In this special episode, Jessica Rose shares the exciting news about the opening of our brand-new sister school, Jewellers Academy Brighton. Located on the stunning south coast of England, this state-of-the-art jewellery training centre is now open for in-person workshops seven days a week.

Whether you're based in the UK or abroad, this could be your opportunity to take your jewellery skills to the next level while investing in your business and yourself. With students already enrolling from the USA and Vietnam, this world-class training centre is quickly becoming a global destination for jewellers ready to learn, grow, and connect.

Jessica, Anna Campbell and Sam Hudson talk through what’s on offer in 2025, including our popular 5-Day Intensives, Masterclasses, and our intensive Diploma courses designed with travelling makers in mind. Plus, discover why Brighton is the perfect creative coastal city to host your next jewellery adventure—and how it might be more accessible (and affordable) than you think.

 

Want to explore the courses mentioned? Here are the links

Diploma in Silver Jewellery - Summer Intensive 

Silver Jewellery - 5 Day Intensive

Stone Setting - 5 day Intensive

Tiara Wedding Ring Masterclass with April Dace

Halo Set Ring Masterclass with Scott McIntyre

Private Tuition

Jewellers Academy Brighton

 

Jewellers Academy

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In this episode of the Jewellers Academy Podcast, jeweller and tutor April Dace dives into the art and precision behind her Tiara Wedding Ring masterclass. With over a decade of experience in fine jewellery, April shares invaluable insights into bespoke design, stone setting, and how to craft bands that perfectly frame existing rings. From sketching with accuracy to selecting the right jewelry tools, she covers the must-know techniques and pricing strategies that help elevate both your work and your business. Whether you're new to jewellery making or deep into your journey, this episode is packed with practical advice on client communication, intuitive design, and growing your skills with confidence.

 

Fancy learning from April? Check out the Tiara Wedding Ring Masterclass https://www.jewellersacademy.com/tiara-wedding-ring

Save now with the Masterclass Bundle https://www.jewellersacademy.com/masterclass-bundle

 

Learn more about April Dace https://www.aprildacejewellery.com/

Follow April on Instagram @aprildacejewellery

 

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If you love hearing how other jewellers found their way into the industry, this episode is for you! This week, Elin Horgan chats with Ruth and Brendan from I Am Acrylic, a duo who never planned to be jewellers but found themselves falling in love with the craft.

Trained in fine art, they stumbled into jewellery-making after experimenting with acrylic scraps and a fret saw. What started as a creative experiment grew into a thriving business, with independent shops and even celebrities like Angelina Jolie and David Schwimmer snapping up their work.

In this episode, they share their journey of hand-cutting every piece (despite the rise of laser cutting), the joys of selling at markets, and the power of connecting with fellow makers. They also discuss how running workshops helps them stay connected to their craft and community.

If you’re inspired by real-life jewellery journeys, listen now to hear how I Am Acrylic built their business with creativity, passion, and a hands-on approach.

 

I Am Acrylic on Instagram

I Am Acrylic website

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Pricing your jewellery correctly is one of the most important—and challenging—aspects of running a successful business. In this episode of the Jewellers Academy Podcast, Jess breaks down the 10 biggest pricing mistakes jewellers make and how to avoid them.

From undercharging for your time to overlooking hidden costs, we cover the most common pitfalls that could be holding your business back. You’ll learn why comparing prices with competitors can be misleading, how discounting impacts your brand value, and why pricing is an ongoing process rather than a one-time decision.

If you’re ready to take control of your pricing, increase your profits, and feel confident charging what your work is worth, this episode is for you.

