Jewelry Making with Brad Simon

Jewelry Making: Adventures at the Bench

Adventures at the Bench

Jurgen Maerz

Friday April 25th & Sunday April 27th

Based on his best selling book, this seminar offers a potpourri of useful information and tricks to overcome a jeweler’s daily challenges.  This seminar is full of innovative tips, tricks, shortcuts, and homemade tools to help jewelers work smarter, by being more efficient and economical.  Jurgen’s tales of his earliest days as an apprentice are sprinkled throughout.  These gems are especially revealing and instructive, offering important advice and stresses the importance of communication, planning, and working smarter.

This seminar is part of the program at the Bench Jewelers Conference & Expo, April 24 – 27, 2008 in Los Angeles.  For details on all the seminars offered, more conference & expo information, and to register go to: www.BenchConference.com.

Jewelry Making: The Final Finish

The Final Finish

Jeffrey Connolly

Friday April 25th & Saturday April 26th

Less than one hundred years ago jewelry was burnished by hand using steel tools to create a highly polished finish.  But what about today – has technology made a modern bench jeweler’s life that much easier or less complicated.  Are the new polishing compounds as good as or better than old ones?  Does the new finishing or polishing machines really warrant the investment?  In this seminar you’ll learn the answers to these questions and more.  Additional topics covered include Rhodium plating techniques, multiple methods to apply textures and finishes, and a critical look at traditional finishing methods and new and evolving polishing and finishing procedures

This seminar sponsored by Jewelers of America, is part of the program at the Bench Jewelers Conference & Expo, April 24 – 27, 2008 in Los Angeles.  For details on all the seminars offered, more conference & expo information, and to register go to: www.BenchConference.com.

MJSA Expo New York

MJSA’s annual Expo will be held in New York April 10-15, 2008 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.

MJSA Expo New York is the largest and oldest trade show in the United States dedicated to the design and manufacturing of jewelry.  The show features nearly 400 exhibits of some of the latest and most innovative tools, supplies, machinery, components, services, and finished products all under one roof.

MJSA Expo New York also features a full roster of educational seminars by some of the industry’s most renowned experts, and a cocktail party where our exhibitors and attendees can network with colleagues from all around the world.

For more information and to register log onto: http://www.mjsatradeshows.org/expoNY.php

Jewelry Making: Custom Manufacturing Discussion Group

Custom Manufacturing

an Un-Moderated Discussion Group

Thursday April 24th

Do you have questions about CAD-CAM, Fabrication, Casting or have tips you’re willing to share?  This round table discussion is all about Custom Jewelry Manufacturing.  Find solutions to your jewelry manufacturing problems and learn new tips.  Discuss with your pears how you have made Custom Jewelry Manufacturing easier and more profitable.

In this un-moderated discussion attendees will have the opportunity to speak their minds in an energetic discussion of pressing topics affecting bench jewelers today.  Bring your opinions, your notepads, and your throat lozenges!

This seminar is part of the program at the Bench Jewelers Conference & Expo, April 24 – 27, 2008 in Los Angeles.  For details on all the seminars offered, more conference & expo information, and to register go to: www.BenchConference.com.

Brad

Jewelry Making: Casting for the Small Shop

Casting for the Small Shop

with Tom Weishaar CMBJ

Saturday April 26th & Sunday April 27th

With the dramatic increase in demand for custom design work, bench jewelers need to develop new and affordable techniques to enhance their casting skills.  With casting at the foundation of custom design, learning to increase the quality of your cast pieces while reducing the time required to complete a casting job offers tremendous benefits and savings.  This seminar is a guide to solving the most common casting problems. 

This seminar sponsored by Jewelers of America, is part of the program at the Bench Jewelers Conference & Expo, April 24 – 27, 2008 in Los Angeles.  For details on all the seminars offered, more conference & expo information, and to register go to: www.BenchConference.com.

