In person in St. Petersburg
English, Russian
12.10.2026 – 30.10.2026
Course photos
Course programme
Required skills: for professional jewellers only
A 6-day course in relief engraving in the obron technique.
Requirements: you must be able to work with the pneumatic system and have basic engraving experience
This signature course runs 1-2 times a year; if it is not in the current schedule, leave a request with the sales team
Course programme:
Block 1
- •The anatomy of relief;
- •Types of relief and their differences.
Classes are built around visual image analysis.
Block 2
- •Making tools: gravers and punches;
- •A brief introduction to metallurgy.
Block 3
- •A set of exercises that lets students quickly master these tools;
- •Practising the core methods used to create a three-dimensional image.
All work is supervised by the master, with mistakes corrected and prevented from recurring.
Block 4
- •Creating a complete composition in the obron engraving technique: a floral ornament on a stainless steel plate.
The floral ornament is no accident: it is the perfect exercise for every skill you have gained - the flow of curves, volume, texture, and the contrast of shadow and light.
Stainless steel is the ultimate test for an engraver. It forgives no mistakes and demands perfectly sharpened tools. Working with a demanding material is exactly what delivers the strongest results in mastering this type of engraving.
After the course you will be able to:
- •understand more deeply how a relief image is built;
- •sharpen and finish your tools for each specific task;
- •work with hard materials such as titanium and steel without fear of ruining the piece;
- •raise the value of your work through skills that lift the quality of every future piece. Group size is limited to 8 people. The training is built on an individual approach to each student and takes place in a studio equipped with modern GRS equipment.
All materials and gravers are included in the price.
This course is right for you if
You can work with the GRS pneumatic system and have basic engraving experience
You work with jewellery and want to master relief (obron) engraving
You want to improve your engraving precision and reach the premium level
You want to shorten the path to results, avoid typical mistakes and start applying refined techniques right away - without long trial and error
- Based: Russia
- Education: Artist-engraver
- Experience: An instructor at International Jewellery School, a jeweller and engraver by true calling. Even in his youth Vladimir was sincerely fascinated by the work of the world's great engravers and set out to master this art on his own. Long years of painstaking work paid off: step by step, Vladimir Plakhov earned recognition in professional circles. Today Vladimir leads a hands-on course for beginner masters and students that helps them master the fundamentals of hand positioning and get to know the GRS equipment.
- Achievements: Member of the Guild of Master Gunsmiths
Payment
Payment terms are the same for all courses. You can clarify the details with a manager when submitting your application
Send a requestPayment options
- 100% or 50% prepayment
- Via a payment link or an invoice
- Instalment plan via the school (on request)
- Gift certificate
How payment works
- Contact us and we will send you a payment link
- The receipt and confirmation arrive by email
- Want to study later? Send a request now - and pay later
What happens after payment
- Your place on the course is secured
- You will receive an email with the details and a list of what you need to start
- Online access (if you chose the online format) opens closer to the start date
Who can study at International Jewellery School?
The school is open to everyone, regardless of age, education or experience. We work with a wide range of students:
- Complete beginners - people who have never held a jeweller's tool but want to learn the profession from scratch. For them we run a preparatory course on the pneumatic graver: in 5 days it lays the foundation - correct posture, hand positioning, working under the microscope and the first metal-carving skills. After this course a student can already try their hand at simple work.
- Aspiring jewellers and students of specialist universities #ИМЯ?
- Practising masters with experience - jewellers, engravers and stone setters who work in workshops or run their own brands. They come for new techniques (such as high-polish engraving), to deepen their stone-setting knowledge, and for the chance to work on world-class equipment not found in ordinary workshops.
- Professionals from related fields - designers, sculptors, restorers and watchmakers who need jewellery skills to broaden their competencies or create original signature pieces.
- International students - the school welcomes students from any country. Classes can be taught in English, and the cultural programme makes the training an enriching journey as well.
There are no rigid entry requirements - we match the programme to each student's current level. Before the course starts you can consult our sales team to find out which course is best for you.
What training directions are available?
The school's programmes fall into three main directions:
- Direction 1. Stone setting
A fundamental jewellery specialisation, in demand at any production facility. - Direction 2. Engraving
Engraving is the art of creating designs and patterns on metal. The school teaches techniques from basic to highly specialised. - Direction 3. Jewellery techniques
This direction brings together highly specialised signature courses taught by guest masters from Russia and Europe. All programmes are aimed at a professional level and run in English and Russian.
What equipment is used for training?
Training is conducted on professional GRS equipment - the world leader in jewellery production technology. The school's studios are fully equipped: ergonomic benches, orthopaedic chairs, professional optics and hand tools.
Who teaches at the school?
Our instructors - true professionals who have trained more than 1,800 specialists from many countries. Among them are school founder Roman Karakurkchi and Vladimir Plakhov, a jeweller and engraver who has devoted many years to the art of engraving. The school also regularly hosts courses by guest masters from Russia and Europe.
How much does the training cost?
The price depends on the course you choose:
- Preparatory course on the pneumatic graver — 90 000 ₽
- Professional stone setters' training course - 390,000 ₽ (group of at least 5 people)
- High-polish engraving and lettering techniques — 200 000 ₽
- Jewellery technique courses - from 80,707 ₽ to 110,000 ₽ depending on the programme
All necessary materials and gravers are included in the price of every course.
What format do the classes take?
Training takes place in person in St. Petersburg, and twice a year in Dubai and Lisbon. Students can practise outside class hours - arriving earlier and staying later. Classes are led by the school's senior instructors, and courses are available in Russian and English.
What will I get after finishing the course?
Every graduate receives:
- A course completion certificate
- Ongoing contact and consultations with a school mentor
- Access to the professional community
- Opportunities to collaborate with the school and other students
- All finished samples and works
Can I combine my studies with exploring St. Petersburg?
Yes! The school is located in St. Petersburg - one of the world's most beautiful cities, with a rich cultural life. In their free time students can visit museums, exhibitions and architectural landmarks, which makes the training all the more inspiring.
Is there support after the training?
Yes, the school provides ongoing support to its graduates: mentor consultations, answers to professional questions, collaboration opportunities and access to the community. Many graduates have built successful jewellery brands of their own and work with European companies.
Where is the school located and how can I contact you?
How do I find the schedule?
The course schedule is published on the school's website: jewelleryschool.com/schedule/
