Entry No. 32 — the Albuquerque file — filed under: lapidary
Albuquerque Silver & Stone Academy
A specialized local lapidary and silversmithing academy offering immersive hands-on workshops dedicated to Southwestern stone cutting, polishing, and silver fabrication.
The story
Behind an unremarkably beige strip-mall door on Menaul Boulevard sits a full-blown lapidary and metalsmithing laboratory run by an unexpectedly matched duo [2.1.4]. Eileen and Dennis Ott opened the Albuquerque Silver & Stone Academy in 2015, pooling over three decades of gemstone and trade experience. Dennis, a former federal agent, hunts down raw mineral specimens like a detective working a case. Eileen, meanwhile, built her chops designing and sourcing fine jewelry for mainstream giants like QVC and Nordstrom. Together, they run a working studio dedicated to teaching you how to turn jagged Southwestern rough and sheet metal into finished ornament.
Instead of handing you pre-cut beads and commercial wire, the academy puts you behind diamond-blade slab saws and roaring blowtorches. In their beginner silversmithing sessions, you start on practice copper sheets—taking out your aggression with heavy steel stamps and hammers—before graduating to sterling silver solder, mandrels, and bezel cutters. Across the room, diamond grinding wheels spray water as raw rock rough gets sliced and shaped into glass-smooth cabochons.
The setup caters to absolute beginners trying to pull a sketch out of their head as well as returning metalsmiths seeking specialized techniques. Class sizes are kept intentionally small—some technical offerings like faceted gem setting cap at just two seats per session—ensuring you get direct, hands-on instruction on everything from setting flush bezels to flame-soldering custom silver mounts.
What it's like
Stepping inside means trading a dry Northeast Heights strip-mall parking lot for the hum of wet grinding wheels, the scent of hot solder flux, and the rhythmic clatter of tiny hammers striking metal blocks. You'll get your hands dirty fast: expect to start on copper test plates to master hammer work before Eileen or Dennis turns you loose on silver and a lit torch. The catch is that class sizes are strictly capped, so showing up unannounced won't get you a spot at a bench—you need to book your workshop well ahead of time. Tip: if you have a raw specimen sitting in a drawer at home, bring it along to ask if it can be sliced and bezel-set.
The move: Take a weekend lapidary workshop together to slice raw rough stones on diamond saws, shape polished cabochons on grinding wheels, and solder custom silver mountings for your finished rocks.
- 📍 Northeast Heights
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 10900 Menaul Blvd NE, Suite B, Albuquerque, NM 87111
Hours: Added 2026-07-21 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Blue Eagle Metaphysical Emporium — Located less than a mile away on Menaul, this long-running metaphysical shop lets you contrast the physical hammer-and-torch labor of lapidary work with a quiet browse through bulk herbs and raw resins.
- Sage Craft — Pair your hands-on stone cutting workshop with a stop just down the road to explore functional remedies and custom plant medicine in a working herbalist apothecary.
- Aurora Borealis Glassworks — Keep the high-heat maker momentum going by pairing torch-soldered silver mounting with hot glassblowing and beadmaking over in Nob Hill.
Good to know
Who founded the Albuquerque Silver & Stone Academy?
The academy was founded in 2015 by Eileen and Dennis Ott [2.1.4]. Dennis is a former federal agent who sources raw gemstones, while Eileen brings decades of trade experience designing and sourcing jewelry for QVC and Nordstrom.
Do I need prior metalworking or stone-cutting experience to take a class?
No prior experience is necessary. Beginner classes and two-day workshops start with basic copper stamping and sawing before moving on to silver soldering and lapidary stone grinding.
What kinds of workshops and classes are offered?
They offer multi-week silversmithing classes, self-guided bench sessions, and intensive two-day weekend workshops in lapidary stone cutting, beginning silversmithing, and faceted gem setting.
Where is the academy located?
You can find it at 10900 Menaul Blvd NE, Suite B, in the Northeast Heights area of Albuquerque.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · newmexico.org
last checked: 2026-07-21