Silvera Jewelry School is exactly what you hope for when you sign up to learn something hands-on: organized, welcoming, well-equipped, and taught by fantastic teachers who really know their craft. The studio is a compact space, but the layout works super well. There are nine student workstations, and each one is equipped with what feels like a thousand tools... all perfectly labeled, in exactly the right place, and ready for you to use. The instruction is exceptional. I've primarily had Jenn Parnell Kirkpatrick as a teacher. She is kind, patient, and brings a massive wealth of knowledge about both jewelry making and its history. Her Egyptian jewelry class was fantastic, and her history lectures are highly recommended. Before I started, I also watched the owner, Joe Silvera's great YouTube videos (like setting up a studio at home: https://youtu.be/b4icMNdapbo). Their weekend Jewelry 1 class is a true model of great teaching. It's perfectly paced, blending hands-on technique instruction, historical context, and working time. You receive a kit and project assignments that are completely manageable within the allotted time. After just two full days, you walk out the door having learned a ton of techniques, holding beautiful pieces you would actually wear or give as gifts. Silvera isn't cheap, but it is absolutely worth the price for the quality of instruction and the environment. They also sell tools and kits so you can continue practicing at home. I haven't made it to their open studios yet, but it's high on my list. Taking classes here has completely changed how I look at all jewelry because I now understand the process behind it. If you have any interest in learning this craft, you will not regret taking a weekend Jewelry 1 class at Silvera (or gifting it to a family member or friend). read more

Better than I imagined. The instruction for Jewelry Basics 1 with Jenn was fantastic and personal. I felt the pace was pretty good, too. The instructor had assistants that really took the time to help you out. Definitely open to questions and overall quite encouraging. I was a little nervous as beginners usually are, but I felt supported all the way. I loved learned all sorts of good tips and tricks. Best of all, I came out of the classes with jewelry I'm pretty proud of! read more

Excellent studio space & instruction. A++ If you're wanting to learn this type of jewelry creation then this is the place!! read more

Great school, I love enjoyed enamel class with Jen. She is an amazing teacher. Enamel earrings that I made in the class. I had no knowledge-of enameling after two days class I've learned so much. I thought seven hours it's a lot but did not feel the time! highly recommend this school and will take more classes in the future read more

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Addictive. Once you take a class you will be hooked. I have taken 3 different classes at Silvera and all great. Joe (one of the owners) is as knowledgeable as one could possibly be at his craft, and he has a million tricks up his sleeve when faced with any jewelry challenge. The classes are impeccably thorough. I am lucky to be in the Bay Area, so I have taken all in person classes, but due to the video component that you have access to for a year, plus the detailed handouts, and office hours, I can see why so many students that can't make the in person take online. There is a specific thing I want to learn and Anat (other owner) emailed me a few times to talk it through, she then suggested a phone conversation which did help to clarify the class I needed to take. I cannot recommend this place more; top notch instruction plus an ongoing professional community that is always there for you. read more

I feel like people who don't have the best experiences with the classes at Silvera don't really feel comfortable coming here to write an honest review. The classes are small and you won't really be anonymous. But I feel it is important to note some things in the interest of being fair, instead of just kissing someone's ass. I took four classes here: two were metal clay and two were wax casting. I had two different instructors. The first two classes for the clay were really fun, and I enjoyed that medium. We had an instructor who is an expert in the field of metal clay. The next two classes - wax casting - I was initially really excited about. There is actually a series of 5 classes and I almost signed up for all 5 at the same time. I am very glad I only took two instead of the whole series. Joe was the teacher for the wax casting and therefore a different instructor than I had for the clay classes. It became clear in the wax 1 classes that our personalities didn't mesh. It's hard to explain, as I know I was there to learn, but the constant criticism from Joe is very discouraging, especially as I'm already hard enough on myself. At the end of wax 1, we had an issue and cleared the air; I guess because he knew I was taking the wax 2 classes and we didn't want awkwardness. I will also say that for wax 1, I had a ring that took a long time to be cast. Part of this was because Joe was on a vacation, which I understood. But I had to have some emails to try and find out what was going on; it wasn't communicated to me that it would actually be 4-5 weeks after the end of the class before I would get my ring back. I was actually beginning to think something had happened to it or it had been lost. Even though Joe knew I was asking about the ring, he still had me wait an additional week for it (he was going to cast Wed. or Thurs. and I had classes on Wed. night, but he chose to cast on Thurs. which I meant I had to wait another week. This after I had already waited 3-4 weeks?) I didn't think that was the best "customer service". Anyway, wax 2 class started and it seemed interesting but again I did not get a good vibe and my desire NOT to come to class grew. I don't know how to describe "not a good vibe" except to say that you will probably feel dumb in these classes if you were not an art major (esp. one who did some kind of sculptural/jewelry work) or if you're not someone who works with jewelry- making regularly. I've had prerequisites (at other schools) for jewelry-making, but the wax classes are different skills and not something that beginners can necessarily pick up on easily. I actually quit the wax 2 course early (halfway through 4th class) as I was not enjoying the medium and it takes a lot of time and money to go over from SF (3 hours roundtrip on BART/bus or if taking Uber - $40+ per class, so that adds up over 5 classes). My advice is that you try one class here and see if you like the medium and instructor. I wanted to take more classes here but I don't think it's a fit for me. It's a bummer because they do offer quite a variety of classes and focus in on certain topics (ie. prong making, enameling, etc.) instead of only doing a broad overview. read more

