For the love of gold |
Conversation on Goldsmithing

Class Description

Taught by Erin S. Daily

The allure of gold spans human history, with jewelry as the primary example of how we have worked with and adorned ourselves with this precious metal. As metalsmiths we often practice our skills with the goal to eventually incorporate gold into our pieces. Once a jeweler makes the decision to begin working in gold, excitement is often met with reservations. Where to begin?

This lecture is designed to answer questions and lay a foundation for making the transition to a goldsmith’s bench. We will begin with the basics and discuss the properties of gold and the other metals that are commonly used in alloys. We will talk about tooling and melting processes to pour ingots for making the sheet and wire utilized for fabrication. Karats and colors, annealing, malleability, and ductility will all be covered, as well as the finer points about solders. 

Considerations about how to bring gold into your current practice will be discussed. There are many important factors to consider when developing new aspects of your line of jewelry, and ensuring you are prepared for goldwork will save both time and money.

This lecture will include conversations about the realities of using a finite resource that has profound impacts on people and the environment. We will go in depth on terms like recycling as it pertains to the jewelry industry, and discuss Fairmined, and Fairtrade gold options. In this vein we will also discuss how to assess scrap metal/old jewelry for reuse or refining. 

This lecture invites discussion. Please bring your questions and curiosity. 

This lecture is open to everyone who is interested to learn more about goldsmithing. It is also a precursor and prerequisite for our Intro to Goldsmithing course. Students who are enrolled in Intro to Goldsmithing will have time at the end of our discussion to ask questions and go over materials and supplies to bring to our first class session. 

Class size 4 – 15 students. Masks are optional, not required.

Refunds & Credit

Please email us at info@bkmetalworks.com to withdraw from class. Withdrawals from class more than 7 days prior to the start of the class will receive a full refund for the class minus a 10% processing fee. If cancellation occurs 3-6 days prior to the class, we will provide a 50% refund. Cancellations 48 hours or less receive a 25% refund. Refunds will not be provided for no-shows or same-day cancellations.

We do not refund tuition for classes that students miss due to their own circumstances. There will be no refunds once the class begins in any circumstance, nor can we transfer you to a later semester. Students enrolled in multi-session studio courses (excluding workshops and intensives) may make-up missed class sessions during open studio hours for up to two weeks after the last class meeting.

We reserve the right to cancel or discontinue any class, in which case you may choose to receive a refund, apply the class credit towards a different course, or receive a tuition credit for future use. Tuition credits are valid for up to one year. Refunds will be issued within 30 days.