Career in jewellery designing

With a booming economy jewellery designing is a career that has immense potential. Since Indian designs are much sought after the world over the horizons can further be expanded. It is one career where creative bent of mind is crucial and if you have that in you then opt for it. Get trained in an institute or go your own way, the chances of succeeding are great.

by REPORTER@DAYAFTERINDIA.COM

India’s jewellery industry is growing at an estimated 55 per cent annually and the present boom in the industry offers a sparkling future for those

fascinated by gems and jewellery. It’s a good time to think of jewellery designing as a career option. Till barely 10-15 years back, jewellery designing was confined to a few goldsmiths but nowadays things have changed.

Grandma’s old jewellery may be treasured and pricey heirlooms, but they simply do not hold a candle to the current styles being worn. Jewellery these days has got to be exclusive and contemporary.

Earlier, the only way one could learn this craft was to be an apprentice to an experienced jeweller. But these days, one can take up a diploma course in jewellery design after school.

Various institutes, all over India, offer diploma courses in jewellery designing. A student has to take an aptitude test and interviews before qualifying in a jewellery design institute. One could be from any field. But an art background does help in the long run.

The course gives you basic information on the different kinds of stones, colour schemes in jewellery, design themes, presentation and framing, designing individual jewellery pieces, men’s jewellery, costume jewellery, jewellery costing, etc.

But to a professional in designing jewellery does not need formal training. A professional in any other field can take up jewellery designing workshops and set up a business production house.

There are no specific personality traits for jewellery designers. One can learn everything while getting trained. However, you just need a passion for the profession, otherwise there is no way one can learn.

A sense of design is imperative. Precision and attention to detail are also equally important for a successful jeweler and one should be very creative, imaginative and technically sound. It’s also important to have a working knowledge about manufacturing. One should be well-versed with the fashion industry on the international front too .

Jewellery designers prepare sketches - by hand or on the computer - to conceptualise the design. After consulting with the customer or the manufacturing team, designers fashion detailed drawings, a structural model, computer simulations, or a full-scale prototype.

Many are increasingly are using computer-aided design (CAD/CAM) programmes and tools to create and better visualise the final product.

Computer models allow greater ease and flexibility in exploring a number of design alternatives, thus reducing design costs and cutting the time it takes to deliver a product to market.