What Does a Jeweler Do? A Day in the Life of a Bench Jeweler
Behind every repaired heirloom, resized ring, or custom piece is a dedicated jeweler who excels at their craft. In our case, it’s Jan!
Janice Robinson is a veteran employee at Forsythe, bringing over 27 years of experience to our customers. In addition to being an incredibly talented jeweler, Jan is our awesome store mom. She looks out for the team and never hesitates to share her wealth of knowledge.
We spoke with Jan to experience a day in the life of a jeweler and feature her in our social content (follow our Instagram here). Get a glimpse of what goes on behind the magic, including:
What is a jeweler?
What does a jeweler do?
A typical jeweler’s routine
Want to learn more? Schedule an appointment with Forsythe Jewelers for all your jewelry needs!
What Is a Bench Jeweler and What Do They Do?
A bench jeweler, often simply called a jeweler, is responsible for repairing, restoring, and creating fine jewelry. Their work can range from resizing rings and setting gemstones to laser welding delicate chains and crafting intricate custom designs. They use specialized tools, machinery, and years of expertise to bring each piece to life.
Jan found her passion for jewelry repair in high school when she took a jewelry class. “My favorite part was lighting things on fire,” she jokes!
From there, Jan decided to pursue trade courses at Bowman Technical School and Revere Academy of Jewelry Arts to deepen her knowledge. And she eventually joined Forsythe because she was interested in continued learning. Jan stands out as a jeweler because she is also a Certified Gemologist through the American Gem Society, which is uncommon for bench jewelers.
Why Become a Jeweler?
Becoming a jeweler is a stable trade with in-demand skills. And, yes, you get to set things on fire! But, for Jan, her drive comes from serving our clientele and the impact jewelry can have on one’s life.
Jan reflects, “For me, it’s about taking something that’s seen a rough life and bringing it back to its original glory. That can mean a lot to people, especially for sentimental pieces. Having a customer say it looks better than when they first got it—there’s nothing better than that!”
When asked about her most memorable project, Jan shared a family heirloom. “The client wanted to restore their grandmother’s engagement ring, which had been passed down. It wasn’t big or fancy, but it was extremely sentimental to them because it had survived the Holocaust. That’s pretty special. You can’t put a price on that.”
A Typical Jeweler’s Routine
A day in the life of a jeweler involves a lot of hats! Some days might require more creative energy to design a custom jewelry piece. Others could lean more toward administrative tasks and store management. Bench jewelers need to be agile and organized to get things done.
1. Morning Set-Up
Most days start in the same way. After unlocking the store, turning on the lights and essential equipment (e.g., ultrasonic cleaners, polishing machines, etc.), Jan focuses on getting the shop ready while reviewing admin work.
Jan’s Morning Tasks:
Go through workboxes and order any parts that might be needed for new jobs.
Grab a cup of tea while tidying up miscellaneous dishes in the breakroom or decluttering. (So sorry and thank you, Jan!)
Review incoming repair jobs, confirm estimates, and coordinate with sales associates to clarify details.
Order breakroom snacks, paper goods, and other store supplies. (She takes such good care of us!)
Unbook completed jobs—this includes checking her work, confirming pricing, and photographing finished pieces before handing them off to a sales associate for one last quality control check before approving for client pick-up.
2. Organizing the Workbench
The real magic happens at the workbench, where Jan handles all jewelry repair and cleaning jobs in store. After turning on the machinery, she meticulously goes through her inventory and equipment to keep track of what needs to be restocked or maintained for the week.
“Organization keeps me efficient!” Jan chimes in. “I feel like I can really get stuff done because my pre-prep pays off.”
Jan sets up her station to have a good view of all jobs wherever she is in her process, which allows her to move through tasks systematically and “get in the groove” (her words, not ours). The aim is to prioritize efficiency instead of losing time to task switching.
Jan’s Weekly Workflow Prep:
Check supplies—everything from polishing brushes, pliers, and files to saw blades, burs, and distilled water.
Restock jewelry parts including gemstones, earring backs, clasps, and chains.
Inspect, calibrate, and maintain jewelry tools like the laser welder, ultrasonic cleaner, gold testing x-ray machine, and polishing machine.
3. Hands-On Jewelry Repair & Creation
Jan’s bread and butter is restoring heirloom jewelry, and clients often rely on her attention to detail to fix precious rings, bracelets, earrings, and more. She treats each piece with the utmost care because she understands the sentimental value jewelry can have.
“I look at our repair jobs like little patients,” Jan adds. “We have to do a thorough job of making sure they’re as healthy as possible before we get them back to their owners!”
To optimize her workflow, Jan groups similar tasks together and works in bulk. That means tackling all prep, laser welding all jewelry repairs, retipping all prongs at the same time, and so on. She likes to stay flexible—sometimes Jan tackles 30 “easy” repairs to build momentum, and other times she prioritizes a handful of difficult or time-consuming jobs for the day.
Basic Jeweler Workflow:
Organize repair jobs in trays to move over to the laser welder, grouping similar tasks for efficiency. Prioritize jobs based on importance, date, and complexity.
Use a laser welder to secure delicate connections before moving pieces back to the bench.
Apply a protective coating of boric acid and denatured alcohol to items that require torch-soldering to prevent heat damage.
Allow heated pieces to cool before proceeding with further repairs. As items cool, soak, or clean, periodically assess other jobs before moving to the next task.
Execute one-step fixes such as chain soldering, prong retipping, and charm attachments.
Place items in a pickle pot to remove oxidation from heat-exposed metals. Wait, what? Jan explains: “The pickle pot is like a tiny crockpot full of a hot solution used to remove fire scale.”
Rinse, dry, and refine each piece using abrasive rubber wheels of various grits to restore the jewelry to its intended original state.
Polish each item to restore its original luster before a final ultrasonic or steam cleaning.
Rhodium plating (see below).
4. Rhodium Plating (As Needed)
Jewelry made with silver-colored base metals, such as white gold, silver, or an alloy, benefits from rhodium plating. Adding a thin layer of rhodium enhances the jewelry’s shine and durability. We often use this technique for compatible engagement rings and wedding pieces to protect them from normal wear and tear.
That being said, rhodium is fickle to work with. “It needs near-perfect conditions to have the best results,” Jan says.
Jan’s Rhodium Plating Process:
Inspect each piece for loose gemstones or structural weaknesses.
Tighten gemstones, sand, and pre-polish.
Clean pieces in an electro-cleaning bath at precisely 100 degrees.
Rinse, activate, and then apply rhodium plating with a platinized titanium anode under meticulously controlled conditions. This 7-step process requires exact timing and execution.
Perform a final steam cleaning and inspection before packaging items for client pickup.
5. Closing Shop: Jan’s Post-Work Routine
After a full day of jewelry repair, Jan packages and stores items in a safe before tidying her workbench. She turns off the machinery and lights and returns home.
“I like spending time with my husband Bob and my daughter Emma, when she’s home from college,” Jan adds. “Nothing beats a glass of wine, a good TV show, and play time with my cat Coconut!”
Because Jan is an overachiever (our words, not hers), she also works on our store stringing projects as she’s spending time with her family. She makes incredible pearl and beaded pieces for our gift room collection. Once a bench jeweler, always a bench jeweler!
Work With an Expert Jeweler in Pittsford, NY
If you're looking for expert jewelry repair, custom creations, or heirloom restoration, finding a skilled bench jeweler is essential. Jan provides top-notch craftsmanship and care, ensuring that every piece shines like new.
Visit us today to experience the artistry and expertise of a dedicated bench jeweler firsthand!
