Advanced Diploma in Precious Metal Arts (Enhanced)

Seasoned precious metal artists have experience not just with creation, but with redesign, repair and reuse. Going beyond single-metal capabilities, they combine metals creatively, work with high value metals such as gold and do so with accuracy and attention to fine detail. Besides their technical skill, fabrication professionals must also be able to work with gemstones, identify design styles to use in their jewellery and express their creativity effectively and on-demand.

This advanced-level qualification builds upon the core competencies developed in the Precious Metal Arts Diploma. Graduates completing this qualification have experience with a wider range of gemstone setting techniques, understand how to mass-produce their designs and how to work effectively with high-value materials or apply premium finishes such as gilding (gold foil) or inlay to their pieces. Incorporating training on the intricacies of gemstones and aesthetic appreciation ensures participants have the confidence to deal with customers in a variety of situations. With this knowledge and proficiency, graduates are prepared to establish businesses as studio jewellers, designing, marketing and making jewellery for their own customers.

This ‘enhanced’ variation of the Precious Metal Arts Advanced Diploma includes additional holistic projects that utilise information from ALL course modules and their successful completion represents not only skills competence, but synthesis of learning and effective practical application of those skills.

Exceptional Jewellery Facilities

MDIS students joining its jewellery programmes will benefit from expert delivery through MDIS’ joint-venture: JDMIS. Established in 2007 and expanded and integrated with MDIS in 2018, the Jewellery Design and Management International School is a specialized training institution for the jewellery arts focusing on this niche but high-value industry.

Servicing the jewellery trade, JDMIS works with top local and international jewellery brands to train staff and business owners, as well as enthusiastic entrepreneurs to achieve excellence in jewellery design, fabrication, gemstone knowledge and business.

MDIS students enjoy access to over 5200 square feet of customised jewellery space located within the MDIS Queenstown campus. State-of-the-art facilities include jewellery workshops with metal-smithing, casting, plating and laser welding equipment, a jewellery computer lab, a gem vault containing over 1800 gemstones and jewellery exhibits and even a fully-functional retail showroom.