WAX JEWELLERY COURSE
Jewellery from wax to silver
Precious metal jewellery can be made using many techniques. One of the oldest techniques is that of ‘lost wax’. The name comes from the fact that in the process of making jewellery, the wax will be completely burnt off, and the metal is cast in its place.
01.
Creative Vision
At this stage, you turn your ideas into a concrete plan. Together with the trainer, you choose the type of piece you want to create and define your concept in detail, preparing yourself for the practical steps that follow.
02.
Carving in Wax
You start with the tools at hand – the dripper, spatula, milling cutter, scalpel – and begin shaping the wax to achieve your design.
03.
Connecting to the source
You build a ‘casting tree’ for the wax piece. You select the sizes of the feeder rods and ensure a solid connection between the elements.
04.
From Wax to Metal*
The casting tree is wrapped in packing compound and placed in the kiln to burn the wax and create a void where the metal will be cast.
05.
Separation and Degassing
Carefully pierce the piece from the metal assembly and begin the process of removing excess material.
06.
Artistic Finishing
Finish the creation by sanding and polishing. You can add personal accents by patination or even gilding to show off your style and skills.
This stage is done in the workshop, the other stages are carried out in the course. The transformation process is essential to achieve a silver piece that respects every detail of the wax pattern.
If you wish to work with stones that require setting it is necessary to have some prior knowledge. If you would like to learn how to set, we invite you to take our setting and engraving course.
CHOOSE THE RIGHT FORMAT
Waxing course details
At the end of the course you will have completed a piece of jewellery: ring or pendant incorporating the technical notions learnt. This jewellery belongs to you and will be great to show to friends.
Crash course
- Course duration: 9 hours
- Learner level: Beginner
- Course difficulty: Easy
- Course price: 980 ron*
Weekday evenings
3 non-consecutive days
Beginners in a hurry
- Course duration: 12 hours
- Learner level: Beginner
- Course difficulty: Easy
- Course price: 1416 ron*
Weekday evenings
4 days | 18:30 - 21:30
The school will provide the technical support consisting of both work tables and tools, as well as the raw material: silver and stones used in the construction of jewellery.
The school grants a maximum of 25 grams of silver. The additional quantity will be purchased for a fee. Casting labour is also provided for a maximum of 4 pieces. For a larger number, labour will be paid separately.
The course will have a maximum of 6 participants, so that each participant can benefit from all the attention they need from the trainer.
*The price does not include VAT and is the final price to be paid by the learner.
Techniques covered
- Hard wax carving
- Wax modelling
- Making wax mount/moulding for irregular stone
- Open silicone impressions for special natural textures
Advantages
- Wax is easier to process
- Easier to repair a mistake made in the wax by adding or removing
- More freedom of construction
- Easier to adapt to organic parts
- A certain part (that of metal casting) can be outsourced to jewellery workshops.
Disadvantages
- Difficult to reach geometric lines, very straight
- Involves the casting stage, which often involves a wax firing furnace
Teacher
Gabriela Secărea
I chose to teach out of the need and desire to pass on the information gathered in my 10 years of experience and hundreds of hours of classes and experiments.
I love teaching because I love the idea of a growing and developing community of jewelers. And last but not least, I get a particularly strong personal joy when I see amazing pieces created by a learner using a technique learned in one of my classes.
I think that kind of joy can only be felt by a teacher or a parent.
WAX JEWELLERY COURSE
From wax to silver
Testimonials
At the wax course, in a relaxed and intimate environment, with materials and tools provided by Galeriile Voicu, I fulfilled an old wish of mine, to learn how to create my own jewellery. It was a challenge to put my creativity to work and to step out of the mundane. I got detailed explanations about the steps, the equipment needed, tips and tricks AND I got answers to all my questions.
The wax course was a delight. Gabriela explains in detail, patiently and gently, which makes the process go smoothly, in a pleasant and relaxed atmosphere. I learned many technical details and the jewellery I got at the end far exceeded my expectations. I had a great time throughout the course and left happy and satisfied with the result and the jewellery I created.
This course gave me freedom. I wanted to create some organic jewellery, closer to nature, but I didn't know how to do that. Now I have discovered it. The atmosphere of the course was wonderful and I learned everything I need to continue making jewellery in my studio.
The course is short but intense, but at the same time for me it was mega relaxing and encouraging, because I discovered what I can do I worked with all sorts of tools and gained extremely useful knowledge. In the 4 evenings I discovered different facets of jewellery, lots of information, which I can't wait to put into practice in my creations. Gabriela is exceptional and applies herself with passion and understanding so that each of her students understand and discover what they like. I highly recommend
Hello, I walked curiously into the house where the Wax class was held. The first impact was " wow, how lucky I am to attend the course in such an elegant and bohemian location" I met Gabriela and it was love at first sight, a beautiful, open, patient and attentive person and a GOOD TEACHER The 3 days whetted my appetite to continue. I gained a lot of information and there was a lot of emphasis on my own creative spirit! I highly recommend the wax course for those who want to learn how to create their own jewelry!!!
Frequently asked questions
After the course, where can I cast my jewellery?
One of the advantages of the jewelry school Galeriile Voicu, is the fact that it is in the same location as the jewelry workshop J Kult, workshop founded in 2017. Therefore, after its completion, you can come with your pieces worked in wax, and the workshop will pour them in gold or silver. For this service and not only, the students of the Galeriile Voicu school benefit from preferential prices. All you have to do is to request the price list for collaborators.
Can I use stones in wax jewellery?
Of course, all types of stones can be used in wax jewellery. However, if you are considering stones that you would like to mount directly in wax, there are only a few that can withstand the melting temperatures of metal, including diamond, ruby and sapphire. At the class we will have the opportunity to play with some of the small caliber stones listed above.
What do I do if I want to use stones that do not resist casting in my wax jewellery?
For stones that do not withstand high temperatures, which is most stones, we recommend mounting them in a piece already cast in metal (gold or silver).
To learn more about mounting or setting stones, we recommend the beginners' course in metal, or the course in engraving and setting stones.
In what metal will the wax course be worked?
Only silver will be used in the course. On request, waxed pieces can also be cast in gold, but this process will involve additional costs and a longer period of time before the jewellery is received. You can ask for further information on the school's WhatsApp. The workshop does not cast in other metals such as bronze, copper or brass.
Can I bring items from home to turn into silver for the course?
Of course, we encourage creativity and originality. What you will need to know, however, is that we will discuss and decide together whether the materials or patterns you choose can be created or cast in the course. You should also bear in mind that the school gives a certain number of grams of silver included in each course. Quantities exceeding the included grammage as well as casting labour will have to be paid separately.
What is the difference between the three types of wax courses?
The difference between the Crash course of only 3 hours and the two longer courses is the number of pieces worked, the techniques covered and the type of wax used. Because of the extremely short time, in this course you will work with only one type of wax and create one piece of jewellery. The "From wax to silver" courses for the hurried and on the go offer more time to approach each technique taught. The advantage of the "Wax to Silver in a hurry" course is that you will have plenty of time to review the techniques used on the first day of the course and practice each detail. In our experience so far, students feel the need to redo some of the pieces they created on the first day of the course and are not so happy with by the end.
The jewelry will be created
Sign up for the course
Register for the wax course
Address
Strada Stockholm 5, București
TIME SCHEDULE
MONDAY - FRIDAY: 10:00 - 17:00
Contact
Phone: +40 766 795 489
Email: contact@galeriilevoicu.ro