Discover the Best Jewelry Making Classes in NYC
Jewelry making is the craft of creating decorative items for wearing. There are various types of jewelry, including watches, bracelets, brooches, and earrings. These items can be made from nearly any material, such as clay, gemstones, beads, glass, metal, plastic, and many more. The tools and techniques required for jewelry making vary depending on the material you choose to work with and the type of jewelry you wish to make. While learning how to make your own jewelry may seem intimidating, the craft doesn’t have to be complicated. There are in fact many techniques and points of entry available for pure beginners.
Why You Should Learn Jewelry Making in NYC
Engaging in a creative hobby can be highly rewarding. Many individuals report feelings of accomplishment and increased happiness. Some people find the physical focus of crafting to be meditative and stress relieving. These effects can combine to boost the immune system.
Many people who start a new hobby turn to physical or online communities for advice and encouragement. These communities become sources of support that also help to decrease feelings of isolation. It’s also possible to build real-world connections through your crafting groups and form lasting friendships.
Many new hobbies turn into long-term passions that in turn become a source of income. Developing a side hustle from your hobby can cover the cost of the tools and supplies necessary for the hobby or become a full or part time job. However, it’s worth noting that many people choose not to monetize their hobbies, and are instead content with the mental and emotional benefits associated.
In-Person Jewelry Making Classes & Schools in NYC
Perspective hobbyists and professional jewelry makers will find many choices for jewelry making classes in New York City. Students of all skill levels are welcome and available classes teach skills and techniques for working with various materials. Schools offering classes include the following.
92nd Street Y
92nd Street Y is a community center in the Upper East Side that offers nearly 20 jewelry crafting classes. The school provides several introductory courses for beginners, including an intro to bead jewelry, Introduction to Enamel, and Intro to Silversmithing. These courses cover basic tools and techniques for individuals just starting the craft. Advanced and intermediate courses are also available for enameling and wax carving. These courses are intended for students who have a strong grasp of fundamental techniques and are ready for more advanced training. Students of all levels, beginner and otherwise, can attend courses on wax carving and polymer clay. All-level courses are structured to teach beginners as well as provide advanced training for students who are ready for it.
Individuals looking for more structured training through each skill level can attend specifically tiered classes, such as Jewelry I, Jewelry II, and Jewelry III. These courses cover the techniques for making a cuff, ring, or necklace with a stone setting, starting with the basics and advancing through more difficult methods. Similar courses include Classic Goldsmithing I and Classic Goldsmithing II. Students learn how to make chains and earrings using classic goldsmithing techniques. 92nd Street Y also offers independent study courses for students who wish to focus on personal projects and improve individual skills.
New York Jewelry Design Institute
The New York Jewelry Design Institute is dedicated to aiding students in developing the skills necessary to succeed in the jewelry industry. The institute is located in Midtown and offers classes both in making and marketing jewelry designs.
The Lost Wax Carving & Casting course teaches participants how to carve jewelry designs out of hard wax in preparation for metal casting. Students will learn the various tools and techniques involved in wax carving.
Additional courses offered by the institute include how to properly light photographs and render digital images for selling jewelry and designs in Photography for Jewelry Designers and Rapid Rendering for Jewelry Designers. Other courses offered include How to purchase diamonds and gemstones for your settings and how to develop a sales process that appeals to customers (The Right to Sell).
Liloveve
Liloveve is a jewelry studio and boutique located in Williamsburg. The studio offers workshops that teach both hobby jewelry making and professional production. The studio provides several introductory courses for beginners, including silversmithing, Intro to Wax Carving, and ring making. Each course lasts multiple sessions and teaches industry tools and techniques. Students are encouraged to generate their own ideas and designs.
Fitzgerald Jewelry
Fitzgerald Jewelry is a combination store, gallery, and school located in Williamsburg. The school offers private workshops geared toward both hobbyists and professional jewelry students. Beginners can learn silversmithing, wax carving for ring making, enameling on copper, and creating stackable rings. Class sizes are limited to one person to allow for personalized development in jewelry making skills. Students are encouraged to create their own designs.
