Want a keepsake you made yourself? This Florence workshop lets you sculpt wax into a wearable design, then turn one finished piece into sterling silver. It’s a creative detour from the usual museums, set in a studio run by an artisan who lives and works in the historic heart of the city.

What I like most is the hands-on guidance. Even if you walk in with zero experience, you get clear help while you experiment with texture, thickness, bending, wires, and sheet-like forms. The other big win is creative freedom: you can aim for a ring, earrings, a pendant, or even something wedding-ring inspired, and you’re not locked into a single template.

One catch to plan around: you don’t walk away with all finished metal. You’ll choose one piece (or a metal-weight equivalent up to 7 grams) to cast into silver, while the rest stay as wax keepsakes. And the final casting ships after about 20–30 days, so it’s not an instant souvenir.

Key Things That Make This Workshop Worth It

• Wax sculpting for real jewelry shapes: texture, welding, bending, thickness, wires, and sheets
• You choose the design direction: rings, earrings, pendants, and more
• One silver casting (up to 7 grams): other wax pieces can be taken home
• Bring references for accuracy: photos and real-size pieces help a lot
• A studio in a historic setting: Florencia now crafts in her historic Convent workshop
• Longer wait than a typical day tour: your final silver arrives in about 20–30 days

Florence’s Convent-Workshop Feel (and Why It Matters)

Doing jewelry in Florence hits different because you’re not just learning a craft. You’re practicing it in the place where artisans have worked for generations. The workshop is run by Florencia, a goldsmith who trained in Italy (Le Arti Orafe in Florence) and grew up around jewelry businesses in her family.

That family-and-studio background shows up in the vibe. It feels personal, not like a factory class. You get time to try things, make small mistakes, and adjust your design instead of rushing toward a perfect result.

One practical bonus: the workshop supports private or small groups, so you can treat it like a shared activity with friends or a low-key date idea. Florence can be crowded. This isn’t.

In some sessions, you may work with another instructor (one past booking mentioned Matteo), but the core approach stays the same: guided making, then a casting step.

Your 2½ Hours with Wax: What You’ll Actually Make

The workshop gives you about 2 and a half hours to experiment. The focus isn’t only on a finished look. It’s on learning the techniques that make wax behave like a jewelry prototype you’ll later cast in metal.

Here’s what you’ll be working with:

• Different types of wax and how each responds
• Morphology (shape planning): how curves and proportions affect the final piece
• Texture and surface work so your piece doesn’t look flat or generic
• Welding (joining wax parts securely)
• Bending and forming so you can create bands and supported shapes
• Thickness decisions that matter for strength once it becomes metal
• Wires and sheets if you want more structure or detail

You’re free to create what you want: a ring, earrings, a pendant, or a mix. If your dream is a wedding ring style, you can aim for that direction too. Just know the workshop is designed for a one-person artistic process, not a “mass customization” line.

What surprised me most is how doable it feels even without prior training. Wax is forgiving. You can reshape, fix, and try again without the stress of working with hot metal.

The relaxed pace is part of the value

This isn’t a lecture-heavy class. You’re making. That means you leave with more than a souvenir photo—you leave with a physical prototype and a real understanding of how jewelry is constructed.

From Wax Prototype to Sterling Silver: The Casting Rules

After you’ve sculpted and refined your designs, you’ll face the key decision: which piece gets cast.

At the end of the workshop, you’ll choose:

• One piece to cast, or
• Pieces equal to the metal weight of a maximum of 7 grams (for sterling silver)

Everything else you made in wax isn’t wasted. You can take it away. It’s a great plan if you want multiple “tries” in one session, then reserve the best-looking (or most meaningful) version for metal.

Timing: why you won’t get it immediately

Once the wax is selected, the conversion to metal takes time. Your final silver piece is sent to your agreed address after about 20–30 days.

That wait can be a drawback if you want an instant item to wear on your trip. But if you’re comfortable with the idea of receiving a handcrafted piece later, it’s a nice payoff. You’ll also have time to decide whether you want upgrades once you see the concept in metal.

Upgrades and gold (what’s extra)

The base workshop price covers the silver equivalent up to that 7-gram limit. Extra costs come from:

• Upgrading to bigger or more pieces
• Shipping, which is arranged on the day of the workshop
• Gold, which isn’t included (you can pay based on the weight of the rings)

If you’re thinking of gold from the start, ask early so you can budget and plan your final choices while you’re still making the wax.

