Does the bedazzled world of jewelry design put a sparkle in your eye? Do you dream of draping yourself in handmade pieces, or opening your own Etsy shop?

If so, you may have a few questions on your mind: Where do I begin? What tools do I need? What skills do I need? What mediums should I work with? It’s normal to start any new exploration with questions, and we hope we can answer at least a few for you.

It’s no surprise…

But we recommend you start with some jewelry making classes. Whether you’re a beginner or a veteran, there’s nothing quite like being surrounded by other people going through the same struggles as you, not to mention having a teacher on hand to guide you down the right path.

Not only that, but it’s a great way to get into a studio with more tools than you can even imagine exist for this, and most schools are happy to supply additional studio time to students to come work on their projects outside of normal class hours.

Your new best friend: Pliers.

We know you were hoping we said soldering gun, but we actually think these are way cooler. Whether you’re bending, compressing, cutting, crimping, closing, or gripping, pliers are a tool you should become familiar with. Here's a brief list of pliers to get you started down the right path:

• Crimping pliers

• Rosary pliers

• Curved chain-nose pliers

• Chain-nose pliers

• Gem-setting pliers

• End-cutting nippers

Of course, you’ll want to make sure you have the proper tools for the job, but you’d be surprised how often these will all come in handy. We recommend you invest in high quality tools like pliers and wire cutters as it’ll save you a lot of aggravation in the long run.

These skills are pure gold

When you’re just starting out, it obviously makes sense to learn some basics. There are plenty of jewelry classes that teach things like jewelry soldering, jewelry casting, sawing, filing, polishing, and more. If you take a beginners class and are still rough around the edges on a skill or two, you can usually find classes that focus in detail on those specific skills through the act of crafting an object. The truth is, the more of these basics you know, the more prepared you'll be.

If you’re a bit more seasoned, or are really looking to do something specific, here are a few skills to try on for size.

• Metal Working

• Enameling

• Complex soldering

• Stone setting

• Surface embellishment

Metal, Beads, Gemstones, oh my!

We’re going to make this suggestion quick: If you’re getting bogged down by questioning what it is you want to make and what materials you’re most interested in working with…stop questioning!

There are a large variety of techniques you can learn that can be applied across mediums, and you’ll know it when you fall in love with something. Maybe you’re gaga about glass beads, or maybe you’re a filigree fan. For now, focus on honing your basic skills—and once you can confidently work with a variety of materials, it’ll be easy to tell what you love and what you absolutely despise.

Are diamonds really forever?

Don't be fooled by the slogan. Diamonds don't last forever (though they do outlast people). Enjoy them while you can!

If you're dreaming of gemstones and precious metals, take a look at all of our jewelry design classes to find the right one for you.