Workshops

Mountain Gems offers a wide range of Silversmithing and Lapidary Workshops that cater to all skill levels. Located in Burnaby, just a hop, skip & jump away from downtown Vancouver. With lots of street parking & access to many main transit routes.

Please check our schedule for upcoming workshops. They are filling quickly these days so put your name on the waitlist if interested in a specific workshop.

Silversmithing & Lapidary Classes in the Lower Mainland

Beginner Silversmithing - 8 week course

This 8 week course is the perfect way to learn the main skills when it comes to jewelry making. Students will make a minimum of 3 projects while covering a variety of different techniques like soldering, filing, polishing, design, metal fabricating and stone setting.
This class is perfect for the beginner and caters to small class sizes with lots of one on one instruction. Please call 604-298-5883 for more info or to sign up for one of our classes.

$295 + GST for the course
Students will be required to purchase a tool kit for the class ($135) and any materials used for individual projects done during the workshop

Tool Kit includes:
• 4" Sawframe
• 6" 1/2 round file (2 Cut)
• File Handle
• 1/2 Round (4 Cut) needle flie
• 1 dozen sawblades 2/0
• AA tweezers
• Emery Strips (240, 280, 400 grit)
• Burnisher
• Fine Tip Sharpie Pen
• Ruler

Once you have taken one of our beginner silversmithing workshops you are able to sign up for any of the intermediate classes.

Instructor: Robin Wong

Intensive Beginner Weekend Workshop- Ring

This is the perfect class for those that can't commit to an 8 week class but want to learn everything. During these 2 full days, students focus on fabricating a Bezel Set Ring. Everyone will get a good understanding for torch use and other key fabrication techniques when it comes to Silversmithing. Through the two days, students will learn easy hammer texturing, bezel setting for a cabochon, forming, filing and polishing.

$245 + GST for the course
Students will NOT be required to purchase a tool kit. The studio supplies tool kits for weekend Silversmithing for use in the workshops.

Students will only be required to purchase any materials used for individual projects during the workshop.

Once you have taken one of our beginner Silversmithing workshops you are able to sign up for any of the intermediate classes.

Instructor: Robin Wong

Beginner Intensive Weekend Workshop- Pendant

This is the perfect class for those that can't commit to an 8 week class but want to learn everything. During these 2 full days, students focus on fabricating a Pendant. Everyone will get a good understanding for torch use and other key fabrication techniques when it comes to Silversmithing. Through the two days, students will learn easy hammer texturing, bezel setting for a cabochon, forming, filing and polishing. 

$245 + GST for the course
Students will NOT be required to purchase a tool kit. The studio supplies tool kits for weekend Silversmithing for use in the workshops.

Students will only be required to purchase any materials used for individual projects during the workshop.

Once you have taken one of our beginner Silversmithing workshops you are able to sign up for any of the intermediate classes.

Instructor: Robin Wong

Tidal Earrings Workshop (or pendant)

Tidal Earrings (or Pendant)

This sassy one day workshop is designed to get students comfortable with soldering goldfilled wire and tube setting small faceted stones. These earrings lend themselves to a lot of creative freedom while still learning the skills covered in the workshop.

$145 + GST for the course
Students will NOT be required to purchase a tool kit. The studio supplies tool kits for use during all of the weekend Silversmithing classes.

Students will only be required to purchase any materials used for individual projects during the workshop.

Once you have taken one of our beginner Silversmithing workshops you are able to sign up for any of the intermediate classes.

Instructor: Kelly Allanson

Stacking Rings

Fun and stylish, these cute little stacking rings level up your setting skills. It is recommended that the students choose 2 of the 3 options to make during the day but it is possible to do all three if you set your mind to it.

This is a great class, for learning a quick and easy way to set faceted stones with prongs, without have to fabricate a full basket setting. This style creates a secure, low profile setting that is secure and versitile.

Next up is the Tension Set ring. This little beauty, it's subtle yet adds a little sparkle to your stack of rings. Easy to do with minimal effort.

And finally we have the braided ring. Lots of fun, simple to execute and brings diminsion to the stack of rings.

