Jewelry Manufacturing

Now that the diamonds are cut and polished, it is time to make them into a finished product! The diamonds are already cut to specifications so the jewelry manufacturing company should not have to make any physical changes to the diamond. However, many jewelry manufacturers do employee their own diamond polishers to fix any discrepancies on their diamonds that might arise.

Diamonds can be used in a wide array of products including, but not limited to necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and rings. Before the diamonds are purchased, the jewelry manufacturer will create wax molds or create computer designs that show what the finished product will look like (see example #1 below) (Riddle’s Jewelry Factory Tour Video, 2012. ). Once the design plan is approved, the diamonds of the appropriate 4c’s( cut, clarity, carat, and color) will be ordered. The jewelry manufacturers will either make or outsource the entire product minus the diamond. Once the have the diamond and the product they are placing the diamond into, then they are ready to make the finished product. The jewelry manufacturer will place the diamonds into the product and skilled workers will fasten it into place with fasteners (Riddle’s Jewelry Factory Tour Video, 2012. ). Once the product appears to be finished, it will go through a service inspection and any extra polishing or maintenance will be performed on the product (see example #2 below). Once the inspection is passed, the jewelry manufacturers now have a finished product to retail (see example #3 below).

The average salary for U.S. Jewelers and precious stone and metal workers was $35, 350 (Bureau of Labor Statistics). Employment for these workers is expected to drop 10% and competition for both high skilled and low skilled positions are expected to rise in the next 10 years (Bureau of Labor Statistics). This reduction in employment in the industry is the result of technology that is replacing skilled workers (Campus Explorer). Technology can now produce and assemble jewelry in shorter amounts of time than workers and in some cases even provide greater precision (Campus Explorer). Technology will never completely replace all the workers because the jewelry will need to be inspected after completion and some pieces of jewelry are too complicated for machines to complete. As more and more of the jewelry manufacturing steps become automated by technology, there will be less and less positions offered by companies for jewelry manufacturing. Individuals considering going into this business might be hesitant because of the given statistics and look for a job in a different field.

Examples of Diamond use for Jewelry:

Example #1: Ring design      Example #2: Finishing touches               Example #3: Finished product

Photo Sources:Design Your Own Wedding Ring 4 Steps Guidance,Custom Jewelry Manufacturing, Fine Jewelry