Jewellery designer
Design jewellery with gemstones and precious metals for people to wear and admire. You could design for a manufacturer or make the pieces yourself.
Also known as: jewellery maker, jeweller
About the job
A day in the life – Jewellery designer
What it's like
Shine bright like a diamond in a career as a jewellery designer! In this role, you'll design beautiful jewellery with gemstones, precious metals and other materials. People will wear and admire your creations.
A manufacturer may produce your designs to sell online or in a high street store. Alternatively, you could carve out each piece yourself by hand. You might also receive commissions to design and make a unique piece of jewellery for an individual.
Jewellery designers don’t need to restrict their talent to jewellery alone. You could also create styles and patterns for other pieces of decorative metalwork, like silverware. For example, you may design a trinket box, quaich or candlestick.
You'll use a variety of craft skills to make jewellery. These include mounting, setting and polishing. You'll draw designs by hand or on a computer.
Aiming to become a self-employed jewellery designer? You'll need to sell your work – whether that's directly from your studio, at craft fairs or through shops and galleries. Having your own website is also important.
Your tasks might include:
developing new ideas through hand-drawn sketches or using digital tools
exploring shapes, materials and aesthetics to turn concepts into workable designs
working at the bench – sawing, soldering, filing, polishing, casting and stone-setting
creating prototypes and samples to test a design’s look, wearability and durability
liaising with suppliers to order materials that balance quality, cost and sustainability
meeting clients, face-to-face or online, to discuss commissions like engagement rings or bespoke pieces
posting on Instagram, Etsy or other online shops to build your brand's presence and reputation
Explore more information about this job
Here are some useful links to learn more about this career:
British Academy of Jewellery – learn about the opportunities and pathways in jewellery careers
National Association of Jewellers (NAJ) – discover education and training opportunities
The Gemmological Association of Great Britain (GemA) – explore a range of training courses
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Browse courses in Scotland related to 'Jewellery designer'
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Related industries
Many jobs can be done in lots of different industries. We've highlighted the ones we think are most important for this job.
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Creative
Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Meta skills
Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.
- creative
- designing
- innovative
- observation
- building relationships
- working with technology
- attention to detail
- developing a plan
- managing resources
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
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Art and Design
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Design and Manufacture
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Practical Craft Skills
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Skills for Work: Creative Industries
There are a few ways you can become a qualified jewellery designer.
University
A degree may be helpful for getting into this job. You could study subjects such as:
Jewellery and Silversmithing
Jewellery and Metal Design
Silversmithing and Jewellery Design
Product, Ceramics and Jewellery
Product, Ceramics and Jewellery Design
Art and Design
3D Design
Use the My World of Work course search to find degrees.
College
Getting qualifications at college, such as an HNC or HND, could help you find a job or progress to more advanced study. Useful subjects include:
Jewellery
Introduction to Jewellery
Jewellery Arts and Technology
Apprenticeships
Modern Apprenticeships (MAs) mean you learn on the job. You'll get paid and work towards a qualification at the same time. You might want to consider an MA in Skills for Craft Businesses.
Short training courses
Local colleges and community arts centres often run short courses and evening classes. For example, you could study silversmithing, metalwork or CAD jewellery design.
These courses are a fantastic way to boost your portfolio. They can also help amateur jewellery designers make the transition into professional practice.
It's useful to make contacts within the jewellery industry – this can help you land your first job. To build contacts, you should attend trade fairs and jewellery exhibitions, and join online craft and design forums.
You'll need a portfolio of work when applying for jobs and courses. Skills and experience are sometimes more important than qualifications!
Volunteering in a relevant role can help you build the skills and experience you’ll need to become a jewellery designer. Search for opportunities on Volunteer Scotland.
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