 

The 10 Mistakes - Summary

1. Underestimating the cost of materials

2. Not updating your prices regularly

3. Undercharging for your own time

4. Comparing yourself and your pricing to other jewellers

5. Lowering your pricing to get sales

6. Not accounting for all the extras e.g. hallmarking, packaging, postage etc

7. Over discounting to attract sales

8. Blaming yourself if you don’t get it right first time

9. Using the same formulas for calculating selling direct to customers, wholesaling and fine jewellery

10. Confidence and not taking action to get your pricing right

 

Learn how to price your jewellery for selling directly to the customer, wholesale and fine jewellery in the FREE How to Price Your Jewellery for Profit Masterclass. Covering everything you need to know as well as spreadsheets that calculate your prices for you. Enrol now free:

https://www.jewellersacademy.com/pricing

 

Also mentioned in this episode:

The Jewellery Business Starter Kit - perfect for you in your first year of business

Jewellers Academy Brighton

 

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In this week's episode, Kim Thomson chats with Aime Cox from Studio Cotton about her journey as an entrepreneur, the importance of passion in business, and how to make SEO accessible and engaging for small businesses.

They discuss the power of SEO over social media, the significance of optimizing product descriptions, and leveraging trends for product collections. Aime also shares practical tips for enhancing online presence, including the importance of product descriptions, photography, and regular website updates.

Takeaways

• SEO can be more effective than social media for conversions.

• Sharing expertise builds trust and community.

• Thorough product descriptions are crucial for SEO.

• Freely sharing knowledge can lead to business opportunities.

• Creating actionable content helps businesses grow. Focus on bite-sized content that makes an immediate impact.

• Avoid duplication in product descriptions to enhance SEO.

• Repetition of key phrases is essential for SEO success.

• Specificity in product descriptions is crucial for search visibility.

• Google reads all content, so ensure product descriptions are thorough.

• Investing time in blog posts can yield long-term benefits.

• Utilize existing content for social media and email marketing. Blogging can lead to significant traffic over time.

• Older blog posts can still drive new visitors.

• Local SEO is crucial for small businesses.

• Small steps can lead to significant improvements in online presence.

   

   

If you are new to running a jewellery business or just about to start, check out The Jewellery Business Starter Kit. Covering how to set up. pricing for profit, marketing and more

https://www.jewellersacademy.com/starter-kit

 

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Find out more about Aime and Studio Cotton

StudioCotton.co.uk 

Studio Cotton on Instragram

 

In this week's episode, I’m joined by Kelly Twigg, and we’re talking all things sea glass. She shares her top 5 tips including how to find the best pieces, different ways to set them, and the do’s and don’ts of drilling (because yes, sea glass can crack if you're not careful!). Whether you're just starting out or already working with sea glass, Kelly’s expert advice will help you take your designs to the next level. Plus, she spills the details on her brand-new sea glass jewellery course—currently at a special discounted price!

We talk about: How to spot the best sea glass (hint: frosted and naturally tumbled is key!) The best setting techniques for irregular shapes Drilling tips to avoid breakage and stress fractures Why soldering should come before setting How mindfulness and beachcombing go hand in hand   If you love sea glass and want to turn it into beautiful jewellery, this is an episode you don’t want to miss!   https://www.jewellersacademy.com/sea-glass-jewellery   Learn more about Jewellers Academy Watch this episode on YouTube Join the Jewellers Academy Facebook Group Find Jewellers Academy on Instagram and Facebook

This week on the Jewellers Academy podcast, Jess is chatting with the amazing Alice of Alice Catherine Jewellery about her journey from total beginner to running her own thriving jewellery business on the Isle of Lewis, Scotland. Alice shares the highs and lows of building her brand, growing her team, and what it’s really like to run a jewellery shop in a remote location. We also dive into her experience with the Diploma in Silver Jewellery — how it shaped her skills and gave her the confidence to go pro. Plus, we talk about the power of community, mentoring, and the lessons she’s learned along the way. If you’re dreaming of turning your jewellery passion into a business, this episode is packed with wisdom and inspiration!   Takeaways Alice has grown her jewellery business significantly since completing the Diploma in Silver Jewellery with Jewellers Academy. She emphasizes the importance of personal branding in connecting with customers. Building a team has been crucial for managing her growing business. Alice's journey highlights the balance between making jewellery and customer service. She has learned to manage her time effectively between commissions and shop duties. The personal aspect of her brand has contributed to her business success. Alice encourages aspiring jewellers to embrace imperfection in their work. She believes that practice is key to improving jewellery-making skills. Community support and mentoring have played a vital role in her journey. Alice's story serves as an inspiration for those looking to start their own jewellery business.   Connect with Alice https://alicecatherinejewellery.co.uk/ Instagram @alicecatherinejewellery And follow her story of living on a Scottish Island @alicee_catherine   Join one of our Jewellery Diplomas now. The 18 month payment plan option ends on 7th March 2025 so if spreading the cost is an important consideration, don't miss out https://www.jewellersacademy.com/diplomas   Learn more about Jewellers Academy Watch this episode on YouTube Join the Jewellers Academy Facebook Group Find Jewellers Academy on Instagram and Facebook

