Alchimia Contemporary Jewellery School
School
Published: 07.07.2025
alchimia.it
There cannot be any true innovation without the knowledge of what came before. Tradition and innovation, like mind and hand, need to move together.
Alchimia contemporary jewellery school was founded in 1998 and currently directed by Lucia Massei. The expansive two-year BFA and MFA programs have been developed over more than a decade of experience in close collaboration with a team of international teachers and advisors, all leaders in their respective creative realms.
Alchimia’s objective is to teach students to express their creativity through contemporary jewelry, developing high-quality technical and theoretical skills. By adopting the technological developments of our time and the most experimental cultural trends, Alchimia encourages its students to enhance their talents. Its focus draws on the revision and adoption of traditional techniques and carefully selected materials combined with experimental and groundbreaking approaches to design, teaching students how to transform ideas and research paths in jewelry and design objects, and how to access the working context.
The students of Alchimia are mentored and tutored by a team of experts in jewellery, design, and the visual arts. While using their own experiences as reference, tutors profess techniques, tendencies, and developments in the field of contemporary jewellery and propound emergences in personal creativity by offering tailored guidance and evaluation over the course of the students’ academic years.
The school has obtained full accreditation of its artistic and pedagogic values and is officially qualified for Europen Bachelor of Fine Arts & European Master of Fine Arts by the European Accreditation Board of Higher Education EABHES.
Management Person: Lucia Massei
Lectures/Workshops
David Huycke (2021), Chen Yu Chun, Adi Toch, Manuel Vilhena (2023).
Lectures / Workshops
2005 Charon Kransen - 2006/11 Giovanni Corvaja - 2006 Peter Skubic - 2007 Iris Eichenberg - 2007 Stefano Marchetti - 2008 Bernhard Schobinger - 2009 Mari Ishikawa - 2009/14 Lucy Sarneel - 2010 Robert Smit - 2010/15/17 Ruudt Peters - 2010 Deganit Schocken - 2011/12/13/14/15/16 Christoph Zellweger - 2011/12/13 Sung-Ho Cho - 2012- Nikolas Kirchner - 2013 Jamie Bennett, Evert Nijland - 2014 Ferran Iglesias, Myra Mimlitsch Gray, Andronikos Sagiannos, Daniela Malev - 2015 Pravu Mazumdar, Ulo Florak, Uly Reithofer - 2015/16 Silvia Weidenbach - 2016/17/18 Akis Goumas, Attai Chen - 2017 Georgia Gremouti - 2017/18 David Clarke - 2018 Giampaolo Babetto, Marta Mattson, Nedda el Asmar - 2019 Benedikt Fischer, Patrick Davison, Yuka Oyama, Kimiaki Kageyama - 2021 David Huycke - 2023 Chen Yu Chun, Adi Toch, Manuel Vilhena.
Events
2023 - 2024 Craft Training jewellery courses, cooperation with the Social Development Bank of Riyadh (SA).
2023 “Cultural Heritage “training teaching program (PBS Company): project for qualification and training specialized for members of non-profit sector partners for the Social Development Bank in Riyadh (SA).
Alchimia’s objective is to teach students to express their creativity through contemporary jewelry, developing high-quality technical and theoretical skills. By adopting the technological developments of our time and the most experimental cultural trends, Alchimia encourages its students to enhance their talents. Its focus draws on the revision and adoption of traditional techniques and carefully selected materials combined with experimental and groundbreaking approaches to design, teaching students how to transform ideas and research paths in jewelry and design objects, and how to access the working context.
The students of Alchimia are mentored and tutored by a team of experts in jewellery, design, and the visual arts. While using their own experiences as reference, tutors profess techniques, tendencies, and developments in the field of contemporary jewellery and propound emergences in personal creativity by offering tailored guidance and evaluation over the course of the students’ academic years.
The school has obtained full accreditation of its artistic and pedagogic values and is officially qualified for Europen Bachelor of Fine Arts & European Master of Fine Arts by the European Accreditation Board of Higher Education EABHES.
Management Person: Lucia Massei
Lectures/Workshops
David Huycke (2021), Chen Yu Chun, Adi Toch, Manuel Vilhena (2023).
