Jewelry

What is jewelry?

Jewelry is the range of personal adornments made from a variety of precious stones and metals in the form of rings, earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and brooches.

What should I look for in an online jewelry school?

The best online jewelry schools should possess either regional or national accreditation from an accrediting body that is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

In addition, you can often recognize top online jewelry schools based on:

• The school's name and status
• The school's history
• Teacher credentials
• Alumni network

In choosing the best online jewelry school for you, you should consider the following factors:

• Admission requirements
• Residency requirements
• Class and teaching style
• Testing methods used
• Course content and presentation
• Program length
• Class size
• Student-teacher interaction
• Technology use
• Tuition and financial aid
• Transferability of credits
• Availability of a dedicated administration team and resources

What levels of online jewelry programs are available?

The following levels of jewelry degree online programs are available:

• Online Jewelry Certificate Programs
• Online Associates in Jewelry

How long does it take to get an online jewelry degree?

The amount of time it takes a student to earn an accredited online jewelry degree depends on the level of jewelry degree being pursued and the pace of the student.

Typically, the breakdown is as follows:

• Online Jewelry Certification Programs - 6 months to 1 year
• Online Jewelry Associates Degree - 2 years

Most accredited online jewelry certification degrees are the maximum degree training jewelry graduates need to pursue. Additional training in jewelry is offered through apprenticeships or on-the-job training.

What are some examples of online jewelry courses?

The best online schools for jewelry offer courses on the materials, design, and the sale of jewelry. Graduates with an accredited online jewelry degree will be knowledgeable in course topics such as:

• Gem Identification
  A study and lab course, students will learn to recognize and distinguish different varieties of gemstones by their color, cut, and properties.
• CAD (Computer-Aided Design) and CAM (Computer-Aided Manufacturing)
  Courses in theses software design programs allow students to quickly create, modify, and present 3-D images of jewelry designs, settings, and models as a preliminary step to crafting the actual pieces.
• Diamonds and Diamond Grading
  Learn the whole science of diamonds, from their quarrying to their properties and settings, as well as what features distinguish higher and lesser grades of diamonds.
• Jewelry Essentials
  This course covers the basic information that jewelry retailers need to communicate to customers: comparing the features of precious metals to select the best choice for a customer's needs; industry terminology about types, styles, and manufacturing; and testing and regulation information that helps customers know their precious gems are of quality.
• Casting and Setting
  For retail jewelers, jewelry designers, and jewelry repair professionals, this course focuses on the physical process of creating jewelry, looking at the different shapes, molds and designs that are best used for certain types of gemstones and precious metals.

What areas of jewelry specialization are available?

In accredited online jewelry schools, the main specializations focus either on the materials of the jewelry such as stone and metal qualities or the design of putting jewels together in the most attractive ways. Top jewelry online degrees offer specialties in:

• Gemology
• Diamonds
• Pearls
• Retailing Jewelry
• Jewelry Design
• Jewelry Repair

What can I do with a jewelry degree?

With a popular online degree in jewelry, professional career options include:

• Jewelry Designer
• Jewelry Repair
• Gemologist
• Diamond Retailer
• Jewelry Production Manager
• Accredited Jewelry Professional (Sales)
• Jewelry Store Owner
• Private Jeweler
• Appraiser
• Bench Jeweler

What is a jeweler?

A jeweler specializes in knowledge about the quality, availability, and presentation of precious metals and gemstones. Jewelers may also be jewelry designers, jewelry repair specialists, or accredited jewelry professionals whose focus is retail jewelry sales.

What does a jeweler do?

A jeweler attends to the details of how jewelry pieces are assembled. In one's own shop, a jeweler may appraise stones or metals for quality, repair or recast broken pieces, or design new pieces for customers. While jeweler jobs focus on the product to customer delivery side of the industry, gemologists often work in labs or quarry settings to describe and evaluate the properties, quality, and grade of precious stones and metals. A gemologist frequently writes reports that certify the quality of a particular piece or gemstone.

How much does a jeweler earn?

Jewelers and precious stone workers earn an average annual salary of $35,000, though some earn as little as $19,000 and others earn over $55,000 per year depending on the degree of skill, automation, and sector of the industry. The Jeweler job growth rate is slower than average, expected at 5% over the next eight years. Some jeweler jobs will be replaced by automation in the jewelry manufacturing process; however, in poor economic times, jewelry repair jobs increase as people seek to improve existing pieces rather than make new jewelry purchases.

How do I become a jeweler?

The first step in how to become a jeweler is to select one of the best accredited online jewelry schools and begin training in the basics of online jewelry design and repair. Most jewelers seek year-long apprenticeships or internships for hands-on training to improve their skills. The Jewelers of America organization also offers four levels of professional jeweler certifications. A jeweler's resume should always include apprenticeship and certification credentials to offer employers greater confidence in the jeweler's training.