Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Gold Cutter

🎯 Role Definition

The Gold Cutter is a skilled trades professional responsible for cutting, shaping, and preparing gold and gold-alloy components for jewelry, industrial parts, and decorative items. This role focuses on precision material removal using hand tools and machines (micro saws, lasers, CNC, rolling mills), maintaining tolerances, performing basic metallurgical prep (annealing, soldering, trimming), and performing quality inspections to ensure finished parts meet design specifications and karat requirements. The Gold Cutter works closely with bench jewelers, production supervisors, quality teams, and designers to meet production schedules and uphold safety and quality standards.

Core keywords: Gold Cutter, goldsmith, precision cutting, metal cutting, jewelry production, laser cutting, CNC cutting, bench jeweler, karat trimming, annealing, soldering, quality control, blueprint reading.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Bench Jeweler Apprentice
Metalworking / Fabrication Technician
Jewelry Production Associate

Advancement To:

Senior Goldsmith / Master Gold Cutter
Production Supervisor / Shop Foreman
Quality Control Lead (metals inspection)
Jewelry Designer / CAD/CAM Specialist
Manufacturing Manager (small-batch jewelry shop)

Lateral Moves:

Stone Setter
Plating & Finishing Technician
Assayer / Metallurgist Technician

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Read and interpret detailed jewelry drawings, blueprints, CAD files and work orders to determine cut dimensions, tolerances, material composition (karat), and sequence of operations before cutting or trimming gold components.
Operate and program precision cutting equipment including micro saws, jeweler’s saws, CNC cutters, fiber/CO2/diode lasers and waterjet systems to cut gold sheets, wires and castings to specified dimensions while maintaining micron-level tolerances.
Perform hand cutting, sawing and trimming on delicate components using files, saws, gravers and trimming pliers to remove excess material from castings and solder joints without compromising structural integrity or finish.
Prepare and condition gold alloy stock through annealing, tempering and controlled heating processes to achieve the correct ductility and hardness required for precision cutting and subsequent forming operations.
Measure and verify part dimensions frequently using calipers, micrometers, optical comparators and digital measuring equipment; record measurements to ensure consistency with specified tolerances.
Deburr, level and square cut surfaces with precision files, polishing stones and rotary tools to create smooth edges and correct surface geometry prior to finishing or assembly.
Execute fine trimming and piercing for intricate patterns, filigree or openwork jewelry components while preserving design detail and preventing metal distortion.
Perform basic soldering, brazing and seam cleanup on cut components when required to prepare assemblies for finishing or stone setting, ensuring solder joints are flush and invisible after finishing.
Conduct incoming material verification (karat testing, visual inspection, weight verification) and segregate stock based on alloy composition to prevent cross-contamination and ensure traceability.
Maintain production throughput by prioritizing work, staging stock, and communicating real-time status to supervisors to achieve daily and weekly production targets.
Inspect cut parts for surface defects, dimensional accuracy and metallurgical issues; log non-conforming items and initiate corrective actions with production and quality teams.
Clean, maintain and perform routine calibration checks on cutting machines, saw blades, lasers, fume extraction and personal protective equipment to ensure safe, accurate and repeatable operations.
Follow and help improve standard operating procedures (SOPs), work instructions and safety guidelines related to gold cutting, machine operation and handling of precious metals and chemicals.
Document production steps, measurements, yield and scrap rates in production logs or manufacturing execution systems (MES) to support traceability, costing and continuous improvement initiatives.
Collaborate with bench jewelers, plater/finisher and CAD designers to provide feedback on manufacturability, suggest design adjustments for better cutting outcomes and reduce rework.
Troubleshoot cutting defects such as burr formation, heat discoloration, thermal distortion and incomplete cuts; implement corrective actions including feed/speed adjustments, tooling changes and material prep improvements.
Manage inventory of cutting consumables (blades, diamond disks, fluxes, solder) and request replacements timely to minimize machine downtime.
Adhere to regulatory and internal safety standards including ventilation, fume extraction, PPE, chemical handling and secure storage of precious metals to protect health and asset security.
Train and mentor junior cutters, apprentices and temporary staff on precision cutting techniques, safe machine operation and quality expectations to raise team capability.
Support production planning by estimating cut time, material loss, yield and labor needs for new jobs and prototype runs, contributing to accurate quotes and scheduling.
Participate in continuous improvement and lean manufacturing initiatives to reduce scrap, optimize cutting nests, and increase first-pass yield on precious-metal parts.
Maintain a clean, organized bench and workstation, ensuring proper segregation of finished parts, scrap, and returned work per company traceability and security policies.