Joe helped me make an engagement/wedding ring for my now-husband in a 3 hour private lesson. After we got engaged, my husband returned to Silvera to make me my ring as well. I had no experience in jewelry making or metalsmithing before making the ring, and neither did my husband. In advance of the lesson, I sent Joe a sketch of what I was imagining along with some ideas for materials. He gave me useful feedback on what was feasible and what materials to use. He was well prepared for our lesson and had clearly spent time beforehand working through the best methods for making it. He also obtained the materials for the ring. During our lesson, Joe was efficient with our time, and somehow also totally patient and fun. My husband and I love our rings and hope to wear them our whole lives. Thank you, Joe. read more

Silvera Jewelry School - My husband and I made these engagement/wedding rings for each other in private lessons with Joe. - Vocational & Technical School Near Me - Berkeley, California

As I have a perfectly nice day job entirely unrelated to jewelry fabrication, I have zero functional need to hone my skills in this area. But I love it, and after many years of basic beading/wire-wrap work, I longed to learn metalworking and other skills, even if I will never have much opportunity to use them at home. I feel very fortunate to live in such close proximity to an amazing school for my hobby - I've now taken two classes at Silvera Jewelry School and couldn't be happier. The classes are geared towards a wide variety of skills, backgrounds, and goals. I took a fantastic class in metal clay with Arlene, and after a long time on the waiting list, I finally got into the Jewelry 1 class. Joe was awesome, and over the course of two days we basically drank from a firehose, learning the basics of sawing/soldering/bezel setting stones and leaving with some beautiful projects. Solder is magic. I had no idea! I'm so proud of what I've learned - I'm signed up now for two more classes. Really glad this school survived Covid. It's great that classes are available for remote students, and I'd consider it if I didn't live nearby, but as far as I'm concerned, nothing beats being in a room with people for this sort of thing. read more

Joe is so incredibly patient and knowledgable, and not to mention "dad joke" corny which kept the atmosphere chill and made us laugh. :) So informative, I really learned a lot. Appropriately challenging for beginners, and very well stocked with the necessary tools, everything you could possibly need. Very impressive, and CLEAN too might I add. thanks for the complimentary coffee and snacks that was great. I loved my class so much, I wish I had the budget to afford all the tools to do it at home...one of these days! Thank you Joe & Anat! I SO wish this was closer to me! open one in San Jose PLEASE! =D read more

Silvera Jewelry School - I wanted a pinky ring so I challenged myself to make one :) - Vocational & Technical School Near Me - Berkeley, California

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I just took the weekend jewelry basics class and it was amazing. Joe is a patient, clear, and supportive instructor. At the end of the class I came out with a ring and a hand-sawed pendant. I was honestly surprised about how well my pieces came out. I would definitely recommend taking a class with Silvera Jewelry School. read more

I roped my boyfriend into taking the Intro to Soldering class with me for my birthday recently - BEST IDEA! Joe was teaching the class, with Anat assisting, which was super helpful because my guy and I got there late due to traffic, but they quickly got us up to speed with the rest of the class and zero fuss about it. The setup and Joe's instruction was flawless: we each had our own workbench stations (clean, tools well-organized), and each step of a demonstration was displayed live, magnified from a video camera and shown on a monitor, so no dangerous crowding around teacher while you're working with torches and hot metal. Procedures and methods were not only clearly explained, but safety was also priority number one. Both Joe and Anat were always attentive and easy to talk to. I know both my boyfriend and I had some creativity/design questions, and they both gave us advice for the looks we were trying to achieve. In the end, each student completed a hammered sterling ring and a soldered copper and sterling charm. I personally LOVE my ring (faceted texture and super shiny!) and have worn my creations every day since making them. Parking was easy along the street, but with few streetlights, so it was pretty dark by the time we got out in the evening, so be aware of that. I've been longingly looking at their class schedule and want to learn some new skills and polish some old ones... but my current work schedule conflicts with their dates and times. If you want to learn metalsmithing and have the time/$, Silvera Jewelry School comes highly recommended. read more

