259. Polishing Secrets for Jewellers: Tools, Techniques & Finishes with Jessica Rose and Kelly Twigg
Release Date: 05/19/2025
274. 5 Tips For Creating Standout Workshops as a Creative with Patricia van den Akker from the Design Trust
Jewellers Academy Podcast
If you’ve ever thought about teaching creative workshops, or you already run them and want to make them truly unforgettable, this episode is packed with wisdom you won’t want to miss. Jessica Rose talks with Patricia van den Akker from The Design Trust, author of 'Teaching Creative Workshops in Person and Online', to share five powerful tips for designing workshops that stand out. Patricia’s approach goes far beyond simply showing people how to make something. Instead, she encourages us to think deeply about why we teach, what kind of experience we want to create, and how we can...
info_outline
273. Advanced Stone Setting: Learn to Make Tiara Wedding Bands with April Dace in Brighton
Jewellers Academy Podcast
In this week's episode of the Jewellers Academy Podcast, Jess talks with fine jeweller and experienced instructor April Dace about her upcoming three-day in-person masterclass in Brighton (2nd - 4th October 2025). Designed for intermediate to advanced jewellers, the course focuses on creating a stunning Tiara wedding band with five claws - a perfect project to refine your stone setting skills and elevate your engagement ring designs. April shares what students can expect, from shaping and fitting rings for stones to creating precise settings, soldering, and claw work. While the...
info_outline
272. 10 Tips for Selling Out Your Jewellery Workshops with Anna Campbell & Lynn Powell
Jewellers Academy Podcast
This week on the Jewellers Academy podcast, Anna Campbell is in conversation with Lynn Powell. Anna is the founder and tutor for Jewellery School Scotland, teaching sell-out jewellery workshops in Edinburgh. Lynn Powell is the founder of the Arienas Collective, a creative workshop hub in Edinburgh. The collective was set up to help local artists and makers make a living doing what they love. Anna teaches her workshops exclusively with the Arienas Collective and they regularly sell out months in advance. The Arienas Collective recently curated an exhibition called Love or Money, which explored...
info_outline
271. From Beginner to Maker: Inside the Foundation in Silver Jewellery with Tutor Laura-Jayne
Jewellers Academy Podcast
In this week's episode of the Jewellers Academy Podcast, host Anna Campbell chats with tutor and mentor Laura-Jayne of Small Dog Silver about the Foundation in Silver Jewellery course - the perfect starting point for beginners wanting to make beautiful jewellery from home. Laura-Jayne shares her passion for mentoring new makers, watching them grow from total novices to confident creators. Together, Anna and Laura-Jayne dive into what the 5-week online Foundation course offers, from learning essential techniques like saw piercing, soldering, and stone setting, to creating five...
info_outline
270. The Visibility Retreat: A Game-Changer for Your Jewellery Business
Jewellers Academy Podcast
In this week’s episode of the Jewellers Academy Podcast, Jessica Rose is joined by Anna Campbell, Kelly Twigg, and Emma René to introduce something brand new: the first-ever Jewellers' Visibility Retreat, happening this September in Brighton, England. This intimate, in-person, three-day event is designed for jewellery business owners who are ready to get seen, connect deeply with their brand, and confidently attract customers, just in time for the busy Christmas sales season. You will learn about what to expect from this immersive retreat: powerful hands-on workshops in email marketing,...
info_outline
269. Overcoming Obstacles: How Jane Taylor Built a Thriving Jewellery Business
Jewellers Academy Podcast
In this week's episode of the Jewellers Academy Podcast, Jess talks with fine jeweller and tutor Jane Taylor, to talk about her creative journey into jewellery making. From childhood badge-making to running her own boutique jewellery store in Godalming, UK. Jane shares about the winding road that led her to jewellery. From early experiments with polymer clay, to leaving an apprenticeship in search of creative freedom, to building her own brand and shop that's now part of a thriving creative hub. Jane shares the lessons she's learned through decades in the industry, including working for other...
info_outline
268. Enamelling for Royalty and Saying Yes Before You’re Ready: Jeweller Mahroz’s Creative Journey
Jewellers Academy Podcast
In this week's episode of the Jewellers Academy Podcast, Jess talks with Mahroz Hekmati, a talented jeweller, enamelling specialist, and core member of the teaching team at the new Jewellers Academy Brighton studios. Mahroz shares her journey from Iran to Canada and eventually to the UK, tracing her transformation from a graphic design student to an award-winning jeweller whose work has been worn by royalty. She shares about the cultural and personal challenges she faced entering a traditionally male-dominated field in Iran, and how key moments like a last-minute enamelling commission reshaped...
