One of the most interesting aspects of choosing a career in the jewelry industry is the many option available. Choosing a training path will depend on your specific goals. It is important to spend some time defining your life-time goals and analyzing your own temperament and abilities. This will save you a lot of aggravation in the long run and will also support you future success.
You may want to start by enrolling in a metal fabrication class at a local community college or taking a variety of workshops that can spark you specific talents and interest. I have found that many times the professors that teach these classes are great mentors and guides.
You may also want to spend some time talking to people in the different areas before you decide what jewelry career you want to pursue.
The following are just some jewelry career options to get you started.
• Metalsmith (gold and/or silver): In this specialty you can work with a variety of materials including metals, and gemstones. It also requires knowledge of construction and fabrication techniques. You can work for a jewelry manufacturing company, or or/and for yourself. Many metalsmith artist work independently and they market their work through their own store or through galleries and jewelry stores.
• Jewelry Manufacturer: You will have the opportunity to develop and manufacture a jewelry line, including small production or mass production runs. You can design your own line or manufacture other people’s designs.
• Custom Order Jeweler: In this capacity you will work directly with the costumer to design and fabricate one of a kind piece of art jewelry. This is a highly specialized area that requires knowledge of jewelry making fabrication techniques, as well as customer service and marketing strategies.
• Artist Jeweler: When the artistic endeavor is of high importance you this is the niche to pursue. It is an area encompasses design, fabrication and handcrafting techniques. It is probably the most risk-taking area of the industry and will require patience to build followers and to achieve strong curriculum vitae.
• Jewelry Craft Artist: A jewelry craft artist usually concentrates in marketing and selling through craft fairs and gallery-stores. Many jewelry crafters create small lines of handcrafted pieces. This area requires time commitment and some out of town travel in order to attend the different craft fairs.
• Fashion Jeweler: In this capacity you can design and manufacture jewelry that is closely linked to the fashion industry. It requires a strong knowledge in public relations, marketing, design, fashion and business. This can be a very lucrative career.
• Designer: As a designer you will in charge of creating jewelry renderings, drawings, models or even wax originals. It can be done by hand sketching or by using Cad software. Designers may be employed by a company or be self employed and do contract work. General knowledge of fabrication is even though you may not be manufacturing the actual pieces.
• Jewelry Craft Artist: A jewelry craftsman who markets through craft fairs and gallery-stores. Many crafters create a line of hand-made, unique or low production run pieces.
• Production Bench Worker: a goldsmith who specializes in production work.
• Repair person: specializes in repairs. This is often the way that many jewelers start and learn about the industry.
• Stone-Setter: This is probably one of the most secure employed positions in the jewelry industry. Stone-setters are well respected and well paid. You can work for a jewelry store, jewelry designer or jewelry manufacturer, the possibilities can be endless.
• Store Owner/Manager: This is probably one of the most profitable career areas in the jewelry industry. It requires strong business knowledge and start-up money.
• Gemologist: As a gemologist you will specialize in the Study of the various categories and varieties of gemstones, synthetic stones and imitation stones. Special gemology includes study on organic substances such as pearls, corals, amber etc. In order to become a proper gemologist you need to get proper gemological training.
• Appraiser: This can be an interesting career choice with ample opportunities working for both the jewelry and insurance industries. Obtaining specialized training in both jewelry manufacturing and gemology is required,
These are just some jewelry career options to explore. Researching the specific areas can give you a better grasp on how to focus your time, money and energy.
To learn more about jewelry making visit. www.theartofmakingjewelry.com [http://www.theartofmakingjewelry.com] Jewelry Making Tips and Techniques – A Resource Guide for Artist and Designers. This website was created to share information about the art of making jewelry with other jewelry artist and designers.
