What it is

Lapidary and Fine Metals is a dated, credit-bearing Summer 2026 hands-on lapidary and metalsmithing course at The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington. The official catalog page (taught by Pamela Davis) says students “learn how to cut from stone slabs to create cabochons and then learn to set them in projects created in brass, copper, and sterling silver,” covering safe use of a slab saw, trim saw, and cabochon machine, plus foundational metalsmithing (drilling, sawing, cold connections, high-temperature torch soldering, forming and polishing). It is a 4-credit Visual Art offering (maximum enrollment 24), not a retail shop and not a membership gem club.

Who it’s for

Beginners and continuing students in the Olympia / Puget Sound area who want a structured college studio course that pairs cabochon cutting with setting the stones in metal. Non-admitted (special) students may register for summer classes without a full college admission application.

Why it’s listed

It’s a lapidary-primary college studio course with a first-party catalog page, a printed 2026 start date and studio room, a published materials/lab fee, and an open summer registration path for the public. The listing covers this Lapidary and Fine Metals offering, not Evergreen’s other arts programs.

Official URL

https://www.evergreen.edu/catalog/offering/lapidary-and-fine-metals-52022

Summer overview: https://www.evergreen.edu/academics/summer
Non-admitted / special students: https://www.evergreen.edu/admissions-and-aid/special-student
Tuition and fees: https://www.evergreen.edu/offices-services/student-accounts/tuition-and-fees

(All checked 2026-10-27 and returned HTTP 200 to curl with a Chrome user agent.)

Location

LAB 2 2214 – Fine Metal Studio, The Evergreen State College, Olympia, WA. First meeting listed as Tuesday, August 4, 2026, 12:00 p.m. Phone (campus): (360) 867-6000; Registration and Records: (360) 867-6180.

This is a workshop (college studio course). It is not a club listing and not a store.

Notes

Session: Summer 2026, second session (July 27–August 30 on the Summer at Evergreen page); catalog lists first meeting Tuesday, August 4, 2026, noon. Academic year 2025–2026; CRN 40068 (second session, 4 credits).
Fees: required course fee $170 total ($120 metals and stones for required projects + $50 studio lab fee), on top of quarterly college tuition. Summer 2026 undergraduate resident 4-credit total on the tuition page was $1,112.40; undergraduate non-resident 4-credit total was $4,230.80 (confirm current table before registering).
Scope: cabochon cutting from slabs plus metalsmithing to set those cabs; kit with metals and stones for required projects included in the course fee. Day and weekend schedule.
Registration: Summer registration was open on the check date. Non-admitted students use the Special Student Registration Form (PDF linked from the special-student page) and may take up to 20 undergraduate credits in summer.
Photo: the college’s own site logo (no dedicated class product photo on the catalog page; short side ≥100 px). WA already has Schack Art Center (Everett) and NW Rockhounds (Seattle) workshop listings; this is a different Olympia college studio.
Not affiliated with Lapidary Plaza. Nothing was bought, and no email or form was used.

FAQ

Q: When does the class start?
A: First meeting listed for Tuesday, August 4, 2026, at noon in LAB 2 2214 (Fine Metal Studio), within Summer 2026 second session.

Q: Will I cut a real stone?
A: Yes. The catalog says you cut cabochons from stone slabs on slab/trim saws and a cabochon machine, then set them in metal projects.

Q: Can non-students take it?
A: Yes. Evergreen’s special-student / non-admitted path lets the public register for summer classes (up to 20 undergraduate credits in summer) via the Special Student Registration Form.

Q: How much does it cost?
A: $170 required course fee plus Summer 2026 undergraduate tuition for 4 credits (resident total $1,112.40 on the check date; non-resident higher). Confirm the current tuition table.

Q: Is this only a jewelry metals class?
A: No. This listing is the combined lapidary-and-fine-metals course: cabochon cutting is required, then metalsmithing to set those stones.