The profession of a jeweler-fixer

In the jewelry business, there is a profession called the “fixer”. This stage is very important when making jewelry and accessories. The setting of stones and other additional elements is done manually and requires special skills and abilities from a specialist.

A professional who holds the position of a fixer jeweler is engaged in painstaking work. The process requires attentiveness, perseverance and concentration. Also, you cannot do without physical strength and excellent vision. Experienced specialists are able to fulfill many orders per day without losing quality. From year to year, employees gain invaluable experience, improving their skills.

As soon as a piece of jewelry arrives at the setting section, the master carefully examines it and only then begins to perform his duties. It is necessary to check the quality of the blanks, clarify their quantity and evaluate the product as a whole. The next step is to prepare the insert seat. Drills are indispensable at this stage.

After the base is fully prepared, the processing of prongs begins (also called "paws" is used). The jeweler places the selected insert and fixes it; in his work, he uses gadgets, root rollers and graders.

An experienced professional must correctly calculate the pressure when setting the stone. On the one hand, the insert must be held securely, on the other hand, when the pressure increases, the stone and the base made of precious material will suffer. It is very easy to make a mistake at this stage, especially for a beginner.

Synthetic inserts or natural diamonds boast a high strength indicator. They are more resistant to damage. When working with jewelry, it is important to know this characteristic of each stone.

There are many types of setting (blind, channel, prong and many others), depending on which the method of work and the materials used are chosen. You should also be sure to observe the features of the selected technology. Only an experienced specialist knows all the subtleties and nuances.

When the work of the master comes to an end, the product is sent to the technical control staff. It is carefully examined and only then put up for sale. Particular attention is paid to the integrity of the inserts and the reliability of the setting.

The charm of the finished product that attracts the attention of buyers depends on the skill of the fixer. It is these specialists who bring to life the most amazing ideas of designers.

To become a real professional in your field, you must have the following skills and knowledge:

• it is imperative to understand the properties of metals, as well as precious and semi-precious stones;
• in work, you cannot do without special equipment and tools that need to be correctly selected and used;
• Despite the fact that the craftsman does mechanical work, he needs to understand design jewelry trends.

The following personal qualities are also important:

• perseverance;
• attentiveness;
• concentration;
• attention to details;
• the desire to develop and master new skills;
• creative approach to business.

Note: When hiring an employee, many companies pay special attention to physical indicators of health. A keen eye is essential for working with small elements. With age, vision deteriorates, this is a natural process for every person. Modern equipment helps to cope with this problem. Craftsmen use a magnifying wall and microscopes. Also, glasses and lenses are used for work.

When choosing a future profession, many take into account the level of wages and possible prospects. The profession of a jeweler-fixer is in high demand in the modern world, and a real specialist will not be left without work.

The following characteristics affect the level of wages:

• work experience of a specialist;
• volume of completed orders;
• jewelry salon level;
• the region in which the master works (the highest earnings are concentrated in large cities).

Beginners earn little money. Their salaries range from 15 to 20-25 thousand rubles per month. Experienced professionals get a lot more. Highly qualified craftsmen can earn up to 100 thousand rubles a month. Some specialists master the profession of a jeweler and open their own workshops for the repair and manufacture of products to order.