Question 1

Do I need any experience?

Accepted Answer

None at all. These workshops are built for complete beginners. You'll be walked through the whole process, from carving your design in wax to casting it in metal to the final finishing work, with an instructor right there the entire time. If you've never touched a torch or a wax carving tool in your life, you're exactly who this is for.

Question 2

What should I bring?

Accepted Answer

Just yourself. We provide every tool, material, and piece of safety equipment you'll need. A few things to plan around:

- Wear something you don't mind getting a little dirty
- Closed-toe shoes are required
- Tie back long hair
- Skip loose sleeves or dangling jewelry, they don't mix well with hot metal

A water bottle and a photo or two of a design you'd love to recreate are both welcome.

Question 3

What's the difference between the Silver Ring Workshop and the Wedding Band Workshop?

Accepted Answer

The Silver Ring Workshop is a group session where you make one sterling silver piece, open to anyone to book. The Wedding Band Workshop is a private experience built for couples making their rings together, two gold bands, your choice of 10K, 14K, or 18K, with extra time and one-on-one guidance, and we'll help source gemstones if you'd like them included. Both are by appointment only, the Wedding Band Workshop books through a consultation call rather than the online calendar.

Question 4

How long does a workshop take?

Accepted Answer

The Silver Ring Workshop typically runs 2 to 3 hours. The Wedding Band Workshop runs longer, usually 3 to 4 hours. Both depend partly on your own pace.

Question 5

What can I make?

Accepted Answer

Rings and pendants are where sand casting really shines, and within that your options are wide open. Take a look through our gallery to see what past customers have made.

Question 6

How much of the work is actually mine?

Accepted Answer

About 90 percent of it. Your instructor is there to guide you, not to do it for you, the goal is that you leave able to say you genuinely made the piece yourself.

Question 7

What metals can I use?

Accepted Answer

The Silver Ring Workshop works in sterling silver. We do also offer gold for this workshop, but since we don't always have it in stock, email us at least 7 days ahead at info@randolphcojewelers.com so we can make sure it's ready for you. Expect gold pricing to run 10 to 30 times the silver price, depending on karat.

The Wedding Band Workshop works exclusively in gold, your choice of rose, yellow, or white, in 10K, 14K, or 18K.

Question 8

Can I bring my own metal or gemstones?

Accepted Answer

We're not able to work with outside metal or gemstones, for quality and safety reasons. We can't verify the purity of metal we didn't source, and some gemstones risk damage or discoloration during casting. The Wedding Band Workshop may allow exceptions, ask on your consultation call.

Question 9

What gemstones can you work with?

Accepted Answer

We source all gemstones ourselves, to make sure whatever goes into your piece can actually survive the process. Every stone we offer is flush-set and cast in place, meaning it goes into the mold before pouring and comes out already set in the metal, rather than being hand-set afterward. Because casting involves extreme heat, a stone needs to rate at least an 8 on the Mohs hardness scale to hold up, anything softer, porous, or heavily included won't survive casting. You'll pick from our available stones when you're in for your class, just ask and we'll walk you through the options.

Question 10

Do you do engraving?

Accepted Answer

Not at this time.

Question 11

What's your cancellation policy?

Accepted Answer

You can cancel or reschedule with at least 24 hours notice, using the link in your confirmation email. The $15 per person booking fee is non-refundable, but it's transferable, you can move to a new date for free. A $15 no-show fee applies if you don't show up.

Question 12

Can I reschedule?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Use the manage link in your confirmation email, or contact us directly, any time up until 24 hours before your session.

Question 13

Can you host a private group workshop?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We arrange private Silver Ring Workshops for groups, birthdays, bachelorette parties, team outings, whatever the occasion. Send us a note on the private events page and we will plan it with you.