Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Bench Jeweler

🎯 Role Definition

A Bench Jeweler is a skilled tradesperson responsible for the hands-on construction, repair, alteration, finishing, and inspection of fine jewelry and metalwork. This role centers on metal fabrication (soldering, forming, casting cleanup), stone setting (prong, bezel, channel, pavé), polishing, engraving and quality control. Bench Jewelers work closely with sales teams, gemologists, CAD designers and production managers to deliver finished pieces that meet design specifications, safety standards and customer expectations. The ideal candidate combines precise manual dexterity, material and gemstone knowledge, shop safety practices, and strong communication to estimate work, manage workflows and mentor junior staff.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Jewelry Repair Technician / Sales Associate with repair experience
Metalsmithing or Studio Bench Assistant (apprentice)
Jewelry CAD/CAM Operator or Wax Carver

Advancement To:

Senior Bench Jeweler / Master Jeweler
Workshop Supervisor / Production Manager
Custom Jewelry Designer / Private Bench Jeweler

Lateral Moves:

Jewelry CAD Designer (Rhino, Matrix)
Gemologist / Appraisal Specialist
Quality Assurance / Jewelry Production Coordinator

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Diagnose and estimate jewelry repair needs by inspecting pieces under magnification, documenting damage, identifying metal and gemstone types, and recommending the most cost-effective and durable repair approach.
Perform precise ring sizing and resizing with attention to maintaining stone settings, engraving, and finish; ensure proper shank alignment and structural integrity after sizing.
Execute a wide range of soldering and brazing operations on gold, silver, platinum and mixed metal assemblies using hand torches, torchless solder systems and micro-welding equipment while controlling heat to protect gemstones and finishes.
Set gemstones using prong, bezel, channel, flush and pavé techniques; seat stones securely, retip prongs, burnish bezels and verify orientation, symmetry and security for all gem types.
Fabricate custom components and entire pieces from sheet, wire, tube and castings—cut, form, bend, solder, and finish to print or customer-provided designs ensuring dimensional accuracy and aesthetic quality.
Finish and polish jewelry to showroom standards using mechanical polishers, flex shafts, tumblers, polishing compounds and hand-polishing techniques; remove solder seams, pits and surface flaws while preserving defined edges and textures.
Repair or replace broken claws, prongs, hinges, chains, jump rings, clasps and earring posts; reflow and retip prongs and perform micro-soldering for delicate assemblies.
Prepare and finish castings and 3D-printed metal parts: remove investment, clean sprues, stone, file, sandblast, and polish; correct casting defects including porosity and seam lines.
Perform on-site laser welding and micro-welding for precision repairs that require minimal heat exposure and retention of factory finishes.
Conduct ultrasonic and steam-cleaning, rhodium plating, and final inspection to ensure pieces meet visual, structural and safety specifications prior to delivery.
Maintain detailed work orders and repair logs, including time tracking, materials used, quality control checks and photographs for documentation and warranty tracking.
Communicate clearly with sales staff and customers about repair feasibility, lead times, price estimates, and recommendations for long-term care to set realistic expectations and reduce rework.
Collaborate with CAD designers and wax carvers to translate sketches and digital models into physical prototypes; provide manufacturing feedback to optimize designs for production and durability.
Perform basic gem identification tasks and flag pieces requiring a certified gemologist (e.g., treatments, synthetics, fracture-filling) while following company policies for handling valuable stones.
Maintain and calibrate bench tools (saws, files, burs, torches, microscopes, loupes) and keep the bench organized to maximize safety and workflow efficiency.
Enforce and follow shop safety protocols including proper ventilation, fume extraction, eye protection, fire prevention and safe chemical handling (pickling, plating solutions).
Train and mentor apprentice jewelers and junior bench staff in safe tool use, finishing techniques, stone-setting fundamentals and company quality standards.
Manage small production runs and prioritized repair queues to meet customer deadlines while balancing quality and throughput for retail and custom work.
Estimate cost and time for custom fabrications, restorations and redesigns; source materials and coordinate with suppliers for stones, findings and casting services when needed.
Troubleshoot unexpected fabrication issues such as metal fatigue, warped shanks, or uneven finishes; apply corrective procedures and record lessons learned to reduce recurrence.
Conduct periodic inventory checks of raw materials, findings, solder, polishing compounds, and ensure reorder thresholds are maintained to avoid production delays.
Assist in photography and documentation of finished pieces for online listings and inventory systems ensuring accurate description of condition and features.

