Stone Setting Course | Lisbon, Portugal

Master the finest techniques in stone setting and use your skills to build a profitable business.

In-person training at GRS Jewellery School, Portugal.

· One Week Basic
· One Month Professional
· Two Months Advanced

· Maximum 8 students

Stone Setting

Learn the finest techniques

Exclusive Environment

Maximum of 8 students

Immersive Course

From 1 week to 2 months of intensive training

GRS Certificate

A mark of quality

Industry Experience

Learn from Ben Bentvelzen and Jonas Fitz

Not mastering stone setting costs you time, money, and clients.

Stone setting is a crucial element in all jewellery. Not knowing how to set stones loses you time and money.

Every time you outsource your stone setting, you give up far more than one stage of production.

✓

You give away part of your margin. The value created by the setting becomes someone else’s profit.

✓

You let material and value leave your workshop. Gold, production time and opportunities for material recovery are no longer under your control.

✓

Most importantly, you give up control over the final quality. If the setting does not meet your standards, it is your jewellery—and your reputation—that pays the price.

Professional stone setting takes far more than watching videos and copying movements. Small details in angle, pressure, preparation, cutting and finishing determine the difference between simply securing a stone and achieving high-level setting. That is why hands-on training, direct guidance and immediate feedback can transform the way you learn.

The same applies to your tools. Choosing the wrong equipment can mean wasting money, slowing your progress and even damaging expensive tools. With the right guidance, you learn what you actually need, how to prepare it and how to use it correctly from the start.

BRING THE VALUE BACK TO YOUR WORKSHOP

Bring stone setting into your own workshop. Protect your margins, control your quality and increase the value of the work you deliver.

FROM GRAVER TO STONE

The Method

Stone setting is built on four major areas of knowledge. Together, they ensure a solid foundation in the craft.

Precision begins long before the stone is set.

STUDENTS PER GROUP

Ours is an exclusive environment. Because places are deliberately limited, everyone receives the same close attention, much as they would in a private lesson. Each student progresses through our list of 21 setting exercises at their own pace.

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN

Graver sharpening

Learn to prepare your gravers correctly for every type of cut. Skipping this step is one of the most serious mistakes in learning to set stones. That is why we make sure you return to your own workshop knowing how to prepare a graver for each specific kind of work.

Mastering drill and bur work

Controlled drilling is fundamental: the hole determines where the stone will sit. Correct drilling gives the work its harmony, with no unwanted gaps. To make sure you get it right, we developed two techniques:

JUMP DRILLING · INCREMENTAL DRILLING

In jump drilling, the holes on either side serve as a reference, so your hand adjusts automatically. In incremental drilling, you increase the ball bur size step by step, keeping as much room for adjustment as possible until you reach the final bur size.

Controlling the GRS pneumatic tool

Absolute control of the tool requires you to master four types of cut:

STRAIGHT CUTS · CIRCLE CUTS · PLUNGE CUTS · CLEANING CUTS

We designed specific exercises for each of these skills. Gravers are like a painter’s brushes: before you begin your work of art, you need to understand how they behave and the effects they create.

Setting exercises, from basic to advanced

We created a list of 21 setting exercises that are fundamental to becoming a complete stone setter. They build on one another: each one prepares you for the next. Following this sequence, you progress without facing a challenge beyond your reach.

The Method in Practice

Demonstration pieces set in class by our instructors, Ben Bentvelzen and Jonas Fitz, showing some of the techniques covered in the 21 exercises:

bright cut and bead square setting — BASIC | Bead & Bright Cut

Basic bead and bright cut pavé stone setting exercise — BASIC | Bead & Bright Cut Pavé

castle pavé ring — BASIC | Castle + Zig-Zag Pavé

Simple fish tail ring — PRO | Fish Tail – Shared Beads

Fish tail setting ring — PRO | Fish Tail

Tapered pavé demonstration piece with bright-cut lines, set in class by the GRS instructors (Advanced course) — ADV | Tapered Pavé

Irregular bead and bright cut demonstration plate set in class by the GRS instructors (Advanced course) — ADV | Irregular Bead & Bright Cut

Tapered pavé demonstration piece set in class by the GRS instructors (Advanced course) — ADV | Tapered Pavé

Side-by-side and castle setting rings — ADV | Side-by-Side Pavé

Advanced deep and bright cut stone setting exercise — ADV | Deep & Bright Cuts

INCLUDED IN YOUR COURSE

The tools to learn. A kit to keep.

