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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Jade Polisher

💰 $ - $

ManufacturingJewelryLapidaryQuality Control

🎯 Role Definition

The Jade Polisher is a skilled lapidary technician responsible for transforming raw jade (jadeite and nephrite) into finished, market-ready gemstones and components for jewelry and art. This role combines hands-on stone cutting, shaping, grinding and high-luster polishing with quality inspection, safety compliance and collaboration with designers and production teams. Ideal candidates demonstrate precision, material knowledge (jade grading and treatment), experience with lapidary equipment (cab machines, sanding wheels, buffing machines) and consistent delivery of high-quality surface finishes to spec.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Apprentice Lapidary / Junior Stone Polisher
  • Jewelry Manufacturing Assistant or Bench Hand
  • Craftsperson in stone carving or bead production

Advancement To:

  • Senior Jade Polisher / Lead Lapidary Technician
  • Lapidary Shop Supervisor or Production Foreman
  • Quality Control Manager (Gemstone Production)
  • Jewelry Production Manager or Head of Stone Fabrication

Lateral Moves:

  • Gemstone Grader / Gemologist Assistant
  • Stone Setter / Jewelry Bench Jeweler
  • Jewelry Repair & Restoration Technician

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Inspect incoming rough jade (jadeite and nephrite) and document characteristics—color zones, translucency, inclusions, surface fractures—and recommend optimal cutting and polishing strategies to maximize yield and value.
  • Plan and execute preforming and cabochon cutting for jade pieces, selecting the correct orientation of the rough to preserve color, translucency and reduce wastage according to designer or production specifications.
  • Operate lapidary machinery (trim saws, cabbing machines, grinding wheels, sanding belts, buffing wheels and polishing laps) safely and efficiently, adjusting speeds, water flow and abrasive sequence to achieve required surface finish for jade.
  • Select and sequence abrasives, grits and polishing compounds (diamond suspensions, rouge, cerium oxide or tin oxide) appropriate for jade materials to achieve consistent, high-luster finishes and meet tolerance requirements.
  • Perform fine hand-polishing, edge dressing and final finishing using hand tools, leather laps or polishing sticks to remove micro-scratches, pits and to achieve optical-grade polish for jewelry settings and display pieces.
  • Evaluate and perform stabilization or consolidation processes when necessary (e.g., controlled impregnation or filling) following approved procedures and documenting any material treatments for chain-of-custody and disclosure.
  • Measure and verify dimensions, thicknesses and tolerances with precision tools (calipers, micrometers, optical gauges) to ensure pieces fit into predefined mounts and settings for downstream jewelry assembly.
  • Maintain detailed production records and job tickets including stone ID, cutting strategy, weight loss estimations, polishing compounds used and quality inspection notes to support traceability and inventory valuation.
  • Conduct visual and microscopic inspection of polished jade for internal fractures, blemishes, or polishing defects; mark pieces that require rework or rejection and provide corrective recommendations to reduce recurrence.
  • Collaborate closely with jewelry designers, stone setters and production planners to translate design sketches and CAD specs into practical cutting and finishing approaches that preserve design intent and functionality.
  • Meet daily and weekly productivity and quality targets while minimizing waste and maximizing yield through careful planning and efficient machine operation.
  • Adhere strictly to health, safety and environmental protocols—manage wet cutting water systems, abrasive disposal, ventilation, and use of PPE to minimize risk and maintain clean shop conditions.
  • Calibrate and perform routine preventive maintenance on lapidary equipment—replacing wheels, dressing laps, checking bearings and ensuring coolant/water systems are functioning—to minimize downtime and extend machine life.
  • Train and mentor junior polishers and apprentices on lapidary techniques, safety best practices, grit progression and quality expectations while reinforcing a culture of continuous improvement.
  • Perform color matching and grading of finished jade pieces for consistency with inventory standards, photographic requirements, or client-specified color tolerances.
  • Prepare polished jade for final assembly and shipping—cleaning (ultrasonic baths), drying, labeling, bagging, and preparing documentation for customer orders or wholesale distribution.
  • Assist in cost-control initiatives: suggest optimizations in abrasive usage, tooling selection, or cutting patterns to improve yield and reduce per-piece production cost.
  • Diagnose polishing defects (hazing, orange peel, water spots), determine root cause (machine, compound, or operator technique) and implement corrective measures to prevent recurring surface quality issues.
  • Support small-batch and custom work by performing intricate carving, shaping or surface texturing when design requires specialized hand-finishing beyond standard cabochon work.
  • Keep up-to-date with gemstone treatment disclosures, market preferences and new lapidary materials or compounds to advise purchasing and production planning teams on best practices.
  • Participate in sample evaluation and prototyping for new jewelry lines—provide technical feasibility feedback on stone sizes, shapes and finishing expectations early in design cycles.
  • Ensure proper labeling and documentation for treated or enhanced jade according to regulatory and internal disclosure requirements; communicate treatment status to sales and compliance teams.
  • Maintain a clean, well-organized lapidary workstation, manage inventory of consumables (wheels, abrasives, polish), and order replacements in coordination with purchasing.
  • Assist in periodic inventory audits of finished goods and raw rough, identifying discrepancies and communicating unusual weight loss or yield patterns to management.

