Contemporary Jewelry School in Florence, Italy

Alchimia Contemporary Jewellery School, Florence:
Alchimia is a private professional contemporary jewellery school in the historic city of Florence in Tuscany, Northern Italy. We provide academic jewellery design courses at Bachelor's (BFA) degree, Masters (MFA) degree levels, as well as 1-year courses, intensive programs including Weekend Courses, 2 weeks to 6 months courses, and summer study options.

Jewellery Design Programs:

Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Contemporary Jewellery:
• A two-year BFA program in contemporary jewellery and jewellery design
• Major in Contemporary Jewellery
• Accredited by the European Accreditation Board of Higher Education Schools

This program is divided into six 14-week modules that provide a balanced combination of practice and theoretical principles. The BFA course offers a comprehensive grounding in contemporary jewellery to those without prior experience.

The course begins with traditional techniques and skills in the construction and design of jewellery. Then, participants study new technologies, creative use of resources, and material expression for originality in design.

Year 1 Modules:
- Gemology
- Goldsmith and Jewellery Lab
- History of Art
- Jewellery Design
- Technology
- The Creative Process
- 3D Prototyping

Year 2 Modules:
- Advanced Drawing and Design
- Advanced Technology
- Contemporary Jewellery History
- Goldsmithing / Jewellery Lab Advanced
- History of Jewellery
- Independent Professional Practice
- Professional Research
- Reflective Analysis
- Strategies for Creative Development
- Thesis

Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Contemporary Jewellery & Cultural Identity:
• Duration: 2 years
• Major in Contemporary Jewellery and Cultural Identity
• Accredited by the European Accreditation Board of Higher Education Schools 
Alchimia’s MFA program aims to expand and deepen the students’ knowledge and skills in studio-based jewellery design. 

Students generate further critical understanding of jewellery design, strengthen individual artistic approaches and positions, and investigate new possibilities for marketing and promotion. 

Presence in Florence is mandatory in the first year of the program. 

In the second year of the course, students have access to a workshop space exclusively designed for them.

Only 8 students for the MFA program are admitted per year, ensuring close and personal interaction between students and tutors. 

Year 1 Modules:
- Goldsmithing & Technical Jewelry Lab Specializiation
- Jewelry Photography & Digital Photo Processing
- Material Experimentation
- New Perspectives in Modern & Contemporary Art History
- Research Methodologies & Processes 

Year 2 Modules: 
- Advanced 3D Digital Design
- Cultural Analysis Trough The Arts
- Exhibition Curating for the Applied Arts
- Guided Professional Research
- Independent Professional Practice
- Marketing and Web Development
- Thesis
- Visual Communication Development


1-Year Jewellery Design Courses:
- Our academic courses are divided into three 14-week modules

Jewellery Training Foundation Course (JTF):
This is an intensive one-year program that provides a basic training and high technical skills in contemporary jewelry and jewelry design.

Students learn about the different aspects of the discipline and its diverse fields, and gain a grounding sufficient for deciding a field of specialization in the world of jewellery design.

The course builds on the instruction of traditional techniques and skills to then introduce new technologies, a creative use of resources, originality, and material expression.

Advanced Jewellery Training Course (AJT):
This one-year program offers a balanced combination of theoretical principles and skill practice. The course aimed at students who want to enter our MFA program, or achieve a high professional level in jewellery. 

The course is is focused on the development of technical skills, research of materials, and new technologies, as well as nurturing the students’ own creativity and imagination.

Participants benefit from individual and group coaching methodologies, a staff of highly qualified instructors, and participation in major national and international exhibitions. 



Intensive Courses in Jewellery Making:
- Duration: From a minimum of two weeks to a maximum of six months.

The intensive courses were created for those with limited time to study and are looking for a full immersion into jewellery, as well as for those who want to gain knowledge in particular techniques. 

The programs are designed for beginners, designers, professors, jewelers who want to specialize on a specific technique, or jewellery artists that necessitate a period of full immersion to have new creative stimulus.

The weekly course schedule comprises 30 hours of practical jewellery making. Critic sessions are scheduled when the individual program requires them, Toolbox and non-precious materials are included in the course fee, a personal bench for all the duration of the program.

Intensive Course Study Options:
• Advanced Jewellery Techniques
• Basic Jewellery & Design
• Resin Jewellery
• Surface Treatment Of Metals
• Textile Techniques With Metal
• Experimentation With Materials
• Precious Metals & Alloys


Weekend & Summer Courses: 
Short and intensive jewellery courses with a full immersion in a specific technique or material. 

These courses last from a three-day intensive Weekend Course to a Summer Course with a maximum duration of one week.

• The Electric philosopher’s stone – Electroforming and plating techniques (2 days)
• Water, sand and stone casting (3 days)
• Exploring pigments and gold leaf on metal (3 days)
• Blinking lights: a glimpse into antique Japanese inlay technique, Nunome Zogane (3 days)
• White&Gold Summer workshop (5 day course).