Things to do · Arts and crafts
Make a silver ring or pendant
A friend has invited you to do this with them.
Sawing, filing, soldering and polishing a strip of silver into a ring you can wear is a small, exact piece of metalwork that you finish in a weekend. Beginners' courses start with a simple textured band, and several then let you design a second piece of your own.
Moderate£100 to £500 / $130 to $650A few weeksIndoorsWith othersUK and US
Someone who has done it
These are real people who did this, as reported by the outlets named. We opened each one before linking it. None of them is connected with this site.
What it's really like
The core skills are the same everywhere you look. Beginners learn to cut and saw metal, file, form and texture it, solder joins, then sand and polish. West Dean's beginners' weekend starts with a textured silver ring and then a second piece agreed with the tutor, such as earrings, a bracelet or another ring.
Not every course works in silver from the start. City Lit's six-week course has you practise on copper first, making a pendant, a ring and earrings, before you design your own piece. Silver is extra there, and the college says students generally spend £5 to £20 on their first pieces.
Expect a workshop with flames and sharp tools. West Dean asks for stout covered shoes and long hair tied back, and City Lit does not allow sandals or open shoes in its studio.
Ways in and what they cost
| Where | Course/format | Cost (as last listed) |
|---|---|---|
| West Dean College | Jewellery making for beginners: a weekend; a textured silver ring plus one piece of your choice; silver and copper sheet, silver wire and solder included | £338 |
| City Lit, London | Beginners' jewellery I: six Sundays, 10:30 to 16:30; copper provided, silver extra | £429, or £343 senior and £279 concession |
| 92NY, New York | Jewelry for Absolute Beginners, Adult Intensive: condensed course of rings, bezels and cabochon stone settings; supply list required | $715 |
| John C. Campbell Folk School, North Carolina | Beginning Jewelry: a week in copper, brass and sterling silver, including bezel setting | $870 tuition, plus $75 to $95 materials |
Stone setting is not covered on West Dean's beginners' weekend, while 92NY includes cabochon setting and the Folk School includes stone and bezel setting. The Folk School warns that changes in metal prices can alter its materials estimate.
How to start
- Find a beginners' jewellery or silversmithing course: an adult education college, a craft school or a residential college short course.
- Check whether silver is in the fee or bought on the day, and whether the course includes soldering, which is the skill that holds most pieces together.
- Wear closed shoes, tie long hair back and take an apron to the first session.
Where to go
- West Dean College: jewellery and silversmithing short courses UK
- City Lit: Beginners' jewellery I (London) UK
- 92NY: Jewelry for Absolute Beginners, Adult Intensive (New York) US
- John C. Campbell Folk School: jewelry classes (North Carolina) US
We opened these links on 7 November 2026 and found them to be what we say. Dates, places and prices are on the official page, where they stay up to date.
Plan this
Pick a day, or a month, and we will set out how to get ready, step by step, with a date and a reason for each. Projects run over months and stall without a rhythm, so the plan sets milestones you can see.
Questions people ask
Can a complete beginner make a silver ring?
Yes. West Dean's beginners' weekend has a textured silver ring as its first step-by-step project, and City Lit's course is for complete beginners.
Is the silver included in a jewellery making course?
It depends. West Dean includes a set amount of silver sheet and wire, while City Lit provides copper and asks you to buy silver, which it says usually costs £5 to £20 for a first piece.
What should I wear to a jewellery making class?
Closed shoes and an apron, with long hair tied back. City Lit bans sandals and open shoes from its jewellery studio.
Do beginners learn soldering?
Usually. West Dean, City Lit, 92NY and the John C. Campbell Folk School all list soldering in their beginners' courses.
Where this comes from: West Dean College, Jewellery making for beginners with Laila Smith; West Dean College, jewellery silversmithing; City Lit, Beginners' jewellery I; 92NY, Jewelry for Absolute Beginners - Adult Intensive; John C. Campbell Folk School, Beginning Jewelry; John C. Campbell Folk School, Jewelry Classes. Opened 7 November 2026.
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