HGMS Classes

The Houston Gem and Mineral Society offers a variety of classes throughout the year. Learn wonderful new skills that will provide a lifetime process to mastery of your chosen craft. All classes are held at the HGMS Clubhouse located at 10805 Brooklet at Rockley. Full payment must be made at the time of registration to guarantee a place in the class. HGMS Members receive discounted class rates. See full policy details.

Browse through our current class offerings below. There is also a section with descriptions of classes that may be offered in the future. If you do not find a class to your liking, feel free to suggest an event and the education chair will do her best to help coordinate a class. Please use the Class Interest Form below and select “Other” to give a description, or email classes@hgms.org

STANDARD HGMS CLASSES

You can narrow down classes shown below by using the Tag dropdown menu to filter by topic or instructor.

April 2026

Twisted Hoop Earrings Class (Apr 26, 2026)

$115.00 – $144.00April 26 @ 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm
twisted silver hoop earrings
HGMS Clubhouse
10805 Brooklet Dr.
Houston, TX 77099 United States + Google Map

Learn to make a pair of twisted hoop earrings from scratch! This class is appropriate for the beginn...

Register

May 2026

Wide Band Textured Rings Class (May 9, 2026)

$130.00 – $163.00May 9 @ 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm
HGMS Clubhouse
10805 Brooklet Dr.
Houston, TX 77099 United States + Google Map

Learn to make and texture a 6mm wide band ring from scratch. The class will cover creating rings and...

Register

Forged Dangle Earrings (May 17, 2026)

$94.00 – $117.50May 17 @ 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm
HGMS Clubhouse
10805 Brooklet Dr.
Houston, TX 77099 United States + Google Map

Date: Sunday May 17, 12:00 – 5:00 pm Max 6 students, min 4  (sign up deadline is May 13) Cost...

Register

HGMS Class Policies

  1. HGMS Members receive a discounted ticket price on classes. Join HGMS here before continuing to get your discounted class tickets – Membership form will open in a new tab.
  2. You must pay for the class online to confirm enrollment.
  3. All classes are first come/first serve with no cash refunds.
  4. Please check individual class descriptions for registration cutoff dates and minimum age requirements.
  5. No walk-ins allowed
  6. You will be notified via e-mail if we do not meet the minimum number of students, in which case, the class would be cancelled and your registration would be refunded.

Classes Which May Be Offered Again in the Future

HGMS has a wide variety of classes that can be offered related to our various sections of interest. Please read through the class descriptions below and let us know which classes are of most interest to you by filling out the HGMS CLASS INTEREST form. If you have an idea for a class that isn’t listed, we’d love to hear about it. Please fill out the form and check “other” and tell us about your idea.

HGMS Class Interest
If you would be interested in taking any of the classes listed below, please check all that apply so we can set up classes with the greatest interest to our members. Include your name and email to be notified when classes of interest become available.

CLASS DESCRIPTIONS

Cabochon Forming Class

Learning to create a cabochon is the foundational lapidary skill!

Cabochons  of various shapes are most often formed from opaque stones (think turquoise, jade, agate) with a domed top and flat bottom.

Consequently such stones are suitable for setting in silver or for wire-wrapping.

  • Orient a stone for cutting
  • Choosing a shape for the stone
  • Attaching a stone for polishing
  • Grinding and polishing a stone
  • Examining a stone between steps for best polish
Imperial Jasper Cabochon by Ron Talhelm
Chrysacola Cabochons by Ron Talhelm

Casting Class

  • Make patterns in wax
  • Use lost wax casting to create a mold
  • Prepare flask for final casting
  • Burnout and casting the mold
  • Cleaning and polishing the cast item
Wax in blue, casting in silver

Chain Maille Bracelet Class

  • Learn the importance of using appropriate wire gauge and jump-ring diameter
  • Learn the technique of creating chain maille bracelets
  • Take home a finished piece
Bracelet by Karen Burns

Chasing and Repoussé

  • Creating designs on metal sheets
  • Use repoussé (hammering from the reverse side) to create shapes and forms using steel punches and a hammer
  • Use chasing (texturing with punches and hammers) to refine the shape, form, and texture of the object
Example of chasing and repousse'

Dichroic Glass Class

  • Learn the basics of cutting, piecing, and firing dichroic glass
  • Learn how to tack partial and full fuse dichroic glass cabochons
  • Gain an understanding of three different bail techniques
  • You will take home some finished pieces
Pendant of Dichroic Glass

Enameling Class

  • Learn how to fuse fine glass powder on either copper or fine silver
  • Learn how to use a kiln to fire the piece
Enamel on silver by HGMS member

Jewelry Fabrication (Beginning)

  • Learn several methods of making jewelry using sheet metals, tube, and bezel material
  • Also learn how to prep metal and solder materials together
  • Various topics covered including making bezels, prongs, polishing, antiquing, stamping, texturing.
  • Also learn about making rings, earrings, pins, brooches, and pendants.
  • By the end of the class you will have about 3 finished pieces of jewelry, 2 of which being your own design
Working with a torch

Precious Metal Clay (PMC)

  • Learn how to shape, dry, fire, polish and patina PMC
  • Take home possibilities include pendants or earrings of your own handcrafting

Other PMC Classes:

PMC Leaf or Fossil Pendants

  • Similar to the intro class, but focuses on hand crafted leaf or fossil pendants

PMC Pendant with fired-in-place gemstones

  • Also similar to the intro class but focuses on adding dichroic glass cabochons and gemstones

Solderless Pendant Class

Also like the intro class but focuses on adding dichroic glass cabochons and gemstones

Precious Metal Clay with inset gem

Wire Wrap Jewelry Class (Beginning)

Learn how to use wire of various shapes and sizes to wrap standard cabochons

Arizona Opal Wire Wrap by Angela Fowler

Silversmithing (Beginner)

Skills to be taught include:

  • sawing, silver soldering, fabrication of piece including bail & bezel, roll metal, annealing & pickling, mounting of stone, and buffing of final piece.
  • Teaches a good foundation in Silversmithing
silversmithing pendants - turquoise cabochons set in silver pendants
Turquoise cabochons set in silver pendants

Welding Basics for Women

Instruction on basic steel welding using:

  • Gas Welder
  • Arc Welder
  • Wire-Fed Tig Welder
Working with a torch

Wire Wrap Jewelry Class (Advanced)

  • Learn how to use wire of various shapes and sizes to wrap different cabochons.
  • As a result adds more advanced techniques to the skills of the beginners class
Plume Agate Wire Wrap by Angela Fowler
Boulder Opal and topaz Wire Wrap by Angela Fowler