Jewel Academy

Unearth Your Creativity: Master Jewelry Making & Gemology

Transform raw precious metals and decode the science of rare gemstones.

Have you ever held a striking gemstone or a flawless piece of jewelry and wondered, "How did a human hand create this?"

You don’t have to just admire beautiful jewelry—you can forge it yourself. Whether you are a complete beginner or a self-taught creator looking to master professional techniques, our intensive single-page masterclass series is designed to take you from a curious admirer to a confident artisan.

Guided by the internationally respected principles of Alan Revere’s Professional Jewelrymaking, you will learn the exact foundational skills utilized by master goldsmiths. Across four specialized classes, you will gain hands-on mastery over precious metals and learn to identify rare gemstones like a professional jeweler.

🛠️ The Jewelry Making Track

Jewelry Making 101: The Foundations of Metal (Basic)

Every masterpiece begins with raw metal. In this introductory class, you will transform simple sheets of metal into precise, beautiful shapes.

Sawing & Filing: Learn the mechanics of the jeweler’s saw to cut intricate lines, and discover how professional files create perfectly smooth edges and crisp symmetry.
Texturing & Finishing: Explore how tools bring metal to life. You will experiment with hammers, stamps, burs, and abrasives to create mirror-polished shines, soft satin finishes, or bold hammered textures.

Jewelry Making 102: Joining & Structuring (Intermediate)

Take your foundational skills to the next bench level by learning how to build complex, multi-dimensional structures.

Torch Mastery & Soldering: Learn to safely control a jeweler’s torch using hard, medium, and easy solders. You will discover the physics of heat to create strong, clean, and completely invisible joints.
Dimensional Design: Move past flat metal. Master the techniques required to construct rings, custom earring settings, and interconnected bracelets that endure a lifetime of wear.

💎 The Gemology Track

Gem Lab 101: Introduction to Gem Identification

Stop guessing what you are looking at. Step into the shoes of a gemologist and learn the scientific secrets hidden inside Earth's rarest minerals.

Optical Testing: Learn how to handle a jeweler’s loupe and microscope to spot natural inclusions, growth lines, and synthetic imitations.
The Big Three: Build a bulletproof foundation in identifying the core physical properties of Diamonds, Rubies, and Sapphires.

Gem Lab 102: Advanced Gemstone Analysis

Advance your diagnostic skills using professional laboratory equipment to evaluate and critique precious stones.

Instrument Mastery: Gain hands-on experience using refractometers to measure refractive index (RI) and polariscopes to determine optic character.
Separating Fakes: Learn the exact protocols to differentiate natural gemstones from complex laboratory-grown synthetics, simulants, and common treatments.

📅 Dates: September 19 – October 10
⏰ Time: Every Saturday, 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM
📍 Location: 555 Highway 965, Unit C&D, North Liberty, IA 52317
💵 Tuition: $375 per track (Includes standard materials and full tool access)

Class sizes are strictly limited to ensure every student receives dedicated, individual instruction at their own workbench.