MJSA’s At the Bench Live at Expo New York
Below are the 2012 sessions that took place at MJSA Expo New York, which took place March 11-13 at the Hilton New York in New York City.
Also listed below are related articles from MJSA Journal, the flagship monthly magazine published by MJSA. The articles can also be ordered through the MJSA Article Archive. All articles are free to MJSA members; non-members pay a charge of $5 per page.
Our thanks to our Bench & Tool Sponsor: Stuller Inc.
The Sessions
March 11
The Finishing Touch
Presenter: Joel McFadden
A piece of jewelry can rise and fall on the quality of its finish. In this session, attendees will see first-hand the various techniques that can efficiently ensure all areas of a piece are finished and polished to perfection.
Related MJSA Journal articles:
"Smooth Sailing: Tools, Tips, and Techniques to Help You Achieve a Superior Finish," by Gary Dawson. February 2006.
"The 4C Project: Crafting a Custom Gent’s Ring around a Cushion-Cut Diamond," by Joel McFadden. April 2011.
March 12
Secret Shop Weapons
Presenter: Ann Cahoon
All bench jewelers have a favorite tool—the one that makes their job easier and expands their capabilities. Learn about some of the tools that noted jewelers and designers just can’t live without, as well as how to effectively apply them. Based on the forthcoming MJSA Press book, Secret Shop Weapons, which will be available at a discounted price for attendees.
Related MJSA Journal articles:
"Secret Shop Weapons: Joel McFadden Sees the Light with a Meiji Microscope," by Tina Wojtkielo Snyder. October 2010.
"Brilliant Cuts: Why Mark Maxwell ’s Secret Shop Weapon Is His Graver," by Tina Wojtkielo Snyder. June 2009.
About the Presenters
Joel McFadden is an award-winning designer and owner of JMD Custom Jewelry in Red Bank, New Jersey. One of the most experienced diamond setters in the United States, he has given training courses to other jewelers throughout the country and offers several videos on stone setting.
Ann Cahoon, the owner of Flying Marquis Studio in the greater Boston area, is a designer/goldsmith focusing on custom and limited production work in gold and platinum. A graduate of the Maine College of Art and Boston’s North Bennett Street School, she is an instructor at the Metalwerx School for Jewelry and Metal Arts. Her "Mythbusters" series of articles appears periodically in MJSA Journal.