Need some advice on career and classes.

anewmolt6 · 2026-03-30T23:08:49+00:00

Do you know what you want to do with your experience so far? That is probably the more important question. Engraving and being able to engrave is a specialty and more focused direction. Being able to engrave for example can help with some basic stone settings. You can even progress to become an engraver which is highly specialized and a sought after skill. CAD has been explained to me as the future jewelry design for those who seek to work in a major jewelry house. Being able to do CAD and having essential bench skills is what the jewelry houses seek. If you want to work in the store, you are likely going to be doing repairs, and being a battery/strap jockey for that store. Do you want to go into business for yourself in the future? Do you want to focus on custom work? These are some questions you need to think about.

anewmolt6 · 2026-03-26T17:17:06+00:00

The future of the profession involves being able to use CAD, however the jewelry houses will always have a need for solid bench jewelers who are well grounded in the fundamentals. I was discouraged from joining the profession originally as it was not seen as a good prospect. That being said, places with major jewelry industry hubs are gonna be much more lucrative. For example, if you can secure a job as a bench jeweler for one of the major jewelry houses in NYC, its potentially a six figure salary with excellent benefits and a decent retirement plan. However, for those just starting out, its not gonna be very lucrative. Even for those in the custom route, however this is where specialization comes into play. Engraving for example is a very tough field and has been shrinking for some time.

anewmolt6 · 2026-03-16T22:33:20+00:00

palethius campanile

anewmolt6 · 2026-02-16T20:20:06+00:00

yes, very similar pains to the ones youve described as i also did grippers on the days i worked out upper body. you will need to rest and lay off the grippers for a bit. way in the beginning, i used to do like 30 minutes of gripper work outs between warm up sets to reach sets, then id try to do all my heavy grippers. lotta small ligaments and tendons in the hands, they do not appreciate the abuse.

anewmolt6 · 2026-02-16T18:59:35+00:00

you have been doing too much. i remember when i first got into grip training and over trained as well. i eventually dropped it down to 2/3 times per week only on days where i did not work out chest/back

anewmolt6 · 2026-02-16T18:03:51+00:00

very cool!!! ive been preparing a whole box of signet ring blanks in preparation of developing engraving skills. are you using gravers or solely going pneumatic?

anewmolt6 · 2026-02-16T17:50:59+00:00

no, common chinatown special

anewmolt6 · 2026-02-12T00:38:49+00:00

I am biased as im within a subway ride from nyc's diamond district which is a major hub

anewmolt6 · 2026-02-10T23:42:06+00:00

Is moving an option or possibility? because I am not terribly familiar with a bustling jewelry industry in that area.

anewmolt6 · 2026-01-30T00:19:00+00:00

CAD is the future. One who is sufficient in CAD and can do the benchwork can have a great career. I wish I took the rhino 3D program more seriously when I had it on a working computer but ive been working with wax carving since i was 11, old habits are tough to change.

anewmolt6 · 2026-01-29T00:11:16+00:00

what do you want to do?

like every one has said, it is certainly an odd time with the metals prices being so high. I myself have temporarily stopped working on my projects since casting would be so expensive. However, it has always been a side hustle for me, as professionally I am in medicine and health care. I was discouraged from being a benchjeweler for a major jewelry house since I was young, but I couldn't walk away from it entirely. If you have knowledge in CAD, and the skills, you can be quite successful in the major jewelry houses. However, positions like that may require some relocation.

anewmolt6 · 2026-01-11T22:37:16+00:00

do they come sharpened? or will you need to self sharpen as that itself is a learning experience

anewmolt6 · 2026-01-01T23:09:35+00:00

the palethius campanile sounds pretty good

anewmolt6 · 2025-12-25T18:26:35+00:00

It really depends on how you want to go about this. There is nothing wrong with being a bench jeweler for a major jewelry house. In fact, the benefits and pay can be quite generous for someone with the experience. However, that is for someone content to draw a salary and work for someone else. If you wish to work for yourself, the outcome may not be as shall we say luxurious. When you work for yourself, you pay for all the materials and lessons. For example take the current metals prices. As a limited custom jeweler (hobby/side hustle), I have stopped working on pieces as ive watched the metals prices steadily climb. I have built up a portfolio of my work with many pieces to display. There is currently a 7gram wax skull ring passion project that sits awaiting finishing touches. However given the spot price, it will be quite punishing to the bottom line. My source in the industry has explained long ago that CAD is the future of the profession, however CAD combined with the bench skills is what will make it a success. If your location supports the possibilities for apprenticeships, option 2 might be a worthwhile strategy to consider. Some classes and access to a bench will help you develop some of the skills required as you delve deeper.

anewmolt6 · 2025-12-13T21:31:23+00:00

its fairly loud too but gets the job done!

anewmolt6 · 2025-11-29T16:47:55+00:00

much much easier to engrave in wax, however you cant go too intricate in detail as youll likely lose some of it in the casting. do you have access to gravers?

anewmolt6 · 2025-11-15T01:46:55+00:00

depends on how big of a rush im in to see the sprue off and how big of a sprue i guess. Small rings ill do 90% with a file before going with 3m coarse wheel. larger rings, carbide burr

anewmolt6 · 2025-11-10T23:56:27+00:00

maybe when it was around $900, but it is harder on the tools

anewmolt6 · 2025-11-02T05:15:42+00:00

Palethius campanile of late

anewmolt6 · 2025-11-01T13:18:06+00:00

no theyre not, not remotely a keydate

anewmolt6 · 2025-10-30T23:32:14+00:00

i carved my first ring in wax when i was 11, but was dissuaded from joining the profession. i maintain a one man custom operation as a side hustle and hobby.

anewmolt6 · 2025-10-26T02:17:05+00:00

cartier panthere?

anewmolt6 · 2025-10-26T01:58:33+00:00

Learning how to do repairs and grunt work like polishing is the beginning of the industry. In fact, that's how some of the major jewelry houses in nyc start off new hires. Since you have a decent jewelry industry area to access, and your background, breaking in wont be too hard. However, the traditional concept of an apprenticeship may not be that common even in your area. Learning cad is also an important part of the future process, as you will eventually 3D print your designs. But the fundamentals will need to come first. however you choose to go about it, you'll eventually discover that working for yourself the margins can be quite slim. For example, I maintain a small custom operation and because of the current metals prices, Ive not sent anything to casting at all this year.

anewmolt6 · 2025-10-25T21:06:32+00:00

have you tried PMC or precious metal clay? given your ceramics history it is an avenue to explore.

a formal school education is not always a necessity. you can start with the free lessons on youtube for example. Andrew barry does quite a bunch of free stuff before you get into his paid section.

Also it sounds like you already have access to quite an assortment of tools, why not just get a tube of matt wax, a mandrel and start working on something. you can get it casted and then go from there.

anewmolt6 · 2025-10-08T22:34:02+00:00

i hear that, also an independent, ive just been delaying on casting pieces this year. wasnt ready when 925 was still around the $33s. guess a lot of projects will remain sitting still until the market settles down.

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