HGMS - Houston Gem & Mineral Society

Faceting Section
2026-05-21 18:00 - 20:00 (America/Chicago) | TX
This meeting is currently virtual. Please email faceting@hgms.org for Zoom link.
See the HGMS Events page for monthly topic and additional details.

Open Shop - Thursday
2026-05-21 10:00 - 15:00, 2026-05-14 10:00 - 15:00, 2026-05-07 10:00 - 15:00 | HGMS Clubhouse, 10805 Brooklet Dr., Houston, TX, 77099, United States
Shop available for HGMS Member Use Only – additional shop usage fees apply.

Mineral Section
2026-05-20 19:30 - 21:00 | TX
January 15th Meeting is Cancelled.
Meetings are on the third Wednesday of the month and are hybrid, in person and via Zoom. To join Zoom Meeting, use link
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4517997588?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 451 799 7588
Passcode: [REDACTED]
See the HGMS Events page for meeting topic.

Open Shop - Wednesday
2026-05-20 10:00 - 20:00, 2026-05-13 10:00 - 20:00, 2026-05-06 10:00 - 20:00 | HGMS Clubhouse, 10805 Brooklet Dr., Houston, TX, 77099, United States

Paleo Section
2026-05-19 19:30 - 21:00 | HGMS Clubhouse, 10805 Brooklet Dr., Houston, TX, 77099, United States
See the HGMS Events page for monthly topics and additional details.

Lapidary Section
2026-05-18 19:00 - 21:00 | HGMS Clubhouse Main Meeting Room, 10805 Brooklet, Houston, 77099, United States
See the HGMS Events page for monthly topic and additional details.

Cabochon Wire-Wrapped Ring (May 18, 2026)
2026-05-18 16:00 - 19:00 | HGMS Clubhouse, 10805 Brooklet Dr., Houston, TX, 77099, United States
CABOCHON WIRE-WRAPPED RING CLASS will be taught by Susan Burch on Monday, May 18th from 4PM to 7PM in the Center Classroom.
Member cost is $52.00 plus tool rental, if required at $5.00 or non-member cost of $62.00 plus tool rental, if required at $5.00. Cost includes wire, cabochon, and fees.
You will learn to incorporate small cabochons from 8 mm round to 10 X 14 mm oval into a wire wrapped ring.
Maximum is 6 students
Tools and Supplies needed:

Chain-nose pliers
Flat-nose pliers (small, narrow nose needed)
Round-nose pliers
Flush wire cutter
6” or 12” ruler
File or sandpaper
Polishing cloth
Pen and paper (for notes and designing)
Metal sized ring mandrel
8 mm round stone (provided, or you can bring your own stone in a similar shape/size)
22 ga. square copper wire. (21-24” provided)
22 ga. 1/2 round copper wire. (32” provided)
1/4” masking tape (provided)
~Magnifying lenses (Suggested if you have difficulty seeing small things)

Forged Dangle Earrings (May 17, 2026)
2026-05-17 12:00 - 17:00 | HGMS Clubhouse, 10805 Brooklet Dr., Houston, TX, 77099, United States
Date: Sunday May 17, 12:00 – 5:00 pm
Max 6 students, min 4 (sign up deadline is May 13)
Cost: $94 member; $117.50 nonmember – Adults Only
Location: HGMS Clubhouse jewelry studio

Learn to make a pair of dangle earrings using blacksmith forging techniques modified for jewelry making! The class will cover creating intricate patterns with brass rods and using those to create simple dangle earrings. By using brass rods and gold-filled ear wires we will get the look of gold, without the expense! Each student will create pair of earrings in their chosen length (from ½” to 2”).

This class is appropriate for the beginning silversmith. No prior metalsmithing knowledge is required. We will use the torch extensively, but no soldering will be performed.

Students will learn to
o Forge patterns in wire rods
o Filling, sawing and drilling
o Polishing
Materials provided by instructor
Class to be held in clubhouse Jewelry Studio. Will overlap open studio hours but
will extend into after hours.
Students must bring a mask (N95 or KN95) – this is to protect your lungs
from metal dust.

Open Shop - Sundays
2026-05-17 11:00 - 16:00, 2026-05-10 11:00 - 16:00, 2026-05-03 11:00 - 16:00 | HGMS Clubhouse, 10805 Brooklet Dr., Houston, TX, 77099, United States

Open Shop - Saturdays
2026-05-16 10:00 - 15:00, 2026-05-09 10:00 - 15:00, 2026-05-02 10:00 - 15:00 | HGMS Clubhouse, 10805 Brooklet Dr., Houston, TX, 77099, United States

