Alloying Silver and Reticulation with Stavros Constantinou

Delivered in person at the Goldsmiths’ Centre, this course will help you to:

• Gain confidence in melting and alloying pure silver and copper, producing hallmark-ready materials.
• Master the art of reticulation to create dramatic textures and bespoke finishes that enhance your designs.
• Expand your technical expertise by understanding the physical and mechanical properties of silver and its alloys.
• Improve efficiency and sustainability by recycling silver scraps and creating new alloys in-house.
• Develop unique materials that set your work apart, offering clients distinctive and high-quality craftsmanship.

You will learn:

• Alloying Basics: Learn the correct ratios for combining pure silver and copper, melting and pouring your alloy to create hallmark-ready materials.
• Sheet Preparation: Roll and anneal your alloy into silver sheets, ready for use in reticulation and other projects.
• Reticulation Techniques: Master the use of heat and flame control to create striking ridges, ripples, and organic textures on silver surfaces.
• Tools and Materials: Get hands-on experience with essential tools and materials required for alloying and reticulation.
• Safety and Best Practices: Learn safe workshop practices to ensure a professional and hazard-free working environment.
• Individual Guidance: Receive one-to-one support from your tutor to refine your skills and boost your confidence.
• Live Demonstrations: Watch detailed step-by-step demonstrations that bring each process to life and enhance your understanding.
• Leave with a completed reticulated silver sheet ready to use in your own projects.

Please bring your own basic tool kit including but not limited to:

• Piercing saw frame
• Hand files
• Calculator
• Soldering probe or tweezers
• Tin snips
• Calipers/Vernier
• Protective clothing or clothing you do not mind getting dirty e.g. 100% cotton or leather apron, and closed-toe shoes.

Optional:

• Spectacles or head visor (if required) to work on small details
• Notebook and pen

You will be provided with:

• All precious and non-precious metals needed
• Pairs of soldering goggles
• Precision scale
• Tools and equipment needed for melting and preparing sheet metal
• Metal tester kit

Intermediate: Practical experience and understanding of the listed skills below is required.

Participants at the intermediate level should have prior experience in a workshop environment and the ability to work independently on fundamental tasks. They should be comfortable with techniques and processes covering all basic skill, including using torches, and possess a working knowledge of workshop tools and techniques.

This level focuses on refining basic skills, introducing more complex tasks, and developing the ability to troubleshoot and work with greater precision and autonomy.

We are committed to making our training programmes and events as inclusive and accessible as possible. If you have any access requirements, please inform us as early as possible so we can make the necessary arrangements. While we will do our best to accommodate your needs, advance notice is essential to ensure we can provide appropriate support.

To discuss your requirements when booking tickets for our Goldsmiths’ Centre training programmes, please contact us at boxoffice@goldsmiths-centre.org

We believe that talent should not be held back. Here at the Goldsmiths’ Centre, we are open, accessible and inclusive to all. Our Access Grants help anyone to build thriving creative careers, supporting jewellers, silversmiths and allied industry practitioners to access our training courses for free.

If you need help to cover fees for our business and technical skills short courses, please apply for one of our Access Grants. To find out more and read our application criteria, click here

The Access Grants are delivered by the Goldsmiths' Centre and funded through modern philanthropic giving, via the Goldsmiths’ Foundation, from members of the Goldsmiths’ Company.