The Revere Academy of Jewelry Arts is proud to announce that Roberta Tanaka is now a JA Certified Master Bench Jeweler.

Jewelers of America, the largest jewelry organization in the US, holds examinations and certifies bench jewelers at 4 levels; JA Certified Bench Jeweler Technician® (level 1 corresponds to the Revere Academy's Jewelry Technician program), JA Certified Bench Jeweler® (level 2 corresponds to the Academy's Graduate Jeweler Diploma program), JA Certified Senior Bench Jeweler® (level 3), and JA Certified Master Bench Jeweler® (level 4).

The tests require bench jewelers to fabricate, set stones, polish, repair rings, settings and chains, etc, depending on the level. Learn more about JA Certification.

Last year, several senior members of the Revere Faculty began taking JA's Master Bench Jeweler Certification® exam. Needless to say, these are advanced projects designed to test the skills of very experienced bench jewelers. The group of faculty members met monthly to hold practice and test sessions at the Academy. All are progressing and in various stages of completing the required test projects.

Roberta Tanaka (who teaches Setting 1, 3 & 5) is the first member of the Revere Academy faculty to complete and pass the exam and be certified by Jewelers of America. This confirms Roberta's skills and certifies her status as a highly-skilled senior member of the jewelry community. Robeta joins a group of 122 who have taken and passed JA's most difficult bench test.

The three hands-on projects are designed to test a variety of difficult skills that should be in the repertoire of a master jeweler. The first is a fabricated 18k gold pendant with filigree work on three sides, set with an emerald-cut center stone and pavé bale. The second project is a 14k karat gold and platinum three-stone ring. The third project is a sterling silver pill box with a domed lid with a crossed 14k gold design with pavé setting.

There is a written portion of the test that includes questions about working with precious metals, trade practices, shop maintenance, etc. Total time allowed to complete all three projects is 39 hours.

We all congratulate Roberta on her excellence, her perserverance, and her mastery. BRAVO!

Above left: Enameled Goblet by Harlan Butt
Above right: Steel and Gold Rings by Suzanne Pugh

Classes in our 2009 Masters Symposium are filling quickly. due to high demand, full payment is due with your registration. If you believe you are holding a space in a class, but have not made a payment, your space is no longer being held. To confirm your space with a payment, please contact Glenda ASAP.

We still have a few spaces left in these exciting symposium classes:

Mandala Patterns in Cloisonné w/Harlan Butt, April 6-10 · $899 + $150 kit
Basse Taille, Stencil & Sgraffitto w/Harlan Butt, April 11-12·$349+$110 kit
(top left)
Do you love working with color? Have you always wanted to try enameling? Do you have experience enameling and want to expand your repetoire of techniques? If you answered yes to any of those questions, Harlan Butt will come from Denton, TX to teach a variety of incredible enameling techniques you won't want to miss. Register here or call 415-391-4179 to register for one of these information packed classes.

Steel Simplified with Suzanne Pugh, April 4-5, 2009 · $349 + $65 kit
(top right)
Have you always wanted to learn how to work with steel? As the price of precious metals soars, have you been looking for alternatives? Do you want to try something new with your jewelry? Now is the time to learn! The distinct types of steel, soldering, cold connections, forming and even hot-forging will be covered in this fast paced workshop. Register here or call 415-391-4179 to register.

Advanced Pavé with Christo Kiffer, April 3-5, 2009 · $499 + $75 kit
(bottom right)
Here is an opportunity for experienced diamond setters to learn innovative new ways to set small diamonds. These unusual techniques include advanced methods of layout, pre-cutting and bright-cutting for diamonds as small as third pointers (0.003ct). The techniques can be applied to any surface or shape, such as curves and negative areas. Projects include single and multiple rows with diagonal and split beads, hexagon and square cluster layouts. Register here or call 415-391-4179 to register.

Loop-in-Loop Chains w/Jean Stark, April 18-19 · $349 + $110 kit
(bottom left)
This is a very special opportunity to learn ancient techniques for constructing loop-in-loop chains from Jean Stark, who wrote a book on the technique. Basic and complex variations will be taught along with how to fuse, form and weave links of wire into an array of captivating patterns. Register here or call 415-391-4179 to register.

Special Techniques in Chasing & Repoussé w/Fabrizio Acquafresca
This class is for those with experience who want to develop advanced skills by making a 3-D vessel. Step-by-step instruction will start with repoussé and chasing on two flat sheets. Next the two parts are formed and soldered together, followed by further hammering and finishing. Register here or call 415-391-4179 to register.

