|
|
| All courses are taught in English language.
|
| |
Introduction
to Jewelry Design
Contact
hours 90
Description
Contact hours 90
In this course, students are introduced to the creative
planning of jewels. They will start with learning the
main drawing techniques, such as orthographic projections
and axonometric projections, and later, acquainted with
rendering techniques: watercolors, gouaches, markers and
pastels. Those techniques will be explained and then applied
in the projects, to get a better expression of each student's
creativity. Students will be shown projects by professional
designers and will study books and magazines in which
they can find starting points for their first projects.
Method
Lectures illustrated lectures and demonstrations, films,
slides, prints and other visual aides. |
|
|
| |
Introduction
to Gemology
Contact
hours 45
Description
The course concerns the basics of gem materials and their
identification. The treated topics can be divided into
2 blocks: 1st- the important properties of gemstones and
the instruments, tests and procedures used in the identifications;
2nd- the systematic: the 4 precious stones (diamond, ruby,
sapphire and emerald) and the most important semi-precious
stones and common substitutes (natural, synthetic and
artificial) and the treatment to improve quality. Several
recalls to the gemstone market will enucleate the price
structure. Also the problems that goldsmiths and stone
setters can meet with will be analyzed.
Method
Lectures and slides presentations, direct observation
on more than 100 specimens, visit to the Mineralogy Museum. |
|
|
| |
A
History of Jewels: their function and symbolism 1
|
Contact hours 45
Description
Since primitive jewelry to the Renaissance, the reasons
why jewels and their magical appeal have always been
part of human life, as ornaments or as objects to collect,
will be examined. Through stylistic changes and different
fashions, jewels offer a great opportunity to learn
more about the history of taste in Antiquity, Middle
Ages and the Renaissance. For that reason not only pieces
of jewelry will be examined but also some paintings
as documents of fashion in jewelry. Not only personal
jewelry will be focused but also objects made out of
precious materials will be examined. The course will
include visits to museums and monuments for a more direct
approach to the objects. Information about the different
museums and collections in Tuscany and Italy will be
also provided.
Method
Lectures and slides presentations. Visit to museums
exhibiting jewelry collections.
|
|
|
| |
Introduction
to Jewelry Making
Contact
hours 90
Description
This course is meant to give students a first approach
to Jewelry making. The teacher will explain the main equipment
and tools used (machinery, pliers, files, saw), together
with safety regulations. Students will immediately begin
to work at the silversmith's bench, learning the basic
techniques for creating simple pieces of jewelry with
design transfer, sawing, filing, soldering, polishing,
and simple settings for cabochon stones. One term of the
course will be dedicated to introducing both the lost
wax casting methods and wax carving. The aim of the projects
is to develop manual and creative ability.
Method
Theoretical lesson: text books, magazines. Active work
at the goldsmith's bench with practical teaching of the
various methods and techniques. |
|
|
| |
Jewelry
Design 2
Contact
hours 90
Description
This course, meant for those students who already have
a basic knowledge of jewelry design and its rendering
techniques, develops and deepens the planning research.
Students will be allowed to learn in a more appropriate
way the different trends and styles and, through their
analysis, realize which technique would be the most appropriate
to render their creations. During the course, the rendering
techniques are developed emphasizing the illustrations
of the details and pushing each student to search and
elaborate his own language. The final aim is providing
the students with a technical and practical skill, so
that they can manage with ease their own creativity and
inspiration
Prerequisites
Introduction to jewelry design or equivalent course. |
|
|
| |
Jewelry
Making 2
Contact
hours 90
Description
This course will extend the students' ability to utilize
the bench hand tools, with particular emphasis on piercing,
sawing and soldering techniques. In one of the terms of
the course the students will study in depth various wax
working methods using different kind of wax and subsequently
develop a model in order to make a rubber mold to reproduce
the desired models many times. Together to that, some
setting techniques for faceted stones will be introduced
as well as basic precious metal metallurgy.
Method
Lectures and written references, textbooks and magazines.
Active work at the goldsmith's bench with demonstrations
and individual help by the teacher.
Prerequisites
Introduction to jewelry making or equivalent course. |
|
|
| |
A
History of Jewels: their function and symbolism 2
Contact
hours 45
Description
Since the Renaissance to the 20th century the stylistic
changes in jewelry will be examined in order to get a
good degree of proficiency in recognizing the different
kind of jewels. Special attention will be given to the
production of the artists of the 19th and 20th century.
Slide lectures will illustrate not only jewels themselves
but also the different cultures and the times that produced
each item. Information such as the description of the
different techniques, materials, types of jewelry and
cuts of stones will be provided as well for a more complete
comprehension of the subject.
Method
Lectures, slide presentations and critics. Visits to museums
and exhibition.
Prerequisites
A history of jewels: their function and symbolism 1 or
equivalent |
|
|
| |
Gemology
Contact
hours 45
Description
This course represents the continuation of "Introduction
to Gemology" and it will concern diamond certification,
pearl grading and colored stones identification. A general
analysis procedure will be outlined and than applied to
all gemstones grouped according to color. The direct observation
on numerous real specimens, the use of gemological instruments,
the analysis of several different certificates, the use
of simulations, and the examination of current prices,
will enable the student to learn the different factors
that influence the value of a gem.