Secondary Functions

Assist in gold assaying or prepare items for external assaying to verify karat and purity when requested by quality or purchasing teams.
Collaborate with CAD/CAM specialists to test and validate cutting programs, suggest nesting patterns and fiducial markers to reduce material waste.
Support ad-hoc repair work for customers or internal stakeholders including resizing, re-profiling and emergency trimming under tight deadlines.
Contribute practical input to product development and prototyping sessions by providing cutting feasibility, estimated material loss, and time-to-manufacture estimates.
Participate in cross-functional safety and quality audits and implement recommended actions related to cutting operations and precious-metal handling.
Back up related shop functions such as finishing, plating staging or simple stone setting tasks during high-volume production bursts.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Precision cutting of gold and gold alloys using hand tools and machines (micro saws, jeweler’s saws, rotary tools) with demonstrated ability to hold tight tolerances.
Operation and basic programming of CNC cutters and industrial laser cutting systems for jewelry and small metal components.
Gold metallurgical preparation: annealing, tempering, work-hardening awareness and basic alloy behavior under heat and stress.
Experience with soldering, brazing and seam cleanup specific to precious metals and small assemblies.
Proficiency with measurement and inspection equipment: digital calipers, micrometers, height gauges, optical comparators and loupe/microscope inspection.
Familiarity with blueprint and technical drawing interpretation, including dimensioning, GD&T basics and reading CAD exports (DXF, STL).
Knowledge of karat testing/assay concepts, density checks and segregation procedures for precious metal inventory control.
Machine maintenance skills: blade selection, sharpening/replacement, alignment, basic troubleshooting and preventive maintenance logging.
Hands-on experience with deburring, polishing prep and edge finishing to prepare cut parts for plating or final polish.
Experience using production tracking or MES systems and documenting yield, scrap and work order completion.
Basic understanding of finishing processes (electroplating, rhodium plating, tumble finishing) to anticipate post-cut requirements.
Awareness of chemical safety (fluxes, pickle solutions) and use of fume extraction systems.

Soft Skills

Extreme attention to detail and a steady hand; proven manual dexterity for micro-scale cutting and finishing operations.
Strong visual and spatial reasoning to translate 2D drawings into precise 3D cuts while preserving design intent.
Problem-solving mindset with the ability to diagnose cutting defects and propose practical corrective actions quickly.
Time management and production focus to meet deadlines while maintaining quality standards.
Clear communication skills to coordinate with designers, quality inspectors and production planners.
Dependability and integrity for handling high-value materials with confidentiality and security awareness.
Coaching and mentorship ability to train apprentices and share best practices.
Adaptability to new cutting technologies, CAD/CAM workflows and evolving production processes.
Team-oriented mindset with willingness to assist other bench functions during volume peaks.
Continuous improvement orientation; actively suggests process improvements to reduce waste and increase yield.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or equivalent with vocational or on-the-job training in metalwork, jewelry making, or machining.

Preferred Education:

Certificate, diploma or Associate Degree in Jewelry Design & Technology, Metalsmithing, Precision Manufacturing, or Materials Science.
Completion of formal apprenticeship or accredited bench jeweler program preferred.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Jewelry Design & Metalsmithing
Metallurgy / Materials Science
Precision Manufacturing / CNC Technology
Mechanical Engineering (technical coursework)
Industrial Technology / Vocational Metalwork

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 1–5 years working with precious metals in a production or bench environment.

Preferred: 3–7 years as a bench jeweler, gold cutter, or allied role with documented experience in precision cutting of gold alloys, use of laser/CNC cutting equipment and quality inspection of small jewelry components.

If you are a meticulous, safety-conscious craftsman with proven gold-cutting experience and a drive to improve production quality and yield, this Gold Cutter role offers hands-on craftsmanship, collaboration with designers and clear advancement into senior technical or supervisory positions.