AboutThomas Expertise Have a question about jewelry repair or working with gold or silver jewelry and gemstones? I am a working professional bench jeweler, involved everyday with setting stones in mountings, designing and making jewelry, repairing and some custom manufacture. Over 30 years experience. If you work with jewelry as a hobby or as a profession, I might be able to help. I deal with the retail business, not mass production. Ask privately if you wish. See the box for that: It keeps your question between us. Please DO NOT ask MAKER'S MARKS, but metal quality marks are fine to ask. Please DO NOT ask diamond prices. See a gemologist for that.
Experience Education is English/Physics!Started in human resources, to advertising, to jewelry...wow, what a road. Now a jeweler for many years. I have had formal training in jewelry work and many shared experiences with top grade jewelers. We just never know were we will go or be. Follow your best, your dreams, with some discretion!
Expert: Thomas Date: 7/8/2008 Subject: requirements
Question What is required to make and sell jewelry or open a jewelry shop in the U.S.? From what I have read it does not appear that certification is required, just encouraged. Is that correct?
Answer Stephen, if you refer to certification of bench jeweler skills, certification is not required. Certification is not many years among us and although many jewelers are not certified, I suspect in years to come customers will look to certification as a means of locating a skilled jeweler. Also, at the time being certification is certainly one aspect a potential employer would like to see in a potential employee.
If you refer to some other sort of certification please let me know, fair enough?
I have over 30 years in the business and am not certified. Why? At my age and position this would only be a laurel for the hat. For younger bench jewelers, I do recommend certification since that is the only base line of qualifications which is recognized and standardized. Had certification been available many years ago when I was younger, certainly I would have obtained that credential.
Best Wishes and God Bless. Thomas. July 8, 2008 8:10pm
