{"id":115,"date":"2009-05-26T21:29:00","date_gmt":"2009-05-26T21:29:00","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2009-05-26T21:54:27","modified_gmt":"2009-05-26T21:54:27","slug":"jeweler-metalsmith-goldsmith-silversmith-what-are-we-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/userblogs.ganoksin.com\/fortheloveofjewels\/2009\/05\/26\/jeweler-metalsmith-goldsmith-silversmith-what-are-we-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Jeweler, Metalsmith, Goldsmith, Silversmith? What are we?"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Naked Jewelry<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Unless you have been living under a rock, you are probably aware of the Orchid<\/a> network for jewelry professional and hobbyists. This online forum is one of the most valuable sources of information for me as a jewelry designer thirsty for knowledge from those with more experience.<\/p>\n

Recently a fascinating thread has been circulating that someone started by asking a simple question. What do people who make and\/or sell jewelry call themselves?<\/p>\n

You might think we’d know this seemingly simple answer but it sparked a debate that is going on several days now.<\/p>\n

The consensus seems to be that we are JEWELERS…and that a person is a JEWELER is they sell jewelry, even if they don’t know much about making it. However that doesn’t make a person necessarily a BENCH JEWELER who must apparently know how to do repairs as well as make jewelry.<\/p>\n

And, a person can be a GOLDSMITH even if they never work with gold. A goldsmith, we learned, is any person who makes small objects of precious metals, usually for personal adornment. It was also said that a GOLDSMITH must see the big picture; creating from initial conception through completion.<\/p>\n

A SILVERSMITH on the other hand, is a person who works on larger hollowware; things like candleholders, knifes, forks, spoons, plates etc….<\/p>\n

Some call themselves METALSMITHS, however, one person mentioned that she has been contacted to make wrought iron and shoe horses…not exactly the same thing!<\/p>\n

Given that I rarely work with gold, I hardly feel that “goldsmith” works for me, though it sure sounds nice! I previously thought a better term for me was either “metalsmith” or “silversmith” but I learned that neither of those are right at all!<\/p>\n

So, I have decided I am a JEWELER. I like the ring to that as well, although as a “jeweler” I have so much still to learn from far more accomplished jewelers. At one of my classes, I noticed a man wearing an apron that said “Jeweler In Training”. Maybe that’s me!<\/p>\n

Thanks for stopping by!
Sally<\/p>\n