Beginners beware- the owners have very little patience for teaching new/somewhat apprehensive students - go figure, right? The owner has no problem calling you out in front of the class should you do something wrong or misuse a tool as a first timer. There are other good Bay Area metal smith schools out there worth looking into such as Revere Academy. read more

I took a class there this week and loved every minute of it!! Both Joe and Anat were so nice! The smallest thing like knowing everyone's name made the biggest difference for me. Also, as an introvert, I was never the kind of student to call attention to myself and was so afraid to ask questions, but I felt so comfortable in their space I could ask anything and although they've probably heard the same question a million times, they never made me feel stupid for asking. I can't wait to go back and take another class! I felt leaving so inspired! Thank you Joe and Anat!! read more

Silvera Jewelry School - Final product from intro to soldering class - Vocational & Technical School Near Me - Berkeley, California

As an aging person , struggling with attention deficiency and processing disorder, I would. Definitely NOT recommend this school to any of my peers. I have little to complain about the working atmosphere, other than the close workbench quarters and drawer labels that seemed very small to make out, my concern lay with the teacher, Anat. Perhaps she was having a bad few days or that my questions and struggles were too upsetting for her, but as day two passed, I found her degrading, impatient, openly critical of my work, coldo. On the other hand, Joe Silvera was the polar opposite. if her directions not followed to the tee, he was gracious enough to give a helping hand. He was a sweetheart and seemed to understand the "slower learner". Perhaps these workshops are only for the under 70, but I also feel as a teacher myself, there needs to be flexibility and patience doled out to everyone who comes to learn. read more

I adore Anat and Joe! They are a great team, and I've taken several classes from them. The classes themselves are a good mix of levels and lengths, from a one-day or even half-day class focused on very specific, basic material to long intensives (which I'd take if only work didn't interfere). The school is clean, well-supplied, and actually kind of cozy. The class environment is always friendly and casual, and questions are encouraged. They *want* you to make something beautiful, and they'll help you do it. read more

My only issue is I cannot figure out who I like more; Anat or Joe. They are both top notch teachers, patient, thorough and knowledgeable. The fact that they are also very nice people is a bonus. read more

I took the Intro to Soldering Class on a Thursday evening which had about 8 other students. The set-up is ideal with fully equipped work spaces. I found Joe and Anat to be excellent and instructors and very personable people. Joe taught the class and Anat was on hand for assistance. It was such an enjoyable experience overall. The Silveras are super nice people who are also very good at teaching their art. I would highly recommend taking one of their classes! read more

Took a class here -intro to soldering, armed with a groupon. The workshop/studio is well equipped with individual workstations set up with all the necessary equipment and materials. They have a projector that shows what the instructor is demonstrating magnified on a screen. I feel I'm explaining it badly, but it really helps to be able to clearly see the technique that is being displayed. We made a sterling silver ring (the stackable kind) and a pendant. I loved the ring and want to go back and make more! The teacher was very easy to follow and was attentive to all of us students and our individual needs. I completely recommend this class and felt happy with the end product. I came into the class with no skills and managed to make some beautiful jewelry. Can't wait to take my next class! read more

I just finished the week long metalsmithing retreat at Silvera Jewelry School. I'm thrilled to report that this class exceeded my expectations. In five days flat I learned to set gemstones with prongs, tube-set gemstones, flush-set gemstones, meltdown precious metals and create ingots and more! Also, I've made friends and have an entire new community. It was a productive and amazing week Joe and Anat put their hearts and souls into their teaching. I feel fortunate to be a student at Silvera Jewelry school. read more

This is my 2nd week of the beginner 1 & 2 class and I looooooove it !! Joe is so patient, and Im already learning so much ! I cant wait to see where I'll be by the end of this 8 week course. read more

Such a great place. Learn quickly, in a professional, fully stocked station. You get the instruction and attention you need when learning something. Joe is funny, kind, patient and very knowledgable. You'll walk away feeling capable, accomplished and excited! Definitely take a class here! Joe is very helpful with empowering you to be able to do all of this on your own, at home! So, he will recommend tools, set up, etc.. Pretty awesome. They also sell tools and supplies. read more

Joe and Anat are top notch instructors, I wish I lived closer so I could attend more classes! Gayle Dormaier, WA State

