Entry No. 42 — the Columbus file — filed under: jewelry-making
The Smithery
Located in 'The Fort' on Columbus's south side, this independent, women-owned jewelry studio offers intimate, hands-on metalsmithing workshops.
The story
If you show up at 2000 South High expecting a retail jewelry store with velvet trays and pushy salespeople, you are in the wrong place [1.1.5]. CCAD alumni Anne Holman and Jen Townsend spent years running separate jewelry benches in the same shared workspace before combining forces in 2014 to found The Smithery. Operating out of a private, appointment-only studio tucked inside The Fort—a sprawling, redeveloped industrial complex on Columbus's South Side—they keep their footprint deliberate and focused strictly on SCS-certified recycled precious metals and ethically sourced stones.
Rather than outsourcing production or pushing factory-molded settings, Holman and Townsend use traditional goldsmithing methods to build custom pieces in-house. Their flagship experience is an intimate, all-day workshop where couples sit at actual jewelers' benches to forge their own wedding rings. Guided one-on-one through the entire heat-and-hammer process, you melt raw metal stock, shape, solder, and polish gold or platinum bands from absolute scratch.
What it's like
Because the studio operates by appointment only inside an industrial compound, you won't be dealing with walk-in foot traffic or retail crowds. The space is an authentic working workshop equipped with timber jeweler's benches, open gas torches, mandrels, and rawhide mallets. A wedding band session runs about six full hours at your own speed; wear natural fibers, closed-toe shoes, and pull back long hair since you will be operating torches and heavy tools. Slots fill up fast enough that the shop routinely runs a waitlist, so book your workshop well ahead of your wedding timeline.
The move: Book their private, all-day 'Make Your Own Wedding Band Workshop' to melt, hammer, and polish your own custom commitment rings from recycled precious metals.
- 📍 South Side
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 2000 S High St, Columbus, OH 43207
Hours: Added 2026-07-21 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- The Kiln Room — Housed inside the exact same Fort complex, you can pair your metalsmithing session with clay-throwing without leaving the industrial site.
- LÖ-LU Sauna — After spending six hours hovering over a jeweler's torch and gripping hand tools, head a mile north into Merion Village to unwind in a wood-fired church sauna.
- The Book Loft of German Village — Drive under two miles north into German Village after your studio day to swap bench mallets for a quiet wander through 32 rooms of books.
Good to know
Do I need prior jewelry-making experience for the Wedding Band Workshop?
No experience is required. The studio instructors provide step-by-step, hands-on guidance through torching, bending, soldering, and polishing.
Can I drop in to browse jewelry without a booking?
No. The Smithery functions strictly as a private workspace inside The Fort and is open by appointment or scheduled workshop only.
How long does the private ring-making workshop take?
Plan for approximately six hours of hands-on studio time to complete both rings from start to finish.
What metals can we use to forge our rings?
Workshops utilize certified recycled precious metals, including yellow gold, white gold, rose gold, and platinum.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · columbusmakesart.com · ohiomagazine.com
last checked: 2026-07-21