Jewellery mounter

Jewellery mounters create the framework for a piece of jewellery, on which the precious stones are added to later.

The following job titles also refer to jewellery mounter:

gemstone mounter
jeweller/mounter
diamond mounter
jewelry mount maker
jewellery mount maker
precious stone mounter
bench jeweller
gem stone mounter
bench jeweler

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

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 mounter is a Skill level 2 occupation.

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

jeweller
jewellery assembler
filigree maker
goldsmith
silversmith

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

gemmologist
jewellery and watches shop manager
metallurgical technician
computer-aided design operator
body artist

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

• Precious metals: Types of rare metal that occur naturally and have a high economic value.
• Jewellery processes: Materials and processes involved in creating jewellery items like earrings, necklaces, rings, brackets, etc.
• Precious metal processing: Various processing methods on precious metals such as gold, silver and platinum.

These skills are necessary for the role of jewellery mounter.

• Use jewellery equipment: Handle, modify, or repair jewellery-making equipment such as jigs, fixtures, and hand tools such as scrapers, cutters, gougers, and shapers.
• Adjust jewellery: Reshape jewellery mountings.
• Create jewellery: Create pieces of jewellery using precious materials such as silver and gold.
• 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
• Create master models: Make vulcanised rubber moulds that can be used for the lost wax casting process.
• Build jewellery models: Construct preliminary jewel models using wax, plaster or clay. Create sample castings in moulds.
• 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 mounter. 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.
• 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.
• 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 mounter. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Engrave patterns: Engrave and print designs and patterns onto a variety of surfaces.
• 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.
• 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.
• Trade in jewellery: Buy and sell jewellery, or serve as an intermediate between potential buyers and sellers.
• 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.
• Heat jewellery metals: Heat, melt and shape metals for jewellery making.
• 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.
• 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.
• Perform damascening: Perform the art of inserting contrasting materials, such as different types of metal, into one another in order to create detailed patterns.
• 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.

7313 – Jewellery and precious-metal workers

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References

1. Jewellery mounter – ESCO