What a Career in Jewelry Design is All About
A jewelry designer must be skilled at creating new designs through the use of sketches and computer design software and be able to transform the ideas into a physical creation through the use of various materials, specialized tools, and equipment.

Some jewelry designers are also skilled at repairing jewelry, setting and polishing gemstones, and appraising jewelry.

Creating actual pieces of jewelry such as rings, bracelets and necklaces involves the use of creativity, aesthetic sense, and manual dexterity. The making of a piece of jewelry, after it is designed, requires very close attention to detail and concentration.

Career Training and Education
In order to become a jewelry designer many have traditionally learned their skills through on-the-job training and apprenticeships.

But with the advent of computer-aided design, prospective jewelry designers get their training through graphic design schools, online distance learning centers, vocational schools, or community colleges.

Jewelry manufactures who hire jewelry designers prefer those who have graduated through a formal program at a college or graphic design college. There is bachelor of fine arts or master of fine arts programs in jewelry design.

Some jewelry designers enroll in gemology courses that can train them in identifying and grading various gemstones.

The Job Outlook for Jewelers and Jewelry Designers
Job openings for jewelers and jewelry designers are expected to grow approximately 5% in the decade of 2008-2018. Job opportunities will be best for graduates who have training with computer assisted design and computer assisted manufacturing.

The mean annual wage for jewelers is $35,360.