PeaceGold Announces Jewellery-Making Courses in New Ethical Jewellery House

11 Feb 2025

Community interest company PeaceGold has announced the launch of its jewellery-making courses for beginners and improvers. Led by resident designer and goldsmith Kate Seow, the hands-on sessions will take place at the newly opened PeaceGold Ethical Jewellery House on Bishop Auckland’s historic Fore Bondgate.

Solder Like a Superstar is a lesson in creating a set of silver stacking rings whilst getting to grips with soldering, ring sizing and finishing. This course is described as the perfect introduction to silver soldering for beginners, but may also be taken by improvers wishing to develop their existing soldering skills.

Meanwhile, Pierce Like a Pro centres on piercing (or sawing), drilling, filing and texturing metal. Ideal for those just starting out, this class invites pupils to create a pendant using copper and silver.

Courses are provisionally scheduled for Sundays 9th of February and March, and Tuesdays 18th of February and March, with more dates due for announcement in the coming weeks. Attendance numbers are capped at six people per course to optimise the learning experience. To avoid disappointment, those interested are encouraged to book their place as early as possible by emailing PeaceGold’s founder Greg Valerio on gregvalerio@peacegold.org.

The price per course is £75 per person, a fee that encompasses everything from tools to materials and refreshments throughout the lesson.

Teaching the courses is Kate Seow, the designer and goldsmith behind Kate Seow Jewellery and in-house jeweller at the PeaceGold Ethical Jewellery House. Fuelled by a lifelong passion for shiny things, Kate draws on a PhD in Chemistry, a career as a teacher and seven years at the helm of her own artisanal fine jewellery brand.

These practical knowledge-sharing sessions are the latest in PeaceGold’s mission to promote ethical jewellery practice and design, and to open up the genius and creativity of the jewellery trade to the wider public.

Greg Valerio MBE, award-winning ethical jewellery campaigner and founder of PeaceGold, says, 

“PeaceGold is a CIC working at the intersection between mining in conflict-affected areas and ethical jewellery designers and goldsmiths.” 

Parallel to its ground-breaking work in partnership with peace-building organisations PeaceDirect and Centre Résolution Conflits in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, transforming artisanal gold into a source of peace and prosperity, PeaceGold’s UK-based operations are focussed on providing retail opportunities, skills training and career development to the jewellery community here.

“These jewellery-making courses are not only an opportunity to enjoy learning, but to fall in love with the craft process and make new friends along the way,” the team says.

In addition to these courses, PeaceGold is currently developing its Community Workshop and Education Programme. Their current community survey encourages members of the UK jewellery industry to share your thoughts on how PeaceGold could support you moving forwards: Complete survey.

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Source: PeaceGold