A jeweler who makes, repairs and alters pieces by hand at a workbench.
A bench jeweler works at a jeweler’s bench fitted with a torch, a micromotor and hand tools such as files, pliers, gravers and hammers, with a laser welder close by. GIA’s training for the role takes pieces from castings to finished, set and polished jewelry, and covers the most common repairs: sizing rings, replacing prongs, repairing broken chains and installing new settings. Its quality benchmarks cover sizing rings by torch or by laser welder, including rings with diamonds in the shank.
French draws a line that English does not. Onisep describes the bijoutier as cutting, soldering, filing and assembling metal, and the joaillier as making each mount to order to hold precious stones. In a joaillerie workshop, the joaillier works alongside two other specialists: the setter, who fixes the stones (see stone setting), and the polisher, who gives the final shine.
In job listings
Listings use several titles for this work: jeweler, goldsmith or jewelry repair technician. Some roles sit in production workshops making new pieces; others sit in service centers, resizing and repairing clients’ jewelry as part of after-sales service. See current jeweler roles.