Lectures / Workshops
2005 Charon Kransen - 2006/11 Giovanni Corvaja - 2006 Peter Skubic - 2007 Iris Eichenberg - 2007 Stefano Marchetti - 2008 Bernhard Schobinger - 2009 Mari Ishikawa - 2009/14 Lucy Sarneel - 2010 Robert Smit - 2010/15/17 Ruudt Peters - 2010 Deganit Schocken - 2011/12/13/14/15/16 Christoph Zellweger - 2011/12/13 Sung-Ho Cho - 2012- Nikolas Kirchner - 2013 Jamie Bennett, Evert Nijland - 2014 Ferran Iglesias, Myra Mimlitsch Gray, Andronikos Sagiannos, Daniela Malev - 2015 Pravu Mazumdar, Ulo Florak, Uly Reithofer - 2015/16 Silvia Weidenbach - 2016/17/18 Akis Goumas, Attai Chen - 2017 Georgia Gremouti - 2017/18 David Clarke - 2018 Giampaolo Babetto, Marta Mattson, Nedda el Asmar - 2019 Benedikt Fischer, Patrick Davison, Yuka Oyama, Kimiaki Kageyama - 2021 David Huycke - 2023 Chen Yu Chun, Adi Toch, Manuel Vilhena.
Events
2023 - 2024 Craft Training jewellery courses, cooperation with the Social Development Bank of Riyadh (SA).
2023 “Cultural Heritage “training teaching program (PBS Company): project for qualification and training specialized for members of non-profit sector partners for the Social Development Bank in Riyadh (SA).
Courses
Microscope Stone Setting Course & Engraving with GRS and GraverMax Air
01Jan2025 - 31Dec2025DEADLINE: 31/Dec/2025
Application
Tags: Technics , ProfessionalPractice , Making
Management person: Lucia Massei
Alchimia is proud to present the first course in Florence featuring the use of binocular microscopes, spheres, and GraverMax for Micro Stone Setting and Engraving. This course offers a unique opportunity to enhance creativity and skills through the combination of studying and practicing these techniques with the best tools available. This exclusive course is tailored to both beginners and advanced setters, providing a comprehensive journey towards mastery in micro stone setting and engraving.
Goals:
Throughout this course, students will acquire a comprehensive set of skills and knowledge tailored to enhance their proficiency in micro stone setting and engraving. They will delve into the mastery of micro-setting techniques, gaining the ability to set up microscopes, handpieces, and controls for precision work. Additionally, students will learn the essential aspects of tool preparation, including sharpening, polishing, and crafting specialized implements, all while optimizing tool usage for the most effective results.
Furthermore, they will master various stone setting techniques, such as prong, bezel, channel, flush, invisible setting, and micro-pavé, enabling them to produce high-quality jewelry pieces with precision and finesse. Moreover, the course will focus on honing students’ engraving proficiency, covering everything from tool sharpening to achieving a diverse range of cuts, allowing them to express their creativity.
Throughout their learning journey, students will benefit from personalized instruction, thanks to our low student-to-instructor ratio, ensuring that they receive tailored guidance to meet individual needs. This personalized approach will elevate their comprehension and mastery of stone setting and engraving techniques, empowering them to excel in their craft. Moreover, students will gain familiarity and confidence in handling GRS equipment and air gravers efficiently, further enhancing their skills and enabling them to work with precision and ease.
By the end of the course, students will emerge with enhanced proficiency, confidence, and mastery in micro stone setting and engraving, ready to embark on new creative endeavours with skill and confidence.
What students get:
- Personal tools provided by the school.
- Non-precious metals and semi-precious stones provided by the school.
- Semi- finished silver rings and sample to set stones.
- Personal bench for all the duration of the course to improve skills during the independent practice time.
- Students can stay at Alchimia till 6.00 pm using all the facilities of the school.
- The pieces executed during the course are for the property of the students.
Equipment:
Access to essential tools and materials including stones, drill bits, burrs, beading tools, practice plates, ring samples, binocular microscopes and GRS equipment.
Schedule and fees:
Duration: From a minimum of 2 weeks to a maximum of 3 months.
