I do have to say this is by far my favorite gem store! Not only can I learn how to make jewelry, there's so much quality here that it will knock your socks off! I just bought so many beautiful beads to make necklaces!! The owners are very lovely and had a fantastic sale. Everyone there is so willing and ready to help answer any questions! They even said I can come in and make my necklaces at the shop at some tables there as well, even if they don't have a class going on. These are lovely lovely people, I am honored to hang out with such royalty! If you want to experience a cup of kindness and taste it's sweetness as it goes down, come to this gem gallery and you'll experience it for yourself. One time I came in and there was a wonderful jazz band playing with treats and everything. Are you kidding me? How lovely! read more

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I took the three silver smith courses here, and absolutely loved it!! I am now making rings, necklaces, bracelets!

Do NOT go to Hobby Lobby, Michael's, etc. before coming here. You can find high-quality, semi-precious bead strings for similar prices here, or perhaps just a little more. I couldn't believe I'd spent up to $6 a strand at other places when I saw some of the prices here. And the quality is obvious, not to mention the helpful, friendly customer service. I am a beginning beader, and they helped me through everything, and everything was reasonably priced. They also have a ton of classes, and a workshop you can use once you're a student. I almost don't want to leave this review, because this gem shop is truly a hidden gem. In fact, I changed my mind. Don't come here. Plastic beads at Hobby Lobby are way better. They say plastic lasts forever, right? read more

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This place will teach you how. Take classes and show your work. If you think it is expensive take classes at a jewelry school. If the price of right here and right now is to high, go online. My wife and I took a class and we liked it. This was a better setting and setup than other classes we have taken elsewhere. Learning is not free so be prepared to spend some time and a little money. read more

Veberod Gem Gallery - She made this beauty. - Jewelry Near Me - Hopkins, Minnesota

I have a long history with Veberod Gem Gallery. I've thought about reviewing them for a long time, but after reading the one star review I felt I had to share my thoughts. I had them make a custom wedding ring for me in 2013. I shopped around, and they were the fairest price and they could make the exact ring I wanted. They did everything I asked and my wife loved/loves it. But several months after giving it to my wife, the gems started falling out. This upset me quite a bit. Stones were falling out at family get-togethers and I felt like a fool. I contacted Brad and after some back and forth, he remade the ring. Fast forward to this year, 2016, and my wife has lost some weight since our engagement and the ring is too big. The local jeweler would't touch it and then I get a random email out of the blue from Brad wondering how the ring is doing. We bring it down to the cities and he resizes it for free. Brad is a fair man and in this world that should be appreciated. read more

As I walked in I noticed that three employees were toiling around in the back by the work benches and that one (who I believed to be the owner) was talking to a customer. The worst thing about walking around for 10 minutes was that in that 10 minutes I was not greeted nor looked at ONCE. So, as I viewed their so called "precious" gemstones and custom made jewelry I noticed that most of their "finished" products were poorly done and that most center piece stones were scratched/chipped. Some well hidden. I was finally helped by a teenager who was in dire need of grooming only to be told that the silversmithing class I was trying to purchase as a gift for a friend was full. I then asked about other dates; he shuffled through a couple pages in their binder and then seemed to completely forget why I was there. The owner then approached me and the scraggly teen ran off. Also, everything is overpriced. I will continue to spread the word that this is not the place to purchase gems or take classes. There are MANY other places to go. Go check out Commers Custom Jewelers right by Sappor downtown on Washington Ave. or check out Uniquely Yours Custom Designed Jewelry. read more

Never thought I would get the ring of my dreams after looking at every chain jewelry store on earth. Chain jewelers idea of a "custom ring" is picking your stone (in my case green sapphire) and putting on a pre fab ring. This didn't feel custom to us. We stumbled upon Veberod and met Andy. Andy took the time to design our actual custom rings by drawing sketches. This was beyond our expectations and the selection/prices of gems gave us so much to work with. We couldn't have asked for a "less pushy" and incredible jeweler. We never felt pressured to spend more money or stick with the trends in engagement rings. I never thought this relationship existed. Andy not only exceeded our expectations, created a ring that I will never see on anyone else and made customers/friends for life. Thank you again!!! read more

I have shopped at Verbod for years, they carry a fantastic selection of gems, some very rare stones at very reasonable prices, and there is a GIA gemologist there so you can learn alot (not something you find at cookie cutter shops). If their aesthetic is not yours,consider getting your gems there and having them set by someone else. The selection of gem beads and findings is high quality, so your own bead work will be good. The classes are good, taught by knowledgeable teachers read more

