When Jewellers Academy Brighton first opened, I joined one of the very first classes: Beginners Silver Jewellery 1.

I went in with no experience at all. I didn’t know what any of the tools were or what the words meant. But everyone has to start somewhere.

My first impressions

Honestly, I felt quite at ease pretty quickly.

The class is designed for total beginners, so we were all in the same boat, which helped a lot. No one knew what they were doing, and that made it feel much less intimidating.

The studio itself is such a lovely place to spend the day. It’s light, calm and really welcoming. One of those spaces where you just feel comfortable straight away.

Elli, the tutor, was also a big part of that. She made everything feel straightforward and manageable, and had a very calm, encouraging way of teaching. She was wearing lots of her own jewellery too, which I found really inspiring as a beginner.

How the class actually works

One thing I really liked is how structured it is.

You learn step by step. Elli would demonstrate each stage, then we’d try it ourselves with support as we went. It never felt rushed or overwhelming, which I think is really important when you’re trying something completely new.

Before the class, I remember wondering if I’d actually be able to do it… or if I’d end up making something a bit ugly that would sit in a drawer.

If that’s something you’re worried about too, I definitely was.

But you don’t need to be ‘creative’ or ‘practical’ to get started. I really felt guided the whole way through.

What I made

By the end of the day, I’d made a silver ring that I wear all the time (and would genuinely buy), and a sweet little pendant.

That surprised me, in a good way.

It didn’t feel like a “have a go” activity. It felt like I’d actually learnt something and made something properly finished.

What you learn in a beginner jewellery class

We covered quite a lot, but it never felt like too much:

– measuring and sizing
– adding texture
– sawing
– soldering
– shaping and finishing

It felt like a proper introduction to jewellery making, rather than just scratching the surface.

What suprised me

A couple of things really stayed with me afterwards…

Soldering was much less intimidating than I expected. Elli guided us through everything slowly and carefully, and I ended up with a really clean join (I still can’t find it on my ring now). There was probably a bit of beginner’s luck involved, but it gave me a lot of confidence.

Sawing was the opposite. I thought I’d be fine with it, but I snapped a few blades and my lines were quite wobbly. It made me realise I needed to slow down and relax a bit more. It’s definitely something that improves with practice.

Finishing also takes longer than you think. I kept asking if my ring was done… and kept being encouraged to keep going with the filing, sanding and polishing 😂. I’m so glad I did, because that’s what makes it comfortable to wear and look really polished.

What I took away from it

I really love wearing the ring I made. It’s simple, but it feels special knowing I made it myself.

I went into the class not really knowing what I was doing, and came out already thinking about what I wanted to make next, which probably says everything.

Would I recommend it?

Yes, especially if you’re a complete beginner.

If you’ve been thinking about trying jewellery making but feel a bit unsure, I’d say this is a really good place to start. You’re guided through everything, and it feels very doable, even if you’ve never made anything before.

You also get really helpful notes afterwards, and the team give great advice on how to get set up at home without spending loads.

👉 View upcoming dates for Beginners Silver Jewellery 1

It would also make a really nice gift if you know someone who would enjoy a creative day like this.

This class is also the first in a series of three, so you can carry on building your skills if you enjoy it.

Sam x