Profession filigree maker

Filigree makers create a delicate kind of jewellery, usually of gold and silver, called a filigree. They solder together tiny beads, twisted threads or a combination of the two to the surface of an object in the same metal, arranged in an artistic motif.

Personality Type

• Realistic / Artistic

Knowledge

• Jewellery processes

  Materials and processes involved in creating jewellery items like earrings, necklaces, rings, brackets, etc.

Skills

• Perform metal work

  Work with metal and iron materials in order to assemble individual pieces or structures.

• Clean jewellery pieces

  Clean and polish metal items and pieces of jewellery; handle mechanical jewellery-making tools such as polishing wheels.

• Smoothen rough jewel parts

  Smoothen rough parts of pieces of jewellery using hand files and emery paper.

• Use jewellery equipment

  Handle, modify, or repair jewellery-making equipment such as jigs, fixtures, and hand tools such as scrapers, cutters, gougers, and shapers.

• Mount stones in jewels

  Mount gemstones in pieces of jewellery closely following design specifications. Place, set and mount gemstones and metal parts.

• Mark designs on metal pieces

  Mark or engrave designs on metal pieces or pieces of jewellery, closely following design specifications.

• Apply precision metalworking techniques

  Comply with precision standards specific to an organisation or product in metalworking, involved in processes such as engraving, precise cutting, welding.

• Operate soldering equipment

  Use soldering equipment, such as a soldering gun, a soldering torch or a gas-powered iron, to melt and join together pieces of metal or steel.

• Use precision tools

  Use electronic, mechanical, electric, or optical precision tools for precision work.

• Ensure conformance to jewel design specifications

  Examine finished jewellery products to ensure that they meet quality standards and design specifications. Use magnifying glasses, polariscopes or other optical instruments.

• Heat jewellery metals

  Heat, melt and shape metals for jewellery making.

• Repair jewellery

  Make jewellery repairs, such as enlarging or reducing ring sizes, soldering pieces of jewellery back together, and replacing broken or worn-out clasps and mountings.

• Perform damascening

  Perform the art of inserting contrasting materials, such as different types of metal, into one another in order to create detailed patterns.

• Adjust jewellery

  Reshape jewellery mountings.

• Select metals for jewellery

  Select and purchase precious metals and alloys to use in jewellery pieces

• Operate welding equipment

  Use welding equipment to melt and join together pieces of metal or steel; wear protective eyewear during the working process.

• Select gems for jewellery

  Select and purchase gems to use in jewellery pieces and designs.

• Create jewellery

  Create pieces of jewellery using precious materials such as silver and gold.

Optional knowledge and skills

Source: Sisyphus ODB