DesignISCO 7313
Silversmith
Silversmiths design, manufacture and sell jewelry. They also adjust, repair and appraise gems and jewelry. Silversmiths are specialized in working with silver and other precious metals.
Check yourself in a minute: silversmith
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
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.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.mount stones in jewelsmount stones in jewelsMount gemstones in pieces of jewellery closely following design specifications. Place, set and mount gemstones and metal parts.clean jewellery piecesclean jewellery piecesClean and polish metal items and pieces of jewellery; handle mechanical jewellery-making tools such as polishing wheels.
Optional (22) — 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.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.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...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.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.build jewellery modelsbuild jewellery modelsConstruct preliminary jewel models using wax, plaster or clay. Create sample castings in moulds.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.
Related Occupations
Occupations that need many of the same essential skills, so the move between them is shortest.
goldsmith14 shared essential skillsjewellery designer10 shared essential skillsfiligree maker9 shared essential skillsjewellery assembler7 shared essential skillsjeweller6 shared essential skillsjewellery mounter6 shared essential skillsjewellery repairer5 shared essential skillsprecious stone setter4 shared essential skills
Frequently asked questions
What does a silversmith do?
Silversmiths design, manufacture and sell jewelry. They also adjust, repair and appraise gems and jewelry. Silversmiths are specialized in working with silver and other precious metals.
What skills does a silversmith need?
A silversmith 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 silversmith jobs?
The AI disruption score for silversmith 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.
AI Replacement Risk
20/ 100
Low Risk
Low riskHigh risk
Quick Facts
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