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Create jewelry from materials such as gold, silver, platinum, and precious or semiprecious stones.
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Anneal precious metal objects such as coffeepots, tea sets, and trays in gas ovens for prescribed times to soften metal for reworking.
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Record the weights and processing times of finished pieces.
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Make repairs, such as enlarging or reducing ring sizes, soldering pieces of jewelry together, and replacing broken clasps and mountings.
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Design and fabricate molds, models, and machine accessories, and modify hand tools used to cast metal and jewelry pieces.
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Lay out designs on metal stock, and cut along markings to fabricate pieces used to cast metal molds.
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Rout out locations where parts are to be joined to items, using routing machines.
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Mark, engrave, or emboss designs on metal pieces such as castings, wire, or jewelry, following specifications.
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Clean and polish metal items and jewelry pieces, using jewelers' tools, polishing wheels, and chemical baths.
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Weigh, mix, and melt metal alloys or materials needed for jewelry models.
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Pierce and cut open designs in ornamentation, using hand drills and scroll saws.
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Write or modify design specifications such as the metal contents and weights of items.
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Soften metal to be used in designs by heating it with a gas torch and shape it, using hammers and dies.
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Pour molten metal alloys or other materials into molds to cast models of jewelry.
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Smooth soldered joints and rough spots, using hand files and emery paper, and polish smoothed areas with polishing wheels or buffing wire.
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Compute costs of labor and materials to determine production costs of products and articles.
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Position stones and metal pieces, and set, mount, and secure items in place, using setting and hand tools.
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Construct preliminary models of wax, metal, clay, or plaster, and form sample castings in molds.
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Plate articles such as jewelry pieces and watch dials, using silver, gold, nickel, or other metals.
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Cut and file pieces of jewelry such as rings, brooches, bracelets, and lockets.
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Research and analyze reference materials, and consult with interested parties to develop new products or modify existing designs.
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Cut designs in molds or other materials to be used as models in the fabrication of metal and jewelry products.
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Create new jewelry designs and modify existing designs, using computers as necessary.
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Examine assembled or finished products to ensure conformance to specifications, using magnifying glasses or precision measuring instruments.
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Buy and sell jewelry, or serve as agents between buyers and sellers.
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Select and acquire metals and gems for designs.
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Grade stones based on their color, perfection, and quality of cut.
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Shape and straighten damaged or twisted articles by hand or using pliers.
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Rotate molds to distribute alloys and to prevent formation of air pockets.
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Determine appraised values of diamonds and other gemstones based on price guides, market fluctuations, and stone grades and rarity.