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Jewellery designer-maker

Jewellery designer-maker

Alternative titles for this job include Silversmith

Jewellery designers plan and create jewellery, silverware and other decorative products.

Average salary (a year)

£16,000 Starter

£50,000 Experienced

Typical hours (a week)

40 to 42 variable

You could work

weekends as customers demand

How to become a jewellery designer-maker

You can get into this job through:

a university course
a college course
an apprenticeship
specialist courses run by a professional body

University

You can do a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in:

jewellery design
jewellery and metal design
3D design crafts
art and design

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

a foundation diploma in art and design
1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma
2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

More information

College

You can do short courses in specific types of jewellery making at college, or through a private course provider like a jewellery studio or workshop.

Courses vary in content so it's worth checking carefully to make sure they cover what you need.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for these courses vary.

More information

search for courses

Apprenticeship

You may be able to start in this job through an intermediate or advanced apprenticeship in:

jewellery silversmithing and allied trades: manufacturing
jewellery silversmithing and allied trades: silversmithing

The British Academy of Jewellery offers apprenticeships in jewellery manufacture and design across England.

The Goldsmiths' Company offers apprenticeships to young people aged 16 to 21 in London and the south-east.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship

More information

Other routes

You can do short, specialist courses run by organisations like the British Academy of Jewellery .

More information

Career tips

Jewellery design is very competitive and not all vacancies are advertised. You may find it useful to make contacts within the industry to help find work. You could do this by going to trade fairs and exhibitions.

Further information

You can find out more about becoming a jewellery designer-maker from Creative Choices.

You can get more information on working in creative careers from Discover Creative Careers.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

the ability to work well with your hands
to be thorough and pay attention to detail
customer service skills
the ability to come up with new ways of doing things
analytical thinking skills
the ability to use your initiative
ambition and a desire to succeed
physical skills like movement, coordination, dexterity and grace
to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

Your day to day tasks may include:

discussing a design (brief) with your client
producing designs by hand or using CAD software
making up models of jewellery for mass production
sourcing gemstones, precious metals and other jewellery parts
using equipment like jewellery saws and soldering irons
cutting, polishing and setting gemstones or other materials
using different metals in your jewellery making like silver, gold or palladium
using materials like polymer clays, resins, wood or glass
marketing and selling your work, if self-employed

Working environment

You could work in a creative studio, from home, in a workshop or in a factory.

Career path and progression

You could become self-employed and sell your designs to manufacturers. Or, you could make up the designs and sell them yourself through galleries, in shops and online.

Current opportunities

Apprenticeships In England

We can't find any apprenticeship vacancies in England for a jewellery designer-maker right now.

The Find an apprenticeship service can help you with your search, send alerts when new apprenticeships become available and has advice on how to apply.

Courses In England

Foundation Diploma Jewellery Design and Manufacturing

Provider: BRITISH ACADEMY OF JEWELLERY LIMITED
Start date: 01 September 2020
Location: London