Should the course be extended beyond three months, the school will issue the necessary documentation to support the application for a student visa for individuals from non-European countries.
Dates: The courses have open dates throughout the year, beginning each Monday.
From Monday to Friday: 9.00 AM – 1.00 PM + 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Fee: 2 weeks (80h): 2.600 € + 100 € (Administration fee)
Addtional week: 1.200 €
All Levels
Language: Italian and English
More information at Micro-stone Setting & Engraving Course
Program
Stone setting
- Tool Preparation and Setup: Instruction begins with the proper setup and maintenance of stone-setting tools, including gravers and microscopically assisted devices. This includes sharpening tools and selecting the right burrs and drills for different types of stones and settings.
- Stone Setting Techniques: Participants will practice a range of setting methods, from basic to more advanced techniques, learning how to securely set synthetic stones in copper and brass sheets, as well as in silver rings provided by the school. Techniques covered include prong setting, bezel setting, and more intricate styles used in contemporary jewelry design.
- Integrating 3D Printing: As part of the learning process, students will also explore how to integrate settings created through 3D printing with traditional stone-setting techniques. This combination of digital and hands-on methods will help students master the process of incorporating modern technology into the creation of bespoke jewelry.
- Introduction to Engraving Tools: Participants will start by familiarizing themselves with a range of engraving tools, including onglette gravers, rigata gravers, and modern air-powered tools such as the GraverMax. They will also learn how to prepare their tools to ensure precision, practicing with basic techniques on copper and brass plates before moving on to more detailed work on silver.
- Basic Engraving Techniques: Students will first focus on fundamental engraving techniques such as line engraving and scroll engraving. These exercises help develop the control and precision necessary for more intricate designs, such as the classical silk effect achieved with the rigata graver.
- Microscope-Assisted Engraving: A significant portion of the course will involve working with binocular microscopes, essential for achieving high levels of detail in small-scale jewelry engraving. Students will learn how to adjust magnification and lighting for different tasks, ensuring they can maintain clarity and control throughout the engraving process.
- Air Tools and Advanced Techniques: The course will also cover the use of air-powered tools, such as those provided by the GRS system. These tools allow for greater speed and precision, especially when working on complex designs or delicate surfaces. Students will practice controlling air pressure and tool speed to achieve various effects, from deep relief engraving to fine text work and shading.
- Advanced Techniques and Practice: As students’ progress, they will explore more advanced engraving methods, including shading, deep relief engraving, and text engraving, using different metals such as copper, brass, and silver. These techniques will be applied to create detailed, custom designs suitable for high-end jewelry pieces.
Throughout this period, the emphasis will be on hands-on practice, allowing students to refine their skills in a real-world workshop environment. By the end of this module, participants will have a comprehensive understanding of how to use both traditional and modern tools to engrave and set stones in a variety of jewelry designs, achieving a professional level of craftsmanship.
Lesson plan
Minimum two weeks for a total of 80 hours, including 56 hours of guided instruction and 24 hours of independent practice. Additional weeks can be added as desired, up to a maximum of 3 months. The lessons are from Monday to Friday. The weekly course schedule includes 16 hours of stone setting and 12 hours of engraving classes. Students can then improve their skills by working independently at their bench till 6.00 pm. The lessons will be conducted in English and Italian.
Booking your seat
Students can book a seat in any period of the year, except for the 3 central weeks of August and the Christmas and Easter holidays. Courses start every Monday. Our commitment to personalized attention ensures a maximum of 6 students per class, therefore we recommend communicating the dates in advance to verify the availability and secure a spot at info@alchimia.it
Jewellery Making
01Jan2025 - 31Dec2025DEADLINE: 31/Dec/2025
Application
Tags: Technics , ProfessionalPractice , Making
Management person: Lucia Massei
The Intensive Courses (TEC) offer immersive workshops with tailored curricula, designed to provide personalized, one-on-one coaching for a wide range of learners. Whether students are complete beginners or looking to master or deepen a specific technique, this course is crafted to meet their individual needs.
