The jeweler’s profession is one of the oldest in the world. Some of the most ancient archaeological artifacts, dating back some 100,000 years, are decorative in nature. For almost as long as modern humans have existed, we have been finding ways to shape the products of nature into objects that beautify our lives.
The jeweler’s legacy includes some of history’s most beautiful works of art, from the opulence of the mask of Tutankhamen, to the delicate precision of Etruscan granulation, to the intricate, overflowing beauty of Mughal ornamentation. How did these artisans create works of art that resonate through time and across cultures? Through a combination of vision and technique.
Jewelry is a special artform in that it is a practical, hands-on craft, a theoretical science, and an art you have to live and feel. There aren’t many other jobs that fulfill the needs of the body, mind, and soul so thoroughly.
That’s also what makes it such a difficult craft to master. It takes years of practice just to reach competence, and many years more to master even one aspect of the craft. To become the best jeweler you can be, you need to keep your old skills sharp while constantly learning new ones. That’s why the Atlanta Jewelry Show is bringing you BenchFusion, the only gathering in the United States designed specifically for bench jewelers.
Gain New Skills and Knowledge
There aren’t many professionals whose skillset is as varied and eclectic as the jeweler’s. There’s always something new to learn. Seeking out professional development will keep you at the top of your game. Whether it’s something as big as some enlightening piece of theoretical knowledge that changes the way you think about your work, or as simple as a little trick that makes something you do every day ten times easier, the right workshop can take your work to a new level.
Learn New Technologies
The jewelry industry is notoriously slow to adopt new technologies .This isn’t necessarily a bad thing; don’t try to fix what isn’t broken. We’ve been using some of the same tools and techniques for thousands of years, and it’s not a bad idea to adopt new tools only after careful deliberation and gaining a real understanding of the benefits of a new tool.
At the same time, lots of digital tools have become indispensable to the jeweler’s arsenal. CAD/CAM, 3D printing, laser engraving, and robotics have all found a place beside the hammer and dapping punch. Professional development workshops give you a place to learn about these new tools, try them out, and decide if they fit into your practice.
Pass Your Skills Onto the Next Generation
Just as jewelers’ skills are built on the work of all those who came before them, today’s jewelers have a responsibility to keep the profession alive by passing their knowledge onto the next generation. If you’re interested in taking on an apprentice, there’s a BenchFusion workshop for you.
AJS Is the Show for Bench Jewelers
Some of us are more practical or experimental, adept at figuring out how to do things through practice. Others prefer to have a strong theoretical basis to the way they work. The best jewelers tend to combine both approaches. No matter your level of experience or area of expertise, there is a BenchFusion workshop that will help you plug some of those gaps in your knowledge, brush up on some old skills, or find the new tool or tech that will transform the way you work. See our full list of workshops and register for BenchFusion here.
