Jewellery

WorldSkills Occupational Standards (WSOS)

Occupation description and WSOS

The name of the skill competition is

Jewellery

Description of the associated work role(s) or occupation(s)

The skill of jewellery manufacturing consists of the making of fashion accessories using precious metal. A jewellery manufacturer can make exclusive individual pieces for use, pieces ready to be set with precious gemstones or prototypes for reproduction in numbers through lost-wax casting. A jeweller may also be required to replicate a piece directly, use jewellery making skills to refashion or repair an existing piece. A jewellery manufacturer will usually work from detailed drawings created through direct consultation with a client or by a jewellery designer. These designs can be developed by the jeweller through the use of hand sketching or in collaboration with the CAD drawer/Designer. They will, therefore, need to be able to correctly interpret these drawings to create a jewellery piece as envisioned by themselves, a client, or a designer. Excellent communication skills and sufficiently in-depth knowledge in many areas of jewellery production and design are critical when understanding what the client or designer wants to achieve.

A jeweller can do all the work on the product, but collaboration with other jewellers is possible. This allows for the sharing of manufacturing operations to better manage time and efficiency. It is essential that a jeweller understands production processes, even if they do not perform these themselves. An example of this would be outsourcing to a third party to complete a specific task or sharing a workspace with other jewellery makers or technicians with other specialist industry skills.

Dealing with precious metals, a jeweller needs to be precise, work economically and avoid wastage of materials. The work is intricately detailed and requires a high level of skill, focus, and concentration. They must have a working knowledge of metal characteristics and how to prepare metal alloys should the need arise.

Once the jeweller has finished a piece, it may progress to further phases of the manufacturing process requiring jewellery industry skills other than jewellery making e.g., gem-setting and casting. For this reason, a jeweller must have some knowledge and understanding of other jewellery industry skills. They must have an appreciation of gemstones, their characteristics, cuts, uses and impact on the finished piece. Similarly, they must be aware of the different phases of reproduction through casting and as mentioned above, a familiarity with CAD.

Jewellers work with highly valuable materials, therefore must act with complete honesty and integrity. They must be fully aware of security and the regulations relating to the purchase, production and sale of precious metals, gemstones, and finished pieces. Whether working as part of a production team, or in the capacity of a sole manufacturer, a jeweller must have a thorough understanding of production costs, to enable them to arrive at an acceptable selling price, while maintaining profitability.

Lastly, there is now a consumer ethical awareness that drives decision making when commissioning or purchasing jewellery. A jeweller should be aware of and understand the social and ethical consequences when acquiring precious materials from around the world. They must, at all times endeavour to uphold these ethics in relation to sourcing precious metals and gemstones e.g. conflict diamonds, worker exploitation, environmental damage, etc.

The WorldSkills Occupational Standards (WSOS)

General notes on the WSOS

The WSOS specifies the knowledge, understanding, skills, and capabilities that underpin international best practice in technical and vocational performance. These are both specific to an occupational role and also transversal. Together they should reflect a shared global understanding of what the associated work role(s) or occupation(s) represent for industry and business (www.worldskills.org/WSOS).

The skill competition is intended to reflect international best practice as described by the WSOS, to the extent that it can. The Standard is therefore a guide to the required training and preparation for the skill competition.

In the skill competition the assessment of knowledge and understanding will take place through the assessment of performance. There will only be separate tests of knowledge and understanding where there is an overwhelming reason for these.

The Standard is divided into distinct sections with headings and reference numbers added.

Each section is assigned a percentage of the total marks to indicate its relative importance within the Standards. This is often referred to as the “weighting”. The sum of all the percentage marks is 100. The weightings determine the distribution of marks within the Marking Scheme.

Through the Test Project, the Marking Scheme will assess only those skills and capabilities that are set out in the WorldSkills Occupational Standards. They will reflect the Standards as comprehensively as possible within the constraints of the skill competition.

The Marking Scheme will follow the allocation of marks within the Standards to the extent practically possible. A variation of up to five percent is allowed, if this does not distort the weightings assigned by the Standards.

