METHRA Ring Making Workshop in San Diego: Make a Ring & a Memory

Elizabeth Bickford
13 hours ago
3 min read

Looking for a unique thing to do in San Diego? The METHRA ring-making workshop in East Village is a creative, hands-on experience that lets you make your own sterling silver ring—and I got to experience it with my daughter.

There are plenty of things to do in San Diego, but every once in a while, you find an experience that is about more than simply going somewhere or trying something new. For us, the METHRA ring-making workshop was one of those experiences.

I went with my daughter, and we had such a great time choosing our ring styles, deciding on the finishes and then actually making the rings ourselves. We also ran into lots of friends and saw couples working side-by-side on their own rings, which added to the fun atmosphere.

The best part? We didn't just walk away with a piece of jewelry—we walked away with something we made together.

What Is the METHRA Ring-Making Experience?

METHRA is a jewelry design studio located in San Diego's East Village that offers hands-on ring-making workshops. The experience is designed for beginners, so you don't need any previous jewelry-making experience.

METHRA says participants complete about 80% of the actual ring-making process, with an artisan guiding you through each step. The workshop takes approximately 2 to 2½ hours, and you get to take your finished ring home with you.

That hands-on aspect is what makes this experience so different from simply buying a piece of jewelry.

Making Our Rings: Step by Step

The experience begins with choosing your ring style, size and finish. My daughter and I had fun picking designs that reflected our individual styles before getting started with a bar of 925 sterling silver.

With guidance from the METHRA artisan, we shaped the silver using a wooden mallet and mandrel, then filed and sanded it to create the shape of our rings. We could also personalize them with stamped letters, designs or emojis and add texture by hand-hammering the metal.

One of the things I loved most was how hands-on the experience was. We did most of the work ourselves, while the METHRA artisan handled the soldering to close the ring. We then continued refining and finishing our rings until they were ready to wear.

There's something pretty special about starting with a simple piece of silver and ending up with a ring you actually made yourself—and getting to share that process with my daughter made it even more meaningful.

What to Know Before You Go

Location: METHRA, 710 13th St., Suite 210, San Diego, CA 92101, in East Village.

Cost: METHRA currently lists the workshop at $120, including the 925 sterling silver bar and materials. A $30 reservation fee is applied toward the final cost, and the final price can vary slightly depending on the ring size and silver width.

Time: Approximately 2–2½ hours.

Experience required? None. The workshop is designed for beginners, and an artisan guides you through the process.

What you make: A custom 925 sterling silver ring that you make largely yourself.

Can you take photos? Yes! METHRA welcomes photos and videos during the workshop, so don't be afraid to document the experience.

Can you take your ring home? Yes. The workshop is designed for same-day completion. If a ring needs minor resizing, METHRA says it can be handled at a later date.

Is the METHRA Ring Workshop Worth It?

Absolutely—especially if you're looking for an experience rather than just another thing to buy.

The fact that you're actually involved in making the ring makes it much more meaningful. You're not simply choosing a piece of jewelry from a display case. You're choosing the style, shaping the metal, adding the details and watching it become something you can wear.

For me, getting to do that with my daughter made it even more special.

We left with matching memories, handmade rings and a story behind them—and I think that's what makes the METHRA ring-making experience such a great San Diego activity.

If you're looking for a fun and creative way to connect with someone you love, put the METHRA ring-making workshop on your San Diego experience list. You may come for the ring, but you'll leave with a memory.