Jewellery assembler

Jewellery assemblers assemble jewelry parts to form different types of jewellery such as bracelets, necklaces or earrings. They grip links with pliers or position the link in the slot of a linking ring, twist link joints open using pliers, attach all parts together and repair broken chains.

The following job titles also refer to jewellery assembler:

jewelry craftsperson
jewellery craftsperson
jewellery craftswoman
brooch assembler
assembler jewelry
earring assembler
jewellery bench worker
jewellery craftsman
necklace assembler
jewelry craftsman
jewelry bench worker
assembler of jewelry
jewelry craftswoman
chain assembler
bracelet assembler
jewelry repairer
assembler of jewellery
assembler jewellery

A high school diploma is generally required to work as a jewellery assembler.

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.

Jewellery assembler is a Skill level 2 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to jewellery assembler.

jewellery mounter
silversmith
goldsmith
jeweller
filigree maker

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

gemmologist
jewellery and watches shop manager
personal property appraiser
wholesale merchant in watches and jewellery
import export specialist in watches and jewellery

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of jewellery assembler.

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

These skills are necessary for the role of jewellery assembler.

• 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.
• Assemble metal parts: Align and arrange steel and metal parts in order to assemble complete products; use the appropriate hand tools and gauges.
• Adjust jewellery: Reshape jewellery mountings.
• Smoothen rough jewel parts: Smoothen rough parts of pieces of jewellery using hand files and emery paper.
• Select gems for jewellery: Select and purchase gems to use in jewellery pieces and designs.
• Assemble jewellery parts: Assemble and thread different jewellery parts together such as pearls, locks, wire, and chains by soldering, clamping, welding or lacing the materials.
• 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
• 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.

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

• Electroplating metal materials: The various processes various materials used for electroplating may produce, such as copper plating, silver plating, nickle plating, gold plating, embossed gold plating, degreasing, and others.
• Metal joining technologies: The various technologies used for the joining and assembling of fabricated metal workpieces.
• Electroplating processes: The various metalworking processes using electric current to form metal coating on an electrode and on the workpiece, such as pulse electroplating, pulse electrodeposition, brush electroplating, and others.
• Engraving technologies: The characteristics of various materials and methods used to engrave something on a surface.
• 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.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of jewellery assembler. 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.
• Engrave patterns: Engrave and print designs and patterns onto a variety of surfaces.
• 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.
• Trade in jewellery: Buy and sell jewellery, or serve as an intermediate between potential buyers and sellers.
• Operate hand tools in chain making: Operate hand tools such as pliers in the production of various types of chains, hooking the ends of a chain, formed by a machine, together.
• 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.
• 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.
• Apply smithing techniques: Apply techniques and use technologies in relation to the various smithing processes, including sculpting, forging, upsetting, heat treating, and finishing.
• 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.
• Estimate value of used jewellery and watches: Assess used metal (gold, silver) and gems (diamonds, emeralds) based on age and current market rates.

8219 – Assemblers not elsewhere classified

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References

1. Jewellery assembler – ESCO
2. Featured image: By Friends of Oaxacan Folk Art, CC BY-SA 3.0