Metal Urges

Metal Urges "Everything has 6 sides." ~Bill Howard Handcrafted gold and silver jewelry fabricated one piece at a time.

From one-of-a-kind pieces made with Lake Superior rock paired with gold, silver and precious gemstones, to traditional wedding bands and sets. Sterling and fine silver, 14K, 18K, 22K gold jewelry of all kinds, and gems and diamonds (GIA certified) at the best prices anywhere. I also offer repair, sizing, restoration and re-design. Custom design and fabrication is available for any piece of jewelry your heart desires!

While I was finishing the yellow beach glass ring I became painfully aware of my own beach glass ring, which has been a ...
02/27/2026

While I was finishing the yellow beach glass ring I became painfully aware of my own beach glass ring, which has been a daily-wear, never-take-it-off piece for a good 10 years. I'm always watching the ones I wear, to see how they'll do over time. It was beat up and showing some age, so...I decided to pull the glass and just clean up and polish. And I've always wanted to see it with less bezel, so I made it shorter to show more glass.
Plus the yellow beauty is done - in her fine silver bezel with sterling silver back and a hammered, 1/2 round band. I wanted to highlight the size and color, so I left the silver lip... and the black makes her pop. The patina from wear? Already started here.
Yellow Lake Superior Beach Glass, Sterling Silver, Fine Silver, 14k accent.
Size 7.5
$425

I have this amazing piece of yellow beach glass and a while back I thought I wanted it set in a 14k yellow gold bezel, w...
02/14/2026

I have this amazing piece of yellow beach glass and a while back I thought I wanted it set in a 14k yellow gold bezel, which I rarely do but I never have yellow beach glass... so I did it. Set it beautifully, the bezel was perfect. 14k gold on sterling silver with 14k ball embellishments and all... and I hated it. HATED IT.
My 1st instinct was to finish it fast and put it up for sale. Not my jam, but maybe someone else's? Then life happened and I didn't, and it sat through the holidays and a ton of repairs. Months went by. It just sat on my bench, glass forward, staring at me through it all...
Until today.
I cut that 14k bezel off around the bottom, so I can keep silver and gold separate for re-melt and recycle. And I made a new band out of a sterling silver bangle bracelet I fabricated decades ago. So I'm ending today with the bezel and backplate soldered together and the band ready.
It's going to be a pretty SILVER ring, and yes it'll sport some 14 or maybe 18k gold details just to highlight that yellow.
ART is important right now.
This is mine.
I'm thankful for hammers and torches and power tools. And the feeling that taking something apart to make something more beautiful - that you can love - is important.
Rip it all apart and make it new...

Oh, boy...
01/23/2026

Oh, boy...

A certain size/texture/weight/finish was requested for studs. I don't normally make straight-up studs but this request w...
12/18/2025

A certain size/texture/weight/finish was requested for studs.
I don't normally make straight-up studs but this request was based on earrings that had the element. The originals were sold, so I did my best guess. If these are not the right size/weight/finish, I'll just make some that are right. No worries.

I will be at Warehouse Community Art Center on Railroad St in Eagle River this Saturday, Dec 6 with a booth full of prec...
12/03/2025

I will be at Warehouse Community Art Center on Railroad St in Eagle River this Saturday, Dec 6 with a booth full of precious metal, for the Christmas Market. Come see me and all of the other ultra-talented Artists who will be there! You can expect an amazing selection of 100% handmade - and LOCAL - Christmas gifts and treats for your friends and family, or yourself (we won't tell.) SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL ARTISTS!
While you're there you can check out this amazing community-based Art Center and all they have to offer. The link below will take you to information about the event.
See you Saturday!

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19xjhbcsm5/

Welp, here we are. Silver is at almost $50, too!(This is INSANE.)
10/08/2025

Welp, here we are. Silver is at almost $50, too!
(This is INSANE.)

This was a job I LOVED from a few years ago. The BEADS! Elastic band only lasts for so long... so it came back for a re...
10/06/2025

This was a job I LOVED from a few years ago. The BEADS!
Elastic band only lasts for so long... so it came back for a re-do after one broke. Restrung all with thicker elastic, hoping for a longer life. I LOVE these beads, especially the diamond ones!

I know I've not posted much... I've not been working much! Just finished that one ring, which I'll post when it's approp...
09/21/2025

I know I've not posted much... I've not been working much! Just finished that one ring, which I'll post when it's appropriate (which is when it gets to it's person.) Doing some smaller jobs that only involve silver wire and some beading stuff (we all know how I feel about that.)
Gold and silver prices are INSANE. So, I'm using what I have to do the jobs I've got, but prices are getting to be "WHO tf would pay that?!"
So, I'm not making a lot of stock...hanging on to all the metal I have, and hoping things normalize soon? It's hard to make stock in this market!

Got these. Oh, boy...Price of gold and silver is NUTS...
09/19/2025

Got these.
Oh, boy...
Price of gold and silver is NUTS...

I'm definitely not as productive as I was in my younger years. Lately I've been working on a very special piece and it's...
07/22/2025

I'm definitely not as productive as I was in my younger years. Lately I've been working on a very special piece and it's been months of on-again, off-again love with this one. Huge jumps in my knowledge of gold and how it melts, blends and works, even after almost 30 years. Never a day I didn't learn a thing. For me, I need time. This is why I'd never have been good in a commercial setting. Sorry, not sorry. I'm old... and a cranky artist.
It's almost done. Don't think I'll be able to show y'all for a bit... but I'm SO incredibly honored to have been trusted with it.
When I'm able, I will post process pics of the whole shebang, along with the final piece.
She's a beaut'!

Anneal. Disrupt (hammer.) Anneal. Roll. Repeat until you have what you need. It worked!!
06/12/2025

Anneal. Disrupt (hammer.) Anneal. Roll.
Repeat until you have what you need.
It worked!!

Address

Eagle River, WI
54521

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+17156171162

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