WorldSkills Occupational Standards

Section		Relative importance (%)
1	Work organization and management	20
	The individual needs to know and understand: The requirements and implications of jewellery production on the environment and related sustainability issues Workplace hazards and risks associated with own work role Sources of advice relating to the objectives, requirements, and specifications Timeframe for activity completion Quality requirements of the product or service Techniques and reasons for prioritizing of each step in a plan Modifications that can be made to the plan to respond to unforeseen developments Risk control measures Reporting requirements for accidents, incidents, and other non-conformances with WHS procedures Information analysis techniques appropriate to tasks and position Methods of categorizing and organizing information including correct sequencing of information Methods of recording and communicating information Types of information relevant to the workplace and required tasks Processes or tools for effective decision making How to deliver and receive constructive criticism to better work in a collaborative manner Procedures for checking and maintaining individual specialist tools and shared workshop tools and machines Safe operation and maintenance of shared workshop machines and individual tools Procedures for the secure storage of jewellery and materials Risks attached to the use of natural and propane gas, oxygen, electricity acid, and chemical products Out-sourcing practices to external contractors for the purposes of electro-plating and the electro-plating process, gemstone mounting and the gemstone mounting process Processes for manufacturing both single and mass unit production, e.g., 1 piece, 10 pieces, 100 pieces
	The individual shall be able to: Follow environmental policies, identify potential breaches of environmental regulations, and suggest improvements within the limit of own authority Manage the environmental hazards/risks, resource use and inefficiencies associated with own workplace, at an appropriate level Take account of the relevant environmental and resource efficiency systems and procedures for own work area Plan a work activity using appropriate planning tools such as technical drawings, sample pieces and sketches or rendered images from 3D digital models, whilst following established procedures, including work health and safety (WHS) requirements Check the plan to ensure accuracy and conformance and modify the plan components, as necessary, to overcome any unforeseen difficulties or developments Identify hazards and implementing appropriate risk control measures and procedures Select, use and maintain relevant personal protective equipment (PPE), Evaluate the effectiveness of risk controls measures Follow work instructions, standard operating procedures (SOPs) and safe work practices Access and record relevant information from a range of sources Recognize and use workplace appropriate terminology Read, interpret and follow information in workplace documentation Check and clarify information Organize, categorize, and sequence information Communicate using appropriate methods and procedures for a variety of situations Create efficient work practices to minimize waste Interpret technical terminology and symbols Work with a high degree of accuracy and precision on fine and delicate pieces Operate machinery and tools in a manner that avoids risk to him/herself or others within the workshop Gather relevant information, seek input from team members, and engage in effective dialogue to make informed decisions Effectively communicate, provide, and receive feedback
2	Design jewellery components	20
	The individual needs to know and understand: Specialist techniques both historical and regional Features and characteristics of products and services offered Product and service availability and processes Range of customer requirements for product/service and alternatives available Reasons for informing the customer promptly of the ability/inability to meet the customer requirements Strategies for managing customer issues Record keeping requirements of customer service interactions and transactions Iterative processes to enable effective development of client designs Potential problems or limitations that may affects or limit a client’s design Effective communication techniques to better understand client needs Trends, innovations, and breakthroughs in relevant design fields Methods to establish rapport with customers aimed at providing a positive customer experience Design resources and where to locate them Research techniques and available resources Existing designs, ethical and competitive considerations Applicable industry standards or regulations Design principles including form, function, harmony, line definition (interpretive/actual) Drawing media and their purposes/applications including paper, ink/pencil/stencils/erasers, etc. Rules and methods of displaying ideas and concepts through basic sketches and drawings Available manufacturing technologies and their suitability for jewellery manufacture The interrelationship of technical and design drawings 2D and 3D drawing techniques Elements and principles of design of basic and complex jewellery components, Terminology and symbols used in technical drawings produced from CAD software Jewellery construction techniques The use of techniques associated with applying texturing to precious metal surfaces for creative effect How to extract mass and area properties using 3D design software Information on specifications, design documentation, illustrations, design drawings and other applicable source documents Industry requirements and availability of industry expertise Safe work practices
	The individual shall be able to: Apply product knowledge to address customer requirements Propose alternative products and/or services to satisfy customer requirements and taking action to implement these Identify and interpret specifications Select equipment appropriate to the illustrating method and requirements and prepare or modify drawings Approve final illustration as per design information and process in accordance with procedures Identify purpose and needs, including design restraints, budget considerations, item end-use, proportions and desired features, available materials Develop research/ideas to a sufficient level to determine customer expectations and/or design outcomes Clearly communicate the degree to which the customer requirements can be met Communicate concepts in terms suitable to relevant customer or other contacts e.g. engineer, master pattern maker Document and maintain design processes, features, and design development notes relevant to the iterative process Use callouts as visual cues to quickly and efficiently communicate design intent and thought process Produce basic form drawings/sketches that accurately reflect the design concept; this can extend to shadow, and highlight techniques for emphasis to display jewellery design concepts and rendering illustrations Seek input from others who have relevant expertise or diverse perspectives, Engage in discussions, participate in forums, or consult with colleagues, mentors, or subject matter experts Identify and solve problems that may affect design form or functionality
3	Manufacture of precious metal alloys	5
	The individual needs to know and understand: The content of precious metal alloys and the impact that additives have on the precious metal in terms of colour, pliability, and durability How alloys react to various processes used by the jewellery maker The properties of precious metal alloys and their solders Laws and regulations relating to precious metal content for sale and export Assaying processes and procedures for the country of operation, purchase, and sale of jewellery products Assaying marks delineating precious metal quality Forms in which precious metals are sold, such as sheet/wire/granules etc.
	The individual shall be able to: Recognize authenticity and quality signs for precious metals Source precious metals of the correct price and quality for jewellery manufacture Calculate the proportions and quantities of fine precious metals and base metals required for any predetermined amount of any recognized precious metal alloy Cast precious metal alloy ingots and bars of any predetermined weight, with a minimum of residual impurities, ready to be milled or rolled in preparation for the manufacture of jewellery components
4	Preparation of precious metal alloys for the manufacture of jewellery components	10
	The individual needs to know and understand: Properties and applications of various recognized precious metal alloys Procedures for the transformation of precious metal alloy ingots in preparation for the manufacture of jewellery components Applications and uses for different recognized precious metals
	The individual shall be able to: Manufacture precious metal sheet or square wire, and reduce to any pre-determined thickness using manual or electrically powered rolling mills Manufacture and reduce the thickness of square or round wire in precious metal alloys to any pre-determined dimensions using drawing banks Manufacture round wire from square wire, and reduce to any pre-determined diameter using a drawing bank Use basic mathematical formulas the calculate metal weights and reach desired dimensions
5	Manufacture of both simple and complex jewellery components	30
	The individual needs to know and understand: Legislation and regulations regarding the purchase, production, and sale of precious metals, gemstones, and finished pieces Various jewellery components and their uses Techniques and methods for forming and constructing components and methods for finishing components A sufficient understanding of gemstone setting to ensure the successful seating and setting of a gemstone by a professional gem setter The correct and safe use of solders and soldering torches, and hard soldering techniques Other techniques used in the joining of one or more components to create a completed piece without the use of heat or solder
	The individual shall be able to: Manufacture Chenier/tubes and reduce to any predetermined diameters using a drawing bank Transform precious metal alloy sheet, wire or Chenier/tube into simple jewellery components employing bending, shaping, and forming to conform to any shape pre-determined by technical drawing or sample component Drill precious metals accurately to conform to any shape pre-determined by technical drawings or sample component Transform simple jewellery components employing abrasive techniques such as milling, grinding, filing, ajour-sawing etc. to conform to any shape pre-determined by technical drawings or sample components Hammer, emboss, shape or dome precious metal sheets of appropriate thickness into low relief, to conform to any shapes pre-determined by technical drawings or sample components using appropriate doming tools Manufacture settings for precious gemstones to conform to shapes or designs pre-determined by technical drawings or sample components Manufacture functioning mechanisms for jewellery such as hinges, clasps, articulations, pressure snaps riveting and screw threads as determined by technical drawings or sample components, or of their own design Ensure that manufactured functioning components can withstand constant use without sacrificing any mechanical properties Assemble basic jewellery components and complex jewellery components into completed jewellery pieces by means of precious metal solder joins to conform to any designs pre-determined by technical drawing or sample components Repair damaged or worn pieces of jewellery so that the restored pieces will be indistinguishable from their original aspect at the time of manufacture
6	Surface finish	15
	The individual needs to know and understand: Skill specific finishing and polishing methods and techniques The effect of different types and grades of polishing media on the surface finish Procedures, tools, and techniques to gain the optimum surface finish, Common surface imperfections and defects and appropriate methods for their repair International grades of sandpaper used in surface finishing Precious metal lemel control and collection processes to reduce waste and encourage reuse Best practice for refining to ensure maximum returns of scrap precious metals to ensure sustainable practices are upheld in the workplace
	The individual shall be able to: Remove marks, scratches, and surface imperfections throughout all stages of manufacture of simple and complex jewellery components and completed jewellery pieces before the application of final surface finishes Finish surfaces at stages throughout the manufacturing process Apply non-reflective 800ASA sandpaper (or equivalent) appropriate for critical evaluation and/or passing on to any subsequent phases of production requiring other jewellery’ industry skills, such as casting, gem-setting, engraving, and polishing Work in an organized and efficient manner to minimize loss of precious metals Return all surplus metal and lemel/scrap to assess loss prior to recycling
	Total	100

