Occupation Details
Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers
Design, fabricate, adjust, repair, or appraise jewelry, gold, silver, other precious metals, or gems.
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Interests
Realistic
Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Artistic
Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
Conventional
Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
Work Values
Achievement
Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
Working Conditions
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
Recognition
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.
Salary & Job Outlook
Starting Salary
$37,470.00
New York StateMedian Salary
$49,890.00
New York StateExperienced Salary
$66,080.00
New York StateNational Average for Comparison
New York State Job Market Outlook
Jobs Right Now (2018)
4,430
professionals in NYFuture Job Growth (2030)
4,890
+46 jobs/yearNew Jobs Every Year
606
new opportunities yearlyGrowth Rate
0.1%
projected increasePreparation: Experience, Training, and Education
The list below outlines the prior educational experience required to perform in this occupation.
College Helps - Some college classes or training
Experience Requirements
Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
Education Requirements
Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Training Details
Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Transferrable Skills and Experience
These occupations usually involve using communication and organizational skills to coordinate, supervise, manage, or train others to accomplish goals. Examples include hydroelectric production managers, desktop publishers, electricians, agricultural technicians, barbers, court reporters and simultaneous captioners, and medical assistants.
School Programs
The following lists school programs which are applicable to this occupation.
Licensing & Certification
State License and Certifications Requirements are not currently associated with this occupation.
Apprenticeship
Contact your regional representative to learn more about apprenticeships available in your area by visiting Apprenticeship Contacts.
Skills
The list below includes the skills required by workers in this occupation; skills are what allow you to learn more quickly and improve your performance.
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Judgment and Decision Making
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Complex Problem Solving
Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Quality Control Analysis
Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Skill level is measured on a seven point scale, where one means 'some competence required for this occupation' and seven means 'a high level of expertise required for this occupation'.
Knowledge
The list below includes knowledge items, the principles and facts required by this occupation.
Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Production and Processing
Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
Design
Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
Mechanical
Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Sales and Marketing
Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
Mathematics
Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Knowledge level is measured on a seven point scale, where one means 'some competence required for this occupation' and seven means 'a high level of expertise required for this occupation'.
Work Environment
The list below includes the physical and social factors that influence the nature of work in this occupation.
Hover over or tap each factor to see its description.
Work Styles
Included in the list below are the personal work style characteristics that can affect how well a worker is likely to perform in this occupation.
Achievement/Effort
Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
Analytical Thinking
Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
Attention to Detail
Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Dependability
Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Initiative
Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Innovation
Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.
Integrity
Job requires being honest and ethical.
Persistence
Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
Self-Control
Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Stress Tolerance
Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
Tools & Technology
This list below describes the machines, equipment, tools, software, and information technology that workers in this occupation will use.
Tools
- Adjustable bench vises
- Air compressors
- Automatic lathes
- Awl sets
- Bail pliers
- Ball peen hammers
- Banding pliers
- Battery testers
- Bead reamers
- Beading pliers
- Beading tools
- Beading tweezers
- Belt sanders
- Bench knives
- Bench refractometers
- Bench top polishers
- Bending pliers
- Bent chain nose pliers
- Binocular magnifiers
- Blow torches
- Bow opening pliers
- Bristle brushes
- Bur gauges
- Burnishing tools
- Case presses
- Casting torches
- Chasing hammers
- Chasing tools
- Cordless power drills
- Cross locking tweezers
Technology
- Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop
- Computer assisted jewelry design CAD software
- Customer information databases
- Intuit QuickBooks
- Inventory tracking software
- Jewelry store point of sale POS software
- Metal designing software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Word
- Retail management software
Duties
Duties are job behaviors describing activities that occur on multiple jobs. The generalized and detailed work activities described in the list below apply to this occupation.
