DIY ring studio in Gangneung: same-day silver rings at Mio Gongbang

We came to Gangneung 🌊 and the usual meal → café routine had gotten a bit stale, tbh ㅠㅠ I wanted to try something new, searched around and thought, "Why not make a ring? 😀" So I visited Mio Gongbang (미오공방). I happened to have no accessories, and having a ring I made myself sounded great!! Here's my Mio Gongbang experience in Gangneung.

Getting to Mio Gongbang in Gangneung and where to park

Mio Gongbang is at 177 Toseong-ro, Unit 103, Gangneung-si, and there's a dedicated parking lot right behind the building. We stopped at a café first, left the car in that lot and walked over.

📍There were lots of pretty little prop and gift shops on the walk over 🫢 Pass a whole bunch of them and you'll reach Mio Gongbang.

🅿️Just a heads-up: there's a dedicated parking lot right behind the building.

Inside Mio Gongbang and how to book

Mio Gongbang is 100% reservation only, so you need to call ahead and book a time. The interior is clean and simple, with pink walls and wood-toned work tables.

The staff told us Mio Gongbang used to operate somewhere else and moved here not long ago. ☑️It's 100% reservation only, so please call ahead and set a time‼️

How long does ring-making at Mio Gongbang take, and can you take the ring home the same day?

At Mio Gongbang you make the ring yourself from the first step to the last, which takes about 1 to 1.5 hours. Best of all, same-day pickup is possible, which I loved!

There were all kinds of jewelry, including rings, bracelets and necklaces, with varied designs and styles, so there was plenty to choose from.

Filings fly around while you work, so apron on first! And now we start making the ring~ hehehe

Choosing a design and prices: cubic zirconia add-on and free engraving

At Mio Gongbang, the price depends not just on the design but also on the ring's thickness and whether you add cubic zirconia. The cubic is optional and costs ₩10,000 extra, while engraving (up to 4 characters) and a stamp are free.

I picked a simple ring with a slightly bumpy (?) look, and my friend chose a twisted design with cubic zirconia! Since mine was a simple ring, I went ahead and added engraving too~~

How do you find your ring size?

Once you've picked a design, you need to find the size that fits your finger. What matters most is that it doesn't catch as it passes your knuckle. Making a ring smaller is possible but making it bigger isn't, so keep that in mind when choosing :)

How the silver ring is made: from bending to polishing

Ring-making at Mio Gongbang starts with bending the metal, then you use a torch to fill in the joint. The artist is right beside you, so it's done safely~

Starting with sanding, you file it down, strip off the surface, shape it and polish it, so there are lots of steps~~🔨 Mine was a slightly bumpy ring, and the artist said an irregular shape would look prettier than a regular one, but irregular was a hard thing for me to pull off ^^;;

Choosing an engraving font

Now the finished ring needs its engraving, and picking a font set off my indecisiveness..😅 I'd gone for the thin fonts, no. 6 and 7, but my ring isn't uniform, so the artist suggested a bolder font, and I went with no. 3 haha.

The finished silver rings and ring-care supplies

Once the artist cleaned it for me, the ring was done, like this 💍

On the left is the ring with engraving, and on the right the one with cubic zirconia. I felt weirdly proud ✨ and maybe because I made it myself, it feels special :) I plan to wear it nonstop this summer.

Also, since it's silver, the color can change over time. So a ring-polishing cloth and a thing for shining it up,,, ?? (I don't know what it's called) are both sold separately at Mio Gongbang haha.

Is Mio Gongbang a good indoor date in Gangneung?

It was my first time at a ring workshop, and the Mio Gongbang artist explained everything carefully and helped us along, so it felt relaxed hehehe If you want to try something different in Gangneung, I recommend Mio Gongbang~ It's especially good for couples, and I think it would make a meaningful date haha.