Would you want to be the jewelry grand master with knowledge of jewelry stones’ cuts and purity levels all at your fingertips, perhaps working with some of the biggest jewelry brands?
This article shares insights into everything you should know about becoming the best jewelry designer. We’ll also focus on the qualifications needed to become a great jewelry designer.
What qualifications do you need to be a jewelry designer?
To become a qualified jewelry designer, you need an array of specific skills and qualifications within the jewelry world, whether you will be working in silversmithing or any other allied industry.
To attain the proper knowledge and information skillset, you need to be trained, and you can only gain through apprenticeships and short courses offered in universities, colleges, and specific training centers.
These institutions have the right professionals, and they will take you through everything you need to know about getting started and landing in the right space in the jewelry world.
Apprenticeships
Regardless of where you live, different jewelry companies and institutions offer the best apprenticeships in goldsmithing, silversmithing, and also how to work with different stones.
You only need to find the nearest college or jewelry shop/ store/ company where you can take your apprenticeship. You’ll also need to choose between the two available options: traditional apprenticeship and trailblazer apprenticeships.
The traditional apprenticeships involve learning under an apprenticeship program, most of which last between 3 and 5 years, where you will be learning and working under a master’s or an employer.
This can be intensive, but you will get further ahead if you combine it with college, where you will learn many skills that become complex with time. You will learn about different jewelry-making techniques, equipment, tools, and materials throughout your apprenticeship.
The best part is that at the end of it all, you will gain in-depth knowledge in addition to practical skills and experiences about your area of specialty, meaning that you will be much more confident of your next moves when done, becoming a fully experienced employee capable of running everything without help.
Some of the companies that offer apprenticeships have been running for hundreds of years, and applicants have to reach high entry grades to be eligible.
On the other hand, there are trailblazer apprenticeships offered by technical institutions, with support from employers, specifically jewelers.
These apprenticeship programs come with high standards, and when an apprentice is taken in, they earn a wage working with the company. The earned wages vary depending on the apprentice’s age, their year of apprenticeship, and the company they are working in.
Many versions of apprenticeship programs are offered by multiple companies, meaning that you won’t have a hard time finding the perfect place to apprentice.
Education
To become a qualified jewelry designer, you need to take some courses. Ultimately, your academic qualifications are necessary to get that apprenticeship, be employed, and be a jeweler after years.
The right education makes it easy for you to build a skills portfolio that would benefit you in the future. This is also critical because some of the basic college courses will be necessary for you to qualify for a degree in jewelry design or any other specific courses.
Learner levels vary depending on age, but you will be happy to know that some foundational courses are often free, although others cost a small fee.
1. Higher Diploma Courses in Jewelry Design
There are numerous higher diploma courses that you can enroll in, especially if you are going for a course that offers more hands-on experience studying jewelry design.
Most of the higher diploma courses run for 1-2 years, with most 2-year higher diploma courses being equivalent to getting 2 years into your Bachelor’s Degree, and you can complete the degree afterward.
2. Degree Courses
You could also earn a degree in jewelry design from the many universities that offer the course. Most degree courses offer knowledge of jewelry design processes, materials, techniques, machinery, and technologies necessary in jewelry design.
You will also learn more about solving problems creatively, developing more skills and individuality, and you’ll also practice more. The only catch is that Degree courses are expensive.
3. Masters & Postgraduate education
You could also pursue a post-graduate or master’s degree in jewelry design to learn more specialized skills. These courses last for 1-4 years, and at the end of it, you will have a great portfolio that will make it easy for you to get a good job and to work with the very best.
By the time you graduate, you will have researched and performed more projects that will make you more of an expert in a specific area of jewelry design. Although these courses are quite costly, you may be sponsored too if you are lucky.
4. Skill-Specific Courses
You’d need to take the standard courses for your qualifications as a jewelry designer, specifically a diamond grader, a gemologist working with gemstones, a horologist working on clocks and watches, or a Valuer.
You need more years to gain these specific skills, and the best part is that you could gain these skills by learning online or practically at a jeweler’s workshop.
The cost of these courses is variable, but none is expensive unless you gain the skills working as an apprentice with some of the highest skills professionals.
5. What short courses can you take?
You may want to take numerous short courses to become the best jewelry designer eventually, and you should take time to learn something new whenever you can to expand your knowledge base and gain more understanding and confidence in the world of jewelry making.
Conclusion
To be the best jewelry designer, you will need expertise; to gain that, you must have the right academic qualifications.
The course guidelines above will ensure that you are on the right path to your dream job or business.
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Tiger is a fashion&jewelry lover. He is also a fashion jewelry manufacturer that help thousands of small business to grow and also do business with some big fashion jewelry brands. He is a truly metal expert and he will share some information you are looking for.