REVIEW · FLORENCE
Florence: Custom Jewelry Making Experience
Book on GetYourGuide →Operated by Flor Rubaja Jewelry · Bookable on GetYourGuide
You can wear your creativity home. This Florence workshop lets you shape wax into jewelry in the cradle of artisans, then turn your favorite piece into real sterling silver later. I love how hands-on it is, and I also love that the instructor helps you build confidence fast, even if you start with no clue what to do.
Two big wins: you get to design something personal in a romantic setting, and you leave with the option to create a wedding ring-style piece. One thing to consider: the silver casting is limited to the equivalent metal weight of up to 7 grams, so if you want multiple large pieces in metal, you may need upgrades.
You’ll meet Florencia, the maker behind Flor Rubaja Jewelry, who learned jewelry in Buenos Aires and later sharpened her goldsmith skills in Florence. In one recent review, people also mentioned working with Matteo during the experience, so your exact instructor support may vary a bit, but the vibe is the same: patient, step-by-step guidance.
In This Review
- Key things to know before you try Florence custom jewelry
- Making Sterling Silver From Wax in Firenze
- Your 2.5-Hour Flow: What Happens During the Workshop
- What You Can Make: Rings, Earrings, Pendants, and Wedding Rings
- Learning the Wax Techniques That Actually Matter
- Choosing Your One Cast Piece (and the 7-Gram Sterling Silver Rule)
- Price and Value: What $147 Really Buys You
- Shipping Timing: When You’ll Get Your Sterling Silver Back
- Who This Workshop Fits Best (and Who Might Want Another Option)
- Practical Tips That Make Your Result Look Better
- Pairing It With a Florence Day (Without Overplanning)
- Should You Book This Florence Jewelry Making Experience?
- FAQ
- How long is the Florence jewelry making workshop?
- What can I create in the workshop?
- Will I be able to make something if I have no jewelry experience?
- What happens to my jewelry after the workshop?
- Is shipping included in the price?
- What is included in the $147 price?
- Can I upgrade to bigger pieces or use gold?
Key things to know before you try Florence custom jewelry

- Wax first, silver later: You craft in wax for 2.5 hours, then cast one selected piece in sterling silver.
- Up to 7 grams in base metal: Included pricing covers the metal equivalent up to a maximum of 7 grams of silver.
- You can take the rest in wax: Only one piece (or up-to-7-gram equivalent) becomes metal; the other wax creations can go home with you.
- Real technique, not just arts and crafts: You’ll work with welding, bending, thickness control, and shaping with wires and sheets.
- Easy for beginners: Prior goldsmithing or plastic-art experience helps, but it’s not required.
- Staff speaks multiple languages: Workshops run in Italian, Spanish, and English.
Making Sterling Silver From Wax in Firenze

This isn’t the usual Florence “buy a souvenir and move on” routine. You’re making something that looks like a piece you’d find in a real workshop window—because you’re actually doing workshop work, just on a beginner-friendly timeline.
The core magic is that you start with wax. Wax is forgiving. It lets you experiment with form, texture, and thickness without the fear of ruining expensive materials. Then, at the end, you choose one piece to cast into sterling silver. That two-step process is what makes the experience feel meaningful instead of just fun.
Also, the setting matters. Florence, and specifically Tuscany’s artisan culture, is all about craft and tradition. Even if you know nothing about jewelry making, you’ll feel like you’re participating in something real when you’re working in wax and learning how that becomes metal.
You can also read our reviews of more tours and experiences in Florence.
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Your 2.5-Hour Flow: What Happens During the Workshop

Plan on 2 to 3 hours, with the main hands-on portion lasting about 2.5 hours. That time is structured for momentum, not perfection. You’re there to try, adjust, and build a piece you’ll be happy to cast.
Here’s the typical flow you can expect:
1) Get set up and start designing
You’ll experiment with different types of wax and learn how to manipulate it. Expect to work on morphology (form), texture, and basic structural ideas.
2) Shape, weld, bend, and refine
This part is where technique shows up. You’ll practice welding together elements, bending shapes, and testing different thicknesses. You may also use wires and sheets depending on what you’re making.