I really enjoyed taking the Intro to Soldering class here. It was through and by the end I was able to make and leave with several nice hammered rings. I stayed for open studio to practice what I learned and wish there was more open studio opportunities available to work on your own projects. Overall I'd take classes here again, the instructors were friendly and knowledgeable and the class was fun to take and easy to follow. read more

Outstanding school to learn to make jewelry. Joe is very knowledgeable and very patient and kind. He goes step by step and is an excellent teacher. The hand-outs are informative and each bench is clean and very well equipped. I have only taken one 3-hour class and I was enormously impressed. read more

I can't recommend this school enough. I've taken 2 classes so far (with the owners, Joe and Anat) and thoroughly enjoyed them. They are knowledgeable, patient, and kind teachers and go out of their way to make their students as comfortable as possible. Furthermore, they make themselves available to their students for questions, even outside class hours. I've been able to use the foundation I learned in their classes to continue working on projects from a home studio and will return to build on the skills I've gained so far. read more

If you're interested in learning basic jewelry making skills, I'd highly recommend the Intro to Soldering class with Joe and Anat. I was able to create two hammered rings, one with a bezel, during their 3-hr class. There were a lot of different steps required to make the rings, but Joe explained every well and I was able to keep up during the class. Also their work benches were set up so that we had everything we needed. The class was really fun and informative, and I was really proud of what I created in just 3 hours. read more

I took an Intro to Soldering class this week at this school. It was great and the staff were so patient! Their school is immaculate and well stocked with any tool you might need. I learned a lot and made two rings. I'll be coming back with friends! read more

I signed up for a class, and after postponing for months due to various health issues, I finally asked for a refund. They are the nicest people you'll ever do business with. I had asked the owner several questions, made a few purchases and always he or his staff replied and were kind and helpful. When I get well enough, I'll probably actually get to go to one of their classes. Talk about customer service above and beyond! read more

I learned to solder from Joe several years ago after taking a multi-week beginning class at another jewelry school and still not being able to solder confidently. I learned more in 1 day with Joe than in weeks at the other school. I've taken nearly all the classes that are offered at Silvera Jewelry School. Why should you take classes from Joe & Anat? They are organized. The school is well equipped with all the tools you need. The instruction is organized, clear and you get lots of one on one help if you need it. They are very professional, but also relaxed and fun. The school itself is a pleasant, clean, bright space. They provide snacks and coffee or tea. Bring your lunch and eat at the large communal table. There are tons of great places to eat within walking distance and a new Whole Foods within driving distance. If you want to learn how to make jewelry, this is simply the best place in the SF bay area to do so! read more

I recently had a private session with Joe and learned A LOT of great tips plus finished a great looking bracelet. This technique included soldering with delicate bezel cups and reshaping two pieces of silver and creating a non-traditional piece that looks beautiful! Since I don't have my own home studio, I don't get the practice. Joe was very patient and I look forward to future classes that Silvera Jewelry school offers. I left confident I can take my jewelry making and metal smithing to another level! I live in the Peninsula, and was thrilled parking is very easy and the location is very convenient. read more

I found both Joe and Anat to be wonderful, patient, kind, funny, and experts in their fields. The workshop is well organized, the handouts well written and projects fun. Making jewelry is not easy, but they both made me feel welcome and at ease. They welcomed questions, gave kind and constructive feed back and I learned more than I ever expected. I drove all the way fro Los Angeles to take the course and it was well worth it!! read more

Joe and Anat have been a total pleasure to learn from. I have taken a number of their classes and had nothing but wonderful experiences. They explain how to make jewelry in a clear and concise way, and at the same time, make jewelry in front of their students so that you can see the process firsthand. They are always happy to answer any questions and take personal time with each student. Their prices are more than fair and they supply the materials needed for their class. They have a large variety of classes that are specialized like wax carving, enameling, mokume gane and a variety of stone setting methods. Just to name a few. They have open studios for people to come in and work on whatever they please while being able to use their fully stocked jewelers bench and tools. They also sell pretty much any tool, supply or metal you would need and discount the prices for students. I have learned a lot from these two and I always feel a sense of community in their classes. Students really seem to support one another and I always feel very comfortable and at ease there. They have taken a lot of time with me and gone far beyond what i would have expected from them as teachers. I think this is because they really care about their students. Thanks very much Silvera Jewelry School for all of the help and knowledge you have given me. I will continue to attend classes for as long as i live in California. Flag review read more

Excellent instruction. Comprehensive handouts. Patient teachers, both. Interesting projects. There is always a lot of information packed into each workshop, and I always feel I get 'my money's worth' with each one (I have taken four classes). Anat and Joe are a joy to learn from and a joy to know. read more

