-hour workshop.

Jules and Gems is a sustainable jewellery and accessories boutique. They sell unique and individual pieces, designed and handmade by owner Julie Ashton and other reputable designers at the forefront of the fashion industry. If you want to learn the tricks of the jewellery making trade, then Jules and Gems are sure to have a workshop for you!

5. Discover the Art of Beaded Jewellery with Craft My Day

Discover beaded jewellery in this workshop, where you shall learn about basic beading techniques, findings and tools. Learn to use findings, how to use and manipulate headpins using round nose pliers and a variety of beads to make wire wrapped loops, and create a professional finish.

Craft My Day was founded by Rachel in 2016, who believes that all people are creative and with a bit of patience and encouragement can be taught ways to express that innate ability and get a real sense of satisfaction and enjoyment.

6. Beginners Silver Charm Making With Collette Dawn Jewellery

Learn how to make a simple charm in sterling silver in this two hour workshop. In this workshop the materials are included in the cost and no experience is necessary as you will be guided step by step through the whole process.

From her studio, Collette Dawn offers tailor-made jewellery making classes and workshops, where students choose from a selection of projects and learn how to personalise them to suit their own tastes.

7. Porcelain Jewellery Workshop with Odile Cadiot Ceramics

In this two and a half hour workshop you will be guided through the techniques to make stunning ceramic jewellery. It’s the perfect activity to relax, explore your artistic side and create your own gorgeous and unique items from a simple piece of clay. You’ll be working with fine white porcelain - a very beautiful and slightly translucent clay that makes particularly attractive and tactile jewellery. It has a reputation for being tricky to work with, but your tutor will give you demonstrations and tips on how to roll, cut, texture and shape the clay into beautiful designs. You can then add touches of colour and a glossy finish to them with ceramic pigments and glazes.

After learning to throw and run a studio by working with other artists, Odile at Odile Cadiot Ceramics decided to set up her own space in West London, where she teaches students how to make their own personalised pottery pieces and jewellery.

8.  Stacking Rings Workshop With JBF Workshops

This workshop is an introduction to jewellery making techniques and methods. You will be given support and guidance as you learn how to make made to measure rings and add texture to them. Learn how to finish your ring with soldering, cleaning and polishing techniques. This workshop is also great for couples or friends whole want to be hands-on in making a token of love for each other. You will also explore how to use a saw for cutting metal, annealing, texturing with hammers and a rolling mill and forming with domming tools. At the end of the session, you get to take your beautiful silver ring creation home with you.

9. Stone Setting: Collet Setting and Channel Setting Course Bundle With Jewellers Academy

Learn three incredible stone setting techniques to improve your work in this intermediate/ advanced level bundle. This is one of the best Jewellery making online courses in London.

Stone setting is a wonderful technique for jewellers to learn that enables you to add colourful semi-precious or even precious gemstones to your metalwork.
They experienced tutor Hayley Kruger, will guide you through how to make three key settings from start to finish: Collet Setting, Crown Setting and Channel Setting.

These techniques take time and practice to perfect and in these in-depth video courses they have nine bite-sized videos to guide you through the process which you can re-watch as many times as you like to perfect the skills and master the techniques.

10. Make your Own Wedding Ring With Nude Jewellery

make your own wedding rings, as well as a number of specialised jewellery classes. The make your own wedding ring classes are fun and practical. The courses will introduce you to a number of basic techniques and you will be able to design and make your own piece of jewellery to take home.

Jewellery course instructor, Nikki Galloway, is an award-winning Jewellery Designer and the owner of Nude Jewellery. She holds a BA (Hons) degree in jewellery design from Central St. Martins and a HND from Kent Institute of Art and Design. Nikki has worked on commissions for the Sultan of Brunei, she was a British Finalist at the Ayrton Metals Platinum Awards, she has acted as a guest lecturer at Central St. Martins and frequently creates bespoke pieces for clients all over the world.

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‌Obby out. ‌