Van Cleef & Arpels Foundry Assistant (Jewellery Casting)
- Location
- Seniority
- Junior
- Industry
- High Jewelry
- Posted
- Apr 29, 2026
About Van Cleef & Arpels
Van Cleef & Arpels is a distinguished Parisian high‑jewellery maison renowned for artisanal craftsmanship and complex gem-setting. As part of the Richemont group, the maison combines heritage techniques with exacting production standards in specialized ateliers, offering opportunities to work on exceptional, hand‑finished pieces within a structured luxury‑goods environment.
Van Cleef & Arpels — Saint‑Dié‑des‑Vosges: Foundry Assistant (Jewellery Casting) role supporting precious‑metal casting and finishing in the maison's artisanal atelier.
Role & Responsibilities
- Assist in all stages of precious‑metal casting, including preparation of wax models, investment (mould) preparation and dewaxing.
- Operate and monitor centrifugal and vacuum casting equipment under supervision, ensuring correct metal melting and alloying procedures for gold, platinum and other precious alloys.
- Carry out initial finishing: removal of investment, trimming, filing, soldering and basic polishing to prepare castings for bench jewellers.
- Inspect cast parts for porosity, inclusions and dimensional conformity; document and escalate non-conformances to senior technicians.
- Maintain and clean tools, furnaces and casting equipment; perform routine checks and basic preventative maintenance.
- Adhere to strict health, safety and environmental procedures for handling hot equipment, chemicals and precious metals.
- Support quality control and traceability records for each production run, ensuring compliance with atelier documentation standards.
- Collaborate closely with model makers, gem setters and bench jewellers to meet production schedules and technical specifications.
Qualifications
- Vocational training in jewellery making, metalwork or a related craft (CAP/BEP or equivalent) or completion of a relevant apprenticeship.
- Practical experience or training in metal casting, investment or foundry operations — internships or apprenticeship experience acceptable.
- Strong manual dexterity and steady hand; proven attention to microscopic detail.
- Knowledge of precious‑metal behaviour (gold, platinum alloys) and basic metallurgy principles.
- Good understanding of health, safety and environmental controls in a foundry/atelier setting.
- Ability to read and follow technical drawings and production instructions; disciplined record‑keeping.
Skills
Experience
Previous hands‑on experience in jewellery casting, a metal foundry or through an apprenticeship is preferred; experience with precious metals (gold, platinum) is advantageous.
Education
Vocational diploma (CAP/BEP) in jewellery, metalwork or related craft, or equivalent apprenticeship experience.
Workplace
This position is based in Saint‑Dié‑des‑Vosges, Grand Est, France, within easy reach of Nancy.
Culture
The maison prioritizes artisanal excellence, respect for heritage techniques and meticulous quality control within a collaborative atelier environment. Teams are composed of highly skilled technicians and bench artisans who balance traditional savoir‑faire with the exacting standards of contemporary luxury craftsmanship.
About Cerulean
Cerulean is the definitive career portal for the global luxury industry. We match exceptional professionals with exclusive opportunities at the world's most prestigious brands. From haute couture and fine watchmaking to prestige beauty, hospitality, and boutique retail, Cerulean centralises luxury employment to help you find the career for which you were destined.
Frequently Asked Questions
The luxury industry is characterised by a diverse and nuanced nomenclature. Esteemed houses frequently employ proprietary terminology, and even within a single organisation like Van Cleef & Arpels, titles may vary across global markets to reflect local conventions. To ensure absolute clarity, Cerulean assigns a standardised, industry-coherent canonical title to every listing. However, it is worth noting that this role is functionally synonymous with «Foundry Technician — Jewellery», «Casting Assistant (Precious Metals)», «Jewellery Casting Operator», «Bench Foundry Assistant», and other variations. Our sophisticated search architecture anticipates these variations, ensuring that inquiries using related terms will seamlessly yield the exact roles you desire.