About the Course
Hinges, End Caps & Locks
Fabricate a working locket hinge, chain end caps, and box and tube catch mechanisms.
This course teaches three mechanical fabrication skills central to finished jewelry: building a working hinge mechanism for a locket, fabricating end caps that attach cleanly to chain ends, and constructing box catch and tube catch clasp mechanisms. You'll finish by assembling a complete hinged locket with a working catch.
Class Details
Duration: 5 days (Monday–Friday)
Time: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM (one-hour lunch)
Class size: 6 students max
Prerequisite: Bench Fundamentals and Torch & Soldering
What's included: Tools provided for in-class use; materials and finished practice pieces are yours to keep
Skills You'll Gain
Understand hinge mechanics and construct a knuckle-and-pin hinge for a locket
Fabricate and fit end caps that attach cleanly to chain ends
Fabricate a box catch clasp mechanism
Fabricate a tube catch clasp mechanism
Assemble a complete hinged, clasped piece from individually fabricated components
Day-by-Day
Day 1 — Hinge mechanics and layout: understanding how a knuckle-and-pin hinge works, laying out a hinge for a locket.
Day 2 — Hinge fabrication: cutting, fitting, and soldering hinge components, testing movement and fit.
Day 3 — End caps for chains: designing and fabricating end caps that attach cleanly to a chain.
Day 4 — Box catch and tube catch: fabricating both clasp mechanisms.
Day 5 — Capstone project: assemble a complete hinged locket incorporating a working hinge, end caps, and a catch mechanism.
What This Class Doesn't Cover Stone setting, wax carving, and casting/alloying — covered in other Goldsmith Technician weeks.
What You'll Leave With A finished hinged locket with a working catch mechanism, plus practice end caps, a box catch, and a tube catch.