Month: February 2025

Workshops at Jewel Envy: Gem Cutting & Setting

February 22, 2025February 22, 2025Jewel EnvyGeneral

This weekend at Jewel Envy we have started our 2 day gem cutting and setting workshop. On day one of the workshop students map out and cut the shape of their cabochon, and begin polishing. Students will cut 3 to 5 gemstones and choose one to set into a pendant.

Cabochon stones have a flat back and domed face, and they can be made in a variety of shapes and sizes.

https://www.jewelenvy.ca/take-a-class/

First we look at templates and decide on the shape we want our cabochon to be.

The next step is cutting out the basic shape from a slab.

After that we move on to shaping and smoothing the stone through several steps/grits on a lapidary machine.

This workshop is another way of making a completely customized and personal piece of jewellery, from stone to setting.

So far in 2025…

February 15, 2025February 15, 2025Jewel EnvyGeneral

8 week casting class. I combed through our pics to show off some cuttflefish castings from past classes. I always love the natural texture and I am continually surprised by what students come up with, I can’t wait to see what the latest batch of students create!

From brooch to necklace!

All finished! Length adjusted to perfection, happy customer 🙂

Working on carving drawings into mother of pearl – I was so excited by my sample that I had to turn it into a pendant! I wish the photo captured the rainbow flash of the nacre.

Tucson Gem Show!

February 9, 2025February 15, 2025Jewel EnvyGeneral

From 1955 to current day, the famous Tucson gem and mineral show has been happening. It is currently going on right now. It runs from February 1st to the 16th in Tucson, Arizona USA.

Every year goldsmiths, buyers and vendors flock to this place to display, sell or procure special stones, specimens, gemstones, and even jewellery.

Just last year, 3 goldsmiths from Jewel Envy attended this large show and all came home with many goodies.

Gemstone sellers from Toronto are also there buying special gemstones from around the world as it is attended by people from all over the world.

Just through instagram this year, I see many Australian Opal vendors that are there all the way from Australia. This is to give you some idea about how far people are willing to travel to be at this amazing event.

I also forgot to mention you can find fossils and minerals and also estate/ antique jewellery! The year I went there was a whole booth selling mammoth tusks. There are also many dinosaur displays.

Differences Make Us Better

February 8, 2025February 8, 2025Jewel EnvyGeneral

At Jewel Envy, our goldsmiths are independent artists.

They fulfill custom commissions through the studio,

They teach…

And they take turns greeting you in the retail space.

They all have different strengths

Different backgrounds

Different education and training

But all of these differences

Make us better artists

Better colleagues

And one of the best places to support local Toronto work.

We are very proud of who we are and what we do.

We are looking forward to seeing you again soon.