All three rings compliment one another nicely either in pairs or trios. Students will have a large selection of stones to choose from to make their rings unique to them.

$145 + GST for the course
Students will NOT be required to purchase a tool kit. The studio supplies tool kits for use during all of the weekend Silversmithing classes.

Students will only be required to purchase any materials used for individual projects during the workshop.

Once you have taken one of our beginner Silversmithing workshops you are able to sign up for any of the intermediate classes.

Next Level Rings- Intermediate- Prong Set Cabochon Ring

You've learned the basics and are now looking for the next challenge. Next Level Rings- Prong Set Cabochon Ring will do just that.

Spend the Day with our instructor Robin Wong as she guides students through the fabrication process of prong setting a cabochon or rose cut stone. This class is designed to give students a few more options after learning the basic bezel setting that is covered in the Beginner Silversmithing Class.

Learning how to set stones with corners or are free-form, in this class. But if Round or oval shapes are still your fav, these options are allowed as well. Prong Setting makes for an easy, adaptable setting for any of those more challenging cut stones. The instructor will go over how to choose a suitable wire thickness for the setting how to decide where to place them. Once the setting has be created, students will move onto creating a narrow band or their choice that will then be soldered onto the back of the setting. This class is a great practice in soldering skills and will make any student feel more comfortable handling the torch.

By the end of the day, each student will leave the workshop with a professionally finished ring.

$145 + GST for the course
Students will NOT be required to purchase a tool kit. The studio supplies tool kits for use during all of the weekend Silversmithing classes.

Students will only be required to purchase any materials used for individual projects during the workshop.

Once you have taken one of our beginner Silversmithing workshops you are able to sign up for any of the intermediate classes.

Instructor: Robin Wong

Intro to Stone Carving

This two day class will teach students how to create simple shapes in agate and jaspers using flexshafts and diamond tools. The first day focuses on the carving and shaping of stone, while the second day looks at polishing and finishing aspects of the different types of stone. This class is perfect allowing students to be able to take their new skills home and set up their own carving station for minimal money.

This class has a maximum of 6 students so it is a small group where students will get a lot of individual attention.

$245 +GST for the course
Carving tools and diamond powder Kit required ($75). Available in store the day of class. Students will also need a small piece of rough rock or slab to carve in the class.

Instructor: Robin Wong

Advanced Stone Setting- Intermediate

This intensive workshop is technique focused rather than design driven and is meant to take your setting skills to the next level.

The first day is spent working on samples of tube setting and Prong Setting. The 2nd day is focused on covering gypsy setting. Students are welcome to turn any of their practice samples into simple projects. Be aware if they so choose, it will take away time from getting the supervised practice time of the actual settings. All settings can be added to projects at a later time.

This two-day technical course offers a look at various stone setting techniques. We will be focused on gypsy, prong, tube setting.

No tools are required, the instructor will supply them for use in class. Students will only be required to purchase or bring their own silver and stones for the workshop.

$245 + GST for the course
Students will be required to purchase stones and silver for practice samples. All other tools will be supplied by the instructor.

Instructor: Kelly Allanson

Casting on a Budget- Intermediate

Come and spend a day learning how to cast on a budget. Create professional looking jewelry using basic items found around the house. Your instructor will show you how to cast using cuttlefish bone, sand, broom straw and other mediums. Lots of fun and time to play with all the different techniques! Go home feeling comfortable and confident around torches and molten metal. Students will also have the chance to complete a number of finished pieces of jewellery with their newly cast objects.


Cost: $145 + GST, no extra tools to buy.
Bring your scrap silver or purchase casting grain in store for your castings.

Instructor: Kelly Allanson

Braided Bracelet- Intermediate

Dress it up, dress it down, anyone can wear this piece with ease. This braided & sectioned bracelet can be made with lots of adaptations once you know what you are doing. Adjust the embellishments, change the beads up, change the thickness or type of wire for the braid, mix and match metals.

This projects offers lots of variations and challenges anyone's skill set. Students will learn how to weave multiple wires together to create a clean fluid braid as well as how to secure the ends in a stylish way that allows form and function to collide.

