PEBBLE-TO-PENDANT BEGINNERS COURSE
at
The Cheshire Lapidary Workshop
Here it is! The only course of it’s kind in the UK.
This jewellery making course is designed for complete beginners. You need absolutely no experience of gem cutting or silversmithing. It’s run as either one-to-one or one-to-two people workshops.
With expert guidance, by the end of the day you will be leaving with your very own hand cut gemstone cabochon, in a handmade silver setting!
Meet the Team!
Hello, we are Helen and John Hilton (and Pepper and Brock) and we would like to welcome you to our Cheshire Lapidary Workshop.
If you think you might recognise us, you probably do! We traded for many years as Manchester Minerals Ltd. with shops all over the North West, supplying minerals, gemstones, jewellery making tools and lapidary equipment to the trade and to the public. We finally retired Manchester Minerals after 50 years of trading. I was only there for 30ish of those years—you’ll notice I’m younger than John!
John and I are both experienced lapidaries but it is primarily myself that will be conducting the courses; although John will be popping his head around the door from time to time, to chat and offer advice. (He can’t resist!)
About the Course.
The course runs from 10.00am until 4.00pm with a half hour break for lunch. I’ll take you through all of the safety aspects first and then you’ll be given safety goggles and an apron. If you need glasses or magnifiers, don’t forget to bring them with you. (I have spare magnifiers for close up work should you need them.)
We are going to start the day with a caffeine laced beverage (or decaffeinated if you prefer!) whilst you pick out the material you would like to cut and polish as the centre piece of your creation. We have a lovely selection of pre-trimmed gemstones for you to choose from.
When you’ve made your choice you’ll be shown by way of a demonstration how to shape, sand and polish your stone. I’ll take you through each stage until you complete your very own, polished cabochon.
We’ll be having a lunch break at about 12.30pm so bring a packed lunch. I’ll be providing you with plenty of drinks so no need to bring a flask.
Now you have your beautifully sculpted cabochon, it’s time to learn a few silversmithing skills!
You will be shown how to build your bezel (the band of silver that surrounds the stone) and how to solder it shut.
You will then be shown how to solder your newly formed bezel onto a back plate of silver.
The back plate is then filed and sanded smooth on the edges and a ring is added to suspend your pendant on an adjustable length cord.
It’s then time to set your stone and give everything a final polish or texture.
And there you have it, the most unique and personal piece of jewellery you will ever own (or give away!)
We are easy to find, based in Beeston, Cheshire. We have good parking and are wheelchair accessible. We do have cats and dogs, so allergy sufferers need to bear this in mind. The animals are not allowed in the workshop and can be kept away for those who are not keen on them, just let us know. (They’ll be heart broken but they’ll get over it!)
For those coming by train, we can collect you from the train stations at Crewe or Chester and return you at the end of the day.
Prices:
One person £295.00
Two people £540.00
(£40 deposit secures your place with the balance of the payment taken on the day)
FAQ’s
Can I buy this a gift?
Yes! This experience is so unique that the recipient will be blown away by your imaginative gift giving skills! To learn more click on the ‘BUY AS A GIFT’ button
Do I need to be artistic?
No. With expert guidance everyone who attends will be able to cut their own, jewellery grade gemstone cabochon and create a beautiful silver set pendant.
Is it dangerous?
You will be shown how to use all the equipment safely. When guidelines are followed it’s perfectly safe. However, due the nature of the equipment the course is only available to those over 16 years.
Can I bring a friend?
Yes, definitely! The courses are designed for either one person alone or two people together. With such a well equipped workshop, you will both be using different machines simultaneously meaning no waiting around.
Are you wheelchair accessible?
Yes. We can accommodate one or two wheelchair users together and we have good parking. Please contact us with your specific requirements and we’ll do our best to adjust the positioning of our equipment to suit. Please note we have a wheelchair accessible WC.
Do I need to bring anything?
Yes, a packed lunch. Everything else is provided. You will have a huge selection of rock material to choose from and tea, coffee and snacks will be available all day.
What if I live too far away?
There are very few places in the country where you can learn how to cut a stone, so if you find you are having to travel a long way, why not make a holiday of it?
We are situated near the City of Chester where there is so much to see. The Roman amphitheatre and museum are both worth a visit, not to mention the impressive city walls that take you on a tour around the whole of Chester centre, ending right back where you started.
The famous Chester Zoo is also nearby where you can discover animals that you never even knew existed!
This Zoo specialises in endangered species and runs many essential breeding programs that help boost world populations.
We want you to have a great experience with us, so if there’s anything else you’d like to know, please, don’t hesitate to ask!