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Jeweller

Jewellers design, make, repair, and appraise fine and costume jewellery.

Also Known As

Appraiser, Craftsperson, Goldsmith, Jewellery Designer, Jewellery Maker, Model Maker, Salesperson, Silversmith, Stone Setter, Watch Repairer

NOC Codes

In Canada, the federal government groups and organizes occupations based on a National Occupational Classification (NOC) system. This alis occupation may not reflect the entire NOC group it is part of. Data for the NOC group can apply across multiple occupations.

The NOC system is updated every 5 years to reflect changes in the labour market. Government forms and labour market data may group and refer to an occupation differently, depending on the system used.

Here is how this occupation has been classified over time.

2006 NOC

  • 7344.1: Jewellers and Related Workers

2006 NOC-S

  • H514: Jewellers, Watch Repairers and Related Occupations

2011 NOC

  • 6344: Jewellers, jewellery and watch repairers and related occupations

2016 NOC

  • 6344: Jewellers, jewellery and watch repairers and related occupations

2021 NOC

  • 62202: Jewellers, jewellery and watch repairers and related occupations

2023 OaSIS

  • 62202.01: Jewellers and related workers
Duties
Updated Mar 31, 2022

Jewellers design, create, or repair jewellery and set stones in mountings. Jewellery may be made of precious or semiprecious metals. The stones may be precious or synthetic. Jewellers may specialize in certain types of jewellery, such as silver or gold. Or they may specialize in specific operations, such as design or repair.

  • Jewellery designers create jewellery. They may use sketches or computer renderings to show design options to customers. They may design production-line jewellery or create designs for others to make.
  • Craftspersons may design and make their own lines of jewellery or make jewellery someone else has designed. For example, they may accept commissions from individual clients based on their own or the customer’s design. They may sell their own designs at craft shows, online, or to retailers at trade shows (to learn more, see the Craftsperson occupational profile).
  • Model makers create designs and moulds for mass-produced pieces. They may use computer-aided design and manufacturing programs to design products and automate mould and model making.
  • Jewellers in manufacturing tend to specialize in operations such as setting stones, engraving, electroplating, soldering, or polishing.
  • Jewellers in retail outlets sell jewellery items, enlarge and reduce ring sizes, set stones and replace claws, and replace broken clasps and mountings.
  • Jewellery instructors are trained jewellers who teach their own workshops, become college instructors, and increasingly teach online.

Jewellers also may be gemmologists. To learn more, see the Gemmologist occupational profile.

 

Working Conditions
Updated Mar 31, 2022
  • Strength Required Lift up to 5 kg

Jewellers work indoors, often seated at specially designed and equipped workbenches. Their hours are regular. However, they may work shifts in manufacturing firms, or evenings and weekends in retail. Overtime may be required during busy periods such as Christmas and the summer holiday season.

Work Personalities

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2023 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.

How This Occupation Compares to Your Work Personalities

Fit
Fit Guide
An occupation can be a great, good, fair, weak, or poor fit for you.
R
Realistic
This occupation
You
A
Artistic
C
Conventional
This occupation
You

This Occupation’s Work Personalities

Your Work Personalities

Quick Guide

Alis work personalities are based on Holland’s theory. It identifies 6 personality types: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional. People with similar personalities and interests will tend to pursue similar careers. They are likely to create work environments that are favourable to their type.

Most people will identify with 2 or 3 dominant personalities. If the occupation’s personalities match your more dominant types, this occupation is more likely to be satisfying and rewarding to you.

This Occupation’s Work Personalities lists the personalities most likely to be found in that occupation. They are listed in order of importance, with 1 as the most important.

Your Work Personalities shows where the occupation’s personalities rank within your test results. Rank 1 is your most dominant type and 6 is your least dominant.

Learn about work personalities

Abilities

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2023 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.

Jewellers and related workers
2023 OaSIS: 62202.01

How This Occupation Compares to Your Abilities

The graph below shows how well your scores match the overall abilities for this occupation.

The closer your ability scores are to the center, the more they match this occupation’s. The further away they are, the less they match this occupation’s.

