• Development of jewellery design through the ages
• Key uses and characteristics of jewellery in different time periods
• Beliefs about the properties of jewellery and gemstones

• Physical and optical properties of precious metals
• History of discovery and production of precious metals
• Purpose and impact of the fairtrade gold standard
• Strengths and limitations of the precious metals for jewellery design and manufacture

• Factors that affect a diamond’s value
• Optical and physical properties of a diamond
• Development of the diamond cut
• Ethical sourcing of diamonds

• Mineral and organic gemstones
• Key features of each main gemstone family
• Optical and physical properties of gemstones
• Factors that affect a gemstone’s value
• Commonly accepted coloured gemstone treatment

• The UK hallmarking system
• Modern assaying and hallmarking techniques
• Different hallmarks
• What hallmarks can tell us about an item
• Current hallmarking conventions and exemptions

• The importance of doing better business
• Key organisations and initiatives that support better business in the jewellery industry

• Design inspirations and design approaches of different designers
• Develop initial design, manufacture and business plans for a range of jewellery
• The ‘bespoke jewellery’ design process
• The role of ‘CAD-CAM’ in jewellery design

• Historical developments in the Swiss watch industry
• Different watch types and features
• Common watch repairs

• Advantages and disadvantages of synthetic diamonds
• Rules of disclosure for synthetic diamonds
• Distinguishing features of diamonds and diamond simulants
• Diamond treatments

• Taking in and returning watches and jewellery following repair
• Preparing notes and repair instructions for a range of jewellery items and watches

• Setting up an in-house valuation service
• Maximising sales from a valuation service
• Understanding why a valuation might be required
• Different types of valuation

• Types of store and display lighting
• Using design and display features to help promote the store's unique selling point
• Putting a display together
• Components of effective display design
• Key factors for an eye-catching display

• The law as applied to the retail jewellery industry
• Precautions required to guard against the possibility of handling stolen goods
• The law as applied to jewellery repair and alteration
• Security checks for high-value cash payments
• Consumer rights when purchasing jewellery

• The history of pawnbroking Jewellery as a prime pledge
• Jewellery identification skills
• Taking in a pawn and agreeing a loan
• What happens to the pawn when a loan is not paid off

• Formative, subtractive and additive manufacturing
• The lost-wax casting method
• Designing and creating the casting model
• