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April 2024 by Ryan M.
How do I give 6 stars? 7 stars? 100? Dan and JewelryClassDC deserve them, and more. I worked with Dan to make my engagement ring and it was an unforgettable experience. It can feel like a real leap of faith to do something so personal and important in such an unconventional way, and to put your trust in a stranger and in your own ability to learn something you have never even considered before--but I am so glad I took it. I have an experience I will remember for the rest of my life, my fiancée (she said yes of course!) has a beautiful, truly one-of-a-kind heirloom she adores and values beyond measure, and we have a story we will tell over and over again. She is already getting questions about where I found her ring, and her friends are already gushing about how amazed they are I made it. Honestly, I am amazed too. I wasn't sure I could make a ring that looked better than a beginner's craft project!--but that was before I met Dan. I had a personal design idea that not only do they not sell in stores, they don't even really sell jade cut how I needed. As far as I can tell, no one had done this before. Well, now someone has, it turned out incredible, and it's all because Dan made it possible. He went above and so far beyond. As a craftsman he is not just skilled, but meticulous, and determined to make sure every product he works on meets his high standard of excellence. As a teacher he is patient, knowledgeable, and eager to share and show what he knows--which is a lot. And to top it all off, he is a real man of his word--exactly the kind of person you want to put your trust in when dealing with precious metals, stones, and memories. In short, they don't 'em like Dan anymore--that goes for his character, and his jewelry. If you need jewelry made, if you need jewelry worked on, if you need a guiding hand to make something yourself--do yourself a favor and see Dan and his team at JewelryClassDC.
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January 2024 by Patricia B.
JewelryClassDC is a wonderful place to learn goldsmithing/jewelry & Dan is the best instructor ever! He's truly an expert & a great dude . You'll learn a ton and have lots of fun too! Can't recommend it enough
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December 2023 by Donte B.
I recently had the misfortune of visiting the Jewelryclassdc and I feel compelled to share my dreadful experience with others. Dans behavior was not only rude but also disrespectful and shockingly racist. Before even entering, I was met with an air of hostility from Dan, whose attitude was nothing short of appalling. The disrespect I experienced was particularly disheartening. I had hoped to make a piece of jewelry for a special occasion, but the manager's condescending attitude made the entire process an unpleasant ordeal. What shocked me most was the blatant display of racism from him. It is disconcerting to think that in this day and age, such behavior still exists in a supposedly reputable establishment. No customer should have to endure discriminatory treatment or witness it first hand while trying to enjoy this unique experience. Based on my experience, I strongly advise against visiting Jewelryclassdc. There are countless other jewelry making classes that not only offer a more positive and inclusive experience but also appreciate and value their customers. I cannot, in good conscience, recommend this store to anyone. In conclusion, if you are looking for a jewelry class where you will be treated with respect and courtesy, I implore you to explore other options and steer clear of Jewelryclassdc. Your special moments deserve to be celebrated in an environment that values customers of all backgrounds..
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November 2023 by Bruce D.
Dan and Laura helped us create Beautiful Wedding Bands. Dan is a Master Jewelry Craftsman, Patient instructor and offers memories for a lifetime. Highly recommend his Services For couples who are looking for a unique experience. Dan's shop is wonderful. clean and full of interesting and nostalgic hand tools. Bruce and Teresa
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October 2023 by Matthew Jallouk
This is the absolute best place to learn jewelry making. Most of the reviews on here talk about classes and while I cant speak to these directly, if anyone ever has a desire to make an engagement ring or wedding bands, really any piece of jewelry. I highly recommend this place! I approached the owner, Dan, with an idea for an engagement ring with a stone, a few pictures of generally what I was looking for the ring to look like...and that's about it. He was able to take my idea and fully walk me through the cost breakdown of materials and lessons, process of purchasing materials (including the stone), and then the actual implementation of making the ring. He taught me the basic flow of how a ring gets made: shaping the metal via hammering, carving the extra accents on the ring in my specific request, making the setting, filing, soldering the pieces together, and polishing the piece as a whole.We practiced in silver first which I really appreciated having never done this before. So I ended up actually with two finished pieces in end, a practice ring (silver), and the actual engagement ring (platinum). The final engagement ring cost less than what I would have paid for in a store and is physically stronger than a ring from a store due to it being handmade and not cast. Honestly if my house were closer to the studio, I'd sign up for the classes that this place offers. Even though most of my lessons were largely private sessions, I still got to interact with other people taking his classes and his extended study students.This place completely exceeded my expectations in every way. I'll definitely be coming back here to make the wedding bands with my fiancée.
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October 2023 by Василиса Микулишна
A great place with friendly teachers! A huge number of hand tools! They don't do casting, but they have everything to solve your problems with their hands. I fell endlessly in love with this place?
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March 2023 by Andrew Zembala
Dan is a great instructor, and the studio setup is incredible! He has decades of professional goldsmithing experience and everything you'll need to develop your metalsmithing skills. Plus, the classes are fun and the community is great.
