[Jewelry making - Article 01042] - Re: [Orchid] Just blame it on the Jeweler

[LSHancock]

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    You know, this is one of the things that has really dissappointed me
    about the whole JA Certification program (which if my memory holds,
    Michael you're a Certified Master Bench Jeweler).  One of the
    primary goals, as told to me by the president of JA at the time, was
    to elevate the bench jeweler in the same way that GIA had elevated
    the gemologist.  I think that the program, for all it's benefits,
    has failed in that respect.  The master bench jeweler certificate
    just doesn't seem to make a whole lot of difference on the whole.  I
    still get jewelers who are thinking about hiring me to do custom
    work ask me what a certified master bench jeweler is, if I would
    mind doing a bench test before they let me work on thier things or
    dismiss the program as too much trouble to explain to retail
    clients. 

    I don't know what the answer is, but it's a real waste of a great
    concept.  Maybe the problem is that there's a fundimental mistrust
    between owners/salespeople and the bench staff.  The best run stores
    I've ever had the pleasure of watching in action were ones where the
    owners had bench experience; and not just best for bench jewelers,
    but good for all staff members.  I don't think it helps that bench
    jewelers can easily be tucked in the back of the store, as if that
    square footage doesn't cost them as much (or make them as much) as
    the square footage out front.  Maybe the master jeweler certificate
    is just too easy to get and there are too many of us out there.  I
    always thought that there should be a section that tested for
    special skills like sketching, design capability and/or
    inventiveness; all needed skills by a master jeweler.  Perhaps all
    the CMBJs should form a guild and hold conferences, forums or
    continuing education courses to bring an even higher level of
    respect to the title.  

    Oh great, here I go, instead of holding to account those who make
    our lives more difficult I suggest we make our own job more
    difficult!  Still, until the highly skilled take themselves most
    seriously, I don't think anyone else will. 

Larry Seiger
JA-CMBJ since July 1997

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