I have been taking art classes all of my life. This past weekend I took a class that is at the "top of my list". I attended an Enameling Intensive at Silvera Jewelry School in Berkeley. The studio was bright, spacious, thoughtful, and had every tool a student would ever need. The owners, Anat and Joe Silvera, were wonderful. They were very concerned about what was being demonstrated. Anat was the primary teacher for this class. Her knowledge, patience, and individual support were all excellent. The presentation could be easily seen by everyone because of their large viewing screen. I could not have had a better experience. read more

Joe and Anat have been a total pleasure to learn from. I have taken a number of their classes and had nothing but wonderful experiences. They explain how to make jewelry in a clear and concise way, and at the same time, make jewelry in front of their students so that you can see the process firsthand. They are always happy to answer any questions and take personal time with each student. Their prices are more than fair and they supply the materials needed for their class. They have a large variety of classes that are specialized like wax carving, enameling, mokume gane and a variety of stone setting methods. Just to name a few. They have open studios for people to come in and work on whatever they please while being able to use their fully stocked jewelers bench and tools. They also sell pretty much any tool, supply or metal you would need and discount the prices for students. I have learned a lot from these two and I always feel a sense of community in their classes. Students really seem to support one another and I always feel very comfortable and at ease there. They have taken a lot of time with me and gone far beyond what i would have expected from them as teachers. I think this is because they really care about their students. Thanks very much Silvera Jewelry School for all of the help and knowledge you have given me. I will continue to attend classes for as long as i live in California. read more

Joe Silvera is an amazing teacher. Learning how to make jewelry is not easy. Not at all. Joe has a knack for making us feel relaxed and capable. He challenges us in ways that make learning exciting. He really knows his business. The environment is airy, filled with light and very well equipped. Students have their own workbenches set up with everything that they need to finish a successful piece at each lesson. If Joe is the brains of the operation, Anat is the heart. Anat is a brilliant teacher in her own right but even when she's not teaching she is supporting, directing, and helping to create an environment that leads to success. Now that's a great feeling. If you have an interest in learning the alchemy of fine metalwork, this place is magic. You will LOVE it. I do. (p.s. I am a huge fan of Joe's DVDs) read more

Silvera Jewelry School is outstanding! Anat and Joe are talented artists and - even more important -- gifted teachers. Their school is a labor of love and their personal touch is reflected in everything from a welcoming cup of coffee, to high-quality studio tools and patient, attentive instruction. I'm a veteran of art classes (Crucible, bead shows, community centers, etc.) and SJC is by far the most professional and conscientious. In other classes I felt I was lost in the shuffle or that my time was being wasted by poor planning or inexperienced teachers. Not here! Joe and Anat will learn your name immediately and work closely with you to make jewelry you'll feel proud to wear or give. Best of all, their carefully designed, small classes help students develop a solid base of metalsmithing skills, supported with excellent course handouts and student discounts on supplies. The Silveras genuinely want students to succeed. Classes at SJC are fun and empowering, and the beautiful studio environment is relaxed and friendly. read more

I have taken jewelry-making classes from a variety of instructors in the Bay Area, several from Anat Silvera in Berkeley, including two this past weekend. These classes have focused on metal smithing: soldering, enameling, forming and texturizing, etc. If you are interested in these techniques, I strongly recommend taking classes from Anat. She has tons of expertise (she literally wrote the book on enameling) and is able to explain design and processes clearly, patiently and with a sense of humor. She is very careful to teach safe use of equipment and chemicals. She is well organized and prepared, with an approach that embraces all types of students and learning styles. (I mention this due to another review that infers that Anat is impatient with older, more easily distracted students. As a long-standing member of the senior citizen set, I have found Anat to be very patient and accommodating of my challenges, and those of other students.) I came away from Anat's classes this weekend with a beautiful sterling silver "revolving" ring and some gorgeous enameled pieces that I made myself, along with written and illustrated instructions so that I could "do it myself at home." I have now signed up for additional classes to hone and expand my skills. read more

I have learned to make jewelry and taken many classes at the Silvera Jewelry School. I would give 10 stars if I could. The school presents a wide variety of classes in jewelry making from beginning level and up. It has a clean, well lit and beautifully organized working space. Each student is supplied with their own bench and all the tools and materials necessary to complete the class projects. The instructors, Joe and Anat Silvera create and present book quality written and illustrated instructions for each class project. I have not seen this supportive attention to detail in any of the other jewelry schools where I have taken classes. As teachers, Anat and Joe are amazingly gifted, knowledgeable, supportive and generous teachers. I particularly appreciate their patience being a 71 year old student! read more

I have learned so much from Joe and his excellent, clear teaching. His direction is focused and clear. This school is a great learning experience and a fantastic community. read more