Accessorize your career

History of Indian jewellery is as old as the history of the country itself. Indian jewellery is unique in its design and workmanship. Jewellery made with emeralds, diamonds, pearls, rubies, sapphires and other precious and semi-precious stones have been in practice for centuries. But with times, peoples’ preferences have changed drastically. And why notIJ The jewellery industry itself is a dynamic industry poised for a glittering future.

The vast spectrum of jewellery ranging from diamond studded jewellery to traditional ethnic jewellery or contemporary, we see everywhere, has to go through a gruelling process to  from raw materials being mined or manufactured and shipped from far-reaching places or, to sales professionals being the final link in the chain, bridging the critical gap between producer and consumer. Everyone — designers, gemologists, jewellers, sales and customer service

representatives, store managers, laboratory graders and appraisers — have a part to play. And each involves an active role in making sure that, at every step in the process, jewellery is sourced, manufactured and sold in an ethical and environmentally-conscious manner. 

Traditionally, people in the industry relied and believed on on the job training, working as apprentice to jewellers and designers. This was also partly because they designed what was popular in those times. But with an industry which is constantly evolving and the line between traditional and contemporary jewellery is getting blurred, innovation is the key. The exclusivity that people expect from today’s Jewellers does not come without some kind of formal training. 

One of the most important profiles that a jewellery house has, is that of a designer.  He is the person who renders originality and uniqueness to every piece. It requires technical and illustration skills, a keen eye for detail, an affinity for fine arts, familiarity with chemistry and alloys and a comfort level with mathematics.

But over and above everything else, he needs to have a great sense of aesthetics. If you have always been interested in style or fashion, and you like drawing, painting or graphic design, you might consider a career as a jewellery designer. Designers can work with jewellers  to create one-of-a-kind jewellery, or they can work for manufacturers developing new pieces for the company’s collections. Some designers go on to start businesses, selling designer jewellery under their own brands. Designing jewellery — whichever route you choose — is a unique and challenging occupation. 

A good designer also brings his love of style to their work. Some hands-on experience in making jewellery would help a designer understand how jewellery works: how it is put together, how the stones are set, the clasps attached and so on. Good eye-hand coordination, computer skills and drafting ability are important, as are an understanding of colour and some gemological training. 

The Government set up the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), a Public Private Partnership in 2008 which is aimed to ensure that India creates infrastructure to train — 4.6 million professionals in the next decade. India will then have the youngest population in the world with almost 65 per cent of the population below the age of 35.  

Gem and Jewellery industry at present employs 4.5 million and as per a survey by NSDC and ICRA, and there will be an additional requirement of 4 million people in next 10 years. Gem & Jewellery Skill Council of India (GJSCI) has been set up by combining four major bodies. All these policies will carve a niche area in the career of a jewellery designer. Many Government and private institutes have already floated a number of courses in jewellery designing. 

Apart from designing there are a host of other career opportunities that the industry offers. They could be sales professionals, jewellery appraisers, manufacturers and wholesalers, quality assurance technicians, etc. All these have a significant role to play. All these careers require a range of qualifications and skills. But what brings them together under one roof is the tremendous personal satisfaction of working with something they love — jewellery.

(The writer is founder and director, Jewelsify.com, New Delhi)