Testing hours

• 19.5 hrs testing time at JSI test site (3 days at 8 hrs per day, including lunch and break times - 6.5 hrs actual testing per day), OR 3 months time limit for proctored test of 19.5 hrs testing time.

• 6 projects and a written exam. 

• 150 points possible - 105 must be correct to pass, time over penalty = 5 points per 30 minutes

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Day 1:

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Written exam:

• 1 hr - 25 questions (50 points in total)

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Project 1) Stacking ring: 1.5 hrs (fused) - 10 points

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Materials:

• 2mm (12ga) wire x 203.2mm (8”) (ring stack)

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Fabrication:

• Rings are size 7 (tolerance of ¼ size) 

• Rings are stacked straight 

• Rings are round 

• Rings are all the same size 

• Rings are even thickness throughout with no thin spots 

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Fusing:

• Seams between rings are not under-fused (dark shadow between rings indicates weak contact) 

• Seams between rings are not over-fused and flooded (fail - must redo) 

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Polishing and finishing:

• (Timing does not include time in the kiln to harden)

• No visible tool marks 

• Finish is high polish 

• No scratches inside ring 

• No visible polishing compounds, fingerprints or watermarks 

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Project 2) Ring with bezel: 4 hrs (fused and soldered) - 20 points

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Materials: 

• 1.3mm (16ga) sheet x 9mm (0.354”) x 60mm (2.362”) (ring blank)

• 9 x 7 oval cab 

• 0.5mm (24ga) sheet x 4mm (0.157”) x 30mm (1.181”) (step bezel)

• 0.5mm (24ga) sheet x 2mm (0.079”) x 30mm (1.181”) (step bezel)

• Hard / Medium-Hard Argentium solder (soldering bezel into shank, or may be fused)

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Fabrication:

• Ring is size 7 (tolerance of ¼ size) 

• Ring is round 

• Thickness of ring is even throughout (no thin spots) 

• Bezel is correct height 

• Bezel is soldered straight (not crooked on shank) 

• Bezel is touching stone with no gaps 

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Texture:

• Hammered texture is even throughout

• Fusing and soldering:

• (Option of fusing or soldering)

• Bezel is fused properly with no pits in seam 

• Texture on shank is not flooded with solder where bezel meets shank 

• No excess solder visible inside ring 

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Setting:

• Stone is level 

• Stone is straight, not crooked 

• Stone is not scratched 

• Stone is set at proper height in bezel 

• Burnished or bright cut edge of bezel next to stone 

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Polishing and finishing:

• (Timing does not include time in the kiln to harden)

• Seam is invisible on bezel 

• No visible tool marks on bezel 

• Side edges of ring are filed and finished 

• Edges have no tool marks 

• Finish is high polish with no visible polishing compounds, fingerprints or watermarks 

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Day 2:

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Project 3) Hollow form half round ring: 2.5 hrs (choice of fused or soldered) - 10 points

Materials: 

• 0.8mm (20ga) sheet x 10mm (0.394”) x 153mm (6”) (ring blanks)

• Hard / Medium-Hard / Easy Argentium solder (fabrication)

Fabrication: 

• Ring is size 7 (tolerance of ¼ size) 

• Ring is round 

• Ring is even thickness throughout using or soldering

• No visible seam 

• No pits in seam 

Polishing and finishing: 

• (Timing does not include time in the kiln to harden)

• No visible tool marks 

• Edges of ring finished with no scratches 

• No scratches inside ring 

• Finish is high polish 

• No visible polishing compounds, fingerprints or watermarks 

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Project 4) Pendant with bezel and bale: 4 hrs (fused and soldered) - 35 points

Materials: 

• (wirework and granules)

• 8 x 6 cab onyx 

• Medium Argentium solder (soldering bale) 

Fabrication - bale: 

• Bale is symmetrical 

• Bale is formed to a proper shape with no kinks 

• Movement is not binding 

• Jumpring is proper size (1mm to 1.5mm ID) 

• Fusing is complete and not under-fused and weak (shadowunder wires) 

• Bale is not over-fused (fail - must redo) 

• Bale has the right amount of play (no excess length of wire going through jumpring) 

• Jumpring is centered on pendant 

Fabrication - pendant:

• Wires are evenly spaced 

• Wires are round 

• Pendant is round 

• Wires are not over-fused and flooded 

• Wires are not under-fused with shadows under them 

• Granules are consistent size 

• Granules are not over-fired and flooded (fail - must redo) 

• Granules are not under-fired and weak (dark shadow underneath) 

Soldering - bale: 

• Solder is not excessive

Setting:

• Bezel is proper height 

• Bezel seat is cut to proper depth 

• Bezel covers proper amount of stone 

• Stone is not scratched 

• Stone is straight 

• Stone is level 

• Burnished or bright cut edge of bezel next to stone 

Polishing and finishing:

• Fused seams of wires are invisible 

• No visible tool marks on wires 

• Bezel has no tool marks 

• Inside circle has no tool marks 

• No scratches on base sheet 

• Finish is even and lustrous 

• Edges are finished on bale 

• No tool marks on bale 

• Edges of round pendant are smooth and finished 

• Edges of round pendant have no scratches or tool marks 

• No visible polishing compounds, fingerprints or watermarks

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Day 3: 

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Project 5) Hollow form lentil bead: 2.5 hrs (fused) - 15 points

Materials: 

• 0.65mm (22ga) discs x 25.4mm (1”) diameter x 2pcs (discs for bead)

• 0.8mm (20ga) wire x 609.6mm (24”) (wirework for bead) 

Fabrication:

• Domed halves are same curvature (one not deeper than the other) 

• Seam is fused evenly 

• Seam meets properly (filed to meet at point) 

• Domes are same size (one does not stick out past the other) 

Fusing:

• Bead is lentil shape 

• Bead is not ‘out of round’ 

• Holes are centered 

• Wires are not over-fused and flooded (fail - must redo) 

• Wires are not under-fused with shadows under them 

Polishing and finishing:

• Holes are finished inside with no tool marks 

• Finish is even and lustrous 

• No tool marks on base 

• No visible tool marks on wires 

• No scratches on domes 

• No visible polishing compounds, fingerprints or watermarks 

Project 6) Chain and clasp: 4 hrs (choice of fused or soldered) - 10 points

Materials:

• 1.3mm (16ga) x 914.4mm (36”) (chain links) 

• 2mm (12ga) x 152.4mm (6”) (toggle and bar)

• Hard / Medium-Hard / Easy Argentium solder (fabrication)

Fabrication: 

• Links are round 

• Links are even size - dowel size 3/16” (5mm) 

• Toggle functions properly 

• Chain is 177.8mm (7”) length - 6.35mm (0.25”) variance allowed 

Soldering or fusing: 

• No excess solder on links 

• No excess solder on toggle clasp 

• Seams are not visible 

Polishing and finishing:

• No visible tool marks on clasp 

• No visible tool marks on wires 

• Finish is bright and lustrous 

• No visible polishing compounds, fingerprints or watermarks