Studies & Degrees in Jewelry Design
Jewelry Design Study Programs
Jewelry design is the planning of rings, necklaces, earrings, brooches and other pieces before they are made, and in most schools the making as well. A designer decides the form, the metal, the stones and the way the parts are joined. A design that cannot be made, worn or sold at a sensible price is not finished, so the subject combines drawing with knowledge of materials and bench techniques.
Courses usually start with drawing by hand. At Accademia Riaci in Florence, for example, students of the Jewelry Design course first learn hand-sketching techniques for representing jewels and gemstones and then develop their own projects with professional software. The school's curriculum includes light refraction, colour theory, technical drawing, perspective drawing and gemology, and an introduction to business practice. Bench work is the other half of the training: sawing, filing, soldering, casting, forging and stone setting.
Qualifications and levels
Jewelry is taught more often in specialised schools and workshops than in universities, and many courses lead to the school's own certificate. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) notes that jewelers typically need a high school diploma and learn their skills on the job, and that some complete an apprenticeship or a trade school programme. Such programmes may include an introduction to gems and metals, resizing, repair and computer-aided design (CAD).
- Workshops and short courses. Courses of a few days or weeks teach one technique, such as lost-wax casting, stone setting or CAD. Aziz Escuela Taller de Joyería in Barcelona runs an intensive course in traditional jewelry for people who have never used the tools.
- Semester and one-year courses. Accademia Riaci offers its Jewelry Design and Jewelry Making majors as semester and one-year courses, with master and short courses as further options.
- Multi-year professional courses. Le Arti Orafe Jewellery School & Academy, in Florence since 1985, runs three-month, six-month, annual and two-year courses. Its range includes goldsmithing, design, stone setting, CAD, engraving and enamel.
- Courses within fashion schools. Fashion schools teach jewelry as an accessory. The Escuela Internacional de Diseño y Moda ISA in Madrid lists a jewelry design course that starts with jewelry materials and precious stones.
- University and official art education. Some universities teach jewelry within a design or art faculty; the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen has the Ladislav Sutnar Faculty of Design and Art. In Spain, official art education (enseñanzas artísticas) includes the field of Artes plásticas y Diseño.
Before enrolling, ask whether the course leads to an official qualification or to the school's own certificate, and how many hours are spent at the bench.
Where to study
SpainExchange lists eight active schools for jewelry design: three in Spain, two in Italy and one each in Singapore, the United States and the Czech Republic.
The two Italian schools, Accademia Riaci and Le Arti Orafe Jewellery School & Academy, are in Florence, a city with a long goldsmithing tradition. Both receive international students. Le Arti Orafe lists courses in Italian and courses in English. In Spain the list has Aziz Escuela Taller de Joyería in Barcelona and two fashion schools in Madrid, the Escuela Internacional de Diseño y Moda ISA and the Escuela KROOM DOS Diseño de Moda. These schools teach in Spanish.
The list also includes First Media Design School in Singapore and the University of West Bohemia in the Czech Republic. The US entry is the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) in Los Angeles. Its website now states that Arizona State University is carrying forward FIDM's mission, so applicants should check where its programmes are taught today.
Careers
Graduates work as designers for jewelry brands and manufacturers, as bench jewelers and goldsmiths in workshops, in retail and repair, or as independent makers who sell their own collections. The BLS describes the occupation as designing, constructing, adjusting, repairing, appraising and selling jewelry.
It is a small trade. The BLS counted 32,800 jewelers and precious stone and metal workers in the United States in 2025 and projects employment to decline 3 percent from 2025 to 2035, with about 3,700 openings each year from people who leave the occupation. It links the decline to automation, including 3D printing and robotic polishing, and to imports. Skills in CAD and digital prototyping are therefore part of current training alongside hand techniques.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to know how to draw before starting?
Not for beginners' courses. Courses such as Jewelry Design at Accademia Riaci start with hand-sketching techniques, and the intensive course at Aziz Escuela Taller de Joyería is designed for people with no experience.
How long does a jewelry design course last?
From a few days to several years. Le Arti Orafe in Florence, for example, offers three-month, six-month, annual and two-year courses.
Is jewelry design a university degree?
Usually not. Most training takes place in specialised schools and workshops that award their own certificates. According to the BLS, jewelers in the United States typically enter the occupation with a high school diploma and learn on the job.
Can I study jewelry design in English in Italy?
Yes. Le Arti Orafe in Florence lists courses in English as well as in Italian, and Accademia Riaci publishes its courses for international students in English.