Bushwick Jewelry Casting
Bushwick Jewelry Casting is a jewelry casting studio located in Bushwick. The studio possesses tools for both large and small casting projects. The studio offers two levels of jewelry casting courses for beginners and advanced students as well as a two-day Jewelry Casting Boot Camp. Students learn how to carve and mold wax to form their own jewelry designs. Their designs are cast, and participants undergo the process of polishing and finishing their pieces.
Beginner courses are available for learning Bezel Setting and Soldering for gold and silver pieces. And students of all levels are welcome to learn Enameling. Some courses require students to provide their own materials. Average class sizes are small.
The Benlolo Jewelry Studio
The Benlolo Jewelry Studio offers classes in jewelry making and design. Class sizes are limited to a handful of students and are open to beginners, hobbyists, and experienced jewelry makers. Courses are customized to the individual interests and personal goals of each student. Class schedules are also customizable if requested. The Jewelry Design/Making course for beginners and intermediate students is available as a four or six week schedule. The class teaches techniques for wax carving and molding, fabricating precious metals, wrapping metal wire, and creating various settings. Students also learn how to identify gemstones. Intermediate & Advanced Jewelry Design/Making is also available.
Alzerina Jewelry
Alzerina Jewelry is run by a renowned jewelry designer and located in Brooklyn. She offers jewelry making working shops for both beginners and experienced attendees. Her current workshop, Jewelry Making - Silver Package, teaches students how to work with jewelry wiring and beads for crafting beautiful wearable pieces. All materials are provided.
Virtual Jewelry Making Classes & Schools
Online classes are accessible for many students due to the ability to take them from anywhere so long as a reliable internet connection is available. Students are often able to choose from more topics than might exist via physical classes nearest them. Online classes also commonly offer flexible scheduling options and they don’t feature the commute required of in-person classes.
Though online courses offer a lot of conveniences, they sometimes can’t replicate the hands-on nature of in-person classrooms. For instance, students may need to purchase their own crafting materials. For online jewelry making classes in particular, some courses only offer a live demonstration of jewelry crafting while others seek to emulate in-person workshops by providing students with a materials list to follow along. Some intensive workshops may be better attended in person so students have full access to studio tools.
Some popular virtual CourseHorse jewelry making courses include the Hammered Earring course. Students will view a live walkthrough of the crafting process, including forging, soldering, and finishing. Time is allotted for live questions and answers. Students will receive a materials list after class to continue learning on their own.
In the Wax Carving Course, students learn how to design and cast jewelry by molding wax models. Students receive a materials list before class so they can learn alongside the instructor. Participants of all skill levels are welcome to attend.
Private Group Jewelry Making Classes in NYC
Jewelry making classes are ideal for businesses and organizations looking for team building exercises. Team building events are known to bolster communication among groups, and engaging in fun activities increases employee productivity, motivation, and creativity. Online jewelry making classes for private groups in NYC can be found through CourseHorse. CourseHorse even makes the process simpler by shipping all of the necessary materials directly to your guests, ensuring that all of the participants have the tools they need to start making jewelry.
Through the Virtual Polymer Clay Jewelry course, group participants are taught how to craft jewelry out of polymer clay. All skill types are welcome, and students are encouraged to create their own designs, whether simple or complex. Participants can choose to create many different jewelry pieces, including brooches, keychains, earrings, and necklace pendants, among others.
While the Virtual Clay Marbling Workshop doesn’t specifically teach jewelry making, the techniques and skills taught can be applied. The class instructs attendees on the art of constructing stunning plates and bowls through the art of working with polymer clay. The skill level required for this course is very relaxed and is ideal for pure beginners or participants who lack confidence in their artistic skills.
CourseHorse charges no additional booking fees and confirmation of reservations is given within 24 hours. Group sizes can be adjusted at no charge provided advanced notice is given. CourseHorse supports multiple platforms so students can attend class through Zoom, Google Meets, Microsoft Teams, or another preferred virtual meetup. Courses are also able to be customized and demos are available for an additional fee.