Brad

Jewelry Making: Creative Platinum Fabrication

Creative Platinum Fabrication

with Jurgen Maerz CMBJ

Thursday April 24th, Friday April 25th & Sunday April 27th

Learn cutting-edge techniques and insights for fabricating intricate platinum jewelry.  Acclaimed platinumsmith Jurgen Maerz will provide instruction on a variety of platinum fabrication procedures using a torch to do traditional soldering and welding and innovative new techniques using a Laser Welder.  Revolutionize your platinum techniques and expand your design capabilities by learning platinum’s unique properties to create jewelry.

This seminar sponsored by Platinum Guild International, is part of the program at the Bench Jewelers Conference & Expo, April 24 – 27, 2008 in Los Angeles.  For details on all the seminars offered, more conference & expo information, and to register go to: www.BenchConference.com.

Brad

Jewelry Making: Platinum Casting

Platinum Casting

with Jurgen Maerz CMBJ

Thursday April 24th & Sunday April 27th

Today, platinum casting for the small shop is easier than ever - as long as you are sufficiently prepared.  Platinum casting is different from gold or silver casting, and insufficient preparation and understanding of the process can still lead to many hours of frustration.  Success depends on having good, functional equipment and learning all you can about the process.  This seminar will emphasize ways to improve your casting process by discussing how to recognize and eliminate common mistakes and improve efficiency in time and materials.

This seminar sponsored by Platinum Guild International, is part of the program at the Bench Jewelers Conference & Expo, April 24 – 27, 2008 in Los Angeles.  For details on all the seminars offered, more conference & expo information, and to register go to: www.BenchConference.com.

Brad

Jewelry Making: Rubber Mold Making

Rubber Mold Making- Clear silicone RTV

with Vic Joyner

Friday April 25th & Saturday April 26th

This seminar will demonstrate the construction of clear silicone rubber molds from a variety of pattern materials, including metal models, hand carved waxes, RP patterns and CNC milled patterns.  And then use those molds to create new duplicate models with the new HD material – a technological breakthrough that replaces injection wax.  You’ll learn tips and tricks to making and cutting rubber molds, as well as solving the problems of incomplete injections, breakage, shrinkage, and irregular surfaces in your patterns.

This seminar is part of the program at the Bench Jewelers Conference & Expo, April 24 – 27, 2008 in Los Angeles.  For details on all the seminars offered, more conference & expo information, and to register go to: www.BenchConference.com.

Brad

Jewelry Making: Unique Jewelry Fabrication

Unique Jewelry Fabrication

with Brad Simon CMBJ

Thursday April 24th & Sunday April 27th

Hand fabricating a piece of jewelry is a mark of true craftsmanship.  In this seminar we will go beyond the basics and demonstrate hand fabricating techniques that will stretch your creativity.  Traditional techniques and new technology will be demonstrated together to create un-usual jewelry designs.  Many fabrication tips given throughout the presentation.

This seminar is part of the program at the Bench Jewelers Conference & Expo, April 24 – 27, 2008 in Los Angeles.  For details on all the seminars offered, more conference & expo information, and to register go to: www.BenchConference.com.

Brad

Jewelry Making: Hand Carving Waxes

Hand Wax Carving

with Mark Grosser CMBJ

Session 1

Thursday April 24th & Friday April 25th

With all the emphasis on CAD-CAM is it still practical to carve waxes by hand?  In this demonstration you will learn all about Hand Carving Waxes.  From wax selection to proper tools and more will be discussed and demonstrated.  You’ll learn the fundamentals of layout and how to apply different finishes.  Plus, you’ll learn tips and tricks to making wax carving fast, efficient, and accurate.

Session 2

Saturday April 26th & Sunday April 27th

With all the emphasis on CAD-CAM is it still practical to carve waxes by hand?  In this demonstration you will learn all about hand carving waxes with particular emphasis on stone setting.  You will see demonstrated both channel and half bezel mountings carved and learn proper proportions to make your wax to ensure the stones will fit the mounting after the jewelry is cast. You’ll see first-hand wax carving techniques and tools that can save time and improve product quality.

These seminar are part of the program at the Bench Jewelers Conference & Expo, April 24 – 27, 2008 in Los Angeles.  For details on all the seminars offered, more conference & expo information, and to register go to: www.BenchConference.com.

Brad