Design

Jewellery designer-maker

Jewellery designers plan and create jewellery, silverware and other decorative products.

Annual Salary

variable

Working hours

40 to 42 variable

You could work: weekends; as customers demand

0.5%
Future employment

There will be 0.5% more Jewellery designer-maker jobs in 2027.
In your local area

What's it all about?

Day-to-day tasks

You could:

  • discuss a design brief with your client
  • produce designs by hand or using CAD software
  • make up models of jewellery for mass production
  • source gemstones, precious metals and other jewellery parts
  • use equipment like jewellery saws and soldering irons
  • cut, polish and set gemstones or other materials
  • use different metals in your jewellery making like silver, gold or palladium
  • use materials like polymer clays, resins, wood or glass
  • market and sell your work, if self-employed

Working environment

You could work in a creative studio, from home, in a workshop or in a factory.

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • a college course
  • an apprenticeship
  • specialist courses run by a professional body
University

You can do a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in:

  • jewellery design
  • jewellery and metal design
  • 3D design crafts
  • art and design

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • a foundation diploma in art and design
  • 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma
  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
For more information
College

You can do short courses in specific types of jewellery making at college, or through a private course provider like a jewellery studio or workshop.

Short courses vary in content and entrance requirements so it's worth checking carefully to make sure they cover what you need.

You could also do a T Level in Craft and Design.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T level
For more information
Apprenticeship

You may be able to start in this job through a Jewellery, Silversmithing and Allied Trades Professional higher apprenticeship.

The British Academy of Jewellery offers apprenticeships in jewellery manufacture and design across England.

The Goldsmiths' Company offers apprenticeships to young people aged 16 to 21 in London and the south-east.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
For more information
Other routes

You can do short, specialist courses run by organisations like the British Academy of Jewellery.

More information

Career tips

Jewellery design is very competitive and not all vacancies are advertised. You may find it useful to make contacts within the industry to help find work. You could do this by going to trade fairs and exhibitions or joining online craft forums.

Further information

You can get more information on working in creative careers from Discover Creative Careers.

You could become self-employed and sell your designs to manufacturers or directly to clients. Or, you could make up the designs and sell them yourself through galleries, in shops and online.

Skills required and how your skills match up

What skills are required?

  • the ability to work well with your hands
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • customer service skills
  • the ability to come up with new ways of doing things
  • analytical thinking skills
  • design skills and knowledge
  • the ability to use your initiative
  • ambition and a desire to succeed
  • physical skills like movement, coordination, dexterity and grace
  • to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
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