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