Each program is adaptable, allowing exploration of various jewellery-making techniques or a focus on mastering a single one. The work created is theirs to keep, making the experience truly rewarding.
What sets this course apart is the highly personalized attention each student receives, ensuring that regardless of prior experience, they can fully engage in learning and refining their skills. The curriculum is flexible, designed around each student’s personal project, and adjusted based on their interests, experience, and goals.
Programs can range from an introductory glimpse into jewellery making to in-depth, specialized professional training. The proposed learning pathways serve as guidelines and are open to further customization through discussions with teachers and staff, ensuring they meet each student’s exact needs.
A flexible schedule allows students to select course dates that fit their availability, beginning on Mondays and ending on Fridays throughout the year. With only eight spots available at a time, each participant is guaranteed personalized guidance.
Lesson plan
Lessons are held from Monday to Friday, 9:00 am - 1:00 pm. Students can then enhance their personal skills by working at their bench until 5:00 pm.
The weekly course includes 20 hours of hands-on jewellery making under the guidance of a professional teacher and 20 hours of independent practice, totalling 40 hours per week. Upon request, a critique session with the instructor can be arranged for detailed feedback on their work.
What students get:
- Personal tools provided by the school.
- Non-precious metals and semi-precious stones provided by the school.
- Personal bench for all the duration of your Intensive Course.
- Students can stay at Alchimia till 5.00 pm using all the facilities of the school.
- The pieces executed during the course are for the property of the students.
- *Please note: any use of gold or silver is to be personally bought by the student.
Equipment:
Access to essential tools and materials including stones, drill bits, burrs, beading tools, practice plates, ring samples, binocular microscopes and GRS equipment.
Schedule and fees:
Duration: From a minimum of 2 weeks to a maximum of 3 months.
Should the course be extended beyond three months, the school will issue the necessary documentation to support the application for a student visa for individuals from non-European countries.
Dates: The courses have open dates throughout the year. Beginning each Monday.
From Monday to Friday: 9.00 AM – 1.00 PM (teaching) + 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM (individual work).
Fee: 2 weeks (80h): 2.300 €
Administration fee: 50 €
Each additional week costs: 1.100 €
All Levels
Language: Italian and English
Booking your seat
Students can book a seat in any period of the year, except for the 3 central weeks of August and the Christmas and Easter holidays.
Please contact us at info@alchimia.it
Intensive Jewellery and Design Courses
01Jan2025 - 31Dec2025DEADLINE: 31/Dec/2025
Application
Tags: Technics
Management person: Lucia Massei
Dates: The courses have open dates throughout the year, beginning each Monday. Ask for availability, only 8 spots are offered.
The intensive jewellery courses are workshops with personalized curricula, designed to meet today’s needs for intense, specialized, individual coaching. The programs range from a sneak peek into jewellery making to highly specialized professional training. The proposed curricula function as guidelines to be further discussed and fine-tuned with teachers and staff to meet each student’s specific needs. A very flexible schedule allows students to individually choose the course dates, beginning on Mondays and ending on Fridays during the entire year. The weekly course schedule comprises 30 hours of practical jewellery making and two hours of analysis and creative advice.
Whom are they made for: Beginners, designers, professors, jewellers who want to specialize in a specific technique, or jewellery artists who necessitate a period of full immersion to have a new creative stimulus.
Duration: From a minimum of two weeks to a maximum of three months.
Schedule: 20 hours of class per week / Monday/Friday 9.00–13.00 with the teacher/14.00–17.00 independent work at the bench.
All the materials used for the course (excluding gold and precious stones) are provided by the school as well as all the necessary tools.
For more detailed information visit the Website
* Image credit: Headdress by Olga Van Domm (Intensive course student).
3D Modelling + 3D Printing + GRS Micro-setting & Engraving
12Mar2025 - 12Mar2026DEADLINE: 12/Mar/2026
Application
Tags: Technics , ProfessionalPractice , Making
Management person: Lucia Massei
Alchimia presents a comprehensive course combining 3D modelling, 3D printing, and GRS micro-stone setting & engraving. This unique program blends modern digital techniques with traditional craftsmanship, offering participants an all-encompassing skill set for creating intricate, high-quality jewelry pieces. Ideal for both beginners and advanced artisans, this course will help you master the integration of 3D technology with hands-on micro-stone setting and engraving.
