Jeweler: A Fun Way to make a Living
IntroductionTo become a jeweler is not an exceptionally hard thing to do, there are plenty of vocational schools across the United States (and world-wide) where you will learn everything you need to know to be successful. The job is great so long as you can find a comfortable and pleasant place to work. I would caution you from trying to work at larger retailers (Kay Jewelers, and the like) if you are in business for the artistic nature of the job. If becoming a jeweler is your plan, though, for purely monetary gain, then any establishment, from the mom and pop place on the corner to the mega-conglomerate at the strip mall will do just fine.
Job FunctionIf you get yourself set up nicely, if you find a good place to work, you could find yourself designing and creating everything from rings to bracelets to necklaces, etc., etc. I again recommend that you stay away from the larger companies (at least if you consider yourself, as a jeweler, to be an artist) because you might just end up being an engraver or an appraiser. Don’t get me wrong, an engraver can be a good way to make a living, but it’s really not a creative field.
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LifestyleThe work of a jeweler is fun, but it is not easy. Attention to detail, extreme attention to detail, is an absolute must. It can be stressful, too: when you are working with a diamond that costs more than your home, there is little that you could possibly fear more than somehow mucking it up. But there is new technology that makes all of this easier. Gone are the days when the jeweler sits in some dank little room, hunched over like he has got scoliosis, with an awl and some pliers, cutting a Dickensian figure as he cuts away shavings of gold. Now we have lasers and chemicals, and though these things can be dangerous, so long as you know how to use them and observe safety precautions, they make the job much, much easier.
Additional InformationThis job is fun. It isn’t easy, it isn’t without its hassles, but even still, it is an enjoyable way to make a living.
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