SOUTH AFRICA 路 SALARY IN RANDS

Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers

What the work involves, the skills employers want, and how to get started in South Africa.

  • Artist
  • Bench Jeweler
  • Caster
  • Earrings Fabricator
  • Gemologist
  • Goldsmith
  • Jeweler
  • Platinum Smith

What do Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers do?

Jewelers and precious stone and metal workers are skilled artisans who design, create, and repair jewelry and other ornamental items made from precious metals, gemstones, and other materials. They utilize a variety of techniques, including metalworking, gem cutting, polishing, and engraving, to craft bespoke pieces that can range from simple to intricate designs. Their work involves understanding and selecting materials, applying artistic vision, and often includes custom work tailored to clients' specifications. These artisans may also be involved in the appraisal of jewelry, assessing quality and value, and may work in retail, specialty shops, or independently. Overall, the profession blends artistry with technical precision, requiring a keen eye for detail, creativity, and knowledge of jewelry-making processes and materials.

What the work actually is

  • Position stones and metal pieces, and set, mount, and secure items in place, using setting and hand tools.
  • Smooth soldered joints and rough spots, using hand files and emery paper, and polish smoothed areas with polishing wheels or buffing wire.
  • Create jewelry from materials such as gold, silver, platinum, and precious or semiprecious stones.
  • Make repairs, such as enlarging or reducing ring sizes, soldering pieces of jewelry together, and replacing broken clasps and mountings.
  • Clean and polish metal items and jewelry pieces, using jewelers' tools, polishing wheels, and chemical baths.

Skills employers expect

Skills

  • Active Listening Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  • Critical Thinking Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
  • Speaking Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Abilities

  • Near Vision The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  • Finger Dexterity The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
  • Arm-Hand Steadiness The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
  • Manual Dexterity The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
  • Oral Comprehension The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

Knowledge

  • Customer and Personal Service Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
  • Production and Processing Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
  • Design Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
  • Mechanical Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

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How people get into it

A normal week

  • Thinking Creatively
  • Getting Information
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems
  • Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information
  • Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People

Tools used on the job

Technology

  • Graphics or photo imaging software Adobe Illustrator 路 Adobe Photoshop
  • Computer aided design CAD software Computer assisted jewelry design CAD software 路 Metal designing software
  • Spreadsheet software Microsoft Excel
  • Electronic mail software Microsoft Outlook
  • Accounting software Intuit QuickBooks

Tools

  • Jewellers pliers Bail pliers 路 Jewelers' chain-nose pliers 路 Wire looping pliers
  • Tweezers Beading tweezers 路 Mini tweezers 路 Soldering tweezers
  • Hammers Dead-blow hammers 路 Riveting hammers 路 Silversmiths' hammers
  • Tumblers or polishers Bench top polishers 路 Polishing units 路 Rotary tumblers
  • Dapping punches Chasing tools 路 Dapping cutters 路 Dapping tools

Who it suits

Realistic

Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.

Artistic

Work involves creating original visual artwork, performances, written works, food, or music for a variety of media, or applying artistic principles to the design of various objects and materials. Artistic occupations are often associated with visual arts, applied arts and design, performing arts, music, creative writing, media, or culinary art.

Conventional

Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources.

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Questions people ask

How much do Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers earn in South Africa?

Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers salaries in South Africa vary by experience, province and employer.

What do Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers do?

Position stones and metal pieces, and set, mount, and secure items in place, using setting and hand tools, Smooth soldered joints and rough spots, using hand files and emery paper, and polish smoothed areas with polishing wheels or buffing wire and Create jewelry from materials such as gold, silver, platinum, and precious or semiprecious stones.

How do I know if this career fits me?

Take the free Assessify career assessment. It matches your answers to careers and shows the South African salary next to each one.