Your Questions Answered: Diploma in Silver Jewellery
One of my favourite things about our Diploma Open Days is seeing who joins us.
This time we had jewellers joining from Scotland, New Zealand, the US, Ireland, Spain and beyond. Some people had never soldered before. Others had been making jewellery for 15 years. Some already had businesses and felt ready to take their work to the next level.
And as always, the questions were brilliant.
If you joined us live, thank you. If you missed it, here are some of the questions that came up and the answers that I think will help many jewellers considering the Diploma in Silver Jewellery.
Watch the open day to hear about how the course works, the projects and techniques you’ll learn to make and the support you get in order to ensure you achieve certification.
Your questions
Thank you for the questions asked during the session. here are the answers
I already have experience. Is this Diploma still right for me?
This came up more than once. One jeweller had been making for six years and felt ready to improve. Another already had a jewellery business and felt there were gaps in their technical skills.
The Diploma in Silver Jewellery works really well for jewellers who already have some experience.
You’re not expected to arrive as a complete beginner and if you do have experience, often what happens is that you revisit techniques with more intention, more understanding and more precision.
Many jewellers tell us they realise they’ve developed habits or skipped foundations over time and the Diploma helps strengthen those.
However, if you are further along in your jewellery making journey you can start with our year 2 Diploma in Fine Jewellery or even our year 3 Advanced Jewellery Diploma.
You can see the skills you need to have to join the Fine Diploma here
If you’d welcome a no-obligation chat with one of our team on your options you can book it here
Just some of the stone setting techniques taught on the Diploma in Silver Jewellery
Top left: collet setting, top right, bezel setting
Bottom left: irregular cabochons, bottom right: tube setting
Will we learn to make settings or use pre-made settings?
The answer is both, but the emphasis on this course is on making your own.
You’ll learn techniques that help you understand how settings actually work so that you’re building jewellery skills rather than simply assembling components.
Students were particularly excited to hear that even collet settings are created from scratch rather than being made from tube.
That moment of realising you can actually make these things yourself is often where confidence grows.
I’m worried about working with gold because it’s expensive
This is such a common concern. There are two projects that include gold - working with gold which is where you learn to make stacking rings from some gold and mostly silver. And there is also a wedding ring project.
What’s important to know is that you don’t necessarily need to complete every single project exactly as shown in order to achieve certification. There is flexibility and choice built into the programme. We know everyone is working with different budgets and circumstances.
I already have tools. Do I need to buy everything again?
No.
Tools and materials are purchased separately and if you already have experience, you may already own a large proportion of what you need. Many jewellers find they only need to add a few specific items.
We provide a full tools and materials list so you can review what you already have before purchasing anything.
However, if you are new to jewellery making, getting the tool kit (and spreading the cost over 12 months) is a smart move. It means that you have what you need for the course. And the great news is that the tools are the ones you will be using for years to come.
You can download the full tools and materials list here:
https://www.jewellersacademy.com/diploma-toolkit
Can I use my own stones and design ideas?
Mostly: yes.
Students asked whether they could use their own cabochons and whether projects allowed creative interpretation.
Generally, you can use your own stones, although if you choose a different size from the demonstration project you may need to calculate your own bezel wire and silver requirements.
And in terms of design, there’s a balance. There are skills that need to be demonstrated for assessment and these are outlined in the marking criteria. But within that framework there is usually space to bring your own style and creative decisions.
How does the course actually work?
This question always comes up and rightly so because online learning can mean very different things.
The Diploma in Silver Jewellery is fully online.
Projects are professionally filmed and released weekly on Monday mornings (UK time).
You have lifetime access to the training.
Alongside the content, you’re supported throughout the year with:
• Six one-to-one mentoring sessions via Zoom with an expert jeweller
• Fortnightly tutor group calls
• A dedicated Facebook group staffed by experienced jewellers Monday to Saturday
• Assessment points and structured feedback
You are supported. You are not expected to figure everything out alone and that is why our success rate is very high compared to usual online classes.
Do I need a dedicated jewellery studio?
Not everyone has a dedicated workshop. Many jewellers start at a kitchen table, in a spare room or in a shared living space.
The important thing isn’t perfection. It’s having a safe and workable setup that allows you to practise consistently.
You will need a sturdy table to attach your bench peg to. That can be a kitchen table, dressing room table etc.
Can I pay monthly and then pay off the balance later?
Yes.
If you begin on an instalment plan and later decide to pay in full, that can be arranged through the team.
We know circumstances change across the year and we try to make joining as flexible as possible.
When does enrolment close?
Enrolment for the September intake closes on Friday 12th June 2026.
We only run the Diploma in Silver Jewellery once each year starting in September, so if you’ve been thinking about joining, now is the time to explore whether it’s right for you.
And if you’re still unsure, book a conversation with us. Here’s the link you need >
This is a no obligation call. We want to ensure the right people are on the course and are happy to advise you.
Useful links
You can find the full curriculum and course dates here https://www.jewellersacademy.com/diploma
You can download a tools and materials list here
https://www.jewellersacademy.com/diploma-toolkit
If you'd like a no obligation one to one chat with one of the team you can book here >
If you're ready to book, this is the link you need