Elements and Performance Criteria
- Research jewellery materials
- Identify materials typically used in jewellery construction and their range of uses
- Identify information sources and specialist expertise available to confirm uses and quality of materials
- Identify source/origin of materials and processes involved in extraction or development and known environmental impacts
- Identify recovery and recycling opportunities for materials used in jewellery
- Assess risk factors in using materials for various jewellery applications
- Select materials for construction of jewellery according to design, work and quality requirements
- Apply knowledge of metals to jewellery construction
- Describe the qualities, features, limitations and working characteristics of different metals used in jewellery
- Describe industry standards of purity for precious metals and the marking system used to identify grade of quality
- Describe the process of making metal alloys and impact of mix on final properties
- Conduct basic tests to assess purity of metal
- Determine costing implications of using metals of various purity in jewellery
- Select metals for construction of jewellery according to design, work and quality requirements
- Apply knowledge of gemstones to jewellery construction
- Identify types of gemstones and their key characteristics
- Identify processes used to determine quality of gemstones and interpret industry standards
- Identify range of facet cuts used on gems and range of applications in jewellery design
- Identify techniques used to enhance lower quality gemstones
- Determine costing implications of using various gemstones in jewellery
- Identify requirements for handling and cleaning gemstones
- Select gems for construction of jewellery according to design, work and quality requirements
- Apply safe work practices in handling materials
- Conduct risk assessment for materials and processes to be used in construction
- Identify characteristics of chemicals and hazardous materials used in construction and ensure workplace safety procedures are applied
- Access, interpret and apply material safety data sheets (MSDS) and labelling information
- Use protective equipment required for handling and manipulating materials