No tools are required, the instructor will supply them for use in class. Students will only be required to purchase or bring their own silver and stones for the workshop.

$245 + GST for the course
Students will NOT be required to purchase a tool kit. The studio
supplies tool kits for use during all of the weekend Silversmithing
classes.

Students will only be required to purchase any materials used for individual projects during the workshop.

Once you have taken one of our beginner Silversmithing workshops you are able to sign up for any of the intermediate classes.

Instructor: Kelly Allanson

Next Level Pendants- Intermediate

You've learned the basics and are now looking for the next challenge. Next Level Pendants will explore mixing types of metal and how to solder them together as well as focusing on honing students' sawing skills.

This one Day workshop with instructor Robin Wong, will guide students through the design and layout of pendants. If you're feeling the time crunch, Robin will have an assortment of reference ideas for students and their pendant designs. 

Mixed metals Pendant Class is focused on honing students sawing skills.  Once everything has been cut out, students will learn about assorted ways to add texture to help create more depth and contrast in a piece. After sawing and texturing pieces, students with move over to the torch and assemble everything using a technique called sweat-soldering. Then will finishing options which the instructor will demo a high polish as well as oxidation if you're looking for a more dramatic finish.

Definitely a great class with lots of great info to take away with, along with your picturesque pendant.

$145 + GST for the course
Students will NOT be required to purchase a tool kit. The studio
supplies tool kits for use during all of the weekend Silversmithing
classes.

Students will only be required to purchase any materials used for individual projects during the workshop.

Once you have taken one of our beginner Silversmithing workshops you are able to sign up for any of the intermediate classes.

Instructor: Robin Wong

Crystal Pendants- Intermediate

Are you wanting something a little different.  Try our crystal set pendant workshop. This one day workshop will let students set a crystal of their choice into a silver setting and then fabricate a bail for the top of it.  The focus in this class will be the finer details in forming a bezel around an object that is natural and not uniform in shape. These can create challenges that our instructor will guide students through, showing them how to adjust for these irregularities and imperfections while achieving a good fitting bezel to secure their crystal in. Always fun and each pendant is unique to itself.

$145 + GST for the course
Students will be required to purchase any materials used for individual projects during the workshop. Students will also have to bring a raw crystal or purchase one in store the day of the class for their project.

Instructor: Robin Wong

Bridging the Gap- Intermediate

Bridging the Gap makes a statement with its moonscape texture and stylized band. Both can be customized to fit your style either with a subtle or a more dramatic surface, and/or also with a larger or smaller stone. This project will teach students how to construct and hammer set a sterling silver bezel. This texture gives the maker a great way to reuse all those files that get created when working in silver. taking the re-use/ reduce concept a little further with your creations.

No tools are required, the instructor will supply them for use in class. Students will only be required to purchase or bring their own silver and stones for the workshop.

$245 + GST for the course
Students will NOT be required to purchase a tool kit. The studio
supplies tool kits for use during all of the weekend Silversmithing
classes.

Students will only be required to purchase any materials used for individual projects during the workshop.

Once you have taken one of our beginner Silversmithing workshops you are able to sign up for any of the intermediate classes.

Instructor: Kelly Allanson

Spinner Ring- Intermediate

The one day Spinner Ring Workshop is the perfect intro to metal forming with a playful twist.

Students will begin the day learning how to size and create a wide, textured sterling silver band. From here, they will fabricate a second, narrower, hand twisted band.

This narrower band will then get trapped between the flared edges of the wider band, allowing for a free spinning inner ring. The instructor will demonstrate this by showing how to fold the edges of the metal with the help of punches and mallets to create the flare. Students will then apply the same technique to their own creations.

This fun and playful ring is definitely one that everyone loves to wear!

Students must have taken a previous Beginner Silversmithing.

$145 + GST for the course
Students will NOT be required to purchase a tool kit. The studio
supplies tool kits for use during all of the weekend Silversmithing
classes.

Students will only be required to purchase any materials used for individual projects during the workshop.

Once you have taken one of our beginner Silversmithing workshops you are able to sign up for any of the intermediate classes.

Instructor: Robin Wong