Jewelers of America

If you like working with your hands and seeing your ideas come to life, consider a career in the jewelry manufacturing arts. This field can be subdivided into many categories of specialized skills and may involve working with precious metals and rare gemstones.

Bench jewelers are responsible for repairing, restoring, and creating jewelry pieces. They have the skills necessary to resize rings, fix chains, set gemstones, and even fabricate jewelry. Jewelers are employed in retail establishments, manufacturing companies, small trade shops, or their own studios.

Key Skills

• Creative – with a strong interest in art and design, particularly sculpture and other three-dimensional media
• Get satisfaction from solving repair problems or determining exactly how to fabricate a piece of jewelry
• Extensive knowledge of metalworking techniques, such as sawing, filing, soldering, and polishing, to create and repair jewelry pieces
• Attention to safety, knowledge of the hazards associated with each chemical/tool/machine
• Ability to work precisely with tools, machines and open flame (torch)
• Problem solving as jewelers often encounter unique challenges and problems during production. A bench jeweler should be able to think creatively and produce solutions to overcome these challenges
• Detail-oriented and patient, as jewelry work requires creativity and an understanding of aesthetic principles, as well as the ability to turn ideas into physical pieces of jewelry
• Fine motor skills such as dexterity, coordination, and hand-eye coordination are essential to work with small tools and intricate jewelry components
• Can plan out and focus on their work – bringing business sense and skills to jobs. This includes being good at maintaining their tools and equipment, managing material supplies, and estimate and control costs

Possible Job Titles in this Pathway

• Bench Jeweler
• Master Bench Jeweler
• Manufacturing Jeweler
• Custom Jeweler Expert
• Goldsmith
• Jewelry CAD (Computer Aided Design) Designer
• Diamond & Gemstone Setter
• Polisher/Finishing
• Restoration/Repair Specialist
• Quality Assurance
• Shop Manager

Salary Expectations

Data is from Jewelers of America’s Jewelry Industry Salary Study conducted April-June 2023 and includes data from 2022. Compensation varies based on experience, specific job responsibilities, company size and location, among other distinctions. Given these variables within a career pathway, data is presented as such: The 25th Percentile indicates 25% of the data fall below this percentile; the Median (50th Percentile) represents the middle number where 50% of answers are lower and 50% are higher; the 75th Percentile indicates 75% of the data fall below this percentile.

Experience & Training

• Some experience with customer service is useful, but a combination of formal training supplemented by a period of apprenticeship is critical. Many jewelers choose to specialize in certain areas, such as repair or stone setting.
• Experience working with diverse materials (precious metals, diamonds, and colored gemstones) is required and jobs with high-end jewelry will often require experience working in that area.
• A growing number of jobs are focused on CAD (Computer Aided Design) design, with companies looking specifically for jewelers with CAD (Computer Aided Design) and model-making training and experience.
• There are many hands-on courses offering basic through advanced-level training. Continuing education courses give you the opportunity to work with master goldsmiths and specialty techniques.
• High-Level certification is available through Jewelers of America. Many employers also require candidates to take bench tests before being offered a job.
• Gemological training is increasingly important and, if you plan to be self-employed, entrepreneurship and basic business classes will be useful.

Related Education or Certification

• Gemological Institute of America (GIA)
• Jewelers of America Bench Certification
• MJSA (Manufacturing Jewelers & Suppliers of America) Mentor & Apprenticeship Program

On the Job

Manual skills – the ability to work quickly and precisely with tools and machines – are critical for bench and manufacturing jewelers. Repairing jewelry can involve ordering or making parts, sizing rings and setting stones. Projects may require wax carving, casting, or working with precious metals to craft custom pieces. More and more, bench jewelers are expected to master high-tech tools like laser welders and 3D CAD (Computer Aided Design) design in addition to basic bench skills like sawing and soldering.

Business skills are important as well. Jewelers are responsible for maintaining their tools and equipment and managing the supplies of precious metal parts (called “findings”) and stones needed to complete jobs. Supervisors and independent contractors will need to master the ability to estimate and control costs and to oversee compliance with laws designed to protect workers and the environment.

In some businesses, jewelers work directly with customers. Your ability to listen, get information from clients, and present yourself positively will help make your business successful. Many bench jewelers report that the joy of seeing the happiness their work can create and knowing success comes from their own hands provides great satisfaction.

Growing in the Industry

The jewelry industry has a strong demand for this position due to rising consumer expectations for customization and upkeep of the jewelry purchased. Most beginning bench jewelers work in trade shops, retail stores or with jewelers that contract work to manufacturers, designers, and retailers. Manufacturing positions are available for a variety of critical functions including polishers, casters, and setters and for jewelers trained to operate the increasingly sophisticated machines. Career advancement usually involves upgrading your technical or management skills, and can involve becoming a master jeweler, managing production for a manufacturer, or even starting your own business.