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DesignISCO 7313

Goldsmith

A goldsmith is a person who designs, makes and sells jewellery, and who repairs, adjusts and appraises jewellery and precious stones for customers.

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Rate 5 of the 15 essential skills of this occupation (European ESCO data). No account needed.

use jewellery equipment

cast jewellery metal

smoothen rough jewel parts

create jewellery

heat jewellery metals

About goldsmith

The goldsmith selects the metals a piece will be made from, heats jewellery metals to work and join them, cuts metal products to size, and builds up the piece from the jewellery manufacturing processes a design calls for: casting, soldering, drawing, setting and polishing. They create jewellery models, in wax, metal or on screen, before anything is made in gold. Precious stones are selected for a piece by cut, colour and size, and the finished jewellery components are cleaned before the work leaves the bench.

Knowledge of metals and metal ores underpins the choices: which alloy holds a setting, which can be sized later without damage. Repair and adjustment bring in the same knowledge in reverse, because the goldsmith has to work out how an old piece was made before touching it.

Someone who wants to become a goldsmith starts at the bench with filing, soldering and polishing, and learns one process at a time. Formal requirements are set by national craft and trade rules, and dealing in precious metals brings separate hallmarking obligations that differ from country to country.

European Skills Framework

Skills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.

Essential (15)

