Gem and Diamond Workers
Production
Throughout cutting and finishing, each stone is checked so angles, bores, and positions stay accurate, using loupes, magnifying glasses, or shadowgraphs. Surfaces and internal structures are studied with polariscopes, refractometers, microscopes, and other optical instruments to identify the stone, spot flaws, and note peculiarities that affect value. Clarity characteristics get plotted on diagrams, and polish, symmetry, and clarity grades are assigned from established systems. Wholesale and retail values are estimated from pricing guides and market conditions; customers may also be advised on how a gem will work in a piece of jewelry. This suits people who like close optical inspection, systematic grading, and careful judgment about quality and price.
Typical education: High School Diploma or GED
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$52'540
Median Wage Market Position
$52'540
What you might do
- Check cut angles of gems under magnification
- Grade stones for polish, symmetry, and clarity
- Study gem interiors with optical instruments
- Record clarity features on plot diagrams
- Estimate wholesale and retail prices of gems
- Advise others on gems for jewelry designs
Skills that matter
- Grading polish, symmetry, and clarity
- Checking angles and positions of cuts
- Finding flaws with optical instruments
- Plotting a stone's clarity marks
- Estimating wholesale and retail value
- Advising on gems for jewelry pieces
AI & the future of this role
Precision cutting and grading aids may automate parts of finishing and assessment for gems and industrial stones. Delicate fabrication and high-stakes quality judgment still need skilled hands, leaving the work only moderately resilient overall.
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Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details