In this week's episode, Elin Horgan speaks with Instagram specialist Lou Chudley about the evolving landscape of Instagram marketing in 2025. They discuss the importance of Instagram for small businesses, recent updates to the platform, the shift towards video content, and effective strategies for engaging with audiences.

Lou emphasizes the value of showing the creative process and encourages listeners to embrace video and stories to connect with their followers. Lou also discusses common mistakes to avoid and provides creative content ideas to engage audiences.

@spark_social on Instagram

https://www.spark-social.co.uk/

 

The Jewellery Business Academy - join the waitlist

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In this week's episode, Jess and Anna discuss the exciting world of silver metal clay, a versatile material for creating beautiful jewellery at home. They introduce a free five-day course designed for beginners, covering various techniques and projects, including personalized jewellery, embellishments, eco-friendly practices, adding gold, and finishing techniques. Metal clay is a really accessible way for making silver jewellery and offers so many creative possibilities. Listen now to find out more!

 

Takeaways

Silver metal clay is a versatile material for jewellery making. Every jeweller, regardless of experience, should try metal clay. The free five-day course offers a structured introduction to metal clay with projects (enrol now!). Personalized jewellery is accessible and fun to create with metal clay. Embellishments can enhance jewellery designs and are easy to make. Metal clay is eco-friendly, allowing for zero waste through recycling. Mixed metal jewellery is very popular right now and in this free course you can learn to add a touch of gold to your designs Finishing and polishing are crucial for achieving professional-looking jewellery. Exploring different materials broadens a jeweller's creative possibilities.

 

Join the FREE 5 Days of Metal Clay Course now

https://www.jewellersacademy.com/5-days-of-silver-metal-clay

The challenge starts on Monday 24th February 2025 and you get lifetime access. Enrol now to access the tools and materials list so you can get ready!

 

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Ready to take your stone-setting skills to the next level?   This week on the Jewellers Academy Podcast, Jess sits down with master stone setter Scott McIntyre to dive deep into the precision, tools, and artistry behind advanced techniques—especially fishtail setting.   From the intricacies of high-level craftsmanship to the ongoing evolution of jewellery design, Scott shares expert insights on:   🔹 The power of precision and magnification in setting 🔹 How proper technique beats brute force every time 🔹 Choosing between affordable vs. high-end tools—what really matters? 🔹 The joy (and frustration) of learning through mistakes 🔹 Why even masters never stop honing their craft   Whether you're an experienced setter or striving to perfect your technique, this episode is packed with game-changing advice to elevate your skills.   Listen now and discover the secrets to next-level stone-setting

Jewellers Masterclasses https://www.jewellersacademy.com/masterclass-bundle

  Year 1: Diploma in Silver Jewellery https://www.jewellersacademy.com/diploma   Year 2: Diploma in Fine Jewellery https://www.jewellersacademy.com/diploma-in-fine-jewellery   Year 3: Advanced Jewellery Diploma https://www.jewellersacademy.com/advanced-jewellery-diploma     Scott McIntyre is a master stone setter and a tutor for the Jewellers Masterclasses, Diploma in Fine Jewellery and Advanced Jewellery Diploma.

Follow Vanilla Ink on Instagram

Vanilla Ink Website

 

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