ST. GEORGE —Looking for a place to celebrate an anniversary, a birthday or a girls’ night out? You can learn the art of silversmithing in just one session at this unique studio.
“We have a master silversmith sit down with you to walk you through the whole process – from the polishing, firing and shaping of the metal,” Kadyn Anderson, operations manager at gemstudio said. “You can create rings, earrings, pendants, bracelets, bolo ties, there’s an array of things you can create here and it’s a super fun time.”
Gemstudio just celebrated its one-year anniversary of silversmithing workshops in Southern Utah, but what’s the story behind it?
Around 2015, Anderson said Matt James, now owner of gemstudio, received a lapidary machine from his parents. He instantly loved the art and took on silversmithing and jewelry apprenticeships. He then bought his own tools and began making jewelry in his bedroom, where friends began asking him to either make jewelry for them or teach them how to make their own.
“It filled up to the point where he’s like, ‘All right, I can’t do this in my bedroom anymore, let’s at least move it to the backyard shed,’” Anderson said.
James used a software program to book people for the shed-based business, but when the city of Provo caught on, they told him he was unable to run a business out of a residential area and would need to run it as a commercial store. That led him to move his business into a flower shop, where he provided jewelry-making classes at night after the shop closed.
The business expanded quickly and James opened his first store at the City Creek Center. The business has since grown to six stores: four in Northern Utah, one in St. George, one in Waikiki and another location scheduled to open in Gilbert, Arizona.
“It’s growing so fast that it’s hard to not just go with it, ride the wave of what is happening because it’s so awesome to see,” Anderson said. “The more and more we hear from people, everyone is just falling in love with it.”
A workshop at gemstudio starts at a base price of $65, which includes the use of .925 sterling silver, along with workshop instruction. Attendees can choose to add a stone, which ranges from $15-100. Stones are sourced from various areas such as Arizona, Mexico, India and the Dominican Republic.
“We have a lot of genuine stones that vary in size and rarity,” Anderson said. “I’ve been here a whole year and customers are still finding unique stones I haven’t seen yet.”
While the instructors are only required to cut and grind the metal for class attendees, he said they can assist with any part of the process a customer isn’t comfortable doing themselves. People of all ages can enjoy the entire jewelry-making process, which includes shaping, soldering and polishing.
“I always understood the jewelry business as very minimalistic,” Anderson said. “You have a display case, you sell wholesale jewelry, someone else’s jewelry, essentially. But when you put the power back into the creator’s hands slash consumer, we supply the studio and you’re here to do what you envision and what you want to wear.”
Gemstudio offers two class times, one at 2 p.m. that includes 1-8 attendees and a 6 p.m. class that holds 16-20.
“They’re like organized chaos,” Anderson said about the workshops. “All the banging of the metal and stuff and machines running on full power and so on, they’re really fun.”
Gemstone believes in creating an environment for the local community to gather, refine and reform gems. But they don’t stop there. According to the gemstone mission, they also work to refine and reform impoverished communities through humanitarian efforts.
During a humanitarian trip, gemstone Owner James met a Ugandan woman who wanted to start an orphanage in her village. What started as a tin shed and a number of mud-walled classrooms on top of a hill is now a growing orphanage that houses over 60 children. A portion of the profits made at gemstudio is used to support the orphanage. To donate directly, click here.
Additionally, James taught the girls at the Raksha shelter in Kathmandu how to silversmith. The women, who have been rescued from sexual violence, make rings that are available on the gemstone website, and all proceeds go directly back to the makers.
Gemstudio is located inside Green Gate Village at 76 W. Tabernacle St. in St. George. For more information and to book a workshop, visit their website.
Photo Gallery
The silversmith shop inside gemstudio is shown in downtown St. George, Utah, Nov. 15, 2022 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
Gemstudio class attendees work on their jewelry pieces, St. George, Utah, date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Kadyn Anderson, St. George News
A ring made at gemstudio in St. George, Utah is shown, date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Kadyn Anderson, St. George News
Gemstudio class attendees work on their jewelry pieces, St. George, Utah, date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Kadyn Anderson, St. George News
A gemstudio class attendee works on their jewelry piece, St. George, Utah, date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Kadyn Anderson, St. George News
Gemstudio class attendees work on their jewelry pieces, St. George, Utah, date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Kadyn Anderson, St. George News
Gemstudio class attendees work on their jewelry pieces, St. George, Utah, date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Kadyn Anderson, St. George News
Rings for sale are showcased inside the gemstudio in St. George, Utah, Nov. 15, 2022 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
The outside of gemstudio is shown at Green Gate Village in St. George, Utah, Nov. 15, 2022 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
A variety of stone jewelry pieces are for sale at gemstudio in St. George, Utah, Nov. 15, 2022 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
Kadyn Anderson, operations manager with gemstudio, poses for a photo in the St. George, Utah location, Nov. 15, 2022 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
Bracelets for sale are showcased inside the gemstudio in St. George, Utah, Nov. 15, 2022 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
Operations Manager Kadyn Anderson hand-makes a silver ring, St. George, Utah, Nov. 15, 2022 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
The silversmith shop inside gemstudio is shown in downtown St. George, Utah, Nov. 15, 2022 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
Polaroid images are seen on the wall inside gemstudio, showcasing people who have done workshops, St. George, Utah, Nov. 15, 2022 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
A variety of handmade jewelry and available stone are shown at gemstudio in St. George, Utah, date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Kadyn Anderson, St. George News
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