info_outline
267. Pricing, Stockists & Standing Out: Why Alternative Events Could Be Your Secret Weapon with Hannah from Slab Jewellery
Jewellers Academy Podcast
In this week's episode of the Jewellers Academy podcast, host Elin Horgan is joined by Hannah Royce-Greensill, founder of Slab Jewellery, whose path to becoming a full-time jeweller began in an unexpected place, freelance web design. Hannah shares how she balanced both careers in the early stages, using her digital skills to support herself while slowly and steadily growing her jewellery business. Hannah opens up about the power of being bold in growing her jewellery business and how a single, heartfelt Instagram post about her dream to be stocked at Clifton Rocks in Bristol led to...
info_outline
266. 5 Mistakes Businesses Make with Their Branding (and How to Fix Them) with Nicola McMillan and Anna Campbell
Jewellers Academy Podcast
Imagine this: you’ve poured your heart into designing beautiful, one-of-a-kind jewellery pieces. You’ve set up an Instagram account, maybe even a website… but somehow, you’re still not getting the attention or the sales you hoped for. Sound familiar? The truth is, having great work isn’t always enough. Without a clear, compelling brand, getting lost in the crowd is easy. But don’t worry, you’re not alone. Branding is something so many jewellers struggle with, especially when starting out. That’s why this week’s episode of the Jewellers Academy Podcast is a must-listen. In...
info_outline
265. Celebrating Alternative Jewellery with Alice from the Museum of Alternative Jewellery
Jewellers Academy Podcast
In this week’s episode, host Kim Thompson sits down with Alice from the Museum of Alternative Jewellery to explore the wonderfully imaginative world of non-traditional jewellery making. Alice shares how a childhood love of beads, Polly Pockets, and playful textures evolved into a lifelong passion for alternative jewellery as self-expression and even a personal ‘safety blanket’. From shrink plastic to acorn cups and found objects, Alice reveals how unconventional materials can carry just as much meaning and beauty as precious metals. They dive into how jewellery can be both a...
info_outlineIn this week’s episode of the Jewellers Academy podcast, Jess and jeweller Kelly Twigg dive into the often underappreciated craft of polishing and finishing jewellery. Drawing on Kelly’s experience from the Diploma in Silver Jewellery, they explore the techniques, tools, and creative choices that bring a piece to life.
From filing and sanding to hand polishing and finishing styles, this conversation covers the essentials for jewellers at all levels. You’ll learn why quality tools matter, how different finishes influence the final look, and what safety measures are crucial in your workspace. Whether you’re refining your skills or just getting started, this episode offers practical insights and inspiration to enhance your jewellery-making journey.
Key takeaways:
-
Finishing is a skill developed over time with experimentation and care.
-
High-quality files and tools make a noticeable difference.
-
Hand polishing often offers more control and better results than machine polishing.
-
Choosing the right finish is a creative decision that shapes your piece’s identity.
-
Proper magnification can help achieve a flawless result.
-
Patience is essential—rushing the process rarely ends well.
-
Safety in the workshop should always come first.
If you’d love to really hone your polishing skills and take your jewellery to the next level, check out our brand new course:
Polishing and Finishing Masterclass
This course is designed to cover finishes, techniques and tools for upping your polishing game.
Covering
Filing - The finish you get on your jewellery starts with the fundamentals. Learn how to use different files to prepare your metal for polishing.
Finishes - There are so many amazing finishes you can achieve for your jewellery and each gives a very different look to the same piece. Learn how to achieve a mirror finish, a satin finish and a frosted finish on your jewellery creations.
Polishing gemstone set jewellery - Get tips on how to polish your gemstone jewellery so the jewellery shines as bright as the stones.
Tips for cleaning up wax casting
Polishing tools - There are lots of tools you can use for polishing. You don’t need them all! This course gives you a run down of the most popular tools and how to use them including:
-
pendant motor with 3M radial disks, split pin mandrels, burrs and polishing mops
-
barrel polisher/tumbler
-
bench polisher
-
ultrasonic jewellery cleaner
This course is currently available with 50% off in our launch sale, but only until Wed 28th May 2025 so don’t wait!
https://www.jewellersacademy.com/polishing-and-finishing
Learn more about Jewellers Academy