Jewelry Manufacturing Arts Course Descriptions

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Lab Classes

• Advanced Stone Setting Lab JMA365L  

  Prerequisite: Previous stone setting experience
  

  Through one-on-one instruction and hands-on practice, get the skills and confidence you need to accept more challenging stone setting projects. GIA provides all the tools and materials while you work with karat gold and sterling silver at your own workbench. Get real-world experience by practicing a variety of settings, including channel, flush, and pavé. This class is designed for those with some background in setting and focuses on practicing advanced techniques.

  What you earn:	Letter of Completion
  Duration:	5 days or 10 nights (35 hours)
  Tuition:	$800 (Carlsbad)
  Required Books and Materials:	$165
  Class Schedule

  
  
  

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• Basic Repair and Setting Lab JMA320L  

  Guided by GIA experts, acquire basic repair and setting through hands-on training at your own fully equipped workbench. Learn to recognize and evaluate quality craftsmanship; identify and set basic mounting styles; size rings, tighten stones, and re-tip, and replace prongs; assemble and solder heads and shanks; and work with white and yellow karat gold, as well as sterling silver.

  What you earn:	Letter of Completion
  Duration:	5 days (35 hours)
  Tuition:	$800 (Carlsbad)
  Required Books and Materials:	$40
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• CAD/CAM for Jewelry Using Matrix Lab JMA350L  

  Discover the ease and time efficiency of a 3-D CAD software program designed specifically for the jewelry industry. Through automated builder menus, learn to pre-calculate dimensions and see designs generated automatically. Learn how programmed specifications can create custom designs in less time. Have fun experimenting with designs, with no more calculating or measuring. Starting with a bezel, add a ring and channel set stones, and render it in eye-catching realism to create a one-of-a-kind model.

  What you earn:	Letter of Completion
  Duration:	10 days (60 hours)
  Tuition:	$2,100 (Carlsbad and New York)
  Required Books and Materials:	$125
  Class Schedule

  
  
  

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• CAD/CAM for Jewelry Using Rhinoceros Lab JMA350L_  

  To be an effective designer today, you need tools to quickly develop your designs and accurately communicate them to everyone in the product research, development, marketing, and manufacturing or construction process.  Learn the fundamentals of Rhino through use of the Level 1 Training Manual and translate this process into making jewelry models for manufacture.  Start with a sketch, drawing, physical model, scan data, or only an idea—Rhino provides the tools to accurately model and document your designs ready for rendering, animation, drafting, engineering, analysis, and manufacturing or construction.  Rhino can create, edit, analyze, document, render, and animate with no limits on complexity, degree, or size.

  What you earn:	Letter of Completion
  Duration:	10 days (60 hours)
  Tuition:	$2,100 (Carlsbad and New York)
  Required Books and Materials:	$125
  Class Schedule

  
  
  

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• Casting Lab JMA353L  

  Take your designs and wax models and cast them in metal.  Acquire a range of new skills including wax mold injection techniques like spruing, treeing, and investing.  You’ll learn casting by centrifugal, vacuum, and chamber methods using silver and platinum, and induction vacuum casting in an oxygen-free atmosphere.  You will also learn how to make rubber molds.

  What you earn:	Letter of Completion
  Duration:	10 days (60 hours)
  Tuition:	$1,395 (Carlsbad)
  Required Books and Materials:	$155
  Class Schedule

  
  
  

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• Comprehensive CAD/CAM Lab JMA400L  

  Take jewelry designs from concepts to photo-realistic renderings, and finally to wax models ready for casting using a four-axis mill. Practice designing jewelry pieces right on screen where you can make modifications in seconds. Master the time-saving skills you need to create designs to share with customers immediately. Discover how CAD software virtually eliminates the expensive “trial and error” stage of design and manufacturing, and dramatically reduces your time to market. Use automated builder menus to pre-calculate dimensions and generate designs automatically right before your eyes and learn how programmed specifications can create custom designs in less time.