You do not need to bring anything. We provide everything you use in class, and you take home a graver kit.

To use in class

Included at no extra cost

Practice plates and rings

Burs and gravers

Practice stones

Note-taking materials

To take home

Support beyond the course

Four C-Max gravers with QC holders

GRS graver stand

Video recordings of your classes

Exclusive GRS backpack and wristband

Everything you use, and everything you keep, is of GRS quality.

A LEICA AT EVERY BENCH

We see what you see. You record everything to take home.

Your bench is fitted with a Leica Ivesta 3, a latest-generation stereo microscope with remarkable depth of field. Its trinocular system sends the image to your eyes and to a camera, which shows your work live on a high-definition screen.

At the bench

Corrected as you work

Your instructor follows your work on screen and corrects your technique in real time, not after the piece is finished. Their demonstrations appear on screen too, so you see every step in precise detail.

At home

Yours to record and revisit

Bring your own memory card and record what you do in class. You go home with all your work on video, ready to watch whenever you practise.

Personal guidance in class—and your own recordings to learn from at home.

CHOOSING WHERE TO LEARN

Why GRS Jewellery School?
Because quality matters.

Quality comes first. It guides every choice we make—the bench, the class, the tools, the method and the instructors. It also sets the standard for your own work.

The bench

Every bench, fully equipped

Each one has a Leica Ivesta 3 trinocular microscope with a camera and an HD screen. You see the finest detail clearly, and so does your instructor.

The class

Eight students, no more

A small class gives every student time and attention. We follow your work closely and correct mistakes before they become habits.

The tools

GRS tools, nothing else

We chose GRS tools for the precision they bring to each cut. With tools you can trust, your attention stays on your technique.

The method

One method, built for quality

The course combines four disciplines with a sequence of 21 setting exercises. Each exercise prepares you for the next, so you progress step by step.

The instructors

Our instructors, recognised by GRS

Ben Bentvelzen and Jonas Fitz are both official GRS instructors. Their credentials come from GRS, not from us.

The result

Your technique, above all

Our standards matter only when they become yours. Students leave with clean, precise technique they can rely on at their own bench.

Quality is easy to claim. The proof is in what our students make.

Real results from real students.

Below each image, you’ll find the student’s name, a link to their Instagram, the week of the course when they achieved the result, and their background in stone setting.

Frida Vaabengaard’s stone setting work, week 4 of the course at GRS Jewellery School in Lisbon — • Frida Vaabengaard
• IG frida.vaabengaard
• Week 4
• Early-career Goldsmith

Frida Vaabengaard’s stone setting work, week 7 of the course at GRS Jewellery School in Lisbon — • Frida Vaabengaard
• IG frida.vaabengaard
• Week 7
• Early-career Goldsmith

Erle Nemvalts’s stone setting work, day 3 of the course at GRS Jewellery School in Lisbon — • Erle Nemvalts
• IG erle.nemvalts
• Day 3
• Professional Goldsmith

Petra’s stone setting work, week 3 of the course at GRS Jewellery School in Lisbon — • Petra
• IG bepartstudio
• Week 3
• Early-career stone setter

Petra’s stone setting work, week 2 of the course at GRS Jewellery School in Lisbon — • Petra
• IG bepartstudio
• Week 2
• Early-career stone setter

Tyler Sofie’s stone setting work, week 2 of the course at GRS Jewellery School in Lisbon — • Tyler Sofie
• IG wanderer.metalworks
• Week 2
• Experienced stone setter

Anne Hara’s stone setting work, week 2 of the course at GRS Jewellery School in Lisbon — • Anne Hara
• IG annehara_studio
• Week 2
• Never set a stone before

