For a self-employed jewellery designer, design activities include:
-holding consultations with commissioning clients;
-discussing a client's range of options and formulating original ideas;
-sketching out ideas, sometimes using computer-aided design (CAD), to help the client visualise the finished design. This involves handling, forming and drilling metal, and opening out holes in which to place the selected gems;
model making (casting) - making an object or decorative detail using a mould;
stamping and presswork;
chasing - making a raised pattern on the surface of the metal;
soldering and fabrication;
polishing - ensuring the finish of the piece. The following specialist processes may be performed by jewellery designers, but often pieces of work are sent on to companies (outworkers) for these processes to be completed:
stone setting - making adjustments to the mount to ensure the stones fit perfectly. This can involve very intricate work, e.g. removing tiny fractions of metal;
electro-plating - layering a precious metal onto a base metal;
enamelling - fusing powdered glass to metal in a kiln to create coloured patterns and pictures;
welding - joining pieces of metal using traditional methods or by laser;
engraving - carving lettering or patterns into precious metals by hand or by computer-aided manufacture.
