All careers

Gem and Diamond Workers

Fabricate, finish, or evaluate the quality of gems and diamonds used in jewelry or industrial tools.

What you’d do

  • Assign polish, symmetry, and clarity grades to stones, according to established grading systems.
  • Identify and document stones' clarity characteristics, using plot diagrams.
  • Estimate wholesale and retail value of gems, following pricing guides, market fluctuations, and other relevant economic factors.
  • Examine gems during processing to ensure accuracy of angles and positions of cuts or bores, using magnifying glasses, loupes, or shadowgraphs.
  • Examine diamonds or gems to ascertain the shape, cut, and width of cut stones, or to select the cuts that will result in the biggest, best quality stones.
  • Examine gem surfaces and internal structures, using polariscopes, refractometers, microscopes, and other optical instruments, to differentiate between stones, to identify rare specimens, or to detect flaws, defects, or peculiarities affecting gem values.
  • Advise customers and others on the best use of gems to create attractive jewelry items.
  • Locate and mark drilling or cutting positions on stones or dies, using diamond chips and power hand tools.

Skills that matter

  • Quality Control Analysis
  • Critical Thinking
  • Monitoring
  • Active Listening
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Speaking

How to get there

Medium preparation: usually vocational school, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree

Also called

  • Diamond Cutter
  • Diamond Setter
  • Gemologist
  • Lapidarist
  • Diamond Grader
  • Diamond Picker

Related careers

See all careers

  • Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers

    Design, fabricate, adjust, repair, or appraise jewelry, gold, silver, other precious metals, or gems.

    Medium preparation: usually vocational school, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree

  • Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand

    Grind, sand, or polish, using hand tools or hand-held power tools, a variety of metal, wood, stone, clay, plastic, or glass objects.

    Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one

  • Etchers and Engravers

    Engrave or etch metal, wood, rubber, or other materials. Includes such workers as etcher-circuit processors, pantograph engravers, and…

    Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one

  • Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners

    Perform precision smoothing, sharpening, polishing, or grinding of metal objects.

    Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one

  • Stone Cutters and Carvers, Manufacturing

    • Bright Outlook
    • Rapid Growth

    Cut or carve stone according to diagrams and patterns.

    Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one

  • Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

    Set up, operate, or tend grinding and related tools that remove excess material or burrs from surfaces, sharpen edges or corners, or buff…

    Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one