Jewelers
Jewelers create, repair, and appraise beautiful jewelry using precious metals and gemstones. They combine artistic creativity with technical skills, using everything from traditional hand tools to modern computer-aided design (CAD) software to craft custom pieces. The work involves examining and grading diamonds, resetting stones, resizing rings, and polishing finished pieces to perfection. Many jewelers work in small studios or retail shops, collaborating with customers to bring their vision to life while mastering both the business and artistic sides of this craft.
Did you know?
Most successful jewelry designers in America benefit from formal education in jewelry design, metalworking, or gemology to master essential technical skills and industry standards.
At a glance
Typical average pay
$48,400 Avg/yr
Growth
Stable
Top skill
Active Listening
Things to consider
Entrepreneurial Business Acumen
Many jewelry designers operate as independent businesses or freelancers, requiring strong marketing, pricing, and customer relationship management skills to succeed in the competitive American market.
Market Differentiation and Niche Development
The American jewelry market is highly saturated, making it crucial for designers to develop a unique style, target specific customer segments, or specialize in particular types of jewelry to stand out.
Key responsibilities
Design and fabricate molds, models, and machine accessories, and modify hand tools used to cast metal and jewelry pieces.
Create jewelry from materials such as gold, silver, platinum, and precious or semiprecious stones.
Position stones and metal pieces, and set, mount, and secure items in place, using setting and hand tools.
Weigh, mix, and melt metal alloys or materials needed for jewelry models.
Smooth soldered joints and rough spots, using hand files and emery paper, and polish smoothed areas with polishing wheels or buffing wire.