Cabochon Wire-Wrapped Ring (May 16, 2026)
2026-05-16 10:00 - 14:30 | HGMS Clubhouse, 10805 Brooklet Dr., Houston, TX, 77099, United States
CABOCHON WIRE-WRAPPED RING CLASS will be taught by Susan Burch on Saturday, May 16th from 10 AM to 2:30 PM in the Center Classroom.
Member cost is $52.00 plus tool rental, if required at $5.00 or non-member cost of $62.00 plus tool rental, if required at $5.00. Cost includes wire, cabochon, and fees.
You will learn to incorporate small cabochons from 8 mm round to 10 X 14 mm oval into a wire wrapped ring.
Maximum is 6 students
Tools and Supplies needed:

Chain-nose pliers
Flat-nose pliers (small, narrow nose needed)
Round-nose pliers
Flush wire cutter
6” or 12” ruler
File or sandpaper
Polishing cloth
Pen and paper (for notes and designing)
Metal sized ring mandrel
8 mm round stone (provided, or you can bring your own stone in a similar shape/size)
22 ga. square copper wire. (21-24” provided)
22 ga. 1/2 round copper wire. (32” provided)
1/4” masking tape (provided)
~Magnifying lenses (Suggested if you have difficulty seeing small things)

Youth Section
2026-05-16 10:00 - 12:00 | TX
Participants must be minimum age 5 to attend meetings and be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times when at the clubhouse. Particpants must be active HGMS Youth Members or included in an active HGMS Family membership.
Masks REQUIRED for all participants and observers.
See HGMS Events for additional program details.

Clubhouse Cleaning
2026-05-15 08:00 - 12:00, 2026-05-08 08:00 - 12:00, 2026-05-01 08:00 - 12:00 | TX
Our cleaning service comes every Friday between 8 am and 5 pm. Please avoid scheduling any activities (committee activities, section meetings and classes) in the Club’s Main Meeting area.

Wire-wrapped Tree of Life Pendant Class (May 11, 2026)
2026-05-11 16:00 - 19:00 | HGMS Clubhouse, 10805 Brooklet Dr., Houston, TX, 77099, United States
WIRE-WRAPPED TREE OF LIFE PENDANT CLASS will be taught by Susan Burch on Monday, May 11th from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM in the Center Classroom.
Member cost is $42.00 plus tool rental, if required at $5.00 or non-member cost of $52.00 plus tool rental, if required at $5.00.
Cost includes all materials needed to make this pendant.
Misc.: Minimum 2-students; Maximum 6-students. This project is between beginner level to moderate skill level

Wide Band Textured Rings Class (May 9, 2026)
2026-05-09 12:00 - 17:00 | HGMS Clubhouse, 10805 Brooklet Dr., Houston, TX, 77099, United States
Learn to make and texture a 6mm wide band ring from scratch. The class will cover creating rings and the fundamentals of finishing a piece (the key to making it look professional). If you’ve taken the Textured Stacking Rings class, you’ll see how different working with a wide band from sheet is. Each student will create 1 silver ring.
This class is appropriate for the beginning silversmith or for expanding one’s knowledge of basic ring making. No prior metalsmithing knowledge is required.

Date: May 9, 2026 (sign up deadline is May 6)
5 hour class (12:00 – 5:00pm)
Max 6 students, min 4
Cost: $130 member; $163 nonmember – ADULT ONLY
Students will learn to

Calculate length needed for ring size
Form & solder ring band
Polishing & finishing
Texturing using various tools

Materials provided by instructor
Class to be held in clubhouse Jewelry Studio. Will overlap open studio hours but will extend into after hours.
Students must bring a mask (N95 or KN95) – this is to protect your lungs from metal dust.

Wire-wrapped Tree of Life Pendant Class (May 9, 2026)
2026-05-09 10:00 - 13:30 | HGMS Clubhouse, 10805 Brooklet Dr., Houston, TX, 77099, United States
WIRE-WRAPPED TREE OF LIFE PENDANT CLASS will be taught by Susan Burch on Saturday, May 9th from 10 AM to 1:30 PM in the Center Classroom.
Member cost is $42.00 plus tool rental, if required at $5.00 or non-member cost of $52.00 plus tool rental, if required at $5.00.
Cost includes all materials needed to make this pendant.
Misc.: Minimum 2-students; Maximum 6-students. This project is between beginner level to moderate skill level

Beading Section
2026-05-09 10:00 - 13:00 | HGMS Clubhouse, 10805 Brooklet Dr., Houston, TX, 77099, United States

Day Light Section
2026-05-06 12:00 - 15:00 | HGMS Clubhouse, 10805 Brooklet Dr., Houston, TX, 77099, United States

Board Meeting
2026-05-05 19:30 - 21:00 | TX
This meeting is virtual. Members who wish to observe the meeting may email president@hgms.org to receive the Zoom link.

Youth Section
2026-05-02 10:00 - 12:00 | HGMS Clubhouse, 10805 Brooklet Dr., Houston, TX, 77099, United States