Frida Vaabengaard’s stone setting work, week 5 of the course at GRS Jewellery School in Lisbon — • Frida Vaabengaard
• IG frida.vaabengaard
• Week 5
• Early-career Goldsmith

Daniela Benitez’s stone setting work, week 2 of the course at GRS Jewellery School in Lisbon — • Daniela Benitez
• IG danielabenitez.studio
• Week 2
• Basic course background

Ollie Bry’s stone setting work, week 3 of the course at GRS Jewellery School in Lisbon — • Ollie Bry
• IG bry.jewelry
• Week 3
• Experienced stone setter

Antonia Simon’s stone setting work, week 4 of the course at GRS Jewellery School in Lisbon — • Antonia Simon
• IG onyxo_design
• Week 4
• Early-career Goldsmith

Daniela Benitez’s stone setting work, week 4 of the course at GRS Jewellery School in Lisbon — • Daniela Benitez
• IG danielabenitez.studio
• Week 4
• Basic course background

Antonia Simon’s stone setting work, day 4 of the course at GRS Jewellery School in Lisbon — • Antonia Simon
• IG onyxo_design
• Day 4
• Early-career Goldsmith

Frida Vaabengaard’s stone setting work, week 2 of the course at GRS Jewellery School in Lisbon — • Frida Vaabengaard
• IG frida.vaabengaard
• Week 2
• Early-career Goldsmith

Anne Hara’s stone setting work, week 4 of the course at GRS Jewellery School in Lisbon — • Anne Hara
• IG annehara_studio
• Week 4
• Never set a stone before

Samuel’s stone setting work, week 4 of the course at GRS Jewellery School in Lisbon — • Samuel
• IG atelierenard
• Week 4
• Never set a stone before

Frida Vaabengaard’s stone setting work, day 4 of the course at GRS Jewellery School in Lisbon — • Frida Vaabengaard
• IG frida.vaabengaard
• Day 4
• Early-career Goldsmith

Antonia Simon’s stone setting work, week 6 of the course at GRS Jewellery School in Lisbon — • Antonia Simon
• IG onyxo_design
• Week 6
• Early-career Goldsmith

Lenny Coffey’s stone setting work, week 5 of the course at GRS Jewellery School in Lisbon — • Lenny Coffey
• IG lennythejeweller
• Week 5
• Early-career Goldsmith

Lim Lan Fan’s stone setting work, week 7 of the course at GRS Jewellery School in Lisbon — • Lim Lan Fan
• IG lan.minecraft
• Week 7
• Basic Stone Setting Course Background

Lenny Coffey’s stone setting work, week 3 of the course at GRS Jewellery School in Lisbon — • Lenny Coffey
• IG lennythejeweller
• Week 3
• Early-career Goldsmith

Katherine Garcia’s stone setting work, week 2 of the course at GRS Jewellery School in Lisbon — • Katherine Garcia
• IG sensespty
• Week 2
• 3D Jeweller

Shanz’s stone setting work, week 2 of the course at GRS Jewellery School in Lisbon — • Shanz
• IG shanz_jewellery
• Week 2
• Experienced Goldsmith & Stone Setter

Student stories

In their own words.

Student reviews

What our students say.

“I had been waiting for the right stone setting course for a long time, so when the GRS EU Training Center opened, I signed up immediately. The small group size, excellent instructors, and hands-on approach exceeded my expectations. Ben and Jonas are outstanding mentors, and Lisbon was a bonus. I’m very glad I chose this course.”

★★★★★

• Tina Mezek

Basic · One Week

“GRS Training Center EU exceeded every expectation. The technical skills were invaluable, but what surprised me most was how much my eye changed. I started seeing jewelry in a way I simply hadn’t before.”

★★★★★

• Anne Hara

Professional · One Month

“My experience in the course has been incredible! I had the privilege of learning from Ben and Jonas, two professionals with impeccable technical mastery. Ben is a true expert in the craft, and Jonas has a natural gift for teaching: he puts himself in the student’s shoes.”

★★★★★

• Katherine Garcia

Professional · One Month

“I highly recommend these two trainers. They are extremely skilled and truly care about their students’ progress.”