I walked in here on a wim one day and am so glad I did! The staff are so friendly, and seem passionate about their work and helping. I have taken Silversmithing 1, 2 and 3 here and have now been making rings and pendants at home. I love that they have all the tools and supplies that I need and always someone to answer questions. The classes are structured for long periods of time, which gives plenty of time to really learn new skills and leave with a finished piece. read more

I love the uniqueness of the jewelry in this store and dedication of jewelers who work there. They not only create unique, one of a kind jewelry, but also share their skills with the community through the silversmithing classes. It is good place to meet like-minded people, develop one's jewelry making skills, and buy unique, one of a kind jewelry, or jewelry created according to your ambitious designs. Also I just read a negative review mentioning the scruffy young man at the shop. In his defense I want to add: I learned lapidary skills from jewelers at Veberod gem gallery. Believe me: it is very dirty business (literally). So my rule is: do not wear make up and designer clothes, when sanding a polishing gems: everything, including you will be scruffy in 10-15 minutes. Speaking about lapidary: Veberod not only set the stones but also facets, cabs and inlays. Not a lot of jewelers in Minnesota can do it. read more

The staff at Veberod Gem Gallery are experts at what they do, friendly, and completely customer focused. I encourage anyone who is interested in custom jewelry or jewelry repair to visit this shop. My experience with the store stands in complete contrast to the person who gave them a 1 star review. I ordered custom earrings from them and worked with them on repair of a necklace (the necklace was not originally purchased there and had been damaged). read more

After reading the joke of a one star review of this business, I had to chime in. I am a jeweler. I buy materials and small tools I might need like blades and drills, etc. and occasionally stones and pearls when I either see something that I like because it is unusual, or I'm in a pinch and need something 'right now' and I have been coming to Veberod for well over 10 or so years - probably longer, I've lost count of the years. The owner definitely knows his stones and travels the world to purchase them himself. In my honest opinion, you will not find anyone more dedicated to making his store and making sure that his staff offer a pleasing experience than he is. If the owner was speaking to another customer, and the other staff were busy, then you simply wait a few minutes. I am quite sure that they made eye contact with this person and said a quick greeting. There has NEVER been a time that I have gone in and have not been greeted. EVER. The bench jewelers and instructors are MORE than educated and experienced in fabrication and repair that they can answer just about any question you can lob at them. And I've done my share of lobbing at them. If they are busy they may not be super chatty, which is ok. They are always happy to answer questions...I know most of them and highly respect each of them. I know exactly who the one star reviewer was speaking of with his harsh criticism for the unkempt teenager...let me say that 'teenager' now owns his own jewelry shop in Sleepy Eye. My guess? He was probably very busy on a repair or a custom job with a deadline and came to the front to help this person because the others were busy and, let me tell you, in this business busy is a very good thing. Busy means that people are there because they know the business is reputable with good customer service. People milling about in the back room? Well, those most likely were students who were taking a class or renting studio time and not actually paid employees as implied. Which now brings me to the instructors of the classes offered at Veberod...Tai is absolutely amazing. I have seen her skills grow and her pieces become more complex over time and every time I stop in and see her, I enjoy seeing what she is working on whether it's a gorgeous cuff with rough diamonds to her lapidary and her stone cutting. She knows what she teaches and she teaches what she knows. If you want to learn a skill that you can take into your future projects at a price that isn't going to break your bank, then seriously consider the classes that are offered because you will not be disappointed. Practice makes perfect...you will not leave as a trained Cartier jeweler but you will leave with skills and hands on training with enough knowledge to get you motivated to keep on learning. To me, this person sounded like he was simply in a hurry, didn't want to wait his turn, maybe wanted to be gushed over a bit, and I get that...but do NOT take it out in a crappy review that trashes a business who is a gem (pun totally intended) to the jewelry community. Yes , the reviewer is correct...there are several other places to go to get stones and the like, but if you appreciate honesty, experience, reliability and friendly staff then put this shop on your radar. read more

I took a one-day class for beginning metal-smithing. The instructor was a bit frustrating. The class started 20 minutes late because she didn't have her coffee... Then the first hour was wasted doing introductions with questions like "are you a dog person?" (Is it really necessary to get to know people in a 1 day class?). We had hardly done anything by the time lunch time rolled around. It just seemed to move so slowly...... When we finally got to the stone-setting at the end of class, everyone was in a terrible rush to finish their projects. It could have been much better. I'm going elsewhere next time. read more