Making of jewelry requires a wide variety of skills, which involves training
and creativity. The work in the jewellery industry involves casting and molding
of jewellery, and the identification and testing of jewellery and gemstones.
Designing, Manufacturing and Marketing are the major tasks performed. One
can work in the industry as a Designer, join the Manufacturing section, Retailing
department and even specialize in Gemology and deal with identification and
grading of various precious stones and diamonds.
The designer prepares sketches of the design on a paper by hand or on the
computer to conceputalise the design. After consulting with the customer or
the manufacturing team, the designers make detailed drawings, a structural
model, computer stimulations or a full-scale prototype. Then these designs
are created out of the regular or floral patterns and then forms are generated
by connecting different structures together. In the manufacturing process,
a model of the design is prepared by shaping the metal or by carving wax and
the individual parts are soldered together. After that, finishing works like
setting stone or gems, polishing, engraving etc are done.
Nowadays, computer-aided design (CAD) software's are used in the manufacturing
firms to facilitate product design and to avoid flaws during the designing
process. CAD allows to create a virtual-reality model of a piece of jewelry
and the designers can modify the design, change the stone or try a different
setting and see the changes on a computer screen before cutting a stone or
performing other costly steps. After that a mold of the prepared model is
produced in a wax like or other material with the help of Computer aided manufacturing
(CAM) process. CAM helps in the easier manufacturing of numerous pieces of
the same design which are then distributed to retail establishments across
the country.
The most essential factor in getting a job is to present a strong portfolio
of the work. More than qualification, it is the skills and experience that
makes an excellent jewellery designer. Graduates in jewellery designing
with excellent skills are in great demand in India and abroad. After successful
completion of a course in jewellery designing, one can find outstanding job
prospects in various jewellery manufactures & designing houses, export
houses and renowned jewellery brand names such as Nakshatra, Tanishq, D-damas,
Swarovski, Gili, Tribhuvandas Bhimji Zaveri to name a few. One can opt
for setting up their own Design Studio and workshop; or can also work as a
freelance designer.
Most designers start their career in jewellery industry as apprentices in
showrooms or in their family businesses. As they gain more skill in jewellery
design and repair, they may take advantage of opportunities to specialize
in a specific area of the field such as goldsmithing, wax carving or stone
setting. One can start their own business with a couple of years experience,
or once they have evolved their unique style and has the ability to identify
and rate a good gem or a stone. Jewellery designer should be well aware
of the current trends and carry on with the latest models and styles.
Since most vacancies in this field are not advertised, it is handy for a
designer to make a good contact network within the industry by attending trade
fairs and exhibitions. Some of the career prospects in the field of jewellery
designing are :
