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MJSA At the Bench Live Sessions Set for Expo West at AGTA GemFair Tucson
Manufacturing Jewelers & Suppliers of America has scheduled a series of At the Bench Live demonstrations for its MJSA Expo West Pavilion, which will run Feb. 2-7 at AGTA GemFair Tucson. Conducted by some of the industry’s most renowned designers and jewelers, the interactive sessions will cover a range of solutions for bench challenges, from using CAD/CAM to set fancy-cut gems to repurposing gem-set heirlooms.
AGTA GemFair Tucson is presented annually by the American Gem Trade Association at the Tucson Convention Center. The MJSA Expo West Pavilion, located in the Ballroom on the center’s Galleria level, features the tools, supplies, and services needed by designers and manufacturers to create the finest gem-set jewelry. For more information about Expo West, click here. For more information about AGTA GemFair Tucson, click here.
At the Bench Live sessions will take place outside the Ballroom daily. The schedule is as follows.
Tuesday, Feb. 2
A Top-Notch Way to Micro-Pavé
Presenter: Lisa Krikawa
Award-winning jewelry designer Lisa Krikawa will demonstrate a pavé setting technique that, through the use of unique gravers, can set tiny diamonds and soft gemstones securely and accurately. Suitable for work on any scale, this technique can smooth production and help you to reduce quality control issues with your pavé bench operations.
Wednesday, Feb. 3
Craft and Creativity: Designing with Gemstones
Presenter: Alishan Halebian
A master goldsmith renowned for bold and often provocative designs, Alishan will demonstrate how he improvises at the bench to create designs that best showcase specific gems.
Thursday, Feb. 4
Setting Fancy-Cut Gems 1: A Traditional Approach
Presenter: Lee Krombholz
Fancy-cut gemstones, with their subtle cut variations, present setters with numerous challenges. In this session, custom designer Lee Krombholz demonstrates traditional wax-working techniques to create cast settings that are appealing, secure, and lasting.
Friday, Feb. 5
Setting Fancy-Cut Gems 2: A CAD/CAM Approach
Presenter: Lee Krombholz
Lee Krombholz has won numerous awards for his computer-aided designs. Here, he shows how he uses CAD technology to create a wax model, then applies traditional bench techniques to ensure that model becomes a finished piece that safely and securely holds a fancy-cut gem.
Saturday, Feb. 6
Working on Heirloom Jewelry: Recycle, Repurpose, Rejuvenate
Presenter: Gary Dawson
More and more customers are asking jewelers to re-work the heirlooms they’ve inherited—jewelry that often has endured years of abuse, faulty repairs, and overall neglect. Goldsmith/designer Gary Dawson shows how to identify the hidden challenges in such pieces, safely remove the gemstones, and either recycle or repurpose them to create modern jewels.
Sunday, Feb. 7
Creating Unique Settings for Unusual Stones
Presenter: Gary Dawson
Jewelers often must fabricate their own settings to accommodate unusually shaped gemstones. Gary Dawson shows how to make the wire or sheet metal they need for a specific job, and how to create a secure and attractive setting.