  What you earn:	Letter of Completion
  Duration:	7 weeks (210 hours)
  Tuition:	$3,990 (Carlsbad)
  Required Books and Materials:	$260
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• Comprehensive Wax Techniques Lab JMA360L  

  Gain all the skills required to set up and operate a wax modeling shop for jewelry making. Learn the practical application of wax modeling through video presentations, project text materials, and personalized instruction.  Lay out ring, earring, brooch, and bracelet link projects using various soft and hard carving waxes.  Learn techniques such as pattern-transfer, contouring, layering, hollowing, precision carving and tool modification.  Inject soft wax into rubber molds to modify, reconstruct, size, and finish injected wax projects, along with all the proper spruing and casting procedures.  Perfect your wax carving and modeling skills, including wax model making, wax modification, and wax finishing.  By the time you complete the class, you’ll understand how to interpret a design and translate it into wax.

  What you earn:	Letter of Completion
  Duration:	7 weeks (210 hours)
  Tuition:	$3,990 (Carlsbad)
  Required Books and Materials:	$80
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• Enameling Lab JMA335L  

  Enameling puts the entire color spectrum at your fingertips. Gain hands-on experience in vitreous kiln-fired enameling. Make charms, sample tiles, and rings using professional techniques. Explore several transparent and opaque application methods. Practice masking and stenciling with actual tools of the trade.

  What you earn:	Letter of Completion
  Duration:	5 days (35 hours)
  Tuition:	$800 (Carlsbad)
  Required Books and Materials:	$165
  Class Schedule

  
  
  

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• Laser Welding Lab JMA315L  

  Breakthrough laser technology has transformed the world of jewelry manufacturing arts. Through personalized instruction and hands-on training, learn to skillfully utilize advanced laser welders with pulse profiling. Encounter real-world applications such as sizing, dealing with porosity, and re-tipping. You will be provided with all course materials and a jewelry welding wire starter kit. We encourage you to bring your own pieces to work on so that you can take your work with you.

  What you earn:	Letter of Completion
  Duration:	2 days (14 hours)
  Tuition:	$535 (Carlsbad)
  Required Books and Materials:	$215
  Class Schedule

  
  
  

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• Mold Making Lab JMA325L  

  Learn the process of making rubber molds from metal masters using vulcanized rubber and room temperature vulcanization (RTV).  Learn how to cut various types of molds ranging from simple traditional designs to complex contemporary ones.

  What you earn:	Letter of Completion
  Duration:	5 days (30 hours)
  Tuition:	$770 (Carlsbad)
  Required Books and Materials:	$70
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• Pearl and Bead Stringing Lab JMA145L  

  Master the skill of stringing and restringing pearls and beads like a professional. Increase your client base by taking advantage of the growing interest in pearl jewelry. Practice a multitude of stringing techniques, including stringing and knotting using silk.

  What you earn:	Letter of Completion
  Duration:	2 days (14 hours)
  Tuition:	$345 (New York)
  Required Books and Materials:	$40
  Class Schedule

  
  
  

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• Quick Design Lab JMA330L  

  Learn professional design presentation techniques that will help you convert ideas into sales. Through personalized step-by-step instruction, learn to communicate designs effectively with bench jewelers, colleagues, and customers. Make realistic presentations with colored pencils and paint. This Lab is ideal if you have little or no sketching experience.

  What you earn:	Letter of Completion
  Duration:	4 days or 8 nights (28 hours)
  Tuition:	$800 (Carlsbad)
  Required Books and Materials:	$110
  Class Schedule

  
  
  

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• Working with Wax Lab JMA345L  

  Learn to make original wax models and offer your clients custom manufacturing services. Through personalized instruction, integrated video, text, and hands-on training, learn precise wax carving techniques. Work on projects designed to give you a wide range of wax carving skills. Practice carving various ring styles and preparing wax items for casting. Gain expertise with professional wax carving tools and instruments.

  What you earn:	Letter of Completion
  Duration:	4 days or 8 nights (28 hours)
  Tuition:	$800 (Carlsbad)
  Required Books and Materials:	$25
  Class Schedule

  
  
  

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