Jewellers Academy Podcast

In this episode of the Jewellers Academy Podcast, Jess is joined by fine jeweller and tutor Jane Taylor to explore the advantages of working in wax as a fine jeweller.
Jane has been running her jewellery business for nearly 25 years and shares how wax carving has played an important role throughout her career. They discuss how wax allows jewellers to create sculptural, three-dimensional designs that would be difficult to achieve in sheet metal alone, as well as how it can reduce metal waste and make working with unusual gemstones easier.
Jane also shares several of the projects she teaches on the Jewellers Academy Wax Diploma, including shaped signet rings, claw settings in wax, a dramatic cocktail ring and an organic grain-set ring. These projects help students understand the full journey of a piece of jewellery, from design and carving through to casting, stone setting and finishing.
The conversation also explores how wax models can be used in bespoke jewellery commissions to help clients visualise designs in three dimensions before casting. Alongside the practical benefits, Jane talks about the creative freedom and satisfaction that comes from carving wax and seeing a piece transform from a simple block of wax into finished jewellery.
 
Key moments in the conversation
00:02:06: Introduction to Jane Taylor and the focus on wax in jewellery making 00:03:49: Jane's jewellery journey and building her workshop and jewellery business 00:06:18: Project spotlight: carving shaped signet rings in wax 00:10:37: Learning claw setting in wax and understanding stone setting from the start 00:16:04: Creating a sculptural cocktail ring with a large oval stone 00:21:07: Grain setting in wax and designing colourful, organic cluster rings 00:26:38: Jane's wax journey and how it shaped her work as a fine jeweller 00:30:30: Using wax models to communicate designs with clients 00:34:30: Why wax is an accessible and cost-effective material for experimentation 00:35:02: What Jane loves about teaching wax and seeing students' creativity grow
 
Whether you are a beginner jeweller or an experienced maker, this episode offers insight into how wax carving can expand your design possibilities and deepen your jewellery making skills.
 
Learn more about the Diploma in Wax Jewellery https://www.jewellersacademy.com/diploma-in-wax-jewellery
Jane Taylor's website https://www.jewelled.co.uk/
Jane's Instagram @jewelledgodalming

This week marks a very special milestone as we celebrate one year of Jewellers Academy Brighton. In this episode, Jessica is joined by School Manager Lisa Hagen and tutors Ellinor Sixtensdotter and Mahroz Hekmati to reflect on what it's been like to build a jewellery school from the ground up and welcome a thriving in-person community.
Over the past year, more than 2,000 students from across the UK and around the world have joined classes in Brighton, learning everything from their very first silver ring to advanced stone setting, enamelling, and fine jewellery techniques. Together, the team shares their favourite moments, the transformations they've witnessed in students' confidence and skills, and the unique energy that comes from learning jewellery in a shared studio space.
You'll hear about the most popular classes, the experience of mentoring diploma students in person, and how teaching can deepen your own skills as a jeweller. They also discuss the importance of creating a welcoming, supportive environment where complete beginners and experienced makers alike can grow creatively and technically.
In this episode, we cover:
• Building a jewellery school and community from scratch • Supporting beginners through their first jewellery projects • Mentoring students through Diploma programmes • Teaching advanced techniques including stone setting and enamelling • How in-person learning complements online jewellery education • The power of creative community in developing confidence and skills
Find out more about Jewellers Academy Brighton and upcoming classes at:

 
Learn more about classes and Jewellers Academy Brighton:
https://www.jewellersacademybrighton.com/

In the 300th episode of the Jewellers Academy Podcast, Anna Campbell is joined by jewellery artist and Diploma mentor Vicki Ralph for a relaxed, inspiring conversation about their shared love of silver metal clay.
They talk about how they each discovered metal clay, why it felt different from traditional silversmithing, and what makes this medium so empowering for beginners and experienced makers alike. From practical tips on keeping clay hydrated to the magic moment when a soft piece of clay transforms into solid silver, this episode explores both the technical and emotional sides of working with metal clay.
You'll also hear about favourite techniques including carving, botanical moulds and reverse-set stones, as well as an inside look at the Diploma in Silver Metal Clay and the supportive mentoring community behind it.
If you've ever been curious about metal clay, this episode will leave you feeling confident, inspired and ready to jump in.
 