Goals:
This course aims to make students independent in the creation of a jewelry piece, from digital design and 3D printing to micro-stone setting and engraving. By the end of the course, students will have developed the ability to design, 3D print and engrave an intricate ring using modern tools like GraverMax, microscopes, and spheres, as well as traditional methods.
Course structure:
The program is divided into two main sessions, providing a balanced blend of digital technology and traditional craftsmanship, hands-on lessons and theoretical lessons.
Weeks 1-2: 3D MODELING AND PRINTING FOR JEWELRY
- Location: Kentstrappers srl – via Livorno 8/24 – Florence
- Schedule: From Monday to Friday, 6 hours a day, 30 hours per week, for a total of 60 hours. In this part of the course, participants are introduced to jewelry design using Rhinoceros software. Students will learn to create digital models ready for production through 3D printing, using materials suitable for casting. The lessons cover both modelling and printing processes, with the official McNeal certification awarded upon completion.
Weeks 3-6: MICRO-STONE SETTING AND ENGRAVING TECHNIQUES
- Location: Alchimia – piazza Piattelliina 3/r – Florence
- Schedule: From Monday to Friday with daily classes from 9 AM to 1 PM and 2 PM to 6 PM, for a total of 160 hours, including 112 hours of guided instruction and 48 hours of independent practice. This part of the course focuses on precision stone setting and engraving using GRS tools such as GraverMax and microscopes. Students will practice various techniques for setting stones and engraving on metals like copper, brass, and silver. The hands-on sessions will cover both traditional and modern tools, including air tools, to develop precision and master a range of engraving and stone-setting techniques.
What students get from Alchimia:
- Personal tools.
- Non-precious metals and semi-precious stones provided by the school.
- Semi- finished silver rings and sample to set stones.
- Personal bench for all the duration of the course to improve skills during the independent practice time.
- Students can stay at Alchimia till 6.00 pm using all the facilities of the school.
- The pieces executed during the course are for the property of the students.
- Official McNeal certification awarded upon completion (provided by Kentstrapper).
Equipment:
Access to essential tools and materials, including stones, drill bits, burrs, GRS equipment, and 3D printing supplies. Each student will have their own personal bench.
Schedule and fees:
Duration: 6 weeks (220 hours).
Dates: 1st Starting date from March 2025
Fee: 7.500 € for the full 6-week course
Administration fee: 100 €
Language: Italian and English
Lesson plan
The course lasts 6 weeks, totalling 220 hours, which includes 172 hours of guided instruction and 48 hours of independent practice. The program covers 60 hours of 3D modelling and 3D printing, along with 160 hours dedicated to GRS micro-stone setting and engraving.
Booking your seat
The course begins in March 2025. Our commitment to personalized attention ensures a maximum of 6 students per class, therefore we recommend contacting info@alchimia.it to reserve your spot.
Master of Fine Arts, Major in Contemporary Jewellery and Cultural Identity
08Sep2025 - 17Jul2027DEADLINE: 30/Jun/2025
Application
Tags: Making , Technics , ProfessionalPractice , CriticalThinking
Management person: Lucia Massei
Alchimia’s MFA program develops over a two-year period with the aim to expand and deepen the student’s knowledge and skills in studio-based jewellery design. The program is intended to generate further critical understanding in and of the discipline, strengthen individual artistic approaches and positions, and investigate new possibilities for marketing and promotion.
The objective of the course is to render the students independent and qualitatively highly prepared in every aspect of their work, not only including research, creation, and production, but also networking, exhibiting, and self-presentation to galleries and collectors.
A personal tutor appointed by the school will follow their developments, while intensive workshops, seminars, and training periods are held in Florence.
Special attention is put on the ability to position one’s own work within a contemporary context and to critically evaluate and debate one’s progress. The program also involves more collective activities, such as the realization of events, comprising the complete production process — including fundraising, curating, and writing the appropriate texts.
The students enrolled in our second year of the MFA, who would like to stay in Florence, have access to a workshop space exclusively designed for them.
