Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Jewelry Repair Assistant

🎯 Role Definition

The Jewelry Repair Assistant is a foundational role within a jewelry workshop or service center, dedicated to supporting the full lifecycle of jewelry repair and maintenance. This position is instrumental in ensuring the quality, integrity, and beauty of customer pieces by performing and assisting with a variety of technical tasks. Working under the guidance of senior bench jewelers, the assistant is a hands-on contributor who meticulously handles precious metals and gemstones, maintains a safe and organized workshop, and upholds the highest standards of craftsmanship. This role is a critical apprenticeship, providing the practical experience necessary to grow into a skilled bench jeweler.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Graduate of a Jewelry Arts or Gemology Program
Jewelry Sales Associate with a technical aptitude
Hobbyist Metalsmith or Jeweler

Advancement To:

Bench Jeweler
Master Jeweler
Custom Jewelry Designer / CAD Specialist

Lateral Moves:

Quality Control Specialist (Jewelry Manufacturing)
Stone Setter Specialist

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Execute basic jewelry repairs such as chain soldering, clasp replacement, and jump ring repairs with precision and care for the piece's integrity.
Perform professional cleaning and polishing on a wide range of fine jewelry, utilizing ultrasonic cleaners, steam cleaners, and various polishing wheels to restore luster.
Assist senior jewelers with ring sizing adjustments, including shank soldering, stretching, and compressing, ensuring accurate and seamless results.
Prepare and finish pieces for more complex work, including detailed masking for plating and preparing surfaces for engraving or stone setting.
Conduct thorough quality control inspections on all completed repairs to ensure they meet stringent workshop standards and customer expectations before being returned.
Meticulously handle and secure all precious materials, including gold, platinum, diamonds, and colored gemstones, throughout the repair process.
Operate and maintain essential workshop equipment, including polishing lathes, ultrasonic cleaners, and steamers, ensuring they are in safe working order.
Learn and apply basic stone tightening techniques to secure loose gemstones in various setting types under the supervision of a senior jeweler.
Manage the application of rhodium plating to white gold jewelry to restore its bright, reflective finish, following all safety and quality protocols.
Assemble various jewelry components, such as attaching charms to bracelets or assembling multi-part earrings, according to design specifications.
Maintain a detailed and accurate log of all repair jobs, documenting the work performed, materials used, and time spent on each task.
Gain proficiency in using a laser welder for precise and delicate repair work, starting with basic tacking and joining tasks.

Secondary Functions

Maintain a clean, organized, and safe workbench and contribute to the overall tidiness of the shared workshop environment.
Manage and organize the inventory of repair supplies, including findings, solder, alloys, and polishing compounds, and notify management of restocking needs.
Assist with the initial intake and documentation of customer repairs, carefully noting item condition, customer requests, and capturing clear photographs.
Safely sort and process scrap metal, dust, and other workshop sweeps for refining, ensuring maximum material recovery.
Provide support in refurbishing estate or pre-owned jewelry to a like-new condition for resale in the showroom.
Assist with basic watch repairs, including battery replacement, pin replacement, and watch band sizing for various brands and styles.
Communicate effectively with sales staff to clarify repair instructions and provide status updates on ongoing jobs.
Continuously develop personal skills by observing senior jewelers, asking questions, and practicing new techniques on non-customer pieces.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Basic Soldering: Foundational ability to use a torch to solder precious metal chains, clasps, and shanks cleanly and securely.
Polishing & Finishing: Skill in using polishing motors, various compounds, and hand-polishing techniques to achieve a high-quality finish on different metals.
Jeweler's Tool Proficiency: Competent use of hand tools such as pliers, files, saws, mandrels, and calipers for precise adjustments and fabrication.
Stone Setting Fundamentals: Basic knowledge of tightening loose stones and identifying different setting types (prong, bezel, channel).
Material Knowledge: Understanding of the properties and working characteristics of precious metals like gold, silver, and platinum.
Equipment Operation: Experience operating and performing basic maintenance on ultrasonic cleaners, steam cleaners, and plating rectifiers.
Quality Control Assessment: Ability to visually inspect jewelry under magnification to identify flaws, assess repair quality, and ensure structural integrity.

Soft Skills

Exceptional Attention to Detail: An extremely keen eye for minute details is essential for working with small, valuable items and ensuring flawless results.
Fine Motor Skills & Dexterity: Superior hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity to manipulate small components and tools with precision.
Patience & Focus: The ability to remain focused and patient during intricate and sometimes repetitive tasks for extended periods.
Problem-Solving Aptitude: A methodical approach to diagnosing issues with a piece of jewelry and assisting in determining the best repair solution.
Eagerness to Learn: A strong desire to absorb new information, accept constructive feedback, and continuously develop one's craft.
Teamwork & Collaboration: The ability to work cooperatively with senior jewelers and other staff, contributing to a positive and productive workshop atmosphere.
Organizational Skills: A systematic approach to managing multiple repair jobs, tracking materials, and maintaining an orderly workspace.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High School Diploma or GED equivalent.

Preferred Education:

Certificate or Diploma from a recognized jewelry trade school or technical college (e.g., GIA, New Approach School for Jewelers, North Bennet Street School).

Relevant Fields of Study:

Jewelry Arts / Jewelry Design
Metalsmithing
Gemology

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

0-2 years of hands-on experience. This is an entry-level to apprentice-level position.

Preferred:

Prior experience in a jewelry workshop, repair shop, or a comprehensive portfolio from a formal jewelry education program is highly valued. Experience in a retail jewelry environment is also a plus.