Entry No. 45 — the Boise file — filed under: hands-on
SLVR 72 Permanent Jewelry & Silversmithing
A small studio where a silversmith guides you through cutting, forming, and soldering sterling silver to build a real ring, bracelet, or bolo from scratch over roughly three hours. You pick from nearly fifty loose gemstones, individually priced, to set into your piece. The shop is also known around Boise for its zap-and-go permanent jewelry, and it has racked up local 'favorite jewelry studio' awards since opening.
The story
The name isn't an arbitrary code—it's a direct nod to Idaho's underground crust [1.1.9]. Idaho holds 72 distinct types of native gems and minerals in its rock beds, which is why local founders Ian and Heather launched SLVR 72 in 2023 in the Collister neighborhood. Rather than setting up a standard glass display case, they built an open-bench studio focused on letting visitors work directly with raw metal and heat.
During the studio's main 2.5-to-3.5-hour workshop, a silversmith puts a jeweler's saw, raw sterling silver, and a micro-torch directly in your hands. You'll cut, shape, and solder metal to construct a ring, bracelet, necklace, or bolo tie from scratch. Near the start of the session, you choose a loose gemstone from a tray of nearly fifty options—priced individually from $20 to $150—before setting and burnishing the bezel around it yourself.
If you aren't looking to handle open flames, the studio is also known around Boise for its zap-and-go permanent jewelry, micro-welding clasp-less sterling or gold chains around wrists and ankles. It has picked up local 'favorite jewelry studio' awards since opening, but the real draw remains the torch work.
What it's like
You arrive at a strip on Hill Road into a bright, workshop-style studio lined with jeweler's benches, safety glasses, and rows of silver wire. A guide coaches you step-by-step through heating metal until solder flows, answering questions while keeping you from burning your fingers. Sessions are strictly by appointment, so reserve online in advance, and remember that gemstone fees ($20 to $150) are billed separately from your class reservation.
The move: Do the Gem Jewelry Experience together, each setting a stone the other secretly picked, and walk out wearing rings you forged in the session.
📍 Before you go Workshops run 2.5-3.5 hours by appointment; gemstones cost extra ($20-$150 each) on top of the class fee.
- 📍 Boise (Collister neighborhood)
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: Boise, ID (Collister neighborhood)
Hours: Added 2026-06-24 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- State Street Antiques — After setting a gemstone into hand-bent silver at SLVR 72, drive under a mile down the road to browse rabbit skulls and rattlesnake vertebrae at State Street Antiques.
- Treasure Valley Skate — Trade your jeweler's torch for retro roller skates at Boise's only roller rink, located inside a converted 20,000-square-foot bowling alley less than a mile away.
- Greenbelt Night Market — If your silversmithing appointment lands on a summer Friday, head 1.7 miles into Garden City to catch riverside food trucks and live music at the Greenbelt Night Market.
- Clay Collective — Double down on hands-on crafting by pairing your silversmithing class with a pottery wheel session less than three miles away at Clay Collective.
Good to know
How long do the silversmithing workshops last?
The hands-on silversmithing sessions run between 2.5 and 3.5 hours by appointment [1.3.6].
Are gemstones included in the workshop price?
No, loose gemstones are selected during the class and cost between $20 and $150 each, added on top of the base workshop fee.
What can you make in the studio?
You can craft sterling silver gem rings, bracelets, necklaces, dangle earrings, or bolo ties, as well as stacker rings and spoon rings.
What is permanent jewelry?
Permanent jewelry involves selecting a chain that a technician micro-welds ('zaps') around your wrist, ankle, or neck without a traditional clasp.
Where is SLVR 72 located?
SLVR 72 is located at 3910 W. Hill Road, Suite 103, in Boise's Collister neighborhood.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · Yelp · idahosbest.com
last checked: 2026-06-24