Frequently Asked Questions
Welcome to the FAQ section for Stephen Barnett Jewellery Tuition, based in Farnham, Surrey, UK. I provide professional bespoke one-to-one jewellery making classes designed to suit your individual goals, skill level, and creative interests.
My private jewellery tuition covers everything from stone setting, mount making, and wax carving, to CAD jewellery design using Rhino and MatrixGold. Each class is tailored to your pace and project, helping you build confidence, master professional techniques, and create beautifully finished jewellery with expert guidance.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
Yes. A large proportion of my work is with professional jewellers, design studios, and independent makers looking to refine their technical skills, improve production workflows, or expand their design capabilities. I also support companies and workshops who want to enhance their output quality and efficiency.
-
Yes. I provide advanced CAD (Computer Aided Design) services for both individual jewellers and businesses. This includes complex CAD modelling for bespoke commissions, production-ready designs, and technical development work to support high-end jewellery creation.
I regularly work with clients to translate ideas into precise, manufacturable CAD models that can be used for one-off commissions or larger production runs.
-
Booking a jewellery making class with Stephen Barnett Jewellers is simple. Explore the available techniques, complete the contact form with your requirements, and receive a personalised plan for your one-to-one jewellery tuition in Farnham.
-
Students can learn a wide range of professional jewellery making skills, including stone setting, wax carving, CAD design for jewellery, and traditional goldsmithing techniques, all tailored to individual goals.
-
With one-to-one jewellery tuition in Farnham, students benefit from focused, hands-on teaching, allowing for faster progress and real skill development compared to group classes or online tutorials.
-
Most sessions are delivered as one-to-one jewellery tuition to ensure maximum support. Small two-person sessions can also be arranged if requested.
-
Once your bespoke jewellery training plan is confirmed, you’ll receive an invoice. A 50% deposit secures your booking, with the remaining balance due before your session begins.
-
Stephen’s handmade jewellery tools are unlike anything else available in the UK. Each piece is individually crafted in his Farnham workshop, combining traditional craftsmanship with practical experience gained from over 30 years at the bench.
What sets these tools apart is not just how they’re made, but why they’re made. Every tool — including his signature copper tools — is designed and refined through real, daily use by a master goldsmith. This means they are shaped for precision, balance, and performance in a way mass-produced tools simply aren’t.
The addition of carefully crafted wooden handles offers a level of comfort and control that’s rarely found in standard jewellery tools. They sit naturally in the hand, reduce fatigue during detailed work, and give jewellers a more tactile connection to their craft.
Because these tools are handmade in small batches, they are not widely available — and currently, there is nothing comparable being produced or sold in the UK. Each one reflects Stephen’s personal approach to jewellery making: thoughtful, precise, and built to last.
Frequently Asked Questions
Jewellery Commissions & Repairs
Do you offer bespoke jewellery commissions?
Yes. I undertake bespoke commissions ranging from individual pieces through to complex, technically demanding work. This includes high-end fabrication, precision setting and CAD-led design processes where required.
How long does a commission take?
Timeframes vary depending on the technical complexity of the piece, materials involved and current workload. More advanced or highly detailed commissions may require longer lead times, which will always be discussed at quotation stage.
Do you require a deposit for commissions?
Yes. A deposit is usually required before work begins on any bespoke commission. The remaining balance is paid upon completion, before collection or dispatch.
Do you take on repair and restoration work?
Yes. I carry out jewellery repairs and restoration work, including technically sensitive pieces that require advanced fabrication, soldering, stone resetting and structural rebuilding. Each piece is assessed individually before work begins.
Can I bring my own jewellery for repair or redesign?
Yes, but this is done entirely at your own risk. While every care is taken, I cannot accept responsibility for damage or loss to customer-owned items, materials or stones during the process.
Are your prices fixed?
All pricing is based on the scope and technical requirements of the work. More advanced or specialist projects will be quoted individually to reflect the level of expertise, materials and time involved.
CAD Design Services
Can you provide CAD services for jewellery businesses and trade clients?
Yes. Alongside training, I undertake professional CAD design work for independent jewellers, workshops, designers and jewellery companies. Whether you need assistance developing a bespoke commission, creating a production-ready model, refining an existing design or solving a complex manufacturing challenge, I can provide the technical CAD expertise needed to bring your ideas into reality.
What types of CAD projects do you work on?
I regularly work on complex commissions that require advanced modelling techniques, stone setting layouts, articulated components, precision engineering, manufacturing preparation and technical problem-solving. My experience allows me to bridge the gap between design and practical manufacture, ensuring models are not only visually accurate but also suitable for production.
How does CAD delivery work?
CAD work is developed in collaboration with the client to ensure manufacturing suitability and design accuracy. Final CAD files are released only once full payment has been received.
Can you help if I don't have CAD experience?
Absolutely. Many jewellers work with me because they have strong bench skills but little or no CAD experience. I can either create the CAD work on your behalf or provide tailored training to help you develop the skills needed to design and manufacture your own pieces confidently.
Jewellery Training & Tuition
Do you work with professional jewellers?
Yes. A large proportion of my work is with professional jewellers looking to refine their technical skills, improve workflow efficiency, or expand into areas such as CAD, advanced fabrication and stone setting. I also work with experienced makers who want to strengthen specific aspects of their practice or develop new production methods.
Do you provide private tuition for experienced makers?
Yes. One-to-one tuition is available in my studio and is often tailored specifically to working jewellers who want to refine or expand their technical abilities. Sessions are highly practical and focused on real-world application rather than introductory basics.
Do you offer CAD training and mentoring?
