New Projects for the Diploma in Fine Jewellery with anelia kuprina (Podcast episode)
This week on the podcast Jess is joined by award-winning fine jeweller and mentor Anelia Kuprina to introduce new projects coming to the Diploma in Fine Jewellery. They discuss a refresh of the tennis bracelet project, designed to build advanced stone setting and construction skills. They also explore the updated totem pendant, which teaches collet settings for shaped stones including pear, princess and trillion cuts. Anelia shares tips for approaching complex jewellery projects with patience, precision and the right tools.
This is a great behind-the-scenes look at how the Fine Jewellery Diploma helps students develop professional-level jewellery making skills.
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This week on the Jewellers Academy podcast Jess is joined by award-winning fine jeweller and Jewellers Academy mentor Anelia Kuprina to introduce some exciting new projects being added to the Diploma in Fine Jewellery.
Together they explore the skills behind two key updates to the course: a technically challenging tennis bracelet project and an updated totem pendant design. These projects are designed to help students build confidence working with precious metals while developing essential stone-setting techniques used in professional fine jewellery.
Anelia shares what makes the tennis bracelet such a rewarding piece to create, from constructing multiple double gallery settings and connecting the links to setting round stones and creating a clasp. They also discuss the updated totem pendant project, where students learn how to construct collet settings for a variety of shaped stones including pear, trillion and princess cuts.
Jess and Anelia also talk about the importance of patience and precision when working on advanced jewellery projects, the value of good tools, and how the supportive learning environment within the diploma helps students push through technical challenges.
If you’re interested in developing your stone setting skills, learning to work confidently with gold and silver, and creating complex fine jewellery pieces, this episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at what students can expect from the Diploma in Fine Jewellery.
New projects on the Diploma in Fine Jewellery for 2026/27.
Above left: Princess cut stone setting with Scott McIntyre
Above right and below left: new tennis bracelet project
Below right: new totem pendant project
key moments from this episode
02:05 Introduction to the episode:
Jess introduces award-winning fine jeweller and Jewellers Academy mentor Anelia Kuprina and explains the new projects being added to the Diploma in Fine Jewellery.
04:45 The new tennis bracelet project:
Anelia explains the structure of the tennis bracelet project and the techniques students will learn, including creating collets for round stones, connecting the links and making the clasp.
06:20 Why making a tennis bracelet is such a milestone:
Jess and Anelia discuss why completing a tennis bracelet is a significant achievement for jewellers and how it builds confidence in advanced skills.
09:55 Tips for approaching complex projects:
Anelia shares advice on working through repetitive elements, focusing on consistency and avoiding the temptation to rush the process.
11:50 The updated totem pendant project:
Jess introduces the refreshed pendant design, which teaches collet settings for shaped stones including trillion, princess cut and pear.
14:00 Learning to work with shaped stone settings:
Anelia explains the technical and design considerations involved in creating collets for different stone shapes.
15:20 Advice for students joining the Fine Jewellery Diploma:
Anelia shares encouragement for students tackling advanced projects and explains how the course support and community help along the learning journey.
17:00 The importance of good jewellery tools:
Jess and Anelia discuss how investing in quality tools like files, burrs and pendant motors can make a big difference to stone setting work.
19:00 Seeing students develop their own style:
Jess reflects on how students interpret projects in their own way and develop their personal jewellery style throughout the diploma.
20:00 How to learn more about the Diploma in Fine Jewellery:
Jess shares details about the course structure, time commitment and where to find more information.
diploma in Fine jewellery
The Diploma in Fine Jewellery is a one-year, part-time online course designed for jewellers who want to take their skills to the next level and begin working confidently with precious materials such as gold, silver and gemstones. Building on the foundations of silver jewellery making, the course focuses on advanced techniques including stone setting, working with gold, and creating professional fine jewellery pieces. Through structured weekly projects, expert tuition and mentor support, students develop the precision, confidence and technical ability needed to produce high-quality jewellery and take their craftsmanship further.
The programme is designed as the second year of the Jewellers Academy diploma pathway and is ideal for intermediate jewellers ready to refine their skills and expand their creative possibilities.
Ready to take your jewellery making to the next level?
Learn more about the Diploma in Fine Jewellery and enrol here:
about anelia
Anelia Kuprina is an award-winning independent London jewellery designer, who combines traditional hand-making techniques with modern technologies to create exquisite jewels. In the ten years that she has spent in the industry, she has worked for leading UK jewellery companies, West End ateliers and the time-honoured workshops of Hatton Garden.
She launched her own studio in 2019 with the aim of utilising her new-found artistic freedom to create innovative and highly covetable fine jewellery. Her pieces are lauded for their sumptuous quality and their timeless and striking elegance. She enjoys working on commissions and works closely with her clients - from sketches to the finished jewels - to bring their visions to life whilst creating a deeper meaning beyond the aesthetic.