★★★★★

• Loredana Ichim

Basic · One Week

“The 5 days of class was one of my personal life highlights. I learned so much, I left inspired and very motivated to continue to develop the skills I learned. I can’t wait to book my next class with Ben and Jonas.”

★★★★★

• Noreen Shenk

Basic · One Week

“Thank you for an amazing experience.”

★★★★★

• Louise Berry

Basic · One Week

“I learned so much during my two months at the GRS training center EU. I started with no stone setting experience and by the end of the course I could feel and see how much I had improved. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to take their skills to the next level.”

★★★★★

• Frida Vaabengaard

Advanced · Two Months

“It is very great to see your enthusiasm and teamwork!”

★★★★★

• Conni

Basic · One Week

“I’ve really enjoyed my time at the GRS EU training center. I booked a week for the basic course but the course was adjusted to my level. Thanks to that I got a lot out of it: I improved my skills and learned new ones. I would definitely recommend GRS.”

★★★★★

• Iris

Basic · One Week

“This course will definitely help me with so many things as a beginner CAD designer! Learned everything I wanted plus more.”

★★★★★

• Noah Raeven

Basic · One Week

Customised Training Options

Your time is valuable—and we honour that. Our training programmes are crafted to integrate smoothly into your routine while accelerating your path to mastery in stone setting.

Basic Pavé – One Week

Designed for those who want to step into the world of stone setting with the right foundation and gain the essential skills for their day-to-day work.

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN

How to prepare your tools

The most important settings for basic ornamental applications like flush, star and bright cut square

Surface-covering settings like straight and circular pavés, parallel and zig-zag pavés

Aesthetically appealing settings like castles

Progress through the exercises depends on the student’s speed and skill development.

From Zero to Professional Stone Setting – One Month

The perfect course to become a professional stone setter—for your own pieces or to work with other jewellers.

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN

Everything covered in the Basic Pavé course

More complex exercises involving surface coverage in various shapes and settings with stones of different sizes

The setting of larger, high-value stones

From Zero to Advanced Stone Setting – Two Months

Exclusively for those who want to stand out in the market and go beyond traditional stone setting: here, you’ll learn how to elevate every piece, adding true artistry and sophistication. More than a setter—you become a jewellery artist.

Building on everything taught in the Basic and Professional courses, the Advanced GRS Stone Setting Course gives you creative freedom to develop your own settings through guided exercises.

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN

Advanced techniques like snow pavé

How to combine ornamental graver cuts with sophisticated settings

Working with different metals

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this school right for me?

If you want to learn a profitable profession with high market demand, this is the right school for you.

If you’re a goldsmith and want to learn how to set stones in your own jewellery to increase your profits and authority in the jewellery world, this is the right school for you.

If you’re a stone setter and want to refine your technique by learning the level of stone setting the high-end market expects, this is the right school for you.

Where do I buy the equipment? Is it expensive?

You will receive all the support you need to set up your jewellery stone setting bench, including guidance on every piece of equipment and tool required. Plus, you’ll get the basic GRS tool kit provided as a complimentary gift for course students.

When it comes to equipment costs, based on our experience, the average return on investment is just 3 months after starting your career as a stone setter. You’ll also receive full support to ensure you buy the right tools—avoiding unnecessary or wasted expenses.

Does the course come with a certificate?

Yes. You will receive a certificate from the only GRS-licensed Training Center in Europe, signed by Ben Bentvelzen and Jonas Fitz.

This certification will give you the credibility you need to bring more authority to your jewellery business or to apply for stone setting positions—from small workshops to major international brands.

Do I need to bring any tools to the course?

No. Everything you need will be provided during your training. In fact, you’ll receive a tool kit that is yours to use during the course—and keep afterwards—as a complimentary gift.

Do I need to buy a GraverMax or microscope first?

No. You do not need to buy a GraverMax or a microscope before training. The necessary classroom tools are provided. You will receive guidance on equipment choices for your own bench; contact the school if you want to discuss a particular machine model before booking.

How do dates, payment and VAT work?

