Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Goldsmith

🎯 Role Definition

A Goldsmith is a skilled metalsmith and jewelry artisan who fabricates, repairs, modifies, and finishes fine jewelry pieces using gold, platinum, silver, and other precious metals. The role blends traditional bench techniques (soldering, forging, stone setting, engraving) with modern processes (investment casting, CAD/CAM modeling, laser welding) to deliver high-quality, durable, and aesthetically refined jewelry for retail customers, designers, and private commissions. Responsibilities emphasize technical precision, aesthetic judgment, material knowledge, safety compliance, and customer collaboration.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Bench Jeweler Apprentice or Jewelry Repair Technician
Jewelry Design Assistant or CAD/CAM Junior Designer
Metalsmith/Silversmith or Jewelry Manufacturing Technician

Advancement To:

Senior Goldsmith / Master Jeweler
Jewelry Production Manager or Bench Supervisor
Lead CAD Jewelry Designer or Custom Design Director
Owner / Head Designer of a studio or boutique

Lateral Moves:

Gemologist or Certified GIA Specialist
Jewelry CAD/CAM Specialist (Rhino, Matrix)
Sales Consultant for high-value jewelry collections

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Fabricate custom jewelry from concept to finished piece by cutting, forming, soldering, and assembling precious metals to match design specifications, technical drawings, or customer sketches while maintaining precise tolerances and surface quality.
Perform intricate stone setting (prong, bezel, channel, pave, tension) across a wide range of gemstone types and sizes, ensuring secure settings, even spacing, proper alignment, and consistent visual presentation for long-term wear.
Repair and restore vintage and contemporary jewelry by diagnosing structural and aesthetic issues, replacing lost settings or stones, re-sizing bands, re-tipping prongs, and correcting metal fatigue to return items to wearable condition.
Execute lost-wax and investment casting processes, including pattern preparation, spruing, burnout, casting, and cleanup, while optimizing sprue design and cast parameters to minimize porosity and improve surface finish.
Apply advanced soldering and brazing techniques (including torch and laser welding) for joins, inlays, and hinge repairs, managing heat control to prevent stone damage and preserve alloy properties.
Use precision hand tools and measuring instruments (micrometers, calipers, gauges) to verify dimensions, tolerances, and concentricity, ensuring finished pieces meet quality control standards and client expectations.
Perform metal fabrication tasks such as annealing, forging, rolling, drawing, and texturing to shape metals and create surface treatments that meet design intent and wearability requirements.
Polish, buff, and finish jewelry to final spec using a combination of mechanical polishers and hand-finishing techniques, delivering mirror or satin finishes and performing final cosmetic inspections for blemishes or inconsistencies.
Collaborate with designers, sales staff, and clients to interpret sketches, CAD files, or sample pieces, provide technical feedback on feasibility, recommend materials and finish options, and present prototypes or finished pieces for approval.
Create and modify CAD models and 3D prints for casting or direct manufacturing, translating design intent into manufacturable geometry, checking for wall thicknesses, undercuts, and fit prior to production.
Balance production schedules and prioritize job orders in a multi-piece workflow, estimating time and material costs, and communicating realistic timelines to designers, sales, and customers.
Maintain inventories of precious metals, alloys, findings, and consumables; weigh and account for metal usage and waste, prepare recycle or scrap streams, and assist with cost-control and pricing calculations for custom work.
Conduct quality assurance inspections at multiple stages of fabrication, including pre-polish checks, post-stone-set verification, and final sign-off for durability, ergonomics, and aesthetic fidelity to design.
Set, size, and match diamonds and colored gemstones using loupe and microscope inspection, confirm stone orientation and optical performance, and escalate any inclusions, color inconsistencies, or fractures to stakeholders before setting.
Execute engraving, stone carving, or texturing by hand or with rotary tools to add personalization, hallmarks, or decorative elements, ensuring legibility and artistic quality consistent with the piece.
Troubleshoot manufacturing failures—such as porosity, mis-casts, or joint failures—by analyzing process variables, adjusting workflows, and implementing corrective actions to prevent recurrence.
Adhere to workplace health and safety standards, including safe handling of chemicals (pickling, plating), ventilation for fumes, laser safety protocols, and proper use and maintenance of bench equipment.
Coordinate outsourced services (plating, gem certification, outsourced casting or stone sourcing) by preparing accurate job tickets, verifying vendor quality, and ensuring timely integration of returned components into production.
Mentor and supervise junior bench staff and apprentices by demonstrating techniques, providing feedback on workmanship, and fostering best practices in metal conservation, tool care, and finishing standards.
Maintain detailed job records and documentation, including work orders, sketches, time logs, and material consumption reports to support billing, warranty coverage, and reproducibility of custom pieces.
Adapt designs for manufacturability and cost efficiency by recommending alternative alloys, settings, or fabrication methods without compromising structural integrity or visual appeal.
Provide occasional in-store consultations and fittings with clients to assess fit, listen to modification requests, explain repair or fabrication proposals, and secure customer sign-offs before commencing work.

