| Jewellery industry is one of the India's top export | | | | To learn designing first or learn jewelry |
| earner, amounting to more than 16 billion US | | | | manufacturing first? If you say designing, then my |
| dollars, in the fiscal year 2006-07. This coupled | | | | friends I am afraid you are terribly mistaken! |
| with the zero import duty on diamonds entering | | | | Because it's like learning to run before learning to |
| into India has further enhanced the country to be | | | | walk. In order to design jewelry, you need to |
| claimant as a global diamond jewelry trading hub. | | | | know a million things about the material you would |
| Importance of Jewelry designers and | | | | be working on, about the feel of the metal, about |
| gemmologists in the Gem and Jewellery field | | | | its joints, hinges, polish and lots more.All these |
| today is very immense. Even the sky rocketing | | | | things are very important to know before you |
| gold prices have not dimmed the hopes of the | | | | learn designing. Jewelry designing, unlike painting, |
| buyers from buying jewelry. This boom has | | | | requires some basics and guidelines to be |
| opened up many more oppurtunities for the | | | | followed, which can be learnt best only with |
| jewelry professionals. | | | | practical knowledge and not just theory. |
| Many times, I have come across people asking | | | | 3) When you are choosing a jewelry designing |
| questions like, "Is there any career opportunity as | | | | school, check out the faculty before joining it. |
| a "jewelry designer". My answer to this would be | | | | Don't just join any institute. Learn your basics, Do |
| a firm "YES!" And I don't feel there would be any | | | | your homework and then take the interview of |
| other field where the career opportunities would | | | | the faculty rather than them choosing you. You |
| be so exciting and enticing. | | | | are paying money and should get back every |
| Jewelry designers have the choice of working | | | | penny's worth you are putting in. I can tell from |
| with jewelry stores or big export corporate | | | | my personal experience that most designing |
| houses. Multinationals are also on the look out for | | | | schools do not even teach the basics properly. |
| young talented designers all the time, willing to pay | | | | 4) Always keep updated with the trends in the |
| any price for the creativity and art. After getting | | | | fashion industry. After all, we survive on what is |
| little experience and knowledge jewelry designers | | | | going on in the current latest fashion industry and |
| who believe in themselves and want to grow | | | | that's where our whole business lies. Designers |
| further may also go in to start their own jewelry | | | | should always know what the current trend is, |
| business. In this scenario, however, investment | | | | what's in, what's not and what's cool, what's hot! |
| and contacts play a key role to achieve success. | | | | Visit trade shows, exhibitions, fairs and whatever |
| If not business, designers can also sell their | | | | possible. Check out the jewelry of celebrities. |
| designs for a fee and not get bounded by any | | | | Read books, surf the net. Do whatever possible |
| job or business. In other words, the opportunities | | | | to stay updated on latest news, trends and |
| are unlimited. | | | | fashions. Trade shows give you lots of experience |
| Dos and Don'ts | | | | and confidence than one can imagine. |
| 1) Whenever a student joins a jewelry design | | | | Finally the money, which everyone's interested in. |
| school, the first thing to hit his/her mind is this - | | | | As a trainee one can expect a starting pay of Rs. |
| "Is art important in learning jewelry designing?" to | | | | 4000 - Rs. 5000 per month in small showrooms |
| attract more business for their schools you will | | | | and up to Rs.10, 000 in big multinational |
| definitely get the answer from the jewelry | | | | organizations. Talent, nevertheless, is imperative |
| schools that,"no prior art backing is required and | | | | to demand or deserve these. One can always |
| any one can take the admissions". | | | | improve their skill, art and talent with their |
| But let me assure you one thing, if you don't | | | | hardwork and dedication. After some years the |
| have the talent or that creative inclination in you | | | | pay scale can jump easily up to Rs. 25,000 per |
| then you are going to have a very tough time to | | | | month. |
| cope up with classes and I am not exaggerating | | | | Remember along with jewelry designing if you |
| here. To become a successful designer you need | | | | also know gemology, diamond grading or jewelry |
| to have that creativity, art and sense of design. | | | | manufacturing then double the above estimates. |
| Precision and attention to details are also very | | | | Designing degree along with gemologist or certified |
| important. Also the labour and time involved in | | | | gemologist degree can work wonders to your |
| very high. If you are determined and willing to put | | | | career. So it's very important to know the whole |
| in that extra effort then there is no looking back. | | | | jewelry industry on the whole rather than just |
| 2) Most importantly, let's address the basic issue - | | | | knowing it in bits and pieces. |