Whether it’s creating a diamond wedding ring or making a one-of-a-kind necklace, jewelers create wearable art. Jewelers and precious stone and metal workers design and make jewelry, and often sell it as well. They also repair older jewelry, and may appraise the value of both gems and jewelry. Precious metal workers use hand tools to shape gold, silver, and other metals. Gemologists use microscopes and computerized tools to examine gemstones or finished pieces and certify their quality. Jewelry appraisers research the jewelry market using reference books, auction catalogs, price lists, and the Internet to determine the value of jewelry, and then write appraisal documents. They may work for jewelry stores, appraisal firms, auction houses, pawnbrokers, or insurance companies. Bench jewelers usually work for jewelry retailers, doing tasks ranging from simple jewelry cleaning and repair to making molds and pieces from scratch. Many jewelers and precious stone and metal workers are self-employed… selling products at trade and craft shows or online. Others work in jewelry stores, repair shops, and manufacturing facilities. Most have varied schedules, and spend much of their time at a workbench. Although high school education and on-the-job training are typical paths to enter these fields, taking classes at a technical school may improve employment prospects.
What they do:
Fabricate and repair jewelry articles. Make models or molds to create jewelry items.
On the job, you would:
Smooth soldered joints and rough spots, using hand files and emery paper, and polish smoothed areas with polishing wheels or buffing wire.
Position stones and metal pieces, and set, mount, and secure items in place, using setting and hand tools.
Create jewelry from materials such as gold, silver, platinum, and precious or semiprecious stones.
Business
customer service
sales and marketing
Engineering and Technology
design
Manufactured or Agricultural Goods
manufacture and distribution of products
Basic Skills
thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem
talking to others
Problem Solving
noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it
Hand and Finger Use
keep your arm or hand steady
put together small parts with your fingers
Ideas and Logic
create new and original ideas
group things in different ways
People interested in this work like activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions.
They do well at jobs that need:
Integrity
Attention to Detail
Dependability
Innovation
Analytical Thinking
Initiative
You might use software like this on the job:
Accounting software
Intuit QuickBooks
Point of sale POS software
Jewelry store point of sale POS software
Customer relationship management CRM software
Customer information databases
high school diploma/GED or certificate after high school usually needed
Get started on your career:
New job opportunities are less likely in the future.