Certificate in Jewellery

Certificate in Jewellery Course Outline

This programme is an informative and practical starting point for those who are interested in learning about the general manufacturing process of jewellery, and for those who are looking to take the first step towards pursuing a career in the jewellery or goldsmithing industry.

Students will develop theoretical knowledge about precision, accuracy, and problem-solving. This knowledge will be applied and practised through hands-on tasks.

This programme will also equip students with foundational theory and practice if they decide to proceed with further study of jewellery and goldsmithing.

Students will study jewellery and goldsmith theory, and apply this knowledge to manufacturing tasks such as dimensions, marking out, forming, filing, soldering, making settings, cutting stone holes, back holes, and polishing.

This programme will provide students with a general and fundamental understanding of the theory, skills, and techniques required to enter the jewellery or goldsmith industry.

 

Why choose Whitecliffe?

  • The programmes offered by Whitecliffe are New Zealand’s only jewellery and goldsmith courses registered and accredited with NZQA.

  • The programmes are designed with employment at the forefront, and provide students with the necessary education to excel as professionals in the jewellery and goldsmithing industry.

  • Whitecliffe implements a hands-on approach that encourages creativity, builds confidence and perfects skill.

 

Certificate in Jewellery Programme Structure

Filing Designs

  • Identify the use of geometric designs and materials used in jewellery

  • Develop ideas for basic geometric shapes and features through self-reflection

  • Replicate filing designs from paper to metal using a selection of tools such as dividers, Vernier gauge, steel ruler, and engineers square

  • Develop fabrication techniques in making basic shapes to prescribed parameters, such as accurate lines and angles, forming, and filing

  • Problem solve for plate and wire in the construction and soldering of geometric shapes

  • Identify the steps of cleaning up work for finishing and polishing using filing, emery, and buffing

Band Ring Designs

  • Identify a range of profiles and styles used in basic rings and ring making

  • Develop ideas for band ring designs through self-reflection practices

  • Modify and relate fabrication techniques to ring making such as hallmarking, determining profiles using drawplates, swaging, and forging

  • Manufacture a band ring to the correct finger size

  • Apply solutions for bar, plate, and wire required in ring making

  • Maintaining dimensions in the process of finishing and polishing

Mount Designs

  • Investigate the functions of basic mount designs

  • Develop ideas for basic mounts through self-reflection practices

  • Recognise gem-setting design styles such as Bezel, Rub-over, Rex, and Tiffany

  • Apply fabrication techniques in basic mounts such as claws and feet, under bezels, shoulders, and shanks

  • Apply solutions for bar, plate, Chenier, and wire required in fabricating mounts

  • Apply finishing and polishing techniques without loss of form

Portfolio

  • Summarise standard jewellery workshop practices, under HSWA16 conditions of the safe operation of tools, cleaning, maintenance, management of equipment, and independent workshop practice

  • Identify culturally safe workshop practices for indigenous design in arts, crafts, and jewellery

  • Support well-informed judgements in the critical analysis of own and other practices

  • Contribute to group discussions and brainstorming sessions, validating informed research decisions

  • Demonstrate planning of materials and time management to ensure completion of an exercise

  • Present a portfolio in a coherent manner