The Platinum Battle Continues: A Weeklong Fabrication Intensive at New Approach School for Jewelers

Identifying Mission Critical: Carats and Conversion with Katerina Perez

Solo episode. Nadja on the filter she runs every business decision through, and her honest take on Katerina Perez's Carats and Conversion Instagram selling course.

Blaine Lewis: New Approach School for Jewelers

Blaine Lewis is the founder of New Approach School for Jewelers, based just outside Nashville in a building shaped, fittingly, like a diamond. He came to jewelry the long way. Raised in a blue collar family of metal workers, he was arc welding by thirteen and building ships in Norfolk before he found a metal he loved more than steel. He began teaching in 1995 and has since trained more than 18,000 students over 32 years, helping pioneer high-magnification instruction in the industry and consulting for some of the most respected names in the trade, including building out Tiffany's bench team. His philosophy is as much about generosity as it is about craft. In a field that once guarded its secrets, Blaine built his career and his school on sharing everything he knows.

SNAG Recap

In this SNAG × Detroit recap, Nadja moderates The State of the Bench, a conversation about the present and future of life at the bench. She's joined by Jennifer Markas of Jewelers Mutual on the health of the talent pipeline, independent studio artist Casey Sobel on what a bench test really reveals, and Sophia Gallette, a bench jeweler in Harry Winston's high jewelry workshop, on building a career from the ground up.

The Platinum Battle Continues: A Weeklong Fabrication Intensive at New Approach School for Jewelers

Platinum does not forgive, and Nadja is still learning its temper. In this episode she walks through the week day by day, the wins and the stubborn problems both, and shares what made the platinum class with Blane Lewis worth every effort to attend New Approach School for Jewelers.

JCK Review

Nadja lands from JCK 2026 and reviews her last few days. Working the booth for Pepe Tools and getting to connect with other members of the trade, she is excited and encouraged about the state of the industry.