National Application Center :: career details :: Gem and Diamond Workers
Career Details :: Gem and Diamond Workers
Split, saw, cut, shape, polish, or drill gems and diamonds used in jewelry or industrial tools.
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful in these occupations, but usually is not needed. For example, a drywall installer might benefit from experience installing drywall, but an inexperienced person could still learn to be an installer with little difficulty.
These occupations usually require a high school diploma and may require some vocational training or job-related course work. In some cases, an associate's or bachelor's degree could be needed.
Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees.
- Examines diamond or gem to determine shape, cut, and width of stone.
- Measures size of stone's bore holes and cuts to ensure adherence to specifications, using precision measuring instruments.
- Positions gem or diamond against edge of revolving saw, lathe saw, or lapidary slitter to cut, block, or slit stone.
- Secures gem or diamond in holder, chuck, dop, lapidary stick, or block for cutting, polishing, grinding, drilling, or shaping.
- Replaces, trues, and sharpens blades, drills, and plates.
- Locates and marks drilling position on surface of diamond dies, using diamond chip and power hand drill.
- Holds stone, gem, die, or stylus, attached to holder or lapidary stick, against rotating plates or wheels to shape, grind, and polish.
- Selects shaping wheel, mixes, and applies abrasive, bort, or polishing compound.
- Grinds, drills, and finishes jewel bearings for use in precision instruments, such as compasses and chronometers.
- Splits gem along premarked lines to remove imperfections, using blade and jeweler's hammer.
- Bores, laps, and polishes holes in industrial diamonds used for dies, using drill, lathe, lapping machine, and hand tools.
- Examines gem during processing to ensure accuracy of angle and position of cut or bore, using magnifying glass, loupe, or shadowgraph.
- Laps girdle on rough diamonds, using diamond girdling lathe.
- Lubricates, dismantles, and cleans lapping, boring, cutting, polishing, and shaping equipment and machinery.
- Cutters and Trimmers, Hand
- Electrotypers and Stereotypers
- Engraver Set-Up Operators
- Model and Mold Makers, Jewelry
- Precision Lens Grinders and Polishers
- Watch Repairers
General Work Activities
- Handling and Moving Objects
- Getting Information Needed to Do the Job
- Controlling Machines and Processes
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
- Monitor Processes, Material, Surroundings
- Product Inspection
- Equipment Selection
- Operation and Control
- Equipment Maintenance
- Problem Identification
Frequent Work Context
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Consequence of Error
- Importance of Being Sure All Is Done
- Using Hands on Objects, Tools, Controls