Is Your Jeweler a Professional?

Your doctor is board certified.
Your mechanic is certified.
Your accountant is certified.
Even your computer geek is certified.


Almost every walk of life requires you to be tested in your given vocation, whether you're a teacher, preacher, lawyer, emergency responder, law enforcement and the list goes on and on. One notable exception to this list is jeweler. There are no federal, state or community laws requiring a jeweler to be tested in his field before becoming a jeweler or opening a jewelry store. There are no laws governing the testing of the ability of a person working on a prized family jewelry heirloom or any other jewelry work for that matter. If a person with no jewelry knowledge or training wants to open a jewelry store and even call himself a master jeweler, there is nothing to stop him, or to protect the public from shoddy workmanship.


Several years ago, 1997 to be exact, Jewelers of America, an independent trade organization, realized the need to develop tests to gauge a jeweler's skills. They developed a four level system to help consumers judge a jeweler's ability to perform jewelry repair or custom fabrication. JA created this certification as a method for consumers to be confident in their jeweler's ability to perform the task before them. They could pick a jeweler depending on whether they needed a simple sizing, chain repair or something more complicated like a wax carving or custom fabrication. The one thing JA didn't count on, jewelers not wanting to be tested. It's easier to say you are a good jeweler than to prove it. The JA testing requires you to complete certain bench functions with a proctor to make sure you didn't have help. You are also tested on bench knowledge, for instance, metalsmithing, soldering, gemology as it related to repairs, and much more.

I instantly agreed with the need for testing when JA unveiled their program. You can tell someone you're a great jeweler, but you don't have a way to quantify your trade skills. It's just words. I took a serious look at the projects required for each of the four levels and decided to go for the third level called Senior level. I took the tests and passed. It was thrilling to be judged at such a high level, but it always seemed like second place.

I grew up the third of four boys in my family. My parents never pushed us one way or another as far as which vocation to choose. The only thing my father wanted was for each of us to be the best we could be at whatever field we chose. If you are flipping burgers in a burger joint, be the best burger flipper. If you are a doctor, be the best doctor you can be. If you dig ditches, be the best ditch digger. So, being a Certified Senior Bench Jeweler was a high honor, and one that I was proud of, but it still felt like second place. I started the process of testing for the Master level. The only requirement that really concerned me was making a sterling pill box with a domed lid with yellow gold accents and bead set gems. I've had a lot of “unique” requests over the years but not one of them was a silver pill box, let alone a jewel encrusted one. I completed my tests and I'm the only JA Certified Master Bench Jeweler in the state of Kansas and the 101'st in the nation.


There is one national jeweler buying group that advertises it's membership as Master Jewelers. If you meet their membership criteria and pay your dues they call you Master Jeweler. Perhaps they test them on management, gemology, sales or even security, but they don't test them on jewelry making skills. Jewelers of America is the only organization that does this testing and certification. Jewelers of America is an independent trade organization that wants to elevate the professionalism of jewelers.