Why We Don't Set Gemstones in Beginner Jewellery Workshops

I recently had an enquiry from a potential student who wanted to melt down her old gold, make a ring, create a claw setting and set her own gemstone – all within a four-hour workshop!

When I explained that, while we'd love to help bring her idea to life, it simply wasn't possible in that timeframe, I didn't hear back.

It got me thinking that perhaps it's worth explaining why gemstone setting isn't something we offer as part of our beginner jewellery workshops.

Our beginner workshops focus on introducing you to the fundamentals of jewellery making – working with metal, shaping, soldering, filing and finishing your own piece.

Gemstone setting is a different discipline altogether. It requires years of specialist training (often four years or more), precision tools and considerable experience to master. Even seemingly simple settings involve carefully manipulating precious metal around a gemstone without damaging it or compromising the security of the setting.

Different gemstones also have different characteristics. Some are particularly delicate, while stones with pointed corners can be especially vulnerable to chipping or breaking if too much pressure is applied.

We believe these skills deserve the time, experience and attention they require, which is why we leave gemstone setting to a professional.

Want to add a gemstone to your jewellery?

Absolutely! We make both gold and silver jewellery at Jewellery Collective and regularly work with an experienced professional gem setter who takes care of setting gemstones in our pieces.

Whether you're creating a special ring, incorporating a diamond you already own or adding a beautiful coloured gemstone to a custom design, we can help bring your ideas to life.

You can make your own jewellery in one of our workshops and explore options for having a gemstone professionally set, or talk to us about a custom-made gold or silver piece.

The important thing is getting the right skills involved at every stage, so you end up with a piece of jewellery you'll love wearing for years to come.

Here's to ensuring expectations and reality align every step of the way.