Alan Revere Guides 20K People Through Jewelry-Making on Facebook

New York—Alan Revere may have closed his jewelry school years ago, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t still teaching.

The master goldsmith, award-winning designer, and author ceased operations of his longstanding Revere Academy of Jewelry Arts in San Francisco at the end of 2017.

Now, he’s found another way to be in front of students.

For the past three years, he’s directed a Facebook group called “Let’s Make Professional Jewelry,” focused on replicating the projects in his book, “Professional Jewelry Making,” which features instructions and photos for creating 35 classic pieces of jewelry by hand. 

“The group began when a few people decided they would like to follow the projects in my book and make them one-by-one together, but in different locations,” Revere said.

“When the group got to six members someone contacted me, and I was invited to join. At that point, I became the administrator, set up a schedule, and began guiding the program.”

Between the interest in handmade jewelry and the pandemic forcing everyone online, the group has grown to more than 20,000 members in 150 countries. 

Revere said that because of the group’s popularity, his book recently sold out and needed to be reprinted. 

Aside from the cost of the book ($9.99 for the e-book edition or $70 for the hardcover through Amazon or Rio Grande), membership in the group as well as participation, instruction, and feedback are all free. 

The group follows his book closely, with members sitting at their own benches across the globe to follow along. 

Members are invited to post their work and comments to the page, and then administrators and other members can respond and offer their own comments and suggestions to help the creator in the future. 

A new project is introduced every three weeks. 

“Four years ago, I retired and shut the doors to my school, thinking my teaching days were over. This has been an unexpected silver lining in retirement,” Revere said.

“At my school, I used to guide 15 students at a time. Now, there are thousands! It’s a win/win. I am able to continue to pass along skills in the craft I love, and new jewelry makers are born.”

“Let’s Make Professional Jewelry” is starting a new year of projects this month, welcoming beginners, hobbyists, students, professional bench jewelers, and anyone else who is interested in making jewelry by hand.