Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Jade Cleaner

🎯 Role Definition

A Jade Cleaner is a specialized technician who prepares, cleans, stabilizes and finishes jade pieces — including jewelry, carvings and museum objects — using a combination of mechanical, chemical and conservation-grade techniques. This role demands a deep understanding of jade mineralogy, appropriate cleaning agents and equipment (ultrasonic baths, steam cleaners, fine abrasives and polishing wheels), precise handling and documentation procedures, and close collaboration with jewelers, conservators, quality teams and customers to ensure items are returned in pristine, structurally sound condition.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Jewelry production assistant or bench jeweler apprentice.
Museum collections technician or conservation technician entry role.
Retail jewelry cleaner/polisher or watch/jewelry repair technician.

Advancement To:

Senior Stone Conservator or Senior Jewelry Conservator.
Quality Control Supervisor for jewelry or gemstone production.
Restoration Specialist or Conservation Lab Manager.
Production Lead for high-end jewelry or luxury goods finishing.

Lateral Moves:

Gemologist / Jewelry Appraisal Technician.
Polishing and Finishing Specialist.
Materials Testing Technician in a gemological lab.

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Carefully inspect jade items on intake for fractures, surface deposits, previous repairs, dyes, waxes or residues, and document condition with high-resolution photography and written notes to establish a baseline for cleaning and restoration work.
Develop and execute individualized cleaning plans for each object, selecting appropriate mechanical and chemical methods (e.g., micro-abrasion, controlled solvent baths, enzymatic cleaners) that remove contaminants without compromising translucency, color or structural integrity.
Operate and maintain ultrasonic cleaners, steam cleaners and low-pressure micro-sandblasting equipment using settings that are calibrated for various jade types (nephrite vs. jadeite) and for set stones or metal mountings attached to pieces.
Perform precision mechanical cleaning and scale removal using hand tools, soft brushes, dental picks, and magnification loupes to access tight joints, under-settings and carved details while preventing surface abrasion.
Execute controlled polishing and buffing sequences with diamond pastes, felt wheels and micro-abrasives to restore luster and surface finish to appropriate museum or retail standards while preserving original tool marks and patina where required.
Stabilize minor cracks and delaminations using industry-accepted consolidants and adhesives formulated for stone conservation, ensuring reversibility or compatibility with conservation principles when required.
Remove residues from previous treatments (adhesives, fillings, coatings) using tested solvents and mechanical techniques while consistently performing spot tests and documenting results to avoid irreversible damage.
Clean and conserve jade pieces that are mounted in metal settings by coordinating with bench jewelers to safely remove, secure or protect mountings during treatment, then re-seat stones after cleaning using approved protocols.
Use gemological tools (stereomicroscopes, refractometers, polarized light, UV lamps) and reference materials to identify treatments, dyes, or polymer impregnation that influence cleaning strategy and final value.
Adhere to strict chain-of-custody, inventory control and labeling procedures for client items, maintaining accurate records of location, treatment history, and any materials used to ensure traceability for insurance and legal compliance.
Prepare detailed condition reports and treatment proposals for clients, curators or production managers that describe recommended methods, estimated timelines, risks and costs, and obtain written authorization before initiating non-routine interventions.
Implement and enforce health, safety and environmental protocols when handling solvents, acids, or fine particulates, including correct use of PPE, ventilation, fume extraction, and compliant disposal of hazardous waste.
Collaborate with conservators, gemologists and restoration specialists to escalate complex stabilization, dye removal, or structural repair work, sharing high-quality documentation and samples for laboratory analysis when required.
Conduct quality assurance inspections post-treatment to verify aesthetic outcomes, structural soundness and functional fit within settings, documenting measurements, photos and final condition statements prior to return to client or display.
Maintain and calibrate cleaning equipment and small hand tools, perform routine preventative maintenance, order replacement parts and consumables, and keep detailed maintenance logs to maximize uptime and safety.
Train junior technicians, apprentices and retail staff on jade-specific cleaning best practices, safety procedures, and client-facing communication to ensure consistency across the team.
Participate in materials testing and small-scale trials when evaluating new chemical agents, polishing compounds or cleaning technologies, documenting methods, concentrations, dwell times and observed effects for future protocols.
Package cleaned items securely with appropriate padding, humidity control and labeling for return shipping or in-store pickup, following archival-quality packing standards for museum-grade objects.
Manage workflow and priorities across multiple cleaning projects, balancing urgent client requests and scheduled conservation work with production deadlines while communicating realistic turnaround times.
Maintain an up-to-date reference library of jade treatments, mineralogy guides and conservation literature to inform technique selection and ensure compliance with industry best practices.
Prepare and maintain accurate invoicing and service documentation for each job, ensuring labor, materials and any subcontracted repair work are coded correctly for accounting and client transparency.
Engage with customers in retail or B2B contexts to educate on proper care, maintenance schedules, and safe storage recommendations for jade jewelry and artifacts, building trust and reducing repeat damage.