- maintain production or work records
- test manufactured products or materials
- compute production, construction, or installation specifications
- measure, weigh, or count products or materials
- measure, weigh, or count products or materials
- lay out machining, welding or precision assembly projects
- confer with engineering, technical or manufacturing personnel
- confer with engineering, technical or manufacturing personnel
- hand engrave jewelry-related products
- mix paint, ingredients, or chemicals, according to specifications
- mix paint, ingredients, or chemicals, according to specifications
- polish jewelry, silverware or related products
- polish jewelry, silverware or related products
- set gemstones
- cast metal objects
- cast metal objects
- precision cast patterns, molds, or dies
- cut metal or plastic
- fabricate, assemble, or disassemble manufactured products by hand
- fabricate, assemble, or disassemble manufactured products by hand
- hand carve objects from stone or other materials
- engrave variety of materials and products
- engrave variety of materials and products
- cut gemstones
- operate lathes
- use precision measuring tools or equipment
- operate metal or plastic fabricating equipment/machinery
- use cash registers
- use cash registers
- use hand or power tools
- use hand or power tools
- use acetylene welding/cutting torch
- use acetylene welding/cutting torch
- solder metal parts or components together
- solder metal parts or components together
- use soldering equipment
- use soldering equipment
- operate centrifugal casting machine
- use engraving techniques
- use engraving techniques
- examine products or work to verify conformance to specifications
- examine products or work to verify conformance to specifications
- recognize characteristics of metals
- recognize characteristics of metals
- recognize characteristics of alloys
- recognize characteristics of alloys
- grade, classify, or sort products according to specifications
- inspect merchandise to determine value
- estimate production costs
- read technical drawings
- read technical drawings
- make independent judgment in assembly procedures
- make independent judgment in assembly procedures
- fabricate model or mold for jewelry, silverware or related products
- fabricate model or mold for jewelry, silverware or related products
- design molds
- design molds
- determine specifications
Tasks
The list below outlines specific tasks that a worker in this occupation is called upon to do regularly.
- Position stones and metal pieces, and set, mount, and secure items in place, using setting and hand tools.
- Smooth soldered joints and rough spots, using hand files and emery paper, and polish smoothed areas with polishing wheels or buffing wire.
- Create jewelry from materials such as gold, silver, platinum, and precious or semiprecious stones.
- Make repairs, such as enlarging or reducing ring sizes, soldering pieces of jewelry together, and replacing broken clasps and mountings.
- Clean and polish metal items and jewelry pieces, using jewelers' tools, polishing wheels, and chemical baths.
- Cut and file pieces of jewelry such as rings, brooches, bracelets, and lockets.
- Select and acquire metals and gems for designs.
- Compute costs of labor and materials in order to determine production costs of products and articles.
- Anneal precious metal objects such as coffeepots, tea sets, and trays in gas ovens for prescribed times to soften metal for reworking.
- Examine assembled or finished products to ensure conformance to specifications, using magnifying glasses or precision measuring instruments.
- Pierce and cut open designs in ornamentation, using hand drills and scroll saws.
- Construct preliminary models of wax, metal, clay, or plaster, and form sample castings in molds.
- Weigh, mix, and melt metal alloys or materials needed for jewelry models.
- Rotate molds to distribute alloys and to prevent formation of air pockets.
- Pour molten metal alloys or other materials into molds in order to cast models of jewelry.
- Shape and straighten damaged or twisted articles by hand or using pliers.
- Rout out locations where parts are to be joined to items, using routing machines.
- Soften metal to be used in designs by heating it with a gas torch and shape it, using hammers and dies.
- Determine appraised values of diamonds and other gemstones based on price guides, market fluctuations, and stone grades and rarity.
- Grade stones based on their color, perfection, and quality of cut.
- Plate articles such as jewelry pieces and watch dials, using silver, gold, nickel, or other metals.
- Write or modify design specifications such as the metal contents and weights of items.
- Create new jewelry designs and modify existing designs, using computers as necessary.
- Buy and sell jewelry, or serve as agents between buyers and sellers.
- Record the weights and processing times of finished pieces.
- Lay out designs on metal stock, and cut along markings to fabricate pieces used to cast metal molds.
- Mark, engrave, or emboss designs on metal pieces such as castings, wire, or jewelry, following specifications.
- Cut designs in molds or other materials to be used as models in the fabrication of metal and jewelry products.
- Design and fabricate molds, models, and machine accessories, and modify hand tools used to cast metal and jewelry pieces.
- Research and analyze reference materials, and consult with interested parties in order to develop new products or modify existing designs.
Learning Resources
More information on this occupation may be found in the links provided below.
Jewelers and precious stone and metal workers
Visit this link for additional information on this career from the Occupational Outlook Handbook; a publication produced and maintained by the United States Department of Labor.
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