Jewellery designer-maker jobs

If you believed that the only way to become a jeweler was to have a degree in the subject, you should rethink that assumption.

Because there are so many different ways to earn a living with jewelry these days, choose the one that's best for you could seem to be an insurmountable challenge. Because of this, allow me to shed some light on the situation...

Take a look at some of the questions you need to ask yourself, and after you've done that, choose which of the available options will serve you in the most effective manner.

Consider the following questions:

What do you want to accomplish?

What are your goals and expectations for your career as a jeweler when you finally get there?

Do you have an interest in launching your own company?

Would you be happier working for another employer instead?

Create a piece of jewelry that will be produced?

Would you be interested in a career in the fine jewelry industry?

Wedding jewellery?

Sell online?

Put up a storefront?

Do you set your shop at flea markets?

Consider your aspirations and objectives with great consideration. The more specific you can be about what you want and do not want from your education, the greater chance you have of making the decision that is best for you.

What is your current time availability?

If you don't have to work or take care of others, you should be able to devote your complete attention to your studies. Are you excited to get started right now, or would you rather study over a longer period of time?

What is your current financial situation like?

Think about how much money you really have available to spend. To become skilled in producing jewelry, it is not necessary to go into debt.

Your Options:

Jewellery degree:

Although you may get a degree at any point in your life, the most common way to break into the jewelry industry is by earning a degree in the field after completing your formal schooling. The majority of these degrees require students to attend school full-time for a period of three years and focus on the more conventional approaches to jewelry manufacturing, such as silversmithing and silverworking. Despite the fact that this is an intensive approach to learn and improve your talents, the cost of tuition fees in England and Wales is substantial, and there are other ways to study jewellery making that are more cost efficient and take less time.

Although there have been discussions about altering some classes, the vast majority of degree programs continue to emphasize production and do not include instruction on business skills.

Advice:

If you have the feeling that obtaining a degree would be beneficial to you, then you need to complete the following research:

Examine the material covered in the class to determine whether or not it corresponds to the skills you want to acquire. Since the subject matter and level of difficulty of degree programs are subject to wide variation, it is essential that you are 100 percent certain that the program is appropriate for you before enrolling.

Do the math and find out how much it will set you back in terms of costs. What kind of a price range can we expect for the course materials? How much money should you set aside each month to cover your living expenses?

Apprenticeships and jobs suitable for beginning workers:

An apprenticeship is a kind of on-the-job training in which participants are compensated for their time while gaining valuable experience. Traditionally, an apprentice will also be working toward a certification in jewelry manufacturing; but, in actuality, there aren't that many possibilities to do so that are available.

Advice:

You might apply for an apprenticeship through the British Academy of Jewellers, or you could talk to jewelers in your area and see if any of them would be prepared to take you on as an apprentice.

Traditional apprenticeships are very uncommon in the jewelry industry at this time. If you are fortunate enough to find one, it will most likely be in the form of an entry-level benchwork employment in which you will be taught to do a particular skill or duties. Anyone who hires you for a position of this kind will, as a matter of course, anticipate that you will already have had some form of fundamental instruction (see the options below).

As is the case with everything else, a great deal will rely on the employer you choose and the kind of job they perform. There are some individuals who wind up performing a lot of jewelry repairs or creating the same goods over and over again, but if you do this, there is potential for you to utilize this expertise to start your own company in the future.

Benchpeg is an online newsletter that jewelers often advertise in, so if you want to locate possibilities like this, you should make sure that you are registered to the Benchpeg newsletter. You could also do a search on the internet for jewelers in your neighborhood and then get in touch with them to inquire about any employment opportunities they may have, especially in the weeks leading up to the holiday season. There is a possibility that a temporary opportunity may lead to a more permanent offer being made to you.

Jewellery Diploma:

A diploma in jewelry is often completed in a shorter amount of time than a degree program, and its primary emphasis is frequently on the acquisition and improvement of new skills. At the London Jewellery School, we provide a Diploma program that lasts for one year. During this program, students come in one day each week to work with seasoned instructors. Our primary emphasis is on ensuring that you have the necessary abilities to create jewelry. Alongside our jewelry manufacturing classes, we also provide instruction on subjects such as how to manage a jewelry company and jewelry photography. Class sizes are kept small, and we focus on assisting individuals who want to launch and manage their own jewelry enterprises. In addition, we provide Diploma students with a subscription to our sister organization, Jewellers Academy, for a period of one year. This allows students to make relationships, participate in communities, and learn about the most up-to-date business and marketing tactics for jewelers.