Secondary Functions

Support inventory audits and incoming/outgoing shipment verifications to reconcile items with treatment records and billing.
Assist conservation lab managers in sourcing ethically compliant materials and approved cleaning agents that meet museum or regulatory standards.
Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives by suggesting workflow optimizations, ergonomic tool changes and waste reduction strategies within the cleaning studio.
Participate in interdisciplinary meetings to align cleaning timelines with exhibit schedules, production runs or retail promotions.
Help prepare sample sets for marketing or educational content (before-and-after photography, care guides) under the supervision of the communications team.
Track and report consumables usage and operational expenses to the supervisor to support budgeting and procurement planning.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Expert knowledge of jade types (nephrite and jadeite), their physical properties and how those properties influence cleaning and restoration choices.
Hands-on experience operating ultrasonic cleaners, steam cleaners, and low-pressure micro-abrasion equipment with appropriate parameter control.
Proficiency with mechanical cleaning tools (micro-tools, dental picks, soft brushes) and polishing equipment (micromotors, buffing wheels, diamond pastes).
Familiarity with solvent chemistry, including safe selection and testing of solvents, neutralization procedures and compatibility with common adhesives and consolidants.
Ability to use gemological and conservation diagnostic equipment: stereo microscopes, loupe, UV lamps, refractometer, specific gravity tools, and basic spectroscopic or lab test coordination.
Experience documenting condition reports, treatment logs and photographic records to museum or retail-quality standards.
Knowledge of conservation-grade adhesives, consolidants and reversible treatments accepted by professional organizations.
Competence in packaging and crating fragile stone objects for shipment, including use of archival materials and humidity control methods.
Basic competency in inventory management systems and chain-of-custody documentation for client items.
Understanding of safety standards (OSHA or local equivalents), hazardous material handling, and proper disposal of cleaning residues.

Soft Skills

Exceptional attention to detail and manual dexterity for fine, delicate manipulation of small stones and carved details.
Strong written communication skills to create clear condition reports, treatment proposals and client-facing documentation.
Customer-oriented mindset with the ability to explain technical processes in plain language and set realistic expectations.
Problem-solving mindset for diagnosing complex surface or structural issues and proposing pragmatic, safe interventions.
Time management and prioritization skills to balance multiple work orders and respond to urgent or high-value client requests.
Teamwork and collaboration skills for coordinating with jewelers, conservators, curators and retail staff.
Learning agility and curiosity to stay current with new cleaning agents, gem treatments and conservation research.
Reliability and integrity in handling valuable or sentimental client property with discretion and accountability.
Quality-focused orientation with an insistence on meeting museum, retail and brand standards for finished work.
Patience and steady hand control for repetitive, detail-oriented tasks that require consistent outcomes.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or equivalent with demonstrated experience in jewelry cleaning, stone handling, or related manual trades.

Preferred Education:

Certificate or diploma in gemology (e.g., GIA Accredited program), jewelry technology, stone conservation, or a related vocational qualification.
Additional coursework or certification in conservation techniques, materials science, or occupational safety is highly desirable.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Gemology / Jewelry Technology
Conservation and Restoration
Materials Science or Applied Chemistry
Fine Metalworking / Bench Jeweler Training
Museum Studies or Collections Care

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 1–5 years of hands-on experience cleaning and polishing gemstones and jade, or equivalent experience in jewelry production, conservation labs, or restoration workshops.

Preferred: 3+ years specializing in jade or hardstone cleaning/restoration with demonstrable portfolio (before/after photos and condition reports), familiarity with museum or luxury retail handling standards, and experience with ultrasonic and polishing equipment.