3) Create your options
You’re free to design rings, earrings, pendants, or whatever idea you bring. If you want something precise, you can bring it in real size so the instructor can help you translate your reference into wax.
4) Choose your cast piece
When the session wraps, you choose one piece to cast, or the equivalent metal weight of a maximum of 7 grams. The selected item is the one that becomes sterling silver.
5) Leave with extra wax pieces
You can take away the other pieces you made in wax. That’s a nice safety net. Even if you’re unsure about the final metal outcome, you’ll still have physical progress to bring home right away.
The overall tempo is relaxed. Multiple reviews mention that the instructor guides you at every step, which is exactly what you want when you’re learning hands-on.
What You Can Make: Rings, Earrings, Pendants, and Wedding Rings

You’re not locked into one “default” design. The workshop is built around choice. Your creativity is the point, as long as you can translate it into wax in a way that can be cast.
Here are the main categories you can create:
- Rings (including ring styles that fit a wedding ring concept)
- Earrings
- Pendants
If you’re imagining a wedding ring, this is one of the better ways to get there because the wax stage is flexible. You can shape something that feels personal, bring references, and still adjust as you go.
One practical tip from the experience: start simple if you’re new. Simple designs help you stay within time, and they’re easier to cast cleanly. If you’re bringing an idea that looks complex, consider breaking it into components you can build in wax.
Learning the Wax Techniques That Actually Matter
Wax may sound like a temporary material, but it teaches real jewelry-making logic. You’ll work in ways that translate directly to metal thinking: structure, thickness, join points, and form.
Based on what the workshop describes, you’ll experiment with:
- Texture and surface: how the wax looks and feels
- Welding: joining pieces so they hold together
- Bending and shaping
- Thickness control: which affects how your design will look after casting
- Wires and sheets: for adding lines, frameworks, or layered structure
This is why the class is worth more than a paint-and-glitter craft. You’re learning the “how” behind jewelry, not just decorating something.
And it’s not just about the technical stuff. The instructor also helps you make decisions. Several reviews mention that the instructor guided participants at every step, including people who started with zero experience. That guidance matters, because the biggest challenge for beginners is not skill—it’s knowing what to do next.
Choosing Your One Cast Piece (and the 7-Gram Sterling Silver Rule)
This is the moment that turns a fun workshop into a real keepsake.
At the end, you’ll choose one piece to be cast. If your design is larger or you want more than one option “combined” into metal, the workshop uses a weight concept: the base included metal is equivalent to a maximum of 7 grams of sterling silver.
If you create multiple items in wax, don’t worry—you’re not forced to throw them away. You can keep the extras as wax pieces. But only one selected piece (or its weight equivalent up to 7 grams) becomes silver.
That 7-gram rule is a good thing for your planning. It makes you focus. In a good way. Instead of turning the workshop into a production line, you get to pick your best design—the one that represents your style.
If you want something precise, bring references. The workshop notes that you can bring your idea in real size, which helps the instructor work out proportions and shape.
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Price and Value: What $147 Really Buys You
$147 per person sounds like a fair chunk of change. But here’s why it can be good value in Florence:
- Your workshop fee includes the base materials and instruction needed to create your desired jewelry piece in wax.
- It also includes the silver casting for a piece with metal weight equivalent up to 7 grams.
- You’re basically paying for three things: a guided creative session, the wax materials/tools base setup, and the conversion into sterling silver later.
If you were hiring a jeweler to custom design and cast a piece from scratch, you’d likely be looking at much higher costs. Here, the class format keeps it approachable while still delivering a real metal result.
What’s not included:
- Upgrading to bigger or more pieces can add extra costs.
- Shipping isn’t included in the workshop price. Shipping is arranged on the day of the workshop.
- Gold is not included. You can pay for gold based on the weight of the rings.
So think of this as: you’re buying a guided path to a real silver keepsake, with clear boundaries that keep the price sane.
Shipping Timing: When You’ll Get Your Sterling Silver Back
You won’t get your silver piece the same day. You’ll choose what gets cast, then wait.
The workshop says the pieces are sent to your agreed address after about 20 to 30 days.
This timing is important for two reasons:
1) You’re not left holding an unfinished project. You still take away wax pieces you made, so you have something tangible immediately.
