Starting a career in Jewellery/Gemmology

lcfreeman · **Joined:** Wed Jan 14, 2015 5:39 pm **Posts:** 1

Hi

I'm looking to start a career in the gems/jewellery business in the London area. I have some brief experience working with jewellery at the auction house I currently work at and I've done an introductory gemmology course, nothing substantial though. Long term I would like to get into the buying side of things but I appreciate my most likely route in is through retail and moving sideways later.

I was hoping someone could either recommend any good websites for jewellery jobs or give me any advice on finding jobs in Hatton garden/Bond Street etc. any advice would be much appreciated.

Many thanks,
Liam

Australian · **Joined:** Sat May 17, 2014 3:55 am **Posts:** 140

You are correct that the best next step in your career is probably getting a job as a sales person in a jewellery. This will expose you to gemstones and jewellery all the time. Meanwhile you might consider looking for the nearest lapidary club to join it so you can learn how to cut gemstones and set them into silver.

It's better to start in a small jewellery rather than in the store of a big chain so your enthusiasm can easily be noticed. Once you move ahead in your job, see if there are any position available at headquarters of a big jewellery chain. They will have several people in the buying department, some even junior. So you can move up, but, if you are stuck, you can move sideways to the competition.

Good luck with your career.

gemsmithuk · **Posted:** Wed Apr 22, 2015 5:22 am

Hi,
Have a look at these websites;

www.jeweller-recruitment.co.uk (National Association of Goldsmiths)
www.jewelleryjobs.com (Jackson Maine)
www.jewellerystylist.com (As it says)
www.jolyonmarshall.com (Recruitment agency)

The NAG is where most independent jewellers post jobs. Jackson Maine is the best known specialist recruitment site. Jewellery Stylist is one of the newer ones. Jolyon Marshall tends to deal with the multiple jewellers.

Groups such as Signet (Ernest Jones, Leslie Davies and H. Samuel) and Goldsmiths (inc. Walker and Hall, Watches of Switzerland) have there own websites with a careers section. It's worth checking.

If you want to be involved in buying, most small jewellers buy in house, so there is often a small opportunity there. There are a couple of buying groups that independents use in the UK such as Company of Master Jewellers and Houlden. If you know what kind of area/merchandise you want to deal with, find someone selling it and back track.

Are you in London? There is a lot of competition in the big cities, it might be worth going further afield to get a little more experience first.

That'll do to start.

Feel free to pm me if you want a chat.

gemsmithuk · **Posted:** Wed Apr 22, 2015 5:27 am

Oh. Quick note on the Bond Street/ Hatton Garden bit. Your start in Bond Street would be sales, but you would need a strong sales back ground. Remember that their will be targets to hit and high pressure.

Hatton Garden is similar unless you try the manufacturers upstairs (where most of the interesting stuff happens).

Have you thought about approaching pawnbrokers? You will get a varied experience very quickly which can put you in a good position for the next step. Or possibly second hand dealers? Great way to train your eye in.

Barbra Voltaire, FGG · **Posted:** Mon Jun 01, 2015 12:50 pm

Then, all you need is money.

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