Jewelry Design & Repair, Gemologist, Metal And Jewelry Arts Degrees
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Salaries For Degrees in Jewelry Arts
People with a degree in Jewelry Design & Repair, Gemologist, Metal And Jewelry Arts can work in a variety of jobs. It is impossible to say what you personally will do with a degree in Jewelry Design & Repair, Gemologist, Metal And Jewelry Arts, our survey panel picked the following occupations as likely options:
Students with a degree in Gemology are considered well prepared for becoming Jewelers and precious stone and metal workers.
The median salary for people with a degree in Jewelry Design & Repair, Gemologist, Metal And Jewelry Arts is $37,966.15. The lifetime value of this degree is approximately $709,213.00.
Salaries are highly dependent on how skilled one is at negotiation, years of related experience, policies at your employer, area, and more besides. The estimates we show on these pages are just that: estimates. Your individual experience will likely vary.
Where does this come from?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics, a unit of the US government, classifies all workers into some 800-odd occupational categories. We paid a army of freelancers to solicit their opinion on what type of degree a holder of each type of job would likely have majored in. For pairs which had a high degree of consensus, we created a link between the degree and the job.
From this, we calculated the average salary for Jewelry Design & Repair, Gemologist, Metal And Jewelry Arts degrees and converted it into a lifetime value. We then compared it against other degrees at the same level of schooling (such as associate's, bachelor's, or master's), so that you can make informed educational and employment decisions.
What Can an Jewelry Design & Repair, Gemologist, Metal And Jewelry Arts Student Expect to Learn?
There are a variety of career opportunities for those skilled and educated in jewelry design and gemology. Skilled jewelers find employment in jewelry retail stores, factories, designer’s studios, and even open their own businesses. However, becoming a jeweler requires a wide range of knowledge and skills that are difficult to learn on one’s own. This is why future jewelers and gemologists are advised to seek the best training and complete the best certification programs, in order to secure employment and embark on a rewarding and successful career.
The Different Degrees in Metal and Jewelery Arts:
There are different degrees that potential jewelers may choose from that will not only differ in coursework, but will also provide different job opportunities after graduation. The most popular degree for jeweler’s to obtain is an associate’s degree or certificate in the Metal and Jewelry Arts. However, there are other degrees available that students may also want to consider.
Students that wish to obtain a four year degree may want to pursue a degree in fine arts, with an emphasis in jewelry design or gemology. It is also possible to obtain a degree in Goldsmithing and Jewlery Arts, which will emphasize metal working and prepare students to enter into the jewelry manufacturing field. Many other schools offer degrees in gemology and jewelry appraisal, which will prepare students to seek employment as a knowledgeable jewelry appraiser or sales representative.
Areas of Study in the Metal and Jewelry Arts:
Metal and jewelry arts degree programs teach students a wide range of conceptual and practical skills that will be used throughout their career. Depending on the program that a student chooses to enter into, he or she will be required to study gemology, metal working, and various jewelry making techniques.
Gemology refers to the study and identification of gemstones. Students will learn how to identify stones according to their hardness, color, luster, structure, and refractive index. They will also be taught to cut and polish a variety of stones. This will help students not only identify different stones, but recognize the value and quality of individual stones.
Students will also learn goldsmithing or metal working. This refers to the practice of working with and molding precious metals. Students are taught how to make wax casts and molds and properly use these molds to create metal jewelry. In advanced metal working classes, students will be taught to create metal settings for precious and semi precious gemstones, how to use specialized equipment to create castings, how to mix precious metals with metal alloys, and how to polish metal pieces for the most attractive appearance.
Additional Studies
Degrees in Metal and Jewelry arts also teach students how to safely and properly operate equipment and tools. Students may also be required to take business related classes that will help them understand the business aspect of the field. These classes include those on small business and studio management, as well as finance and shop theory. This will prepare students to enter into a professional setting, while supplying them with the skills needed to one day open their own jewelry business.
Many jewelry design and repair schools will also teach students a variety of design related techniques. Students will learn metal coloring and photo-etching, which will help them to personalize their designs. They will also learn advanced stone setting techniques and how to create filigree, wire, and other specialized designs.
Students will learn how to develop and replicate their own designs and creative visions. They will be required to complete a number of projects that give them the creative freedom to find their personal style and build on their strengths, while recognizing their weaknesses. This will help budding designers realize their potential, while helping them put conceptual jewelry making techniques into practice.
Online Schools Offering Accredited Jewelry Design & Repair, Gemologist, Metal And Jewelry Arts Programs
Many budding jewelry designers are interested in learning their craft online. This allows students to learn at their own pace, while studying and completing assignments around their own schedule. This is especially convenient, since many jewelry designers and repairmen use CAD, or computer-assisted design technology, to create their designs. Because so much of the job is completed with the help of computers, it only makes sense that many students would choose to learn online. Some examples of great online programs and classes are:
● The School of Gemology: This school offers students an online distance study program that will prepare them to enter the industry as a gemologist or jewelry appraiser. Students may choose to earn a variety of certificates or complete a thorough gemology training program and become a Registered Gemologist.
● Ashworth College: Ashworth offers students an online degree in Jewelry Design and Repair. This online degree is made up of a 17 course training program that students may complete at their own pace and on their own schedule. They are supplied with the tools to succeed, as well as the opportunity to ask questions along the way.
● Gemological Institute of America: This institute offers online programs that allow students to become certified as a Graduate Gemologist, Graduate Jeweler, or study the Applied Jewelery Arts. Students may also decide to attend additional lab classes at their New York or international campuses, if they also wish to receive real life training.
Top Colleges & Universities Offering Campus-based Jewelry Design & Repair, Gemologist, Metal And Jewelry Arts Degrees
Prospective jewelery designers may want to pursue the most intensive training from the most respected instructors in the industry. Students that wish to receive the best education possible, may want to consider these top schools:
● The Fashion Institute of Technology: The Fashion Institute, located in New York City, currently offers a highly respected associate’s degree program in Jewelry Design. Graduates from this program frequently find employment with top retailers, such as Tiffany & Co. and Swarovski.
● The American Jewelers Institute: Located in Portland, Oregon, the American Jewelers Institute offers students a four month program that will prepare them to pass the Jewelers of America certification program, as well as longer apprenticeships. As one of the leading institutes, the American Jewelers Institute accepts students from across the United States, as well as from a number of foreign countries, including Japan, Italy, Canada, and Germany.
● The American School of Jewelry: This school offers certification programs that give students the opportunity to become a Certified Bench Jeweler, Certified Jewelery Designer, or Certified Master Jeweler, depending on the amount of time and money they are willing to invest in their education. This school is located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and is instructed by Mr. Edgardo Zargon, one of the best educators in the industry.
Famous Jewelry Designers and Gemologists:
New and experienced jewelers have a wide range of famous jewelry designers to look to for inspiration. Top jewelery designers, like Harry Winston (pictured right, photo credit MackLoweGallery.Com), Louis-Francois Cartier, and David Yurman, provide creative inspiration and hope for those that wish to one day leave their mark on the industry.
Even newer designers, including Betsey Johnson and Michelle Lane, have quickly made their mark in the design world. Jewelry designers are not just seen as skilled workers, but as talented artists that create beautiful designs that thousands of people can wear, enjoy, and appreciate every day.