The lower your ability scores are compared to the occupation’s, the more challenging the occupation will likely be for you. The higher your ability scores are compared to the occupation’s, the less challenging the occupation will likely be for you.

lower
a match
higher
Typical ability expectations for this NOC group
Your abilities

Abilities Sets

The 49 abilities are grouped into 5 abilities sets: Critical Thinking, Numbers and Patterns, Physical Activity, Mind-Body Coordination, and Senses.

Some abilities are more relevant to an occupation than other abilities. Individual abilities that are not relevant to an occupation are greyed out.

Critical Thinking

Critical Thinking includes 9 abilities related to identifying and solving problems, thinking of ideas, and communication, such as speaking and writing.

This is how well your scores match the set of Critical Thinking abilities for this occupation:

lower
a match
higher
Typical ability expectations for this NOC group
Your abilities

Numbers and Patterns

Numbers and Patterns includes 10 abilities related to math, memorizing, and multitasking. It also includes how we perceive patterns, shapes, and distances.

This is how well your scores match the set of Numbers and Patterns abilities for this occupation:

lower
a match
higher
Typical ability expectations for this NOC group
Your abilities

Physical Activity

Physical Activity includes 9 abilities related to strength, balance, flexibility, coordination, and endurance. 

This is how well your scores match the set of Physical Activity abilities for this occupation:

lower
a match
higher
Typical ability expectations for this NOC group
Your abilities

Mind-Body Coordination

Mind-Body Coordination includes 9 abilities related to movement control and how we react to signals. It also includes fine motor skills, such finger and hand dexterity and hand-eye coordination.

This is how well your scores match the set of Mind-Body Coordination abilities for this occupation:

lower
a match
higher
Typical ability expectations for this NOC group
Your abilities

Senses

Senses includes 12 abilities related to seeing, hearing, and speaking. 

This is how well your scores match the set of Senses abilities for this occupation:

lower
a match
higher
Typical ability expectations for this NOC group
Your abilities

Quick Guide

The abilities or aptitudes shown for this NOC group come from the Occupational and Skills Information System (OaSIS).

The abilities scores range from 1 to 5, with 5 being stronger.

Occupations use different combinations and levels of these abilities. The Abilities Quiz helps you learn more about your ability levels and which occupations match your strengths.

If you have completed the Abilities Quiz, you can compare the occupation’s ability expectations to your own ability scores. Your scores may be lower than, a match to, or higher than the occupation’s expected abilities.

Learn about abilities

Traits & Skills
Updated Mar 31, 2022

Jewellers need:

  • Good eyesight or corrected vision
  • Good eye-hand coordination and finger dexterity
  • The ability to concentrate for long periods of time on small-scale, finely detailed work

Designers, craftspersons, and model makers must be artistic. They must be able to visualize line, form, and colour in 3 dimensions. Jewellers working in retail stores also must have customer service skills.

Jewellers should enjoy using tools and instruments to perform precision tasks, analyzing information to perform appraisals, and using organized methods for their work.

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.

Top 10 Skills Employers Are Looking For

Jewellers, jewellery and watch repairers and related occupations

2016 NOC: 6344

This chart shows which job skills are currently in highest demand for this occupational group. It was created using this occupation's 31 most recent Alberta job postings, collected between Nov 27, 2021 and Sep 26, 2025.

Review these skills to learn:

  • Whether or not this occupation matches your skill set
  • What training you may need to get these skills
  • What skills to highlight in your resumé, cover letter, and interview.
Tasks: Clean all parts using special cleaning and rinsing solutions and ultrasonic or mechanical cleaning machines
Tasks: Appraise gemstones and diamonds to identify rare specimens and to detect peculiarity affecting stone values
Tasks: Set precious and semi-precious stones in jewellery mountings
Tasks: Examine, cut, shape and polish diamonds and precious and synthetic gems
Tasks: Fabricate and repair precious and semi-precious metal jewellery
Hand-eye co-ordination
Attention to detail
Tasks: Test, adjust and regulate timepiece movements
Manual dexterity
Cleaning
Educational Requirements
Updated Mar 31, 2022
  • Minimum Education Varies

In Alberta, many jewellers learn through a combination of short courses and on-the-job experience. Complete on-the-job training is hard to find because most shops specialize in a certain type of work. Some jewellery companies offer internships.