Yes. I provide CAD training (Computer Aided Design) for jewellers at all levels, with a strong focus on professional development. This includes workflow efficiency, design accuracy, manufacturing integration and preparing files for production. Training is available in-person and online.
Do you provide CAD training for professional jewellers?
Yes. My CAD training is particularly popular with professional jewellers looking to modernise their workflow, increase efficiency, improve design accuracy and expand the range of services they can offer clients. Training can be tailored to your specific area of interest, whether that is bespoke commissions, stone setting, manufacturing or production workflows.
Do you work with students or beginners?
Yes. While many of my clients are professional jewellers, I also work with dedicated beginners and hobbyists who are serious about developing their skills and understanding of jewellery making at a higher standard.
Why do professional jewellers choose to train with you?
Many of my clients are professional jewellers seeking to develop specialist skills, improve technical understanding or overcome specific manufacturing challenges. With experience spanning traditional bench techniques, CAD design, stone setting, fabrication and production methods, I provide practical training grounded in real-world jewellery manufacture rather than purely theoretical instruction.
Do you offer training for jewellers travelling from abroad?
Yes. I regularly work with international clients attending private tuition in the UK. For visiting students, I can offer guidance on local accommodation, travel planning and what to expect during their training period in the studio.
What happens if I cancel a class or booking?
Deposits for tuition are non-refundable. If a class is cancelled with less than ten days' notice, the full cost of the class plus any material expenses will still be charged.
Jewellery Tools
Do you sell jewellery tools?
Yes. I design and supply a range of handmade and specialist jewellery tools aimed at professional workshops, trade jewellers and serious makers who require reliable, production-quality equipment.
Who are your tools designed for?
My tools are used by professional jewellers, jewellery students, workshops and dedicated hobbyists. They are designed to improve efficiency, precision and consistency in the workshop.
Do you ship tools internationally?
International shipping may be available depending on the destination and the nature of the products ordered. Please contact me before ordering if you are located outside the UK.
Hallmarking & Jewellery Standards
Is your jewellery hallmarked?
Where required by UK law, precious metal jewellery is independently hallmarked by an official UK Assay Office. Hallmarking provides assurance that the precious metal content has been tested and verified, giving customers confidence in the quality and authenticity of their jewellery.
What is a hallmark and why is it important?
A hallmark is an official series of marks applied by an Assay Office that confirms the precious metal content of an item. In the United Kingdom, hallmarking is a legal requirement for most items above certain weight thresholds sold as gold, silver, platinum or palladium. It protects consumers by providing independent verification of metal purity.
Can you advise on hallmarking requirements?
Yes. Whether you are commissioning a piece of jewellery, purchasing an item or learning about jewellery manufacture, I am happy to explain UK hallmarking requirements and when hallmarking is legally required. Further information can also be found on the Hallmarking Information page of this website.
Orders, Payments & General Information
How are quotations provided?
All quotations are prepared based on the information available at the time of enquiry. Depending on the nature of the work, additional discussions, design development or material considerations may affect the final quotation.
When is payment due?
Payment terms vary depending on the service provided. CAD work must be paid in full before files are released, while tuition fees must be paid before the start of the class. Specific payment terms will always be outlined on your quotation or invoice.
Do you offer refunds?
Refunds are not usually available for bespoke work once it has started or for deposits paid towards tuition. Each situation is assessed individually depending on the circumstances and the stage of work completed.
Do you work with customers outside the UK?
Yes. Depending on the project, I work with clients from around the world for CAD design services, private tuition, commissions and tool sales.
How do I arrange a session with you?
Booking a session is simple. All classes are fully bespoke and designed around your goals — whether you're interested in stone setting, mount making, training in CAD for jewellery design, or wax carving for jewellery manufacture.
1. Explore our jewellery making classes to see the techniques offered. Each subject includes a suggested time allocation to help you plan your day.
2. Click on any image to access the Contact Form.
3. Fill in your personalised learning requirements and submit the form.
4. I’ll follow up personally via email or phone to create a detailed personalised plan for your session.
If you’d prefer to work on a specific jewellery project — such as designing a custom ring in CAD or carving a wax model to your own design — I also offer project-based jewellery tuition in all areas. Just use the Contact Form and I’ll be in touch to discuss your idea
Do I need to have previous jewellery making experience?
Not at all. I teach students of all levels — from complete beginners to experienced jewellers looking to refine advanced techniques. With over 15 years of experience as a jewellery tutor with 30 years of goldsmithing experience, I can adapt each session to suit your skill level and needs.
Even complex techniques like grain setting, CAD modelling and rendering, or advanced mount making can be broken down into achievable steps. My goal is to make every student feel confident and capable, no matter their starting point.
How much progress can I expect to make?
Because I offer one-to-one jewellery tuition, you’ll receive my full attention throughout the day. This focused approach allows students to progress significantly faster than in group classes or online tutorials.
Whether you're attending a stone setting workshop in Farnham or taking a CAD jewellery design course online, you’ll leave with tangible skills and improved confidence. Want to hear from others? Check out our student testimonials — their feedback speaks volumes about the quality of the experience
How many people do you teach at once?
I specialise in one-to-one jewellery tuition, but I can also accommodate one-to-two sessions if requested. This ensures each student receives maximum guidance and hands-on support — whether you're learning stone setting, wax carving, or CAD jewellery design training in my Farnham workshop or online.
How do I pay you?
Once we’ve agreed on your session plan, I’ll send an invoice via email. A 50% deposit is required to secure your date, payable by bank transfer. About a week before your class, I’ll send a second statement with handouts, directions, and a checklist of what to bring. The remaining balance is due anytime before your first day of tuition.
To get started, just fill out the Contact Form and I’ll be in touch to finalise your bespoke jewellery tuition.
