New Business: Make your own silver and gemstone ring

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- A new business in Bend is offering customers the opportunity to craft their own silver jewelry. Wild Ring Co, located just off Northeast Division, provides appointments where participants design and construct custom gemstone rings.

Rather than a typical "make-your-own" jewelry experience, the workshops are closer to an introductory class in silversmithing. Participants learn technical skills, including how to solder metal and set gemstones, before taking home a finished piece.

Jacob Rogers, owner of Wild Ring Co, said the process is part of the fun, but in the end, you have something you can keep forever. “And that's one of the best parts about it. It's really popular for date nights and anniversaries because it's a piece. It's not just another stamped, you know, mass-produced piece of jewelry. It's something you made with your hands, with your friend or with your spouse and it makes it that much more meaningful,” Rogers said.

Participants can select from a wide variety of gemstones, including multiple types of turquoise. The business also provides design options for the ring's style and finish, allowing the silver to look bright and new or feature a classic aged patina.

Workshop appointments start at $95 per seat, plus the cost of the selected stone. In the end, the average customer pays between $115 and $175 total, with appointments booking up fast. Bookings are available on Wild Ring Co's website.