Jewellery designer-maker

Entry Requirements:

You can get into this job through:

• a university course
• a college course
• an apprenticeship
• specialist courses run by a professional body

University

You can do a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in:

• jewellery design
• jewellery and silversmithing
• design crafts
• art and design
• fine art

Entry requirements:

• a foundation diploma in art and design
• 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma
• 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

College

You can do a college course to start your career in jewellery making, such as:

• art and design
• design crafts
• T Level in Craft and Design

You can also do short courses in specific types of jewellery making at a college, or with a private course provider like a jewellery studio or workshop.

Short courses vary in content, so it's important to check details carefully to make sure they cover what you want to do.

Entry requirements:

• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T level

Apprenticeship

You may be able to start in this job through a Jewellery, Silversmithing and Allied Trades Professional Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship.

The British Academy of Jewellery also offers apprenticeships in jewellery and silversmithing in Birmingham and London.

The Goldsmiths' Company offers apprenticeships for young people aged 16 to 24 in London and the south-east.

Entry requirements:

OtherRoutes

You could do short, specialist courses run by organisations like the British Academy of Jewellery and Goldsmiths' Foundation Programme .

Courses like these can lead on to apprenticeships or training in further or higher education.

Required Skills:

Digital skills : to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

Skills:

• design skills and knowledge
• the ability to work well with your hands
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• customer service skills
• the ability to come up with new ways of doing things
• the ability to use your initiative
• excellent verbal communication skills
• ambition and a desire to succeed
• physical skills like movement, coordination, dexterity and grace
• knowledge of manufacturing production and processes
• thinking and reasoning skills
• the ability to sell products and services
• analytical thinking skills
• knowledge of maths
• the ability to use your judgement and make decisions
• the ability to analyse quality or performance
• operations analysis skills
• the ability to think clearly using logic and reasoning
• concentration skills
• the ability to read English

What you'll do:

Jewellery designer-makers create jewellery and decorative products, using materials like gemstones, precious metals, acrylics and enamels.

As a jewellery designer-maker, you would:

• discuss design ideas with your client
• produce designs and scale drawings by hand or with CAD software
• cut, shape and set precious stones and metals with hand and machine tools
• repair or restore jewellery and silverwork to its original condition
• finish items by polishing, enamelling and engraving
• check the quality of finished products

You would also market and sell your work, if you're self-employed.

Location : You could work in a creative studio, from home, in a workshop or in a factory.

Salary:

Starter : variable
Experienced : variable

These figures are a guide

Working hours:

40 - 42 hours variable

Working Pattern is weekends as customers demand

Career Path:

If you're working for a jewellery design or jewellery-making company, you could become a:

• lead designer
• merchandiser
• buyer
• creative director

You might become self-employed and sell your designs to manufacturers or directly to clients. You could also create products from your designs and sell them through galleries, craft centres, in shops and online.