Turquoise Hoop Jewelry Making Class in Albuquerque: A Weekend at the Bench

Aug 10

Our Turquoise Hoop jewelry making class in Albuquerque brought students into Meltdown Studio on August 8 and August 9 for two separate class sessions. Each group worked through the same project, creating a pair of sterling silver and turquoise hoops while learning forming, stamping, soldering, bezel making, stone setting, and finishing techniques.

The group gathered around the benches and began turning sheets of sterling silver into a pair of statement hoops. The following day, a new group came into the studio to take on the same project, with each student bringing their own pace and ideas to the process.

The project started simply. Students formed and shaped their silver hoops, paying attention to the curve, size, and movement of each piece. As the silver began to take shape, the earrings started to feel less like a project and more like something they could actually see themselves wearing.

Then came the details.

Stamped marks and textured surfaces gave the silver character, while the turquoise added that bright contrast that made the hoops feel unmistakably Meltdown. Students worked through soldering and bezel making before moving on to setting their stones.

Both days had their own rhythm. There were focused moments at the bench, questions along the way, and those small moments when a technique finally started to make sense. With each step, the earrings became more finished and more personal.

By the end of Saturday's class, the first group had their completed hoops. On Sunday, the second group followed the same process and created their own versions of the project. Even though both groups started with the same materials and techniques, the finished earrings reflected the individual hands that made them.

That’s one of the things we love about teaching jewelry making classes in Albuquerque. A shared project can become something completely different for every student.

Two separate groups. Two days at the bench. One turquoise hoop project, with plenty of room for each student to make it their own.