Teachers: Lucia Massei, Sana Khalil, Benjamin Lignel, Akis Goumas, Riccardo Lami, Robean Visschers, Federico Cavicchioli, Carolina Gestri.
Qualification: Master of Fine Arts, Major in Contemporary Jewellery and Cultural Identity.
Duration: 2 years
Fees: More information on fees
Main areas of study:
- New Perspectives in Modern & Contemporary Art History.
- Goldsmithing & Technical Jewelry Lab Specialization.
- Jewelry Photography & Digital Photo Processing.
- Material Experimentation.
- Research Methodologies & Processes.
- Advanced 3d Digital Design.
- Cultural Analysis Through The Arts.
- Exhibition Curating for the Applied Arts.
- Visual Communication Development.
- Guided Professional Research.
- Independent Professional Practice.
- Marketing and Web Development.
- Thesis.
* Photo credit: Installation (Master Solo Show) by Shuang Yue.
Bachelor of Fine Arts, Major Contemporary Jewellery
08Sep2025 - 17Jul2027DEADLINE: 30/Jun/2025
Application
Tags: Making , Technics , ProfessionalPractice , CriticalThinking
Management person: Lucia Massei
The two-year BFA program offers a comprehensive grounding in contemporary jewellery and jewellery design to those without prior experience or possession of jewellery-making skills in a relatively short time. The course begins with traditional techniques and skills in the construction and design of jewellery, and then introduces the students to new technologies, creative use of resources, and material expression for originality in design. The program is divided into six 14-week modules that provide, through a challenging but organic full-immersion process, a balanced combination of practice and theoretical principles.
In the vein of Alchimia’s philosophy, the program nurtures an approach to learning that merges the theoretical, the pragmatic, and the experiential, tradition and innovation, in order to develop confidence, skill, creativity, and imagination. It is tailored to each student individually, with teachers providing personal coaching, and builds on a variety of different professional experiences, including carefully selected study trips both locally and abroad.
These two years may function as a self-contained program for those interested in achieving high-level results in the short term, and/or preparing for admission to a master’s program in contemporary jewellery and body ornament.
Qualification: Bachelor of Fine Arts
Duration: 2 years
Fees: For more detailed information on fees
Tutors: Lucia Massei, Sanaa Khalil.
Main areas of study
- History of Art.
- Gemology.
- The Creative Process.
- Goldsmith and Jewellery Lab.
- Technology.
- Jewellery Design.
- 3D Prototyping.
- History of Jewellery.
- Strategies for Creative Development.
- Goldsmithing / Jewellery Lab Advanced.
- Advanced Technology.
- Advanced Drawing and Design.
- Reflective Analysis.
- Professional Research.
- Independent Professional Practice.
- Contemporary Jewellery History.
- Thesis.
For more detailed information visit the Website
* Photo credit: Brooch by Kai Ling Hsueh
Events 
Publications
Transaction MFA II 2018, Work in progress exhibition in Amsterdam, curated by Lucy Sarneel.
© By the author. Read Klimt02.net Copyright.
Necklace: In Conflict, 2016
Wood, leather, iron.
18 x 8 x 8 cm
From series: In Conflict
© By the author. Read Klimt02.net Copyright.
Brooch: Nomen Nescio, 2016
Iron, steel.
12 x 6 x 5 cm
From series: Nomen Nescio
© By the author. Read Klimt02.net Copyright.
Brooch: Look Gently Series No.14, 2018
Paper, silver, stainless steel pin, cold enamel, varnish.
10.3 x 9.6 x 5.6 cm
From series: Look Gently
© By the author. Read Klimt02.net Copyright.
Estimated price: 500 €
Necklace: Controlled Freedom, 2015
Glass, aegirine.
From series: True Lies
© By the author. Read Klimt02.net Copyright.
Ring: Fortezza, 2017
Shibuichi, black coral, silver, melted amber.
5.3 x 3.3 cm
From series: Gimmel
© By the author. Read Klimt02.net Copyright.
Drawing Class at Alchimia Contemporary Jewellery School
© By the author. Read Klimt02.net Copyright.
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