Stone Setter
Rio Grande (Albuquerque, New Mexico)
Rio Grande is looking for a skilled and detail-oriented stone setter to join its jewelry production team. The stone setter will be responsible for setting precious and semi-precious stones into various pieces of jewelry, ensuring precision, quality, and security in the final product.
Primary Qualifications:
- Experience & Training: Has completed a Jewelers apprenticeship or certification program, and/or experience in stone setting.
- Attention to Detail: The ability to work meticulously and with precision is essential in setting stones correctly and avoiding damage.
- Manual Dexterity: A steady hand and excellent hand-eye coordination are necessary for delicate stone-setting work.
- Knowledge of Gemstones and Metals: Understanding the properties of different gemstones, their value, and how they interact with various metal types.
- Problem-Solving Skills: Ability to adjust and fix settings or gemstones that might not fit perfectly.
Physical Requirements:
- Ability to work for extended periods while seated or standing.
- Good vision and hand-eye coordination are essential for the fine, detailed work.
Work Environment:
- Works independently or as part of a larger team in a Manufacturing setting.
Primary Responsibilities:
Stone Setting:
- Set various types of gemstones, including diamonds, rubies, emeralds, sapphires, and others into metal jewelry pieces.
- Use specialized tools like prongs, bezels, or channels to securely position and attach stones.
- Choose the appropriate setting method based on the type of gemstone and the jewelry design (e.g., prong setting, bezel setting, pave setting, channel setting).
Assessing Stones and Jewelry:
- Inspect gemstones and jewelry for quality and suitability for setting.
- Ensure stones are cut, shaped, and polished properly before setting.
Precision Work:
- Perform meticulous and delicate work to ensure stones are set correctly and securely without damaging the jewelry or the stone.
- Measure, mark, and drill the jewelry to create proper settings for stones.
Use of Tools and Equipment:
- Operate specialized tools like microscopes, setters, prying tools, and polishing equipment to ensure accuracy and fine details.
- Sometimes use a laser or other technologies for more advanced stone setting techniques.
Stone Security and Longevity:
- Ensure that stones are securely fastened and unlikely to become loose or fall out over time.
- Perform quality checks to ensure there are no flaws, cracks, or imperfections in both the stone and setting.
Repairs and Adjustments:
- Re-set stones in damaged or defective jewelry pieces.
- Modify existing settings to better secure stones if needed.