2) If you’re buying for a specific date—like an anniversary—plan backward and give yourself that 3 to 4 week window.
Also, because shipping price isn’t included and is arranged on the day, you’ll want to be ready for that last step. It’s normal for custom work to have shipping as an add-on, but it’s good to know so you don’t get surprised.
Who This Workshop Fits Best (and Who Might Want Another Option)
This is one of those experiences that works for more than one kind of trip.
You’ll likely enjoy it if:
- You want a hands-on Florence activity instead of another museum ticket.
- You’re traveling with a friend or sister and want something you both build and talk about afterward.
- You have a gift in mind and want it to feel personal.
- You’re considering a ring idea and like the sound of starting with wax.
In reviews, people who felt they had no experience still ended up happy with their rings. That’s a strong sign the workshop is beginner-friendly in practice, not just on paper.
You might want to think twice if:
- You’re expecting to make many large metal pieces. The base included silver casting is capped at the 7-gram equivalent.
- You need your final sterling silver immediately. It ships after 20 to 30 days.
Practical Tips That Make Your Result Look Better
You don’t need prior goldsmith skills. But a few actions will help you get a design you’re proud of:
- Bring reference images. Photos give the instructor something concrete to guide you toward.
- Bring real-size references if you want something precise. The workshop specifically notes you can bring it in real size so they can work accurately.
- Start simple if you’re new. Simple designs are easier to shape well and easier to cast cleanly.
- Treat the wax like a draft. The wax stage is where you test texture and form. The final metal is your “best take.”
Also, if you speak Italian, Spanish, or English, you’ll be comfortable. The workshop lists those languages, and multiple reviews reflect an easy, supportive teaching style.
Pairing It With a Florence Day (Without Overplanning)
A custom jewelry workshop works best when you’re not rushing through Florence like it’s a checklist.
Since it’s 2 to 3 hours, you can place it as your “do something different” morning or afternoon plan. Then you still have time to enjoy the city afterward—especially if you’re watching for the little artisan details that Florence is famous for.
You’ll want to plan around the fact that you’ll be shaping wax, so keep your day flexible afterward. Think of it as a creative morning with a calm finish, not a mad sprint between landmarks.
Should You Book This Florence Jewelry Making Experience?
If you want a Florence memory you can wear, I’d book it. The combination of wax experimentation, guided technique, and the final sterling silver casting makes it feel like more than an activity—it’s a craft story you carry with you.
Book it if:
- You like the idea of designing your own ring, earrings, or pendant
- You’re happy to wait 20 to 30 days for the silver
- You’re okay making one main piece in metal (up to the 7-gram equivalent) and keeping other wax pieces as extras
Skip or reconsider if:
- You want lots of large metal pieces for the same price
- You need the finished jewelry immediately
One final nudge: bring references. Simple shapes win. And if Florencia (or Matteo, as one review noted) offers suggestions, take them. That kind of feedback is usually the difference between a cool try and a piece you genuinely love.
FAQ
How long is the Florence jewelry making workshop?
The experience lasts about 2 to 3 hours, with a main session of roughly 2 and a half hours for designing and experimenting with wax.
What can I create in the workshop?
You can create rings, earrings, pendants, or other designs using wax. You can experiment with form, texture, welding, bending, thickness, and elements like wires and sheets.
Will I be able to make something if I have no jewelry experience?
Yes. Prior goldsmithing or plastic-art experience can help, but it is not essential. The instructor guides you through the steps.
What happens to my jewelry after the workshop?
At the end you choose one piece (or a piece equivalent to up to 7 grams of metal weight) to cast in sterling silver. You can take away the other wax pieces. The silver piece is sent to your agreed address after about 20 to 30 days.
Is shipping included in the price?
No. Shipping is not included. It is arranged on the day of the workshop.
What is included in the $147 price?
The base workshop price includes everything you need to make your desired jewelry creation in wax, and the sterling silver casting for a piece up to the equivalent of a maximum of 7 grams.
Can I upgrade to bigger pieces or use gold?
Extra costs apply if you upgrade to bigger or more pieces. Gold is not included; you can pay for gold based on the weight of the rings.
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