Setting Tips of the Trade - With Andrew Pickering - March

Stone Setting Intensive with Andrew Pickering – 4-Day Course at The Centre, Sydney
Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate

Join master setter Andrew Pickering for an immersive, five-day stone setting course designed to transform your skills at the bench. Hosted at The Centre in Sydney, this hands-on program will teach you not only how to execute intricate setting styles but also how to make the tools needed to do it with precision and control.

Over the week, participants will gain foundational knowledge and practical ability in crafting hand tools tailored for various setting techniques. Learn how to cut stars, bead set, master traditional pavé and fishtail, create bright cut shapes and lines, execute flash settings, and design under bezels for polishing — all using gravers and flat gravers you’ll learn to make yourself.

Course Highlights:

• Tool making and modification specific to setting
• Star cutting, fishtail, pavé, bead and grain setting techniques
• Bright cut work including flowers, shapes, and polished under bezels
• Rubover, claw, flash and flush setting exploration
• One-on-one guidance in small class sizes
• Practical troubleshooting with live bench examples

Whether you are a complete novice eager to build a solid foundation, or a developing setter wanting to refine and advance your techniques, this course delivers focused, high-quality training.

📍 Location: The Centre, Sydney
🗓️ Dates: 27th - 30th March
🕤 Time: 9:30 am – 4:00 pm daily (with a 30-minute lunch break)
🎒 What to Bring: Your own hand tools and consumables (e.g. blades, burs). Blanks and stones are provided.

Leave the week equipped with your own custom-made tools and the confidence to explore advanced setting techniques in your own practice.

Class Details:

Class will start at 9:30am. Students are welcome to arrive at 9am to get set up and get their benches ready.

What you need to bring:

Students are to bring their own hand tools. A complete list of what is needed on the day, will be sent to you prior to your class date. You can also bring your own jewellers apron.

Provided:

You will be provided with metal and any stones required for your piece. The Centre will also provide safety glasses if required.

Students will also be provided with a Certificate of Completion.

Lunch:

A light lunch and refreshments will be provided. Please advise our team if you have any allergies or special dietary requirements for the day. Coffee and tea will also be available.

Getting there:

The Centre is located on Parramatta Rd, which is accessible via bus or train. Alternatively there is free parking behind the building off Redmond St. Please visit The Centre website for more information. thecentresydney.org

Your teacher:

Andrew Pickering

With over 35 years of experience in the jewellery industry, Andrew Pickering began his career as an apprentice production gem setter and rose to become a specialist in 18ct gold, platinum, and precious gemstone setting for the largest manufacturer in Europe.

He has taught a wide range of stone setting courses at Birmingham’s prestigious School of Jewellery, working with beginners, jobbing jewellers, retailers, and custom makers.
One of his most popular courses, Tips of the Trade, was known for delivering practical, impactful results in just five days. Students often experienced breakthrough moments as they overcame long-standing setting challenges under Andrew’s guidance.

Throughout his career, Andrew was commissioned by jewellery companies across the UK to train their staff in both setting and pre-setting techniques for manufacturing. His training helped streamline production processes, reduce waste, and improve outcomes in commercial workshop settings.

In addition to his teaching and consultancy work, Andrew also spent 15 years as both a manufacturer and retailer in the UK, creating bespoke pieces for private clients.

Andrew’s teaching philosophy centres on simplicity and adaptability. He believes that beautiful results can be achieved with minimal tools, and his hands-on, low-stress approach is tailored to suit individual learning styles—empowering both emerging and experienced jewellers to find techniques that work best for them.