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March 2023 by lee seon-ye
A wonderful experience from the start to the last and I found it very hard to leave. I attended metal II and extended class both for about a year total. I learned SO much!!!The studio is very well equipped and Dan is such a passionate Goldsmith and he can perfectly convey the right concept and teach you.I met lovely people who I now call my friends. I definitely recommend Jewelryclassdc.
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March 2023 by Domingo Delgado
I've taken two classes with Daniel Valencia at Jewelryclassdc, both of which were time and money well spent. If you wish to make beautiful jewelry while learning the proper techniques and processes of goldsmithing and metallurgy, this is the place to be.Most recently, I completed a 4-week private engagement ring session, the results of which were better than I imagined. Daniel worked with me through each step of the way, from design and material sourcing through the process of casting, forging, and stone setting. The finished product: a beautiful engagement ring imbued with more heart and meaning than anything I could have merely purchased from a store.As an instructor, Daniel strikes the perfect balance between lending an experienced, guiding hand and giving you room to learn and develop on your own. His calm, easy-going demeanor coupled with his excellent taste in music ensure you never feel out-of-place or foolish for making a mistake, even as a beginner.In summary, I cannot recommend Jewelyclassdc highly enough, and look forward to future classes with great enthusiasm.
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March 2023 by Carlus Richardson
Love, love, love this class. Great community and the instruction is great. The studio is beautiful and packed with every tool. Each bench is fully equipped and Dan is generous with materials.
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March 2023 by Jessa HH
Class: Metals 2Instructor: Dan ValenciaPros:Fully equipped jewelers’ benchesNice range of equipment available for useGood instruction when instructor is focusedOpen studio hoursAmple street parking during the dayCons:Music is left on during instruction and demonstrations which is distracting.Questionable ventilation for soldering stationsConstant disparagement of how other people teach or learn and how incompetent others are.Incessant bragging about skill, money as well as constant name droppingLittle attention paid to students’ interests and creativity.Vulgar language used ( F bombs are normal and frequent) and several misogynistic remarks made.Wanted to love it, unfortunately pretty much hated every minute of it. I felt like I was walking on eggshells the whole time. Stopped going after four sessions.Would not recommend.
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September 2022 by Meredith Neely
Pros: Excellent Teacher, Best Tools and Workshop, Amazing Community.Cons: Highly addicting!I’ve been taking classes at Dan’s studio for over 3 years and frankly can’t seem to stop.The studio is fully equipped with any kind of goldsmithing tool you could imagine, modern or old-fashioned.The class sizes are small enough to get plenty of one-on-one assistance. The projects each semester are different and offer new skills to learn.Most importantly, the skills Dan teaches are the real deal, learning techniques in hammer forging, soldering, fabricating heavy bezels, and working in sterling silver.Dan is a master goldsmith and an excellent teacher. Classes are an amazing creative experience but also really fun. If you’re thinking about learning more about the art and engineering of jewelry metalsmithing, or just want to learn a new skill for fun, this is the place to do it.
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August 2022 by Meredith N.
Pros: Excellent Teacher, Best Tools and Workshop, Amazing Community. Cons: Highly addicting! I've been taking classes at Dan's studio for over 3 years and frankly can't seem to stop. The studio is fully equipped with any kind of goldsmithing tool you could imagine, modern or old-fashioned. The class sizes are small enough to get plenty of one-on-one assistance. The projects each semester are different and offer new skills to learn. Most importantly, the skills Dan teaches are the real deal, learning techniques in hammer forging, soldering, fabricating heavy bezels, and working in sterling silver. Dan is a master goldsmith and an excellent teacher. Classes are an amazing creative experience but also really fun. If you're thinking about learning more about the art and engineering of jewelry metalsmithing, or just want to learn a new skill for fun, this is the place to do it.
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March 2022 by Amy Ruddle
JewelryClass DC has been one of the best experiences of my life! I am a jewelry maker with a small business and was looking for a way to improve my skill set to expand my offerings. Dan gave me a tour of the amazing studio, and I took his introductory class to get started. I quickly realized I wanted to do the extended study program, and that has been extremely satisfying. In the six months I’ve been working at the studio, I’ve seen my skill set grow exponentially, and I’ve now found a community of jewelers and goldsmiths who are a constant source of support and creativity. Dan continues to be available any time I have a question about a project, and he is constantly doing demonstrations of new techniques and styles. Truly an invaluable experience for any level of jeweler.
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March 2022 by Vincent
I have been taking classes here since May 2021. The studio is very well equipped, and I always feel as though I am learning the correct way to perform any given task. The classes are challenging and sometimes I get frustrated, but I always walk away knowing that I have learned something new and created a quality piece of jewelry. Even in the frustrating times, Dan is more than willing to spend one-on-one time with students to ensure they are completing the assignments correctly.Aside from group classes, I also worked with Dan to design and fabricate an engagement ring for my fiancé. This experience was great! We were both on the same page with what we wanted to achieve. Dan was very patient throughout and made sure that we made the perfect ring for my fiancé (who also takes classes from Dan). This time was invaluable to me and the development of my skillset.-Great teacher-Great equipment-Great people