Secondary Functions

  • Support the sales team by preparing high-quality sample photos and short descriptions of finished pieces for catalogs and online listings.
  • Participate in product development meetings to advise on manufacturability and cost implications of proposed jade shapes and sizes.
  • Help maintain digital production logs and update inventory systems with completed piece attributes (weight, grade, dimensions, treatments).
  • Contribute to shop safety committees and continuous improvement initiatives to reduce waste and improve throughput.
  • Provide input into pricing models by supplying accurate labor time, yield loss and treatment costs for typical jade cuts.
  • Occasionally assist with customer consultations on custom orders to communicate lead times, limitations and care instructions for polished jade.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Expert lapidary techniques: cabochon cutting, preforming, grinding and high-luster polishing for jade (jadeite and nephrite).
  • Proficient operation of lapidary machines: trim saws, cabbing machines, grinding wheels, sanding belts and polishing laps.
  • Knowledge of abrasive selection and grit sequencing (diamond grits, silicon carbide, alumina) and polishing compounds (cerium oxide, tin oxide, rouge).
  • Strong gemological awareness: ability to identify jade types, assess translucency, color zoning, inclusions and determine optimal orientation for cutting.
  • Precision measurement skills using calipers, micrometers, optical gauges and depth micrometers to meet tight tolerances.
  • Microscopic inspection skills to detect sub-surface fractures, polish defects and inclusions.
  • Experience with stone stabilization, filling and disclosure documentation (familiarity with ethical treatment reporting).
  • Preventive maintenance competency for lapidary equipment and ability to troubleshoot mechanical issues quickly.
  • Inventory and job ticket management—accurate record-keeping of material weights, yield loss and polishing compounds used.
  • Basic photography and sample-prep skills for product imagery (cleaning, staging polished pieces).

Soft Skills

  • Exceptional attention to detail and a strong quality-first mindset.
  • Manual dexterity and steady hand control for precise hand-polishing and edge work.
  • Time management and ability to prioritize multiple production jobs to meet deadlines.
  • Strong communication skills to collaborate with designers, setters, QA and sales teams.
  • Problem solving and root-cause analysis to correct recurring polishing defects and reduce waste.
  • Teaching and mentoring skills to train junior polishers and apprentices on technique and safety.
  • Adaptability and willingness to learn new materials, compounds and finishing processes.
  • Professionalism in documentation and disclosure of treatments, with ethical awareness.
  • Team-oriented approach with a focus on continuous improvement and lean manufacturing principles.
  • Customer-service orientation when supporting bespoke or custom orders.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • High school diploma or equivalent with vocational experience in lapidary, jewelry manufacturing, or related craft.

Preferred Education:

  • Certificate or diploma in Gemology, Lapidary Arts, Jewelry Manufacturing or a related vocational program (e.g., GIA, local trade school).
  • Additional courses in materials science, jewelry bench work or quality inspection are advantageous.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Gemology / Gemmology
  • Jewelry Design & Manufacturing
  • Lapidary Arts / Stone Cutting
  • Materials Science / Craftsmanship

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 1–5 years of hands-on lapidary or polishing experience with jade or other hard gemstones.

Preferred: 3–7+ years polishing high-value gemstones (jadeite/nephrite) with demonstrable portfolio of finished pieces, experience with jewelry production workflows, and familiarity with gem treatment disclosure and quality grading.

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