The Florida Society of Goldsmiths first met on the campus of the University of South Florida on January 15, 1984 for the purpose of "forming an educational nonprofit group to provide workshops, lectures, shows and related activities for interested jewelers and related crafts.”  Nine people attended and selected Phil London as president, Richard Miller as vice president, Brenda Osborne as secretary, and Edward Borow as treasurer. The group quickly grew to a membership of 40 and the society became a Florida corporation on December 21, 1984. It acquired tax-exempt status in September 1985.

In the beginning FSG developed a close working relationship with the Florida Gulf Coast Art Center in Belleair, Florida. Collaboration with FGCAC resulted in workshops featuring many leaders in the art-metal movement. Collaboration with FGCAC also resulted in the first exhibition of art-metal jewelry by Florida artists, in May 1986. Since 1987 FSG chapters have sponsored an annual art-metal workshop program at Wildacres, near Little Switzerland, North Carolina, a retreat facility dedicated to education, the arts and personal rejuvenation, featuring some of the best known in the American art-metal movement.

In 1989 the Society reorganized into a state/local chapter structure to better serve the widely distributed membership. Today there are six chapters: Northeast, Northwest, South, Southeast, Southwest, and West Coast. Members-at-large reside out of state and abroad. The chapters provide workshops and educational programs for members around the country. Each chapter’s members elect a governing board of directors. The statewide organization coordinates the activities of the chapters, with its own board of directors.