How to Become a Jewellery Designer UK 2024

The role of a jewellery designer/maker is an exciting and unique role that is incredibly rewarding. This craftsperson is responsible for planning, designing and making wearable jewellery including the mounting, setting and polishing. The jewellery, such as rings, necklaces and bracelets, uses stones, jewels, gems, metals and other materials. Most jewellery designers work in workshops, production facilities, studios, retailers and repair businesses. Jewellery designers/makers tend to start off earning around £16,000, however experienced designers can earn anything from £20,000 to £50,000 per year.

Essential Skills and Knowledge for Jewellery Designers & Makers in UK

To be a successful jewellery designer/maker, you need to have a specific skillset and knowledge base, including:

• Creative thinking and vision
• An ability to produce pieces that will be welcome by the marketplace
• An ability to work with specialised tools, and with materials, gemstones and metals
• Drawing and computer skills, to create designs
• Attention to detail, dexterity and good hand-eye coordination
• Strong organisational and time management skills
• Commercial awareness
• Good customer service skills
• Negotiation and persuasion skills
• Commitment and dedication

Educational Pathways to Becoming a Jewellery Designer/Maker

You can become a jewellery maker/designer through a number of different route. You can go through:

• A university course
• A college course
• An apprenticeship
• A specialist course through a professional body

You can complete a university foundation degree, or a higher national diploma or degrees in:

• jewellery design
• jewellery and silversmithing
• design crafts
• art and design
• fine art

To complete a university degree you will need:

• a foundation diploma in art and design
• 1 or 2 A levels (or equivalent) for a foundation degree or higher national diploma
• 2 to 3 A levels (or equivalent) for a degree

College courses are an excellent place to start your jewellery designer/maker career, you can complete college courses in:

• art and design
• design crafts
• T Level in Craft and Design
• Jewellery making

To enrol onto a T Level college course, you’ll need:

• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths

If you prefer to complete an apprenticeship you could take advantage of opportunities provided by the Jewellery, Silversmithing and Allied Trades Professional Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship. These are offered by institutions like the British Academy of Jewellery and The Goldsmiths'Company.

Alternative Routes and Specialised Training to become a jewellery maker / designer

If education or an apprenticeship isn’t the ideal route for you right now, then you are able to complete specialised training and complete short, specialist courses, to become a jewellery maker. These courses are run by organisations such as British Academy of Jewellery and Goldsmiths' Foundation Programme. These kinds of courses can then lead to a suitable apprenticeships or training in further or higher education.

Day-to-Day Responsibilities of a Jewellery Designer/Maker

The day-to-day responsibilities of a jewellery designer/maker varies depending on where you work and whether or not you own your own shop.

Typical responsibilities of a jewellery designer include:

• Designing: the process of designing and creating jewellery using paper or Computer Aided Design (CAD) program. This may also involve working with other designers to make decisions on the stones to use, creating 3D prototypes, testing prototypes and making the jewellery.
• Production: Using the prototypes to create a final product, which involves stone-setting, metal-casting, engraving and enamelling.
• Metal care: taking care of metals such as platinum, gold and silver, including cleaning metals using chemicals, cutting gemstones, and repairing metal products.
• Appraisals: examining jewellery to determine its value, including describing the jewellery, its weight, gemstone measurements and metal type.
• Repairs: this includes chain repairs, resizing rings, prong repairs, fixing loose stones and shank repair.
• Marketing: you may need to engage in marketing (especially if you own your own shop), this includes creating a portfolio of you work.
• Administration: answering calls, recording inventory and writing descriptions, could all be tasks you have to complete.
• Customised jewellery: some customers might provide you with a design they want making and ask you to create a customised piece of jewellery.
• Selling: if you own your own jewellery shop, you’ll also need to have some skills in selling.

Career Progression and Opportunities for Jewellery Makers

Securing a role as a jewellery designer/maker can be difficult as the industry is very competitive and not all vacancies will be advertised in a traditional way. One of the best ways to get the competitive edge is to make useful contacts in the industry. You can make these contacts through:

• Attending trade fairs
• Going to jewellery and craft exhibitions
• Joining design and craft forums online

There are plenty of career progression opportunities for jewellery designers/makers, you could go onto become a:

• Lead designer
• Buyer
• Merchandiser
• Creative director

The role of a jewellery designer/maker is a creative, diverse and exciting role that is incredibly unique. Although it can be difficult to get into, it is very rewarding and it has excellent career progression opportunities. If you’re considering starting a role as a jewellery designer/maker, begin by taking a course to see how much you enjoy it and to make sure you have the skillset to actually complete the role.