Key Moments
02:03: Celebrating Episode 300 and 300 consecutive weeks of the podcast
04:56: Vicki's origin story; flying to Germany to learn metal clay with Anna Mazon
07:56: Anna discovers metal clay after silversmithing did not feel like the right fit
10:01: What is metal clay; shaping, drying and firing clay that becomes real silver
13:00: How accessible it is; starting with minimal tools and torch firing
15:52: What surprises beginners; creating beautiful silver pieces quickly
17:21: Troubleshooting drying clay; hydration tips and staying calm in the process
21:30: 'Everything is fixable'; the zero waste and forgiving nature of metal clay
22:01: Different forms of metal clay; lump clay, paste, syringe and slip
28:20: Favourite techniques; carving, botanical textures and meditative flow
30:32: Reverse-set stones; building fantasy scenes with vines and embellishments
35:09: Letting the clay lead; how designs evolve during the making process
37:58: Inside the Diploma in Silver Metal Clay; beginner friendly and skill-building
42:44: Mentoring and community; watching confidence and signature style emerge
52:42: Advice for beginners and aspiring professionals; jump in and just start
 
Links mentioned in this episode
Free 5 Days of Silver Metal Clay https://www.jewellersacademy.com/5-days-of-silver-metal-clay
Diploma in Silver Metal Clay https://www.jewellersacademy.com/diploma-in-silver-metal-clay
Vicki's website http://victoriaralphjewellery.com/

This week on the Jewellers Academy podcast, host Anna Campbell is joined by website designer and e-commerce specialist Helen Rawlinson (HR Digital Design) to talk about when and why jewellers should move from platforms like Etsy to their own website. They explore how third-party marketplaces have changed over the years - becoming more crowded, more price-driven, and harder for genuine handmade businesses to stand out - and why relying on 'being discovered' on these platforms is far less realistic than it once was.
Helen talks about the positives of having your own website, including giving you control over your branding, your customer experience, and the story you tell about your work and pricing. They discuss the long-term value of owning your customer relationships and data, especially through email marketing, so you can build repeat sales, credibility, and a sustainable jewellery brand.
The episode also covers practical considerations like platform choice and why 'done is better than perfect' when it comes to getting your site live and improving it over time.
 
02:04: Introduction and today's topic
03:13: Meet Helen from HR Digital Design
05:14: The downside of third-party platforms
07:43: Why customer experience matters
08:40: Price comparisons on marketplaces
10:02: Your website as the hub of your business
10:47: Why handmade shouldn't compete on price
12:15: Educating customers on your own site
15:38: Why discovery on Etsy is harder now
17:02: Marketplace fees explained
19:30: Website costs as an investment
21:00: Reviews, stress, and lack of control
24:00: Owning your customer data
26:10: The power of email marketing
28:54: Social media vs email for sales
30:18: Repeat customers and loyalty
32:39: Credibility and trust online
34:26: You don't need huge sales volumes
35:05: Branding and design on your website
39:43: Done is better than perfect
42:44: Shopify vs Squarespace
48:24: Sunk cost bias and getting stuck on Etsy
49:25: The reality of running your own site
51:40: How Helen helps clients
54:20: Where to find Helen
55:10: Closing thoughts
 
About Helen
I'm Helen, the founder of HR Digital Design, and I work primarily with ambitious and growing small businesses who are ready to take their online presence a bit more seriously. A lot of my work is with creatives who've grown their businesses on platforms like Etsy or on home-made websites and then reach a point where they want more control, more stability, and a website that actually supports their business rather than complicating it. I build and advise on websites that are practical, sustainable and designed to grow with the business, without unnecessary jargon or pressure to do everything at once.
 
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/hrdigitaldesign/
Events for creatives - https://www.hrdigitaldesign.com/pages/create-and-commerce
Website - https://www.hrdigitaldesign.com/
 
Jewellers Academy offers a range of business courses designed specifically for jewellers. Explore the options and find the right next step for your jewellery business at the link below.
https://www.jewellersacademy.com/jewellery-business

In this episode, Jessica and Anna talk about how to start and grow a jewellery business using silver metal clay. They share practical tips on keeping startup costs low, developing a signature style, pricing your work confidently, and choosing a business model that suits you. You'll also hear ideas for scaling your designs through moulds and casting, adding teaching as an income stream, and using social media to share your process and attract customers.
The conversation covers everything from hallmarking and batch making to the importance of confidence and finding the right audience for your work. Whether you're completely new to metal clay or already making and selling your jewellery, this episode is full of useful insights to help you build a creative and sustainable business.
If you'd like to try metal clay for yourself, join our free 5 Days of Silver Metal Clay challenge. You'll learn to create five silver jewellery projects in five days and receive the tools and materials list in advance so you can be fully prepared to make alongside us.
 
Join the free 5 Days of Silver Metal Clay challenge starting on 2nd  March https://www.jewellersacademy.com/5-days-of-silver-metal-clay
 
Explore the Diploma in Silver Metal Clay for a full year of guided learning. https://www.jewellersacademy.com/diploma-in-silver-metal-clay
 
Links and resources mentioned in this episode:
Teaching Jewellery Making online course https://jewelleryschoolonline.teachable.com/p/teaching-jewellery-making
Free jewellery pricing masterclass and calculator https://www.jewellersacademy.com/pricing
Hallmarking for jewellers https://www.jewellersacademy.com/blog/hallmarking-for-jewellery-designer-makers
Alliance for Metal Clay Arts Worldwide https://amcaw.org/