Learn to identify common gemstones

The course material consists of many raw and cut stones, and teaches how to identify them by color and other distinctive properties. In the practice the common gemmology equipment and their use becomes familiar.
Course price 50 euros.

Chain maille

The chain maille course consists of one weekend (Saturday and Sunday). Several different projects of chains from silver jump rings are prepared. Material can be bought from the teacher. 4-5 students per course.
Course price 50 euros, plus cost of materials 40-60 euros.

Silver bezel setting

Students are taught to make sterling silver bezel settings for the cabochons and gems cut by themselves (pendant or ring). The course consists of 2 days (Saturday and Sunday). 4 students per course.
Course price 75 euro, plus cost of used materials.

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Silver ring workshop

Students refresh their skills of metal forming and stone setting in a ring made by themselves. Previously attended bezel setting course ia a requirement. Workshop consists of two days (Saturday-Sunday).
The teacher will provide the necessary material for sale. 3-4 students per workshop.
Price 50 euro, plus cost of material 5-20 euro.

Stamping silver

The Finnish Gem Hobbyists’ Society has the right to stamp silver.
Students may stamp the work they make at the courses, price 1 euro per stamp.
The stamp will include an abbreviation of the Society’s name and the student’s membership number.

Silver clay course

The course consists of two half days during a weekend.
Material required is approximately 10-15 grams of silver clay. The teacher will provide the clay material for sale.

Course price 50 euro, plus material costs approximately 50 euros.

Enameling

The enameling workshop consists of 2 days during a weekend. Metal working is not taught; the course teaches the properties of metal affecting enameling and the finishing. Instructions and guidance for preparing the metal before enameling may be requested from the teacher. Maximum two students per course. The bezel setting course is recommended before enameling, as there is not sufficient time to learn metal working nor soldering.
The course price 100 euros.

Stone or ceramic mosaic

Particularly mosaics making good use of leftovers of nice stones. Mosaics from ceramics is also an option. The workshop has a stock of stone shards of even thickness, but this is the opportunity to use one’s own left-overs. The necessary equipment can be found at the workshop.
Price 50 euro.

Steps:

• natural stones, sawed or crushed to pieces (slab saw and stone hammer)
• pieces are sawed to equal thickness (tile saw)
• tiles are broken (appropriate hammer)
• pieces are polished (on a flat lap and silicon carbide powder)
• glue to fibre board (suitable glue)
• seaming and cleaning (jointing plaster).

Students use their own stones and tiles, which are broken to pieces at the beginning of the course. Cheap tiles are available at hardware stores, broken pieces and individual samples.
The teacher provides other needed material, which are included in the price of the course.

Painting with crushed stones

Painting with crushed minerals (lithopich) is a layered technique, which uses crushed minerals of various grain sizes. The painting technique has been used since the 1970’s. It takes advantage of the many shades of colour that stones offer.
The 2-day course is best suited for the members interested in painting and in mineral pigments. The instructions include how to prepare crushed minerals of various grain size, and the painting technique. Each student prepares one freestyle work. The necessary materials are available from the teacher.
Price 50 euros.

updated 17.11.2023