Gem and Diamond Workers: Career & Application Guide

What do gem and diamond workers do?

Fabricate, finish, or evaluate the quality of gems and diamonds used in jewelry or industrial tools.

This describes a U.S. occupation, not a live vacancy. Individual employers may use different titles and requirements.

O*NET reports these titles for this occupation. Compare the responsibilities in each posting before treating titles as equivalent.

Assign polish, symmetry, and clarity grades to stones, according to established grading systems.
Identify and document stones' clarity characteristics, using plot diagrams.
Estimate wholesale and retail value of gems, following pricing guides, market fluctuations, and other relevant economic factors.
Examine gems during processing to ensure accuracy of angles and positions of cuts or bores, using magnifying glasses, loupes, or shadowgraphs.
Examine diamonds or gems to ascertain the shape, cut, and width of cut stones, or to select the cuts that will result in the biggest, best quality stones.
Examine gem surfaces and internal structures, using polariscopes, refractometers, microscopes, and other optical instruments, to differentiate between stones, to identify rare specimens, or to detect flaws, defects, or peculiarities affecting gem values.
Advise customers and others on the best use of gems to create attractive jewelry items.
Locate and mark drilling or cutting positions on stones or dies, using diamond chips and power hand tools.
Secure gems or diamonds in holders, chucks, dops, lapidary sticks, or blocks for cutting, polishing, grinding, drilling, or shaping.
Select shaping wheels for tasks, and mix and apply abrasives, bort, or polishing compounds.

Check the employer’s requirements, location, schedule and any licenses against your situation.
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