What You'll Do

  • Examine gems during processing to ensure accuracy of angles and positions of cuts or bores, using magnifying glasses, loupes, or shadowgraphs.
  • Assign polish, symmetry, and clarity grades to stones, according to established grading systems.
  • Estimate wholesale and retail value of gems, following pricing guides, market fluctuations, and other relevant economic factors.
  • 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.
  • Identify and document stones' clarity characteristics, using plot diagrams.
  • Advise customers and others on the best use of gems to create attractive jewelry items.
  • 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.
  • Immerse stones in prescribed chemical solutions to determine specific gravities and key properties of gemstones or substitutes.
  • Hold stones, gems, dies, or styluses against rotating plates, wheels, saws, or slitters to cut, shape, slit, grind, or polish them.
  • Sort rough diamonds into categories based on shape, size, color, and quality.

Essential Skills

Quality Control Analysis 3.38/5
Critical Thinking 3.12/5
Monitoring 3.12/5
Reading Comprehension 3.0/5
Active Listening 3.0/5
Speaking 3.0/5
Writing 2.88/5
Judgment and Decision Making 2.88/5
Mathematics 2.75/5
Active Learning 2.75/5
Social Perceptiveness 2.75/5
Complex Problem Solving 2.75/5

Career Fit Overview

Use this summary to understand the kind of profile this role rewards. It helps you judge whether this career looks like a stronger match than your current role, a nearby move worth exploring, or a broader path to compare more seriously.

Top passions

  • Maker: Building and fixing energizes you. You like tangible results and practical tools.
  • Organizer: Bringing order to data and processes satisfies you.
  • Analyst: Investigating problems and finding patterns keeps you engaged.

Common styles

Attention to Detail, Cautiousness, Dependability, Integrity, Achievement Orientation

Want a personal read on fit? Take the free assessment and compare this career to your current role, nearby alternatives, and broader stronger-fit options.

Key Abilities

This career demands strong capabilities in the following areas:

Near Vision 4.5/5
Arm-Hand Steadiness 3.88/5
Finger Dexterity 3.88/5
Visual Color Discrimination 3.62/5
Deductive Reasoning 3.38/5
Category Flexibility 3.38/5
Manual Dexterity 3.25/5
Control Precision 3.25/5

Technologies & Tools

Business accounting software Spectrophotometer analysis software GemCad Jewelry design software Gem identification databases Web browser software Inventory tracking software

Work Environment & Strengths

Common Strengths for This Career

  • Attention to Detail (High importance: 5.0/5)
  • Cautiousness (High importance: 4.69/5)
  • Dependability (High importance: 4.57/5)
  • Integrity (High importance: 4.55/5)
  • Achievement Orientation (High importance: 4.18/5)

Want to see how YOUR strengths align with this career?

Take Free 15-Min Assessment →

How to Become One

This career typically requires vocational school, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree. Some specialized training or certification may also be required.

Similar Careers to Explore

Electrical and Electronics Drafters

99.2% similar profile

Mechanical Drafters

99.2% similar profile

Audio and Video Technicians

99.1% similar profile

Motion Picture Projectionists

98.5% similar profile

Museum Technicians and Conservators

98.4% similar profile

Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic

98.4% similar profile

Model Makers, Wood

98.4% similar profile

Wind Energy Engineers

98.3% similar profile

Also Known As

This career is known by many different job titles across industries. Here are all the variations:

Brilliandeer Brilliandeer Lopper Clarity Expert Diamond Assorter Diamond Cleaner Diamond Cleaver Diamond Cutter Diamond Die Driller Diamond Die Polisher Diamond Driller Diamond Grader Diamond Heister Diamond Mounter Diamond Picker Diamond Polisher Diamond Selector Diamond Setter Diamond Sizer Facetor Gem Carver Gem Cutter Gem Expert Gem Stone Cutter Gemologist Girdler Jewel Bearing Maker Jewel Blocker Jewel Sawyer Jewel Setter Jewelry Cutter Jewelry Gemstone Cutter Jewelry Setter Lapidarist Lapidary Pearl Cutter Pearl Peller Pearl Restorer Sapphire Stylus Grinder

Career Fit FAQs

Is this career a good fit for me

This page shows the role itself. To see personal fit, use the assessment to compare your interests, motivations, and strengths against this career and against the role you are in now.

Can this help if I want to stay in my field

Yes. Many people use career pages like this to compare nearby roles in the same field and see whether they need a full switch or a better-fit version of the work they already know.

What should I compare first

Start with the daily tasks, the preparation level, and the work-style signals on this page. Then use the assessment to see whether this role looks like a stronger fit than your current role or just a different title.