What you'll do: Sit down at a private silversmithing bench set up right in your space and shape a sterling silver gemstone pendant with your own hands, from raw metal to finished piece.

• Set your gemstone – Choose from available stones and learn to build a bezel setting that holds it securely in place

• Shape and solder your pendant – Work with real silversmithing tools to cut, form, and join metal into your design

• File and polish your piece – Smooth every edge and bring out the shine until it's ready to wear

• Get hands-on guidance – An instructor walks your group through each step, so no prior experience is needed

• Browse add-on options – Pick up extra gemstones or a chain on the spot if you want to keep creating

By the end, you're wearing a pendant you made yourself, not something picked off a shelf. It's a private jewelry making class in Chicago built for groups who want to leave with more than photos.

Why we love it for your group celebration:

• Real keepsake, not a souvenir – Every guest walks away wearing the sterling silver pendant they built

• Comes to your location – Your instructor sets up wherever you're already gathered, so there's no group transportation to coordinate

• All materials included – Metal, tools, and gemstone are covered in the price, ready to go when you arrive

• Gemstone variety – Each guest picks their own stone, so no two pendants look alike

• Beginner-friendly pacing – Guided step-by-step instruction works whether guests are crafty or have never touched a tool

About this experience partner: Athenaeum Studios is a Chicago-based silversmithing studio led by AJ Olsen, a Logan Square artist and jeweler who moved from a career in neurological research into goldsmithing. Her workshops are known for nature- and celestial-inspired designs and a hands-on teaching style that makes metalwork approachable for complete beginners. She runs private jewelry classes and pop-up workshops across the city, welcoming birthdays, bachelorettes, and group trips.

Additional information:

• Duration – Plan for a full 4 hours; completion time varies slightly by design complexity

• What's included – All materials for one sterling silver bezel-set gemstone pendant and simple chain

• Finishing services – If your piece isn't finished in-session, follow-up finishing is available at $35/hour

• Add-ons – Additional gemstones and chains are available for purchase on site