Getting Your Design Right: Simple Ideas Beat Perfect Plans

If you want something precise, the workshop recommends bringing your idea in a more measurable way—like the real size of a ring or a specific reference you can match. That makes sense. You’re working in wax, so translating a screen image into real proportions is easier with help.

Here are smart ways to prepare:

• Bring reference images of the style you like. Don’t overthink it—focus on shapes and details.
• If you already know your ring size or you want a perfect fit, bring that real-size information.
• Start simple. The workshop suggests beginning with simpler pieces first, then adding detail if you have time.

I also like that you can be creative without needing a perfect blueprint. Wax isn’t picky about artistic “style.” It rewards good decisions about thickness, support, and how pieces connect.

Wedding ring ambition? Totally possible, but plan for choosing

If you want a wedding ring look, treat it like a design challenge rather than a guarantee. You’ll still have to choose one piece for casting. Build with that in mind: make the version you’d actually wear, not just the most complicated one you can imagine.

Instructors, Language Help, and Group Options

The workshop is led by Florencia, who works from her home studio in a historic Convent space and personally crafts the pieces for her collection. Her training includes time at Le Arti Orafe in Florence, and her background runs deep in jewelry from family businesses in Buenos Aires.

Language support is a major practical win:

• Instructor speaks Italian, Spanish, and English

That matters because jewelry terms and technique directions are easier when you can understand every step clearly.

Also, group style is flexible. You can book for private or small groups, which helps if you want quiet time to focus, or if you’re visiting with a partner/friend and want individual attention.

And yes, the workshop is wheelchair accessible, so it’s a solid option if mobility needs are part of your planning.

Price and Value: What $147 Really Buys You

The price is $147 per person, and what you get for that money is more than “a class.” Your workshop base price includes what you need to create your desired jewelry creation, up to the equivalent of pieces weighing 7 grams of silver.

In plain terms: you’re paying for the making time plus the casting value cap. That’s where the value sits.

What’s not included:

• Upgrading to bigger/more pieces
• Gold
• Shipping, arranged on the day of the workshop

So the real question isn’t only whether $147 is affordable. It’s whether you’re okay with:

1) designing multiple things in wax,

2) choosing one to cast in silver,

3) waiting about 20–30 days for the metal, and

4) potentially paying extra if you go beyond the 7-gram equivalent.

If your goal is a one-and-done finished souvenir you can wear by the end of the day, this may not fit. If your goal is a custom, personal piece with actual craftsmanship behind it, it’s strong value for Florence.

How to Fit This into Your Florence Trip

This takes 2–3 hours, which makes it easier to plug into a travel day without wrecking your schedule. I’d treat it like a creative morning plan or a mid-day reset, especially if you want something calmer than walking museums all day.

Pair it with a low-stress plan:

• Do some Florence wandering before you go, then let the workshop be your structured break.
• After, you’ll have wax prototypes and a finished concept to think about. That makes the city feel even more connected to what you created.

One more tip: if you’re bringing references or trying to match a ring size, give yourself time to arrive early and settle. Jewelry making is easiest when you’re not trying to cram the final instructions between bus arrivals.

Should You Book This Jewelry Workshop in Florence?

Book it if you want:

• a hands-on creative activity,
• the chance to make something meaningful (including ring-style designs),
• and a guided process that works even if you’re starting from scratch.

Skip it if you’re impatient about waiting. Your silver piece arrives later, after casting and shipping. Also, if you’re hoping for several fully finished metal pieces in one session, remember the casting limit and the possible upgrade costs.

If you’re on the fence, I’d base the decision on one thing: do you want a custom keepsake, or do you want something you buy and wear today? This workshop is built for the custom path.

FAQ

How long is the Florence custom jewelry making experience?

It lasts about 2 to 3 hours, with around 2 and a half hours dedicated to experimenting and creating in wax.

What does the $147 per person price include?

The base workshop price includes everything you need to make your desired jewelry creation up to the equivalent of pieces weighing a maximum of 7 grams of silver.

Can I make more than one piece during the workshop?

Yes. You can create rings, earrings, pendants, or other designs in wax. At the end, you’ll choose one piece (or up to the metal-weight equivalent of 7 grams) to cast.

Will I get all of my designs in metal?

No. Only the selected piece (or the 7-gram maximum silver equivalent) is cast into sterling silver. The other wax pieces can be taken away.

How long does it take for the finished silver jewelry to arrive?

It takes about 20 to 30 days, after which your pieces are sent to the agreed address.

Is gold included in the price?

Gold is not included. If you want gold, you can pay based on the weight of the rings.

What languages are available with the instructor?

The instructor can work in Italian, Spanish, and English.