Jewelry is now often designed on screen with computer-aided design, printed as a 3D model and polished by machine. Jewelers and precious stone and metal workers still set stones, repair and resize pieces, finish work by hand and help customers decide what they want.
The short answer: generative AI barely touches this work, but production technology is cutting demand. The ILO's 2025 index rates jewelry and precious metal workers as not exposed, with a score of 0.18. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 3 percent decline for jewelers and precious stone and metal workers from 2025 to 2035, with about 3,700 openings a year, all from replacing workers who leave. Projections are estimates, not guarantees.
How exposed jewelers are
The International Labour Organization scores occupations' tasks from 0 (cannot be automated with generative AI) to 1 (could be done without a human operator), and groups them into gradients from 1 to 4, with 4 the most exposed; below them sit minimal exposure and not exposed (ILO Working Paper 140, 2025).
| Occupation (ISCO-08) | ILO category | Mean task score (0 to 1) |
|---|---|---|
| Jewelry and Precious Metal Workers | Not exposed | 0.18 |
The ILO index measures generative AI, not robots or automated machines.
What the BLS projects
| Occupation | Projected change 2025 to 2035 | Openings a year |
|---|---|---|
| Jewelers and precious stone and metal workers | Decline 3% | About 3,700 |
The BLS says automating technology, including 3D printing and robotic polishing, is expected to keep raising jewelers' productivity, which will likely reduce demand for them. It notes jewelers may use CAD/CAM software or 3D printers to model a piece before cutting a stone or taking other costly steps. Its outlook does not mention AI.
What automation is taking on
- 3D printing wax and metal models.
- Robotic polishing.
- Rendering designs for customers before anything is made.
- Product descriptions and online listings.
What stays with jewelers
- Stone setting: securing stones by hand without damage.
- Repair and resizing: one-off work on pieces people already own.
- Custom design: turning a customer's idea into a piece they trust.
- Checking AI help: generated descriptions and renders can be wrong, which NIST calls confabulation (NIST AI 600-1). See checking AI output.
How the job is changing
CAD and 3D printing skills are now part of the trade, and fewer hands are needed for production polishing. Repair, setting and custom work stay hands-on. This page is general information, not career advice.
See also will AI replace artists?, will AI replace fashion designers? and will AI replace retail workers?
Pay and how to get in
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the median annual pay for jewelers and precious stone and metal workers at $52,540 in May 2025, against $50,980 for all workers. The typical education needed to enter is: high school diploma or equivalent. See how this job compares in AI exposure by pay and AI exposure by education level.
Questions and answers
Will AI replace jewelers?
Generative AI barely touches the work, but the BLS projects a 3 percent decline from 2025 to 2035, citing 3D printing and robotic polishing.
What technology is changing jewelry work?
The BLS names 3D printing, robotic polishing and CAD/CAM software.
How many jeweler openings are expected?
The BLS projects about 3,700 openings a year, all replacing workers who leave.
What jewelry work stays human?
Stone setting, repair and resizing, custom design with customers and checking generated content.