Method
Lectures and slide presentation, direct observation on
several specimens with the aid of gemological intruments,
elaboration of a certificate. Visit to the Mineralogy
Museum.
Prerequisites
Introduction to gemology or equivalent course. |
|
|
| |
|
Jewelry
Design 3
Contact
hours 90
Description
This is an advanced level course, meant for those students
who already have experience in Jewelry Design. The aim
of the course is providing the students with confidence
and skill in planning methodology, through a process that
includes the analysis of the different inspiration sources
for the project idea; the location of the planning area
where the designer can operate; and finally the planning
of a collection. The accuracy of the details and technical
knowledge, allow the students to produce more advanced
projects that will enrich their portfolios. Moreover,
the increased graphic ability is expressed in the project
presentation.
Prerequisites
Jewelry design 2 or equivalent course. |
|
Jewelry
Making 3
Contact
hours 90
Description
This is an advanced course that studies in depth the working
techniques used to assemble jewels composed by several
elements, such as forming, sawing, piercing, and soldering.
Various methods of surface treatment and polishing techniques
will also be carried out during the course: metal or stone
inlay, reticulation, mokumè and various finishing.
During the course further setting techniques and closing
systems (clasps, box catches) will also be developed.
Students' creativity will be spurred and encouraged.
Method
Lectures and written references. Practical demonstration,
individual help to the students. Active work at the goldsmith's
bench.
Prerequisites
Jewelry making 2 or equivalent course. |
|
Stone
Setting
Contact
hours 45
Description
This course will introduce the student to the basic methods
utilized in the setting of both cabachon and faceted cut
stones. The preparation of the various tools and their
care will also be demonstrated. The principles of bezel,
claw and grain setting will be explored along with the
various settings used to set round, oval, square and navette
shaped stones. These methods and principles will be shown
by both demonstration and active practical exercises by
the student.
Method
Practical demonstrations, individual assistance and active
work at the bench.
Prerequisites
Introduction to jewelry making. |
|
Principles
of Silversmithing
Contact
hours 45
Description
This course introduces the student to the various methods
and tools used in the craft of "Silver-Smithing".
The methods of forming, forging and construction will
be utilized to create finished jewelry pieces. "Flat-Ware"
examples will also be realized. The metallurgy of silver
as it relates to chisel will be explored as well surface
finishing and polishing principles demonstrated.
Method
Lectures and written references, textbooks and magazines.
Practical demonstrations and active work at the bench
assisted by the teacher.
Prerequisites
Introduction to jewelry making or equivalent course. |
|
|
| |
Jewelry
Design 4
Contact
hours 90
Description
In this course students will analyze Italy's major jewel
producers, define a jewel collection, locate a market
target and learn how to define a theme area. During the
course, students produce executive projects of jewel collections
and are introduced, assisted and supervised in the preparation
of their own portfolios, which will lead them through
their professional careers. All projects are developed
taking each student individual needs, interests and improvements
into consideration, through a wide range of graphic media
and techniques, in order to develop and make the most
of each individual style.
Method
Lectures, slides and other visual aides, practical demonstrations.
Prerequisites
Jewelry design 3 or equivalent course. |
|
|
| |
Costume
Jewelry Design
Contact
hours 45
Description
The aim of this course is to give the students a wide
and panoramic of the costume jewelry production techniques.
The course emphasizes the use of new materials and the
planning of seasonal collections, which are conceived
as complements to fashion collections. The course aim
is to analyze the communication sphere linked to jewelry,
especially custom's and its social implications, the interactions
between current cultural phenomena and fashion. Likewise
to give the students the opportunity to compare themselves
with project fields at jewelry's side and to experiment
with new expression forms
Method
Lectures, slide presentations, other visual aides. Students
are encouraged to develop their creativity.
Prerequisites
Introduction to jewelry design or equivalent course. |
|
|
| |
Jewelry
Making 4
Contact
hours 90
Description
During this course various methods to carry out articulated
mechanisms such as hinges, gimbals and closing systems
(clasps, box catches etc.) will be introduced and developed.
Besides methods of forging and forming metals together,
metal surface treatments will be taught by using bench
hand tools in their advanced application. Students will
also be shown samples of machine-made components available
in the trade and their uses. The students will develop
their own style and research finalizing to the presentation
of a collection of pieces.
Method
Practical demonstrations, individual help to the students,
lectures and written references, textbooks. Active work
at the goldsmith's bench.
Prerequisites
Jewelry making 3 or equivalent course. |
|
|
| |
Plastics
and Industrial Materials
Contact
hours 45
Description
This is an advanced jewelry course, created for students
who already have a general background in jewelry making.
The course introduces the students to the alternative
media used in the realization of jewelry, exploring techniques
and special methods to make up jewels using industrial
and unusual materials such as plastics, casting resins,
rubber, stainless steel, wood, paper, etc. Special care
will be given to creativity and design approaches. Students
design and produce prototypes for a small original collection.
Method
Lectures, slides and other visual aids. Practical demonstrations,
individual help to the students, active work at the goldsmith's
bench.
Prerequisites
Jewelry making 3 or equivalent course. |
|
|
| |
|
