Guest tutor and master jeweller Peter Keep will travel from his home in Western Australia to share his unique expertise and vast teaching experience with us at SquarePeg in 2023.
Over two days, learn beautiful and versatile claw-setting techniques to incorporate faceted gemstones into your work.
Perfect for intermediate students to add to their skill set and learn how to best display facet-cut gemstones in their jewellery designs, claw setting contains the foundation skills for all other stone-setting techniques.
Fabricate a ring or pendant with a claw setting from start to finish. And additionally, learn various claw setting techniques using pre-made settings.
At A Glance
- $675 inc GST
- Includes all materials, practice setting blanks.
- Weekend | 10 am - 4pm | presented twice a year (February and November in 2023)
A great hands-on course for expanding skills and knowledge, led by an excellent, knowledgeable and experienced teacher. A very useful and enjoyable learning experience.
Philip H.ABOUT THE COURSE
Intermediate students are introduced to fabricating claw settings and setting faceted stones across two busy days. This workshop requires intermediate-level skills and is an excellent opportunity to add to your jewellery-making repertoire.
First, students learn how to create an oval or round basket setting with sterling silver wire in a pendant or ring design. There is the option of learning how to make a crown set pendant or ring if time permits. On day one, all fabrication is completed. Basket and crown settings are versatile claw-type settings.
On the second day, students learn and practice how to set stones into pre-made setting blanks. Pre-made setting blanks are provided to practice as students learn to accurately measure and prepare the seat in a claw setting for perfect setting outcomes.
Having gained confidence with the setting methods, students move on to setting and polishing the work/s they created on day one.
The Claw Setting workshop aims to give students the confidence and skills to understand the process and requirements to securely claw set faceted gemstones into beautifully finished jewellery and carry these skills into practice.
Some students may have time to work on a second jewellery piece. The focus is on each student working at the appropriate pace unique to them to have excellent learning outcomes.
Prerequisite skills for this course are general fabrication, saw piercing, intermediate soldering, burring and drilling abilities working with the flex shaft or micro motor.
What To Expect
What you Will Learn
Build upon your existing jewellery making skills, practice accurate measuring techniques, and learn tips and tricks for the fabrication and setting of claw set designs.
Learn how to make a claw set ring the easy way!
- Fabricate an oval or round basket setting in a pendant or ring design
- Basket settings can be adapted to suit any size of stone
- Basket settings can be adapted to suit various shoulder shape options.
- Practice setting on pre-fabricated setting blanks, inclusive of the all-important cutting of the seat (or bearing)
- Set the claw settings you have fabricated yourself
- Finishing your piece after setting to a professional standard
- Students who complete their basket setting may learn Crown setting, and others may observe the demonstration
- Advanced students can learn a shaped claw setting, and others may observe the demonstration.
What You Will Make
- Sample claw setting on provided setting blanks
- A sterling silver claw set pendant and/or a ring.
- Some students, if time permits, will start or complete a second project, such as a pendant or ring.
Class Size
Small Class Size – This class is capped at ten students to ensure an excellent learning experience for all students.
Practicalities
Prerequisite Skills Required
The prerequisite skills required are strong intermediate – general fabrication, saw piercing, intermediate soldering, burring and drilling using a flex shaft.
What is Included
- Sterling silver materials to fabricate a claw set pendant or ring
- Cubic Zirconias, a selection of sizes and colours will be available to choose from
- Use of setting burs and all required tools for setting
- Information on what tools you will need to set at home
In the Studio
- All the consumables you need to do your projects (i.e. saw blades and emery paper) and all the hand tools and equipment required to complete your pieces.
- A selection of teas, coffee and biscuits
Available to Purchase
- Additional stones
- Sterling silver materials for a second project
What to Bring
- Bits and Burrs – a list will be attached to your enrolment confirmation
- Your favourite general and familiar hand tools to use on the day :
- pliers
- saw
- flush cutters
- files
- callipers
- jeweller’s head loupe and/or your magnifier glasses. (Setting can be tough on the eyes.)
General classroom tools, bits, and burs will also be available to share on the day if required.
- A notebook and pen/pencil
- Your ideas and creativity
- Lunch
More detailed information is provided on enrolment.
Safety
- We take safety very seriously at SquarePeg.
- All students must wear proper enclosed shoes (no sandals or thongs), long pants or skirts and have long hair tied back.
- We provide safety equipment and training on how to use all relevant equipment.
Payment Options
- Enrol below – you can secure your place on the spot!
- Enrol early and take advantage of our payment by instalments option to spread the payments out over three payments.
- 40% deposit followed by a 30% payment six weeks out from your course, and the final 30% payment three weeks ahead of the course start date. This option is offered at check out.
Is the date you would like to join sold out?
Please send us an email to register your interest and to go on a waitlist. mail@squarepegstudios.com.au
Related Workshops
Keen to learn more with Peter?
On the same weekend join Advanced setting with Peter Keep
I was extremely pleased with the quality of the course and its delivery. It was paced at the right speed and the teacher was superb at working with each different student to their needs and wishes.
Ksenija D.Our Tutors
Why choose a jewellery making course at SquarePeg Studios?
Our courses are taught by highly experienced and passionate teachers who are practising contemporary jewellers. This is the closest to an accredited course – without the assignments, stress and cost – that Sydney has to offer. Students not only gain the satisfaction of designing and hand-making their own piece of jewellery they also have the opportunity to get a behind the scenes look at a contemporary professional jewellery studio while learning great new skills in jewellery techniques and design.
Peter Keep
