Filigree maker

Description

Filigree makers create a delicate kind of jewellery, usually of gold and silver, called a filigree. They solder together tiny beads, twisted threads or a combination of the two to the surface of an object in the same metal, arranged in an artistic motif.

Other titles

The following job titles also refer to filigree maker:

filigree metalworker
filigree artist
filigree worker
filigree jewellery worker
fiigree designer
filagree maker
filigree jewelry worker
filigree craftsman
jewelery metalworker

Minimum qualifications

A high school diploma is generally required to work as a filigree maker.

ISCO skill level

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

  • the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
  • the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
  • the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Filigree maker is a Skill level 2 occupation.

Filigree maker career path

Similar occupations

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to filigree maker.

jewellery assembler
goldsmith
jewellery mounter
silversmith
jeweller

Long term prospects

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of filigree maker. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of filigree maker with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

jewellery and watches shop manager
gemmologist
pneumatic engineering technician
industrial engineering technician
process engineering technician

Essential knowledge and skills

Essential knowledge

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of filigree maker.

  • Jewellery processes: Materials and processes involved in creating jewellery items like earrings, necklaces, rings, brackets, etc.

Essential skills and competences

These skills are necessary for the role of filigree maker.

  • Use jewellery equipment: Handle, modify, or repair jewellery-making equipment such as jigs, fixtures, and hand tools such as scrapers, cutters, gougers, and shapers.
  • Repair jewellery: Make jewellery repairs, such as enlarging or reducing ring sizes, soldering pieces of jewellery back together, and replacing broken or worn-out clasps and mountings.
  • Mark designs on metal pieces: Mark or engrave designs on metal pieces or pieces of jewellery, closely following design specifications.
  • Operate welding equipment: Use welding equipment to melt and join together pieces of metal or steel; wear protective eyewear during the working process.
  • Adjust jewellery: Reshape jewellery mountings.
  • Smoothen rough jewel parts: Smoothen rough parts of pieces of jewellery using hand files and emery paper.
  • Create jewellery: Create pieces of jewellery using precious materials such as silver and gold.
  • Heat jewellery metals: Heat, melt and shape metals for jewellery making.
  • Select gems for jewellery: Select and purchase gems to use in jewellery pieces and designs.
  • Ensure conformance to jewel design specifications: Examine finished jewellery products to ensure that they meet quality standards and design specifications. Use magnifying glasses, polariscopes or other optical instruments.
  • Select metals for jewellery: Select and purchase precious metals and alloys to use in jewellery pieces
  • Apply precision metalworking techniques: Comply with precision standards specific to an organisation or product in metalworking, involved in processes such as engraving, precise cutting, welding.
  • Use precision tools: Use electronic, mechanical, electric, or optical precision tools for precision work.
  • Perform damascening: Perform the art of inserting contrasting materials, such as different types of metal, into one another in order to create detailed patterns.
  • Perform metal work: Work with metal and iron materials in order to assemble individual pieces or structures.
  • Mount stones in jewels: Mount gemstones in pieces of jewellery closely following design specifications. Place, set and mount gemstones and metal parts.
  • Clean jewellery pieces: Clean and polish metal items and pieces of jewellery; handle mechanical jewellery-making tools such as polishing wheels.
  • Operate soldering equipment: Use soldering equipment, such as a soldering gun, a soldering torch or a gas-powered iron, to melt and join together pieces of metal or steel.

Optional knowledge and skills

Optional knowledge

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of filigree maker. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

  • Cultured pearls: The process of creating pearls by inserting a piece of tissue in the centre of the oyster to help create pearls under controlled conditions, instead of the accidentally occurring natural pearls.
  • Imitation jewellery: The materials and processes used to create imitation jewellery, and how to manipulate the materials.
  • Watches and jewellery products: The offered watches and jewellery products, their functionalities, properties and legal and regulatory requirements.
  • Jewellery product categories: Categories in which various types of jewellery can be found such as diamond fashion jewellery or diamond bridal jewellery.
  • Coining: The process of shaping metal parts with a high relief or very fine features, such as coins, medals, badges or buttons, by pressing the surface of the metal between two dies.

Optional skills and competences

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of filigree maker. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

  • Pass on trade techniques: Pass on knowledge and skills, explain and demonstrate the application of equipment and materials and answer questions about trade techniques for the manufacturing of products.
  • Advise customers on jewellery and watches: Provide customers with detailed advice on watches and pieces of jewellery available in the store. Explain about different brands and models and their characteristics and features. Recommend and provide personal advice on pieces of jewellery, according to the customer’s needs and preferences.
  • Apply restoration techniques: Select and apply appropriate restoration techniques in order to achieve the required restoration goals. This encompasses preventive measures, remedial measures, restoration processes and management processes.
  • Evaluate restoration procedures: Evaluate the outcome of conservation and restoration procedures. Evaluate the degree of risk, success of treatment or activity and communicate the results.
  • Cast jewellery metal: Heat and melt jewellery materials; pour in moulds to cast jewellery models. Use jewellery-making material such as spanners, pliers or presses.
  • Perform enamelling: Apply enamel paint on surface using brushes.
  • Perform wire wrapping: Wrap metal, steel or similar wires around jewellery and connect them to each other using mechanical techniques to create a decorative shape.
  • Record jewel processing time: Record the amount of time it took to process an item of jewellery.
  • Estimate restoration costs: Estimate the cost implications of restoring and replacing products or parts.
  • Build jewellery models: Construct preliminary jewel models using wax, plaster or clay. Create sample castings in moulds.
  • Record jewel weight: Record the weight of finished jewellery pieces.
  • Develop jewellery designs: Develop new jewellery designs and products, and modify existing designs.
  • Estimate cost of jewellery and watches’ maintenance: Estimate the total cost for the maintenance of watches or pieces of jewellery.
  • Select restoration activities: Determine restoration needs and requirements and plan the activities. Consider the desired results, the level of intervention required, evaluation of alternatives, constraints on actions, stakeholder demands, possible risks and future options.
  • Maintain jewels and watches: Use cleaning equipment to properly care for jewellery and watches, as per customer request. This might involve cleaning and polishing watches and pieces of jewellery.

ISCO group and title

7313 – Jewellery and precious-metal workers


References
  1. Filigree maker – ESCO
Last updated on October 1, 2022

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