Art Careers / Jewelry Designer

Fine Art and Craft

What Does a Jewelry Designer Do? An Art Career for Kids

Curious about this job? Here is what the work looks like, a typical day, the tools, where people do it and how to get started, plus a small activity so you can try it yourself.

What a jewelry designer does

A jewelry designer plans and makes rings, necklaces, earrings and bracelets. They work with metals, stones, beads and other small materials, and some also repair jewelry.

A day on the job

  • Sketch new designs or model them on a computer
  • Cut, bend, solder and polish metal at a workbench
  • Set stones and add clasps
  • Price work and sell it in shops, at craft shows or online

Tools of the job

  • Jeweler's saw and files
  • Pliers and wire
  • Small torch for soldering
  • Polishing machine
  • CAD software and 3D printer for wax models
  • Magnifying loupe

Where they work

  • Jewelry stores and repair shops
  • Jewelry manufacturers
  • Home studios (many are self-employed)

The path in 4 steps

  1. Start now

    • Make bead and wire jewelry
    • Sketch jewelry designs inspired by nature or patterns
    • Practice careful, tiny work like threading small beads

  2. In your teens

    • Take a metals or jewelry class if offered
    • Learn basic design software
    • Sell a few pieces at a school craft fair

  3. Training

    Many jewelers learn on the job, often for a year or more. Others go to trade schools for jewelry, or complete an apprenticeship. Some study metals or design at an art college.

  4. Build a portfolio

    Close-up photos of finished pieces, design sketches, and any custom work done for clients.

Skills that help

  • Fine hand control
  • Attention to tiny details
  • Design sense
  • Patience
  • Customer service

Try this job

A small taste of the real work, using things you already have.

Choose a theme, like the ocean, a forest or your favorite season. Draw three different pendant designs inside circles about the size of a coin. Then pick one and build it with wire, beads or even paper and string. Jewelry designers often start with a theme so a whole collection looks like it belongs together.

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Learn more

For pay, job outlook and training details, read the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook page for this kind of work.

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Questions teachers and parents ask

What does a jewelry designer do?

A jewelry designer plans and makes rings, necklaces, earrings and bracelets. They work with metals, stones, beads and other small materials, and some also repair jewelry.

How do you become a jewelry designer?

Many jewelers learn on the job, often for a year or more. Others go to trade schools for jewelry, or complete an apprenticeship. Some study metals or design at an art college.

What skills does a jewelry designer need?

Fine hand control, Attention to tiny details, Design sense, Patience and Customer service.

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