Bench jeweler

Jewelry Manufacturing

• Original designs made using molding, casting, stamping, and similar techniques
• Model maker responsible for turning design into a metal jewelry model
• Model is molded or entered into a machining process to make copies
• Cast pieces undergo various work including filing, straightening, rounding, and sizing
• Bench jewelers, also known as goldsmiths, handle main work in turning raw casting into jewelry

Special-order Jewelry

• Special-order jewelry involves making one-of-a-kind items
• Made in precious materials with less need for exacting precision compared to model making
• Special-order jewelers turn designs into finished jewelry using wax carving or complex fabrication skills
• Gemstones are often incorporated into special-order pieces
• Design and construction must properly hold gemstones

Anatomy of a Jewelry Shop

• Typical categories in a jewelry shop include casting room, bench jewelers, polishing department, and stonesetting
• Model maker may also handle special orders, repair, and engraving
• Foreman and front office handle management
• Additional departments may include engravers, enlistments, and machine shop
• Good shop operates as a team with work passing back and forth between departments

Bench Jewelers

• Bench jeweler refers to a jeweler with a larger set of skills than a production worker
• Skills may include stone setting, engraving, and more
• Traditionally, responsibilities were strictly delineated, but modern jewelers are more versatile
• Bench jeweler can refer to any work in jewelry making, including model making, special orders, repair, and assembly
• Term is increasingly used to describe all-around jewelers

References

• Graduate Jeweler: gia.edu
• Bench Jeweler: waltsjewelers.com
• Bling Advisor: Your Solution for True Custom Jewelry Design!: BlingAdvisor.com
• Building Marvelous Miami by Nicholas N. Patricios
• Seybold Building: National Register of Historic Places, HistoryMiami Archives & Research Center, Neighborhood Watch: The Watch Lovers Guide To Miami

Bench jeweler Data Sources