Learn jewelry making and design in a fully-equipped professional studio.
Beginners start with Metal I, where they complete four sterling silver projects while learning sawing, forging, texturing, soldering, and stone setting. All bezels are fabricated from heavy stock—we never use bezel wire.
Metal II students refine their skills while creating original designs, exploring advanced techniques such as hollow ring fabrication, flush setting, and complex soldering.
Every bench is fully equipped with professional tools, and small class sizes ensure individual instruction. Open Studio time is available for advanced students.
Extended study programs, private instruction, and custom wedding band workshops are also available.
Our student’s work highlights the skills and creativity developed in beginner and intermediate classes. Students fabricate handmade sterling silver jewelry with semi-precious stones, applying techniques learned while exploring their own design ideas.
Student Work
Our Classes
Metal 1
Learn the basic techniques of metalsmithing, hammering, sawing, forging, filing, bezel setting, texturing, soldering, and polishing. Students learn the correct methods of creating and setting heavy bezel set stones.
Metal 2
Create your own designs while honing forging and stone setting skills. Hollow ring fabrication, flush setting, and advanced soldering skills are covered. Open studio time is available to Metals 2 students.
Extended Study
Extended study programs, private instruction is available from beginner to advanced. Bring your ideas to life through a custom curriculum and a dedicated, fully outfitted bench. Contact Dan Valencia.
Metal 1
Summer 2026
June 8, 2026-August 1, 2026
Mondays 6-9P (Instructor Dan Valencia)
Thursday 11-2P (Instructor Oleg Vorobev)
Thursdays 6-9P (Instructor Oleg Vorobev)
Saturdays 1-4P (Instructor Jack Hsu)
Metal 2
Summer 2026
June 2, 2026-August 2, 2026
Soldering Workshop
Sundays 1-4P (Instructor Dan Valencia)
Tuesdays 11A-2P (Instructor Dan Valencia)
Tuesdays 6-9P (Instructor Dan Valencia)
Wednesdays 6-9P (Instructor Dan Valencia)
Saturdays 9:30A-12:30P (Instructor Jack Hsu)
Students select one of the above class times for each semester. All Metal 2 classes are taught by Dan Valencia except Saturdays are taught by Jack Hsu.
Soldering Workshop
One-day Intensive
August 17, 2026
In this one-day workshop, taught by Dan Valencia, you will learn how to solder sterling correctly, and with confidence. Students will learn the professional whys and hows of protecting silver and learn multiple soldering styles, including pick soldering. Proper torch safety, and soldering layout will be shown.
Instructor: Dan Valencia
In this one-day workshop, taught by Dan Valencia, you will learn how to solder sterling correctly, and with confidence. Students will learn the professional whys and hows of protecting silver and learn multiple soldering styles, including pick soldering. Proper torch safety, and soldering layout will be shown.
Instructor: Dan Valencia
This entry-level jewelry making class offers students the basic techniques and building blocks of metalsmithing. This exciting three day class teaches the same curriculum as taught in our regular 8 week semesters. During the three-day intensive, you will create four projects in sterling silver, crafted like a professional metalsmith. You’ll learn layout, sawing, forging, texturing, filing, polishing, soldering, and basic stone setting, including the correct way to build a heavy bezel setting (never with wire) and setting your stone with a hammer and bunch.
Instructor: Dan Valencia
This exciting 3 day class will be challenging and rewarding. Students have creative freedom in the execution of these projects. Explore further the techniques introduced in Metal I. Forging, fusing, hollow forms, and advanced stone setting are the focus. All Metal II students learn to set faceted stones. Practice Develop and create your own ideas.
Instructor: Dan Valencia
One-day Intensive
August 22, 2026
Metal 1 Workshop
Three-day Intensive
August 8-10, 2026
Three-day Intensive
August 14-16, 2026
Metal 2 Workshop
The Studio
JewelryClassDC is home to the best-equipped metalsmithing shop in the DC Metro area. With 28 professional benches (and class sizes of 10 or fewer), every student has access to a fully outfitted workspace.
Our air-conditioned studio features high ceilings, hardwood floors, antique tools, and modern technology, creating an inspiring and functional learning environment.