Starting this month, the team at TechForm Casting is excited to share our deep understanding of metallurgical science and casting with jewelry schools and programs across the country.
We have always been a company driven by a strong appreciation for metallurgical sciences and an insatiable curiosity that fuels continuous improvement. This mindset has helped make us a leader in high quality casting for the jewelry industry. We are thrilled to bring our decades of experience and extensive internal research to the next generation of metalsmiths.
Our goal is not only to give students an overview of metallurgical principles and the properties of precious metals but also to help them understand the importance of quality in one of the most essential, yet often overlooked, components of fine jewelry.
A solid grasp of metallurgy helps jewelers solve common bench issues, supports more confident communication at the sales counter, and contributes to improved long term customer satisfaction. To support this, we will explore fundamental metallurgy, the mechanical properties of various jewelry alloys, the impact of casting techniques on quality, and the anatomy of common casting defects. Additional topics include how bench techniques influence metallurgical integrity and ways students can use technical knowledge to better serve future clients.
As the jewelry industry continues to evolve with new generations, technologies, and trends, we hope to illuminate the fascinating world of metallurgy for the bench jewelers of tomorrow.
Here are the schools we are scheduled to visit over the next few months! We look forward to adding more.
Austin Community College – Highland Campus Jewelry Program
Austin, Texas, Tuesday, February 24th
Paris Junior College – Jewelry Technology Program
Paris, Texas, Thursday, February 26th
Seattle Community College – Visual Art, Jewelry + Metals Program
Seattle, Washington, Tuesday, March 3rd
California College of the Arts – Jewelry & Metal Arts Program
San Fransico, California, Thursday, March 19th
North Bennet Street School – Jewelry Making & Repair Program
Boston, Massachusetts, Wednesday, April 8th
MassArt – Jewelry & Metalsmithing Program
Boston, Massachusetts, Thursday, April 9th
For more information on metallurgical presentations for your students, bench, or sales staff, reach out to Silas Morgan.
Tour-End Update: Bringing Casting Science to Jewelry Programs Nationwide
Our first-annual jewelry school tour has officially come to a close! The past weeks on the road gave us valuable time inside classrooms and studios across the country. Seeing how casting is taught and applied in different programs offered a meaningful perspective we intend to use in our own approach to casting and communicating with the broader jewelry community.
One of the most striking takeaways was how openly students engaged with failure and problem-solving. Conversations often centered on what went wrong, not just what worked. This made space for deeper discussion around process control, alloy behavior, and decision making from design all the way to the bench.
We often learn the most about the nuances of a particular alloy or process when issues arise! It has been heartening to see that many students are already grasping that failure is often where learning becomes practical and lasting.
The amazing faculty at these programs also played a key role in making these discussions so fruitful. Their familiarity with both traditional instruction and evolving technical demands helped ground conversations in the reality these students will experience working metal outside of the classroom.
Altogether, this tour deepened our appreciation for the work being done in Jewelry and Metalsmithing programs across the country. It also clarified where technical knowledge can make the greatest impact. We are thankful for the time, openness, and enthusiasm everyone involved shared with us. We look forward to continuing is kind of educational support in the future.
Connecting Early‑Career Talent with the Industry
One theme that has come up repeatedly during our visits is how eager many students are to transition into professional bench work after graduation. If you are a studio, manufacturer, or brand interested in connecting with early‑career bench jewelers and metalsmiths, we would be happy to help facilitate introductions.
Please feel free to reach out to the following department representatives to learn more or connect with programs and students we’ve met along the way.
Tracey Jenkins Darji, Department Head
North Bennet Street School
Emily Cobb, Program Area Chair
Massachusetts College of Art and Design
Dwayne Bandy, Department Chair
Austin Community College
Serina Omori, Jewelry Technology Program Coordinator
Paris Junior College
Julia Heineccius, Visual Art, Jewelry + Metals
North Seattle College