Secondary Functions

Participate in trend research and material sourcing to recommend new alloys, plating options, or gemstone alternatives that align with brand positioning and market demand.
Assist the design team by producing prototypes, proof-of-concept samples, and small-run production pieces that validate manufacturing techniques and client preferences.
Support inventory reconciliation and precious metal accounting during monthly or quarterly audits, ensuring traceable usage and compliance with company policies.
Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives by documenting process improvements, suggesting equipment upgrades, and piloting new fabrication technologies such as additive manufacturing or micro-laser welding.
Take part in showroom events or VIP client appointments to explain custom fabrication timelines, maintenance recommendations, and aftercare for fine jewelry purchases.
Train cross-functional colleagues on basic jewelry care and maintenance protocols to reduce warranty claims and improve customer experience.
Work with the quality assurance team to improve inspection criteria, develop standardized checklists for finish quality, and reduce rework rates across the bench.
Assist in developing standard operating procedures (SOPs) for specialty services like micro-pave setting, engraving depth standards, and stone integrity checks.
Coordinate small-batch production runs with the production scheduler to ensure on-time delivery of seasonal collections or limited-edition launches.
Maintain and calibrate bench equipment and measuring tools, coordinate preventative maintenance, and log repairs to reduce downtime and ensure consistent output.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Precision soldering and metal joining techniques (acetylene/propane, laser welding), with the ability to make invisible joins and repair fragile assemblies.
Expert stone setting skills across prong, bezel, channel, pavé, flush, and tension settings, ensuring security and aesthetic balance.
Lost-wax and investment casting process knowledge, including mold preparation, burnout, casting parameters, and cast cleanup/finishing.
Proficiency with bench tools and machinery: rolling mill, draw plate, flex shaft, buffing/polishing machines, ultrasonic cleaners, and engraving tools.
Experience with CAD/CAM jewelry software such as Rhino, Matrix, JewelCAD, or 3Design and familiarity with 3D printing workflows for casting patterns.
Metalworking and metallurgy knowledge: alloy selection, annealing temperatures, work hardening, plating compatibility, and karat calculations.
Surface finishing techniques: polishing, satin finishing, sandblasting, reticulation, and electroplating (gold/rodium) with attention to consistency.
Gemstone identification fundamentals and working knowledge of gem certificates (GIA, AGS) to verify stone authenticity and quality before setting.
Measurement and metrology skills using calipers, micrometers, gauges, and optical microscopes to ensure tight tolerance fabrication.
Quality control and inspection processes with the ability to document defects, recommend corrective actions, and ensure compliance with client specs and industry standards.
Time estimation and job costing skills to produce accurate quotes for custom work and manage profitability of bespoke projects.

Soft Skills

Exceptional attention to detail and manual dexterity for high-precision, small-scale work under magnification.
Strong visual and artistic sensibility to evaluate proportion, balance, and finish from a designer and consumer perspective.
Clear communication skills for explaining technical choices and timelines to non-technical clients and sales teams.
Problem-solving mindset with the ability to diagnose complex fabrication failures and propose practical, cost-effective solutions.
Time management and prioritization to handle multiple concurrent orders and meet delivery deadlines.
Patience and steady hand control for repetitive precision tasks such as pavé setting or micro-engraving.
Collaboration and mentorship ability to train apprentices, coordinate with designers, and integrate feedback across teams.
Client service orientation for in-person consultations, fittings, and explaining care/maintenance post-sale.
Adaptability to adopt new tools, processes, and materials as technology and market trends evolve.
Ethical judgment and integrity in handling precious metals, customer property, and confidential design information.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:
High school diploma or equivalent with vocational training or apprenticeship in jewelry making, metalsmithing, or a related craft.

Preferred Education:
Associate degree, diploma or certificate from an accredited jewelry design/metalwork program; certifications from recognized institutions (GIA, MJSA, City & Guilds) or completion of formal apprenticeships.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Jewelry Design and Metalsmithing
Gemology and Stone Setting
Fine Arts (sculpture/metals focus)
CAD/CAM for Jewelry and Additive Manufacturing

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:
2–7 years working as a bench jeweler or goldsmith, with a combination of repair, fabrication, and finishing experience.

Preferred:
3–5+ years of bench experience for mid-level roles; 7+ years and demonstrable portfolio for senior/master goldsmith positions. Experience with custom commissions, CAD-to-cast workflows, and supervisory responsibilities is highly desirable.