Explore THE SUMMIT LAPIDARY CLUB

 Summit Lapidary Club offers a wide range of classes and workshops in various aspects of the lapidary arts. These classes are exclusively available to our members, and the best part is, they are free for members!

Some classes may require members to bring their own equipment or pay for materials used during the class. 

Join us to explore the fascinating world of lapidary arts and refine your skills in a supportive, creative environment!

Please note that this page is under construction!  

Several of our faceters offer classes to interested members.  We have several faceting machines that members can use to learn this fascinating hobby.  Eventually members will usually invest in their own equipment and machines.  Our library is full of diagrams of various cuts.   

Did you know that there are specific cuts that are recommended for the various gemstones due to the refractory nature of each individual type of stone?

In this workshop, we will teach how to make various gem trees.  It's a lovely way to spend a few hours with friends and colleagues and they make beautiful gifts!              

In this workshop, we will teach how to make various wire wrapping projects.  Sometimes the projects involved simple weaving of wire.  Sometimes beads or stones are incorporated into the finished product.

We offer classes to members to teach how to set a hand-finished stone cabochon into a beautifully woven wire setting using a variety of types of wire, including craft wire, copper or brass wire, or sterling silver wire.  These can then be made into pendants, pins, rings, or earrings.

This workshop is for members only - and we will assist members in learning how to set their stones in a copper, brass, or sterlilng silver setting.  We can help members with both bezel and prong settings.  We also offer workshops in jewelry design, challenging our members to create beautiful and unique settings.

This workshop is for members only - and we will teach members how to make beautiful penannular pins that can be used for scarves, hats, or kilts.  These pins are made from 8, 10, or 12 gauge copper, brass, or sterling silver wire.  They can be simple or complex, and stones can be set into them.  These make great gifts!  

These beading workshops involve a variety of projects, anything from simple to complex beading projects.  

This workshop is for members only.  In this workshop we use small torches to 'paint' with heat and flame on copper.  A wide variety of copper blanks are available, and copper squares can also be used.  Best gauge of copper to use is 24-26 gauge.

There are a number of places where materials can be purchased for metalsmithing.  Dead soft or half soft copper or sterling silver sheet can be used.  For backing stones, 18-22 qauge sheet is often used.  Hard, Medium, and Easy solder is also necessary.  Bezel and wire (round, square, and half round are often used in various projects).  A variety of tools will eventually be accumulated by each member although the club has a nice variety of tools available for learning purposes.  Many of us use Rio Grande Jewelry Supply which is a reputable only supplier.  Cabochons and stones can be purchased online, as can some metals although due diligence is advised if buying more expensive metals online.

In this workshop, members will use club equipment to 'soft solder' their cabochons or artwork, using copper tape, silver solder, and soldering irons.  This technique is similar to that used for stained glass windows, adapted to setting stones.  This is a members' only workshop.