Produce tools and jigs for use in the manufacture of precious metal objects
This element focuses on the principles and practical skills required to design and fabricate custom tools and jigs essential for the precision manufacturing of precious metal jewellery, such as ring clamps, setting punches, and forming stakes. Learners will apply metallurgical knowledge and engineering techniques to create functional workshop equipment that enhances efficiency and quality in gem setting and metalworking processes.
Assessment criteria
Topic Overview
The City & Guilds Level 3 Diploma in Gem Setting is an advanced vocational qualification designed for aspiring jewellery professionals who wish to master the art of setting precious stones into metal. This course covers a range of setting techniques, from basic claw settings to complex invisible and pave settings, ensuring students can handle diverse gemstone shapes and sizes. It is a key component of the Manufacturing & Engineering suite, bridging traditional craftsmanship with modern precision engineering.
Why does this matter? In the competitive jewellery industry, skilled gem setters are in high demand. This diploma not only teaches technical proficiency but also instils an understanding of gemstone properties, metal behaviour, and design aesthetics. Students learn to work with gold, silver, platinum, and palladium, using tools like gravers, burs, and microscopes. The qualification prepares learners for roles such as bench jeweller, stone setter, or even self-employment, making it a vital step for career progression in fine jewellery manufacturing.
Within the wider subject of Manufacturing & Engineering, gem setting represents a specialised area of precision metalworking. It requires a blend of artistic vision and engineering accuracy, as even a 0.1mm error can compromise a stone's security or appearance. The diploma integrates health and safety practices, quality control, and problem-solving, aligning with industry standards set by organisations like the National Association of Jewellers. By the end, students can confidently set stones in a variety of mounts, repair damaged settings, and assess the quality of their work against professional benchmarks.
Key Concepts
Core ideas you must understand for this topic
- →Claw setting: Using prongs to secure a stone, requiring precise bending and filing to ensure even tension and symmetry.
- →Pavé setting: Setting multiple small stones closely together, creating a continuous surface of gems held by tiny beads of metal.
- →Channel setting: Stones are set between two parallel metal walls, with no prongs, requiring accurate slot cutting and stone spacing.
- →Burnishing: Using a polished tool to push metal over the girdle of a stone, common in rub-over or gypsy settings.
- →Gemstone orientation: Aligning a stone's facets and table to maximise light return and minimise visible flaws.
Learning Objectives
What you need to know and understand
- Understand how to produce tools and jigs, Be able to produce tools and jigs
Assessment Criteria
Key criteria assessors look for in your portfolio
- Award credit for demonstrating accurate measurement and marking out of tool components to tolerances specified in the design brief.
- Credit given for selecting appropriate materials (e.g., tool steel, brass) with justification based on mechanical properties and intended use.
- Evidence of safe and correct use of workshop equipment (lathe, milling machine, etc.) during tool production must be observed.
- Final tool or jig is functionally tested and evaluated for precision, ease of use, and ability to produce consistent results without damaging precious metal components.
Assessment Guidance
Guidance for achieving higher grades
- 💡Thoroughly document every stage of tool design and production with photographs, sketches, and annotations to provide clear evidence of your process and problem-solving.
- 💡Before final assessment, repeatedly test the tool or jig with scrap materials to verify its functionality and record the outcomes to demonstrate quality control.
- 💡Explicitly reference relevant health and safety regulations and risk assessments in your portfolio to show professional awareness.
- 💡Tip: In practical assessments, demonstrate your understanding of tool maintenance. A sharp graver or bur produces cleaner cuts and reduces the risk of slipping. Examiners look for evidence of proper sharpening techniques.
- 💡Tip: For theory questions, use correct terminology (e.g., 'girdle', 'culet', 'pavilion') and reference industry standards like the 4Cs. This shows depth of knowledge beyond basic recall.
- 💡Tip: When setting multiple stones, plan your order. Start with the most visible or central stone to establish symmetry, then work outwards. This approach minimises cumulative errors and is a hallmark of professional practice.
Common Mistakes
Common errors to avoid in your coursework
- Failing to adequately harden and temper tool steel, resulting in edges that deform or wear quickly during use on precious metals.
- Overlooking ergonomics and safety factors, such as sharp corners or uncomfortable grips, which can lead to user fatigue or injury.
- Designing jigs without sufficient clamping force or alignment guides, causing movement of the workpiece during setting operations.
- Neglecting to polish and smooth working surfaces of the tool, which may scratch or mar the delicate surfaces of precious metal items.
- Mistake: Thinking all gemstones can be set with the same pressure. Correction: Different stones have varying hardness and cleavage; for example, opals are soft and require gentle handling, while diamonds can withstand more force but are brittle along cleavage planes.
- Mistake: Believing that a tight setting is always better. Correction: Over-tightening can crack stones or distort the metal. A secure setting allows for slight movement without compromising the stone, especially in metals like platinum that work-harden.
- Mistake: Assuming that polishing the setting before setting the stone is fine. Correction: Polishing after setting is crucial because setting tools can scratch the metal. Pre-polishing may leave marks that are difficult to remove without damaging the stone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions students ask about this topic
Pass / Merit / Distinction Evidence Checklist
How your portfolio evidence is graded for CITY AND GUILDS OF LONDON INSTITUTE Produce tools and jigs for use in the manufacture of precious metal objects
Every vocational unit is marked against named criteria rather than an exam percentage. Your tutor's brief lists the exact codes for this unit — here is what each band is asking you to do.
Demonstrate baseline knowledge, accurate terminology, and core practical application.
Provide detailed analysis, structured explanations, and clear workplace reasoning.
Deliver thorough evaluation, original problem solving, and fully justified recommendations.
Before You Start
Prior knowledge that will help with this topic
- •Basic jewellery making skills: soldering, sawing, filing, and polishing, typically covered in a Level 2 qualification.
- •Understanding of metal properties: how different alloys behave under heat and stress, especially for precious metals.
- •Knowledge of gemstone identification: ability to recognise common stones and their characteristics (hardness, cleavage, etc.).
Coursework AI Review
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Key Terminology
Essential terms to know
- Understand how to produce tools and jigs, Be able to produce tools and jigs
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