Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers

Design, fabricate, adjust, repair, or appraise jewelry, gold, silver, other precious metals, or gems.

Also Known As:

Appraiser Artisan Jeweler Bench Jeweler Caster Gemologist Goldsmith Jeweler Polisher Silversmith Stone Setter

Wages

Hourly

Annual wages for Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers in United States

Job Outlook Below Average

New job opportunities are less likely in the future

United States 2034 Projected Employment

33,200

-6% Change From 2024

Explore Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers video

Tasks you might complete in a day.

Make repairs, such as enlarging or reducing ring sizes, soldering pieces of jewelry together, and replacing broken clasps and mountings.
Select and acquire metals and gems for designs.
Create new jewelry designs and modify existing designs, using computers as necessary.
Mark, engrave, or emboss designs on metal pieces such as castings, wire, or jewelry, following specifications.
Design and fabricate molds, models, and machine accessories, and modify hand tools used to cast metal and jewelry pieces.
Write or modify design specifications such as the metal contents and weights of items.
Cut designs in molds or other materials to be used as models in the fabrication of metal and jewelry products.
Anneal precious metal objects such as coffeepots, tea sets, and trays in gas ovens for prescribed times to soften metal for reworking.
Cut and file pieces of jewelry such as rings, brooches, bracelets, and lockets.
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.
Record the weights and processing times of finished pieces.
Smooth soldered joints and rough spots, using hand files and emery paper, and polish smoothed areas with polishing wheels or buffing wire.
Clean and polish metal items and jewelry pieces, using jewelers' tools, polishing wheels, and chemical baths.
Examine assembled or finished products to ensure conformance to specifications, using magnifying glasses or precision measuring instruments.
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.
Position stones and metal pieces, and set, mount, and secure items in place, using setting and hand tools.
Lay out designs on metal stock, and cut along markings to fabricate pieces used to cast metal molds.
Weigh, mix, and melt metal alloys or materials needed for jewelry models.
Weigh, mix, and melt metal alloys or materials needed for jewelry models.
Anneal precious metal objects such as coffeepots, tea sets, and trays in gas ovens for prescribed times to soften metal for reworking.
Construct preliminary models of wax, metal, clay, or plaster, and form sample castings in molds.
Buy and sell jewelry, or serve as agents between buyers and sellers.
Lay out designs on metal stock, and cut along markings to fabricate pieces used to cast metal molds.
Rotate molds to distribute alloys and to prevent formation of air pockets.
Pierce and cut open designs in ornamentation, using hand drills and scroll saws.
Cut and file pieces of jewelry such as rings, brooches, bracelets, and lockets.
Smooth soldered joints and rough spots, using hand files and emery paper, and polish smoothed areas with polishing wheels or buffing wire.
Clean and polish metal items and jewelry pieces, using jewelers' tools, polishing wheels, and chemical baths.
Compute costs of labor and materials to determine production costs of products and articles.
Shape and straighten damaged or twisted articles by hand or using pliers.
Select and acquire metals and gems for designs.
Pour molten metal alloys or other materials into molds to cast models of jewelry.
Research and analyze reference materials, and consult with interested parties to develop new products or modify existing designs.
Buy and sell jewelry, or serve as agents between buyers and sellers.
Soften metal to be used in designs by heating it with a gas torch and shape it, using hammers and dies.
Soften metal to be used in designs by heating it with a gas torch and shape it, using hammers and dies.
Research and analyze reference materials, and consult with interested parties to develop new products or modify existing designs.
Determine appraised values of diamonds and other gemstones based on price guides, market fluctuations, and stone grades and rarity.
Pierce and cut open designs in ornamentation, using hand drills and scroll saws.
Rout out locations where parts are to be joined to items, using routing machines.
Weigh, mix, and melt metal alloys or materials needed for jewelry models.

Subject areas you may need to master.

Geography - Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
Philosophy and Theology - Knowledge of different philosophical systems and religions. This includes their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and their impact on human culture.
Chemistry - Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
Communications and Media - Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
Psychology - Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
Fine Arts - Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.
Therapy and Counseling - Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
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.
Design - Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
Building and Construction - Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Medicine and Dentistry - Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
Sociology and Anthropology - Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures, and their history and origins.
History and Archeology - Knowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and effects on civilizations and cultures.
Physics - Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub-atomic structures and processes.
English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.
Biology - Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
Foreign Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of a foreign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.
Transportation - Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Public Safety and Security - Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
Law and Government - Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
Telecommunications - Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
Economics and Accounting - Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking, and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
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.
Personnel and Human Resources - Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
Production and Processing - Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
Mechanical - Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Food Production - Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.
Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Administrative - Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.
Engineering and Technology - Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.

Strengths you may need in this role.

