Way Too Cool Arts and Science Institute’s Jewelry program will teach students skills they can use in designing jewelry to be sold in a multitude of markets ranging from the tourist trade in Belize, to high-end designer outlets across the globe. From bead and pearl stringing, to the fine art of pavé, our staff will teach both simple and complex design techniques in a hands-on apprenticeship type class.

The Jewelry program will have a great array of guest artists. These visiting artist will show our students unique techniques such as how to mix mediums in wood and silver, or how to weave fine gold wire into a type of “cloth.” It is in knowing all the techniques that the student can reach the ability to complete any unique design they may dream.

Openings: 10 Students
Duration: 4 Semesters
Requirements: English verbal skills, basic math skills, good hand-eye coordination
Skills Taught:

• tool safety, use, and care
• precious metal alloys
• wax, wax carving, and wax tree and sprue creation
• mold making
• metal casting, clean-up, and polishing
• plating--gold, silver, and rhodium
• antiquing (chemical tarnishing)
• jewelry and chain repair
• engraving
• bead and pearl stringing
• basic gemology
• metal fabrication

Semester 1
The first semester will be spent learning safety, tools, metals, stones, industry terms, and the measurements used. Starting with the basics, students will experience wax carving, casting, clean-up and polishing. We will start with jeweler’s bronze before teaching students jewelry fabrication in silver and gold. Students will also explore bead and pearl stringing into necklaces, bezel settings, prong settings, and many other basic jewelry skills.

Semester 2
Second semester students will now get a chance at hands-on practice of the newly acquired knowledge by producing jewelry pieces of various unique designs. Although guest artists and our shop master will continue to teach new techniques, most of the time will be spent in repeating the tasks’ step by step process until the students master what they have learned.

Semester 3
Third semester studies will concentrate on stone-setting. This part of the process is perhaps the most delicate as it involves learning several different methods for carefully attaching the stone to the metal. In each technique, the amount of pressure applied to the metal means the difference between a fine piece of jewelry or a broken stone. Other tricks of the trade, such as sandblasting metal, hammer dimpling, combining metals, and mixed medium jewelry will also be taught during this time.

Semester 4
The final semester of the course will bring a deeper understanding of the gems used. Stone hardness, optimum colors, clarities, cuts, how to know if the stone is real, and stone pricing are but a few of the areas we will thoroughly explain. Our staff and guest artists will also instruct in such skills as weaving fine gold wire into “cloth,” how to cut and polish stones like turquoise and opal, how to repair fine gold chain, engraving, and other unusual art techniques. It is Way Too Cool’s goal, that by graduation, the student will be a full-service jeweler ready to open a shop or produce his or her own custom designed wholesale line.