Full Symposium Classes:
18k Granulation with Kent Raible, April 6-10 · $899 + kit
Ancient Rings III with Jean Stark, April 13-17 · $899 + $65
Chasing & Repousséwith Fabrizio Acquafresca, April 13-17 · $1250 + $20 kit
Designing & Cutting Gems w/Bernd Munsteiner, April 20-24 · $1250 +$45 kit
Optics & Reflections with Bernd Munsteiner, April 25-26 · $399 + $30 kit
Anticastic Raising with Michael Good, April 20-24 · $1250 + $30 kit
Advanced Anticlastic Raising w/Michael Good, April 25-26 · $399 + $25 kit



 

Above left: Loop-in-Loop Bracelet in 22k by Jean Stark
Above right: Pave Set Ring by Christo Kiffer

In his most recent post on Bench Business, Brad Simon suggests that retail jewelry is a recession proof business. He reminds retail jewelers, "During an economic downturn, the bench jeweler is the MOST important employee in a retail jewelry store." In fact, in 2008, jewelry repairs increased over 2007 numbers by over 16%. Simon advises, "To be successful in 2009 you must. . . provide your bench jeweler with continuing education so that they will be prepared to handle the increased work load."

Build your repair skills and the skills of your staff members to face the challenges of 2009. Revere Academy offers two repair classes: Repair 1, on February 16-19, covers ring sizing, chain repair, prong repair, clasp and safety repair as well as creating custom jewelry from purchased findings. Repair 2, on February 20-22, covers advanced repairs, including adding settings, replacing prongs, rebuilding tips, installing a spring insert, assembling, modifing and repairing and setting a basket setting with a bail, replace a half shank, assemble and set tennis bracelets, and more.

Advanced repairs and remounts both require setting skills, so the best preparation for 2009 includes classes in stone setting, especially prongs. Setting 2: Prongs will be offered January 19-21, 2009. Register now.

The renaissance city of Florence, Italy gave the world priceless paintings, magnificent sculptures and a surface finish for precious metals. "Florentine" finishes are created using line gravers that leave deep parallel cuts in metal. The finish is known around the globe for its delicate crosshatched patterns in gold and other metals.

The origin of this texture is in dispute, being claimed by both the Garibini and Alfonso families. However, not long after the first Garibini or Alfonso used a line graver to cut the Florentine finish, an English jeweller who saw the texture, created the first file that would do the same thing, but better. Unlike standard files with diagonal crosscuts that remove metal evenly, the new file has cuts that run longitudinally, and they are stacked one after the other, resembling a checkerboard. The result is that when stroked over metal, the file gouges out neat gullies and leaves crisp parallel lines. If stroked again, the lines get deeper. If turned at an angle and stroked again, the result is a very deep and crisp Florentine finish, one that will not wear away in a couple of years.

Checkering files come in a range of grit. Use the coarser files to add knurled grips to your tools like pin vises and even wooden handles.

This tip is from 101 Bench Tips by Alan Revere, published by MJSA. Illustration is by Sean Kane. Order now!

The Revere Academy is a professional jewelry school where master craftsmen pass on their skills and knowledge to students at all levels. Beginners and hobbyists as well as experienced working bench jewelers come for dozens of short, intensive classes (just 3-days!) and diploma programs lasting 2-4 months. I hope you will be able to join us for a class soon!

 

Sincerely,

 

 

Goldsmiths, silversmiths, and blacksmiths all use hammers to shape metal by forging, raising, sinking and forming. These age-old techniques are the foundation for making metal objects of all sizes, including jewelry. Take this class and learn the basics of smithing, using several types of hammers. You will complete a series of functional and ornamental projects in copper and/or silver, including samples of forging and forming; a small raised bowl, and a forged bangle bracelet. Prerequisite: Fabrication 2 or experience. 21 hours

This is a special opportunity to study with Suzanne Pugh, who will also teach Steel Simplified as part of our Masters Symposium. Suzanne has received rave reviews from Revere students and has worked for twelve years in various areas of the field: industry, studio practice, and education. Former instructor at Penland and current head of the Metals Department at City College of San Francisco, Suzanne's work has been exhibited internaitonally and pulished in many books and magazines, including Metalsmith.
Register now!