Management of Financial Resources - Making spending decisions and keeping track of what is spent.
Instructing - Teaching people how to do something.
Equipment Maintenance - Planning and doing the basic maintenance on equipment.
Negotiation - Bringing people together to solve differences.
Operation and Control - Using equipment or systems.
Repairing - Repairing machines or systems using the right tools.
Systems Analysis - Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it.
Service Orientation - Looking for ways to help people.
Operations Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or display screens to make sure a machine is working.
Complex Problem Solving - Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
Time Management - Managing your time and the time of other people.
Learning Strategies - Using the best training or teaching strategies for learning new things.
Mathematics - Using math to solve problems.
Systems Evaluation - Measuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.
Operations Analysis - Figuring out what a product or service needs to be able to do.
Active Learning - Figuring out how to use new ideas or things.
Installation - Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs.
Reading Comprehension - Reading work-related information.
Troubleshooting - Figuring out what is causing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs to not work.
Social Perceptiveness - Understanding people's reactions.
Technology Design - Making equipment and technology useful for customers.
Active Listening - Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
Quality Control Analysis - Testing how well a product or service works.
Management of Material Resources - Managing equipment and materials.
Critical Thinking - Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
Persuasion - Talking people into changing their minds or their behavior.
Equipment Selection - Deciding what kind of tools and equipment are needed to do a job.
Programming - Writing computer programs.
Coordination - Changing what is done based on other people's actions.
Writing - Writing things for co-workers or customers.
Monitoring - Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements.
Speaking - Talking to others.
Science - Using scientific rules and strategies to solve problems.
Management of Personnel Resources - Selecting and managing the best workers for a job.
Judgment and Decision Making - Thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one.
Oral Comprehension - Listening and understanding what people say.
Response Orientation - Quickly deciding if you should move your hand, foot, or other body part.
Trunk Strength - Using your lower back and stomach.
Information Ordering - Ordering or arranging things.
Hearing Sensitivity - Telling the difference between sounds.
Rate Control - Changing when and how fast you move based on how something else is moving.
Stamina - Exercising for a long time without getting out of breath.
Dynamic Flexibility - Quickly and repeatedly bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching out with your body, arms, and/or legs.
Dynamic Strength - Exercising for a long time without your muscles getting tired.
Problem Sensitivity - Noticing when problems happen.
Flexibility of Closure - Seeing hidden patterns.
Visualization - Imagining how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
Multilimb Coordination - Using your arms and/or legs together while sitting, standing, or lying down.
Speech Clarity - Speaking clearly.
Gross Body Equilibrium - Keeping your balance or staying upright.
Written Comprehension - Reading and understanding what is written.
Originality - Creating new and original ideas.
Deductive Reasoning - Using rules to solve problems.
Inductive Reasoning - Making general rules or coming up with answers from lots of detailed information.
Perceptual Speed - Quickly comparing groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
Spatial Orientation - Knowing where things are around you.
Selective Attention - Paying attention to something without being distracted.
Finger Dexterity - Putting together small parts with your fingers.
Static Strength - Lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying.
Reaction Time - Quickly moving your hand, finger, or foot based on a sound, light, picture or other command.
Visual Color Discrimination - Noticing the difference between colors, including shades and brightness.
Depth Perception - Deciding which thing is closer or farther away from you, or deciding how far away it is from you.
Far Vision - Seeing details that are far away.
Speed of Limb Movement - Quickly moving your arms and legs.
Mathematical Reasoning - Choosing the right type of math to solve a problem.
Fluency of Ideas - Coming up with lots of ideas.
Speed of Closure - Quickly knowing what you are looking at.
Category Flexibility - Grouping things in different ways.
Sound Localization - Noticing the direction that a sound came from.
Oral Expression - Communicating by speaking.
Number Facility - Adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing.
Arm-Hand Steadiness - Keeping your arm or hand steady.
Explosive Strength - Jumping, sprinting, or throwing something.
Control Precision - Quickly changing the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.
Time Sharing - Doing two or more things at the same time.
Glare Sensitivity - Seeing something even if there is a glare or very bright light.
Peripheral Vision - Seeing something to your side when your are looking ahead.
Near Vision - Seeing details up close.
Wrist-Finger Speed - Making fast, simple, repeated movements of your fingers, hands, and wrists.
Written Expression - Communicating by writing.
Memorization - Remembering words, numbers, pictures, or steps.
Extent Flexibility - Bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching with your body, arms, and/or legs.
Manual Dexterity - Holding or moving items with your hands.
Auditory Attention - Paying attention to one sound while there are other distracting sounds.
Speech Recognition - Recognizing spoken words.
Gross Body Coordination - Moving your arms, legs, and mid-section together while your whole body is moving.
Night Vision - Seeing at night or under low light.