Jewellery Designer

Overview

Cartier is a globally recognised maison of high jewellery and watchmaking, renowned for exceptional heritage, craftsmanship and design. The brand is part of the Richemont group and operates integrated ateliers and studios that combine traditional bench skills with contemporary techniques to create luxury jewellery and timepieces.

Role & Responsibilities

• Conceptualize and develop original high-jewellery designs from brief through technical execution, balancing aesthetic intent with manufacturability.
• Produce detailed technical drawings, 3D CAD models and specifications for prototypes and production, and refine designs after bench trials.
• Collaborate closely with gemologists, goldsmiths, stone-setters and production teams to select materials, assess stones and resolve technical constraints.
• Create and supervise physical prototypes (wax, resin or metal), oversee 3D printing and finishing stages, and validate final sample quality against design intent.
• Ensure designs comply with internal quality, cost and production timelines; propose alternative solutions when necessary.
• Document revisions, maintain version control for design files and support handover to production and procurement teams.

Qualifications

• Proven mastery of jewellery design principles and bench processes, with demonstrable high-jewellery portfolio.
• Advanced technical drawing skills and proficiency in CAD-based modelling for jewellery.
• Strong understanding of gemology, stone proportions and setting techniques.
• Practical experience with prototype making processes (wax carving, 3D printing) and knowledge of precious-metalworking constraints.
• Excellent attention to detail, strong aesthetic sensibility and problem-solving aptitude under production constraints.
• Ability to collaborate across ateliers, workshops and external suppliers to translate concept into finished pieces.

Skills

Experience

Typically 3–6 years’ professional experience in jewellery design or high-jewellery ateliers, demonstrable through a strong portfolio of executed pieces and prototype samples.

Education

Diploma or degree in jewellery design, goldsmithing, industrial design or equivalent professional training in jewellery making.

Culture

Cartier fosters a culture that privileges artisanal excellence, cross-disciplinary collaboration and meticulous attention to detail. The Le Locle atelier blends Swiss technical watch- and jewellery-making traditions with creative design, offering an environment where craft and innovation intersect under the Richemont umbrella.