Bench Jeweler

Are you interested in a hands-on career crafting, designing, and repairing fine jewelry?

Bench Jeweler — Coming in late August!

This program introduces common skills needed in the jewelry business including repair, jewelry making techniques, soldering, custom fabrication, stone setting, alloys, wire making, plate milling, annealing and tempering, chemistry, and the pricing of jewelry.

Career Opportunities

Types of jobs related to this professional training include:

• Retail Jeweler
• Retail Specialist
• Jewelry Designer
• Production Jeweler
• Jewelry Appraiser

Course Topics (200 Hours)

The foundational 200-hour core course covers the following comprehensive skill blocks:

Introduction & Basic Metallurgy

• Precious metals and common alloys
• Understanding unique precious metal characteristics
• Precious metal valuation and pricing systems
• Safe handling of classroom tools and chemicals

Cleaning, Polishing & Electroplating

• Proper polishing compounds and surface methods for various jewelry items
• Ultrasonic cleaner safely parameters (identifying safe vs. hazardous items)
• Safe and efficient production electroplating

Soldering, Welding & Fabrication

• Fusion vs. soldering techniques for distinct items and structural breaks
• Solder categories and structural choices (Easy vs. Hard application)
• Basic ring sizing execution

Setting Types & Stone Setting

• Working with Cabochons vs. Faceted gemstones
• Prong, Channel, and Bezel setting techniques

Intermediate Jewelry Repairs

• Prong tipping and setting rebuilding
• Pins and rivets application for complex bracelet repairs
• Material milling and wire making production

Advanced Track Opportunities

Future advanced components within this pathway will scale into custom fabrication and fine jewelry-making techniques, laser welding integration, an introduction to 3D printing, and CAD/CAM software environments specialized for jewelry production.