Jewellery designers design and often make jewellery using a variety of materials, including gold, silver and precious stones. They design and plan pieces that can have great sentimental significance or symbolic meaning, can be wearable or are decorative artefacts in their own right. Designers can produce designs for mass production or can make small numbers of objects or individual pieces commissioned by a client. Some jewellery designers focus more on design, using specialist companies to provide the different stages of the making process.

Tasks:

1. Holding consultations with commissioning clients
2. Discussing a client's range of options and formulating original ideas
3. Sketching out ideas, sometimes using computer-aided design (CAD), to help the client visualise the finished design
4. Mounting - making the framework for the piece of jewellery. This involves handling, forming and drilling metal, and opening out holes in which to place the selected gems
5. Model making (casting) - making an object or decorative detail using a mould
6. Stamping and presswork
7. Chasing - making a raised pattern on the surface of the metal
8. Soldering and fabrication
9. Polishing - ensuring the finish of the piece

Key skills for jewellery designer:

• Creative thinking and vision
• The practical ability to work with tools and materials, such as metals and gemstones
• Drawing and computer design skills
• Dexterity, an eye for detail and good hand-eye coordination
• Accuracy and attention to detail
• Organisation and time-management skills and the ability to work to deadlines
• Patience
• Commercial awareness and the confidence and temperament to be successful in the business world
• The ability to market yourself and your work
• Skills in negotiation and persuasion when dealing with suppliers and buyers

Average salary (2014):

The United Kingdom: £30,000 per year
The United States of America: $46,001 per year
Australia: AU$45,000 per year

Qualifications and training required:

Any art and design degree/HND/foundation degree with a craft or making element may give you an advantage, in particular, fashion design, textile design, fine art or applied arts. It may be possible to enter this type of work with other art and design degrees if you have a suitable portfolio and are prepared to learn the relevant craft-based skills.

A degree or HND is not essential for entry - proven craft skills are more important than subject of study - but those without a higher education qualification would usually need to undertake an apprenticeship or on-the-job training. A postgraduate qualification is not necessary for entry into this profession, although it may be useful for making the transition from other areas of art and design.

Work experience is valuable and helps build up a network of industry contacts as well as providing experience of working in the jewellery industry.