Most employers prefer to hire graduates of recognized training programs who already have some basic skills in the trade. Some workplaces expect applicants to supply their own set of hand tools.

Prospective jewellers should discuss their career plans with potential employers before enrolling in a training program. Different areas of specialty may require different training routes.

For example, jewellery designers need training in the visual arts. They also need computer skills for both one-of-a-kind and mass-production work. Post-secondary art programs offer the best opportunities to get this kind of training.

These programs most often require a high school diploma or equivalent. Some programs may consider mature students. They also require a portfolio showing artistic ability and skill.

To expand or narrow your program options, visit Post-Secondary Programs and start your search with:

Completing a program does not guarantee entrance into an occupation. Before enrolling in an education program, prospective students should look into various sources for education options and employment possibilities. For example, contact associations and employers in this field.

Additional Information

Elsewhere in Canada, colleges and private vocational schools offer related courses and programs, such as the following:

Certification Requirements
Updated Mar 31, 2022
  • Certification Not regulated

There is currently no provincial legislation regulating this occupation in Alberta.

Employment & Advancement
Updated Mar 31, 2022

Jewellers work for jewellery stores, design studios, repair shops, wholesale companies, and manufacturers. Graduates of art and design programs often work for other artists or do other types of work while they establish their own design studios.

Advancement most often means becoming more specialized or building a business. Opportunities to advance to supervisory positions are limited.

Jewellers who wish to start their own retail businesses must make a large financial investment in a highly competitive industry. Setting up a design studio involves lower overhead costs.

Industry Concentration

This section shows the industries where the majority of people in this occupation work. The data is based on the 2016 Census.

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.

Jewellers, jewellery and watch repairers and related occupations
2016 NOC: 6344

75.4% of people in this occupational group work in:

NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For examples, see Note.

3-Year Job Market Forecast

This section shows the Alberta job market condition, or short-term demand forecast, for this occupation over a 3-year period. It also shows the number of people employed in the occupation.

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2021 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.

Jewellers, jewellery and watch repairers and related occupations
2021 NOC: 62202
Balanced
Job Market
< 1500
Employed in AB

Source: 2024-2026 Alberta Short-Term Employment Forecast

NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For examples, see Note.

To see data for all occupations, visit Occupations in Demand.

5-Year Job Market Forecast

This section shows the employment outlook for this occupation in Alberta over a 5-year period.

Employment outlook is influenced by a wide variety of factors including:

  • Time of year (for seasonal jobs)
  • Location in Alberta
  • Employment turnover (when people leave existing positions)
  • Occupational growth (when new positions are created)
  • Size of the occupation
  • Trends and events that affect overall employment, especially in the industry or industries from the previous list

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.

Jewellers, jewellery and watch repairers and related occupations
2016 NOC: 6344
2.0%
Annual Growth
(Below average)
n/a
New Positions

Source: 2021-2025 Alberta Regional Occupational Demand Outlook

Annual growth is from 2021 to 2025. New positions created each year are in addition to job openings created by employment turnover.

NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For examples, see Note.

Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.

Related Alberta Job Postings
Wage & Salary
Updated Mar 31, 2022

Jewellers’ incomes vary a lot. Factors include the type of work, the jeweller’s training and experience, and whether commission sales are involved. Jewellery store employees may be able to buy store merchandise at reduced prices. However, starting wages are usually quite low.

Related Post-Secondary Field of Study
  • Fine Arts and Performing Arts
  • Personal and Food Services
  • Trades, Industrial and Related Training
Other Sources of Information
Updated Mar 31, 2022

Canadian Jewellers Association (CJA) website: canadianjewellers.com

Gemmological Institute of American (GIA) website: www.gia.edu

Get information and referrals about career, education, and employment options from Alberta Supports.

Updated Mar 31, 2022. The information contained in this profile is current as of the dates shown. Salary, employment outlook, and educational program information may change without notice. It is advised that you confirm this information before making any career decisions.

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