Select a course to see available dates and the enrolment form. You can reserve with a 30% deposit, with the remaining balance due by the course start date. Course prices are shown excluding VAT; the enrolment form calculates the applicable tax and total from your billing details. Travel and accommodation are arranged separately.

Choose the best option for you, pick your start date and start learning from zero.

Basic Pavé

Learn the foundational techniques needed to do the basic pavé setting jobs that you will encounter in the jewellery market today.

The format

One-week course, 40 hours of instruction

Monday to Friday

Max 8 students

8 hours a day, from 09:00 to 17:00

Objectives

Correct setup of GRS equipment
Graver sharpening, theory, and geometry
Bur overview and uses
Proper use of work-holding fixtures and devices
Bead and bright cut setting
Parallel lines pavé
Basic circle filet pavé
‘Castle’ setting
Ornamental settings, stars and bright cut triangles
Basic zig-zag pavé

Course fee

€2,497.00*

Available dates

From Zero to Professional Stone Setting

The perfect course to become a complete, well-rounded professional capable of conquering a wide variety of stone setting techniques on any jewellery piece.

The format

One-month course, 160 hours of instruction

Monday to Friday

Max 8 students

8 hours a day, from 09:00 to 17:00

Objectives

Everything that is covered in the Basic Pavé course
Zig-zag pavé across a variety of shapes
Halo illusion pavé
Decorative settings
Irregular pavé
French cut setting (fish-tail)—shared and split beads
Regular and fancy shape bezel and round prong settings
Finishing techniques
Design transfer and layout techniques

Course fee

€7,197.00*

Available dates

From Zero to Advanced Stone Setting

More than just a stone setter—you will become a jewellery artist who will stand out for the quality and creativity applied to your jewellery stone settings.

The format

Two-month course, 320 hours of instruction

Monday to Friday

Max 8 students

8 hours a day, from 09:00 to 17:00

Objectives

Everything that is covered in the Basic Pavé course
Everything that is covered in the Professional Stone Setting course
Advanced stone layout techniques on domed/concave surfaces
Creation of speciality tools
Snow pavé
Tiger claw & pear-shaped stone prong settings
Ornamental beauty cuts combined with sophisticated settings
Multi-sided pavé
Channel setting (round and princess)
Tapered setting

Course fee

€12,197.00*

Available dates

*Individuals and companies located outside the European Union do not need to pay Portuguese VAT.

Companies within the European Union that have a valid VAT number can also purchase without Portuguese VAT, as the transaction is processed under the EU reverse-charge system.

Individuals within the European Union, as well as companies that do not have a valid VAT number, are required to pay Portuguese VAT (23%). Portuguese individuals and companies must always pay 23% VAT, according to Portuguese tax regulations.

Stone setting knowledge is endless.

You can tailor your learning journey to fit your schedule and goals. We’ll adjust our teaching so it will be in line with your skill level and progress when you come back and enrol for additional training with us, after your first visit is finished.

The development of the curriculum depends on the student’s learning speed and application.
If the student completes the exercises before the training ends, they can continue progressing at no extra cost.
The ability to apply the knowledge depends on the student’s development during the training and their practice routine after completion.

Stone Setting Course | Lisbon, Portugal

Not mastering stone setting costs you time, money, and clients.

Stone setting is a crucial element in all jewellery. Not knowing how to set stones loses you time and money.

The Method

Graver sharpening

Mastering drill and bur work

Controlling the GRS pneumatic tool

Setting exercises, from basic to advanced

The Method in Practice

The tools to learn. A kit to keep.

We see what you see. You record everything to take home.

Why GRS Jewellery School?Because quality matters.

Real results from real students.

In their own words.

What our students say.

Customised Training Options

Basic Pavé – One Week

From Zero to Professional Stone Setting – One Month

From Zero to Advanced Stone Setting – Two Months

Frequently Asked Questions

Choose the best option for you, pick your start date and start learning from zero.

Basic Pavé

From Zero to Professional Stone Setting

From Zero to Advanced Stone Setting

Stone setting knowledge is endless.

Why GRS Jewellery School?
Because quality matters.