metal and metal ore productsmetal and metal ore productsThe offered metal and metal ore products, their functionalities, properties and legal and regulatory requirements.characteristics of precious metalscharacteristics of precious metalsVariations of precious metals according to density, corrossion resistance, electrical conductivity, light reflectivity and quality.jewellery processesjewellery processesMaterials and processes involved in creating jewellery items like earrings, necklaces, rings, brackets, etc.use jewellery equipmentuse jewellery equipmentHandle, modify, or repair jewellery-making equipment such as jigs, fixtures, and hand tools such as scrapers, cutters, gougers, and shapers.cast jewellery metalcast jewellery metalHeat and melt jewellery materials; pour in moulds to cast jewellery models. Use jewellery-making material such as spanners, pliers or presses.smoothen rough jewel partssmoothen rough jewel partsSmoothen rough parts of pieces of jewellery using hand files and emery paper.create jewellerycreate jewelleryCreate pieces of jewellery using precious materials such as silver and gold.heat jewellery metalsheat jewellery metalsHeat, melt and shape metals for jewellery making.apply smithing techniquesapply smithing techniquesApply techniques and use technologies in relation to the various smithing processes, including sculpting, forging, upsetting, heat treating, and finishing.select gems for jewelleryselect gems for jewellerySelect and purchase gems to use in jewellery pieces and designs.select metals for jewelleryselect metals for jewellerySelect and purchase precious metals and alloys to use in jewellery pieces.build jewellery modelsbuild jewellery modelsConstruct preliminary jewel models using wax, plaster or clay. Create sample castings in moulds.cut metal productscut metal productsOperate cutting and measuring instruments in order to cut/shape pieces of metal into given dimensions.develop jewellery designsdevelop jewellery designsDevelop new jewellery designs and products, and modify existing designs.clean jewellery piecesclean jewellery piecesClean and polish metal items and pieces of jewellery; handle mechanical jewellery-making tools such as polishing wheels.
Optional (26) — show
electroplating metal materialselectroplating metal materialsThe various processes various materials used for electroplating may produce, such as copper plating, silver plating, nickle plating, gold plating, embossed gold plating, degreasing, and others.electroplating processeselectroplating processesThe various metalworking processes using electric current to form metal coating on an electrode and on the workpiece, such as pulse electroplating, pulse electrodeposition, brush electroplating, and o...engraving technologiesengraving technologiesThe characteristics of various materials and methods used to engrave something on a surface.imitation jewelleryimitation jewelleryThe materials and processes used to create imitation jewellery, and how to manipulate the materials.watches and jewellery productswatches and jewellery productsThe offered watches and jewellery products, their functionalities, properties and legal and regulatory requirements.jewellery product categoriesjewellery product categoriesCategories in which various types of jewellery can be found such as diamond fashion jewellery or diamond bridal jewellery.coiningcoiningThe process of shaping metal parts with a high relief or very fine features, such as coins, medals, badges or buttons, by pressing the surface of the metal between two dies.pass on trade techniquespass on trade techniquesPass on knowledge and skills, explain and demonstrate the application of equipment and materials and answer questions about trade techniques for the manufacturing of products.engrave patternsengrave patternsEngrave and print designs and patterns onto a variety of surfaces.advise customers on jewellery and watchesadvise customers on jewellery and watchesProvide customers with detailed advice on watches and pieces of jewellery available in the store. Explain about different brands and models and their characteristics and features. Recommend and provid...apply restoration techniquesapply restoration techniquesSelect and apply appropriate restoration techniques in order to achieve the required restoration goals. This encompasses preventive measures, remedial measures, restoration processes and management pr...trade in jewellerytrade in jewelleryBuy and sell jewellery, or serve as an intermediate between potential buyers and sellers.evaluate restoration proceduresevaluate restoration proceduresEvaluate the outcome of conservation and restoration procedures. Evaluate the degree of risk, success of treatment or activity and communicate the results.adjust jewelleryadjust jewelleryReshape, re-size and polish jewellery mountings. Customise jewellery according to customers' wishes.perform enamellingperform enamellingApply enamel paint on surface using brushes.ensure conformance to jewel design specificationsensure conformance to jewel design specificationsExamine finished jewellery products to ensure that they meet quality standards and design specifications. Use magnifying glasses, polariscopes or other optical instruments.record jewel processing timerecord jewel processing timeRecord the amount of time it took to process an item of jewellery.estimate restoration costsestimate restoration costsEstimate the cost implications of restoring and replacing products or parts.record jewel weightrecord jewel weightRecord the weight of finished jewellery pieces.perform damasceningperform damasceningPerform the art of inserting contrasting materials, such as different types of metal, into one another in order to create detailed patterns.estimate cost of jewellery and watches' maintenanceestimate cost of jewellery and watches' maintenanceEstimate the total cost for the maintenance of watches or pieces of jewellery.design objects to be crafteddesign objects to be craftedSketch, draw or design sketches and drawings from memory, live models, manufactured products or reference materials in the process of crafting and sculpting.select restoration activitiesselect restoration activitiesDetermine restoration needs and requirements and plan the activities. Consider the desired results, the level of intervention required, evaluation of alternatives, constraints on actions, stakeholder ...maintain jewels and watchesmaintain jewels and watchesUse cleaning equipment to properly care for jewellery and watches, as per customer request. This might involve cleaning and polishing watches and pieces of jewellery.estimate value of used jewellery and watchesestimate value of used jewellery and watchesAssess used metal (gold, silver) and gems (diamonds, emeralds) based on age and current market rates.mount stones in jewelsmount stones in jewelsMount gemstones in pieces of jewellery closely following design specifications. Place, set and mount gemstones and metal parts.

Related Occupations

Occupations that need many of the same essential skills, so the move between them is shortest.

silversmith14 shared essential skillsjewellery designer10 shared essential skillsfiligree maker8 shared essential skillsjewellery mounter7 shared essential skillsjeweller6 shared essential skillsjewellery assembler6 shared essential skillsjewellery repairer4 shared essential skillsjewellery polisher3 shared essential skills

Frequently asked questions

What does a goldsmith do?

Goldsmiths design, manufacture and sell jewellery. They also adjust, repair and appraise gems and jewellery for customers using experience in the working of gold and other precious metals.

What skills does a goldsmith need?

A goldsmith needs 15 essential skills, including metal and metal ore products, characteristics of precious metals, jewellery processes, use jewellery equipment, cast jewellery metal.

Will AI replace goldsmith jobs?

The AI disruption score for goldsmith is 20/100 (low risk). Skills most exposed to automation: record jewel weight, record jewel processing time, jewellery product categories. Most resilient: smoothen rough jewel parts, perform damascening, heat jewellery metals.

Quick Facts

SectorDesign
ISCO GroupHandicraft and printing workers
Essential Skills15

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