Rise And Shine
THE ART DEMANDS ACCURACY AND UTMOST ATTENTION TO DETAIL. POLISH YOUR BASICS, HONE YOUR SKILS FOR A SPARKLING CAREER.
SSUHANI PITTIE
ometimes you have the luxury of choosing your path in life, but for a chosen few, life decides the path you will travel on. Jewellery design is one such area which takes you on an incredible journey. This is hardly farfetched for the glorious world of gems and jewellery, which is pure, cultural and influential to the point of starting wars. That said, it is not a craft that cannot be learnt. While a certain inherent aptitude is vital in order to succeed, there are certain nuances that should be and can be learnt. It is very exciting to be a part of an industry which is constantly reinventing itself and at the same time is humbling, as the heritage of gems and jewellery is much bigger than us.
EDUCATION AND ANALYTICAL
Study the subject deeply, including the manufacturing process. There are many short and long term courses available in India. I am an unschooled designer but if I could, I would choose to have a formal education on the subject. Research and study the various processes of making jewellery, such as engraving, cutting, buffing and polishing. Make it a habit to analyse all the pieces you create. When dealing with a precious metal, a designer should always make sure that a piece is perfectly secure and finished.
CREATIVE SIMULATION
It’s exciting to be your own boss and work with precious jewellery daily. However, you have to be honest with yourself about whether you are cut out for this. Jewellery designing may be the most ‘it’ career now but you will do much better if you realise early how creatively stimulated you can stay. Remember you need to be creatively relevant every day. When you’re dealing with jewellery, you’re dealing with people’s emotions. You cannot go wrong with a dad’s gift to his daughter or a grandmother’s love for her daughter-in-law.
CRITICAL AND BUSINESS SENSE
One needs to be familiar with industry standards and business practices as well as the technical knowhow of grading, base pricing and production costs. This industry needs extensive working capital so ploughing back of all profits is not uncommon. Develop a keen sense of the pricing of raw materials in the industry as it fluctuates a lot. One learns a lot on the job, so be ready for surprises. With time, one learns to negotiate prices and how to accommodate fluctuations in costs and margins on a daily basis.
PASSING ON THE HERITAGE
Jewellery is deeply embedded in the country’s heritage and if you decide to dabble in it, do it with respect, hard work and perseverance. Don’t expect overnight success as it takes time to build trust, gain recognition and goodwill. Test your creative flair, be honest, learn and listen.