live benchtips - jewellery repairs and remodelling
We regularly run a a free Live Benchtips Session, a Q&A for you to ask an expert jewellery your questions. This month I was joined by goldsmith April Dace to answer your questions on repairing and remodelling jewellery.
Watch the whole session or skip to the question you want answered!
What are the most usual repair jobs that you get asked to do as a jeweller?
How often should the claws holding stones be serviced / checked?
11 mins How to you assure that you’ll do your best, but not over promise?
17 How do you tell if a settling is too thin? is there a guide for this in different metals?
20 Tip: pieces are often dirty when they're brought to you, use a toothbrush to clean it so you can better see what needs doing
22 Is it possible to offer repair work remotely? Not having a workshop open to the public and worry that I’m not able to have a look at the piece first
25 Please could you describe the process of a claw repair?
32 Tell us more about the laser welder you use
36 What are the ways to tell what the purity of the metal is if unknown and there are no hallmarks so for example, you can then use the right solder?
41 With repair work (like the broken claw example) is it better to have a more precise torch like a little smyths or is a hand torch fine for the job?
45 When enlarging or reducing a ring, how do you know if the main design will be affected?
Ring resizing in the Jewellers Retreat https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umsTwZpFDAs&list=PLQIaj5IU-yFRYXMG5ewzohy4tEj_4FX5h&index=10
51 What tip for smith little please would you use for prongs? 7 for melting or annealing, usually use 4
56 How would you decide how much to quote for repairs?
ABOUT April
April Dace is a jewellery designer, maker and repairer based in Norfolk. After 4 years studying jewellery at university and 5 years working in jewellery workshops around East Anglia, April took the leap to become her own boss working on her bespoke jewellery business, April Dace Jewellery back in 2020, and she’s never looked back!
April is Mum to twins and is entering a new chapter of her career as a working Mum! She currently works on jewellery commissions from her home workshop, as well as being a bench jeweller carrying out repairs at a local jewellers a few days a week.
CONNECT WITH APRIL
check out our diploma programs
If you are ready to learn jewellery making or improve your current skills we have a jewellery Diploma for you!
Click the button below to find out about all of the levels available and what you would learn to make.