References for industry consultation

General notes

WorldSkills is committed to ensuring that the WorldSkills Occupational Standards fully reflect the dynamism of internationally recognized best practice in industry and business. To do this WorldSkills approaches a number of organizations across the world that can offer feedback on the draft Description of the Associated Role and WorldSkills Occupational Standards on a two-yearly cycle.

In parallel to this, WSI consults three international occupational classifications and databases:

ISCO-08: (http://www.ilo.org/public/english/bureau/stat/isco/isco08/)
ESCO: (https://ec.europa.eu/esco/portal/home )
O*NET OnLine (www.onetonline.org/)

References

This WSOS (Section 2) appears most closely to relate to the occupation of Jeweller (which is rather higher):
https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/51-9071.01

and the occupation of Jeweller here, which may be a closer fit:
ttp://data.europa.eu/esco/occupation/618a854a-4ecd-4535-84e6-350e1fe0aa0f .

Adjacent occupations may also be explored through these links.

ILO 7313

The following table indicates which organizations were approached and provided valuable feedback for the Description of the Associated Role and WorldSkills Occupational Standards in place for WorldSkills Lyon 2024.

Organization	Contact name
Andrew Chappell Ltd	Andrew Chappell, Owner
Chopard	Thierry Perrochon, Director of High Jewellery Creation Department
Sarah and Sebastian	Robert Sebastian Grynkofki, Co-founder and Managing Director
The Goldsmith Centre	Robin Kyte, Education and Training Consultant
Vummidi Bangaru Jewellers	Anupam Karmakar, Creative Head