Secondary Functions

Support retail sales associates by providing technical advice on custom orders, repairs and product care to enhance conversion and customer satisfaction.
Coordinate with external vendors (casting houses, plating labs, stone setters) and manage outsourced work to meet company quality and timeline expectations.
Help maintain shop safety compliance records and participate in continuous improvement initiatives to increase shop productivity and reduce waste.
Contribute to product development meetings by offering practical bench-level feedback on manufacturability, cost-saving alternatives and finish options.
Assist with store or workshop merchandising by preparing display pieces, touch-up repairs and quick polish jobs to maintain product presentation.
Provide on-the-job training resources and standardized work instructions for repeat repair types to build a knowledge library and reduce onboarding time.
Participate in periodic audits of tools and equipment; flag maintenance needs and coordinate repairs to minimize downtime.
Document common repair workflows and recommended timelines for use by sales staff to generate accurate customer expectations.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Expert proficiency in soldering, brazing and micro-welding across gold (10K–18K), sterling silver and platinum alloys.
Advanced stone-setting skills: prong, bezel, channel, pavé, flush and tension setting with consistent, secure results.
Ring sizing and reshaping techniques including shank rebuilding, swelling/skin sizing and control of metal stress to avoid cracks.
Metal fabrication: cutting, forming, forging, texturing, sawing, filing, forging and constructing complex assemblies from sheet and wire.
Casting cleanup and finishing: de-vesting, sprue removal, filing, sanding, and polishing cast and printed parts to finished quality.
Operation and maintenance of bench equipment: flex shaft, polishers, tumblers, ultrasonic cleaners, laser welders, torches and microscopes.
Proficiency with hand tools: gravers, burs, files, pin vises, pliers, saw frames and micrometers; able to perform precision work under magnification.
Experience with CAD/CAM exchange workflow (basic familiarity with Rhino, Matrix, JewelCAD, or similar) to collaborate with designers and 3D printers.
Wax carving and model-making skills and knowledge of lost-wax casting fundamentals preferred.
Rhodium plating, ultrasonic/steam cleaning procedures and finishing standards for white gold and platinum jewelry.
Basic gemology knowledge: identifying common gemstones, detecting treatments, and recognizing stones that require specialist attention.
Strong ability to read technical drawings, work orders and blueprints; translate specifications into finished parts.

Soft Skills

Exceptional manual dexterity and hand-eye coordination for sustained precision work.
Strong attention to detail and a commitment to delivering consistent, high-quality finishes.
Time management and prioritization skills to balance urgent repairs, production runs and custom projects.
Clear communication with sales teams and customers to set expectations and explain technical limitations.
Problem-solving mindset and ability to troubleshoot fabrication or setting issues with creative, practical solutions.
Team-oriented approach with experience mentoring apprentices and collaborating across design and sales.
Reliability, punctuality and professional demeanor when handling high-value items and confidential customer work.
Adaptability to evolving techniques, new equipment (laser welders, CAD-to-print workflows) and shifting production priorities.
Customer-service orientation with tact and patience when discussing repairs, costs and lead times.
Commitment to safety, cleanliness and adherence to shop protocols and regulatory compliance.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or equivalent (GED) with vocational or on-the-job bench training.

Preferred Education:

Certificate or diploma in Jewelry Technology, Metalsmithing or Bench Jeweler program.
GIA (Gemological Institute of America) coursework or other recognized gemology certification.
Associate degree in Fine Metals or related technical program is a plus.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Metalsmithing / Jewelry Technology
Gemology
Industrial Arts / Metalworking
CAD/CAM or Computer-Aided Manufacturing for Jewelry
Fine Arts with focus on metals/jewelry

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

2–7 years of bench jeweler experience in retail, repair shop or manufacturing environments.

Preferred:

3+ years of demonstrated experience performing repairs, stone setting, soldering and fabrications independently.
Experience with laser welding, platinum work, and production-level throughput.
Prior experience in a retail jewelry setting working closely with sales and customers is highly desirable.
Demonstrated track record of mentoring junior bench staff or apprentices.