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- Creative work designing and making jewellery using craft skills
- You'll need creative and artistic ability, good hand-to-eye coordination, and practical skills for using tools and materials
- Many jewellery designers are self-employed and sell their designs through galleries, in shops, and online
DAY-TO-DAY DUTIES
- Discussing a design (brief) with your client
- Producing designs by hand or using CAD software
- Making up models of jewellery for mass production
- Sourcing gemstones, precious metals and other jewellery parts
- Using equipment like jewellery saws and soldering irons
- Cutting, polishing and setting gemstones or other materials
- Using different metals in your jewellery making like silver, gold or palladium
- Using materials like polymer clays, resins, wood or glass
- Marketing and selling your work (if self-employed)
DAY-TO-DAY ENVIRONMENT
If you're freelance you'll set your own hours. You'll work from home, in a factory, in a studio or in a workshop.
You'll need
For this role, you'll need the ability to work well with your hands, come up with new ways of doing things, and use your initiative; thoroughness and attention to detail; customer service skills; analytical thinking skills; and physical skills like movement, co-ordination, dexterity and grace.
You can do a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in jewellery design, jewellery and metal design, 3D design crafts, or art and design.
You can do short courses in specific types of jewellery making at college, or through a private course provider like a jewellery studio or workshop.
You may be able to get this job through an intermediate or advanced apprenticeship in jewellery silversmithing and allied trades. The British Academy of Jewellery offers apprenticeships in jewellery manufacture and design across England.
Jewellery design can be competitive and not all vacancies are advertised, so making contacts within the industry at trade fairs and exhibitions can help you to find work.
CAREER PROSPECTS
You could become self-employed and sell your designs to manufacturers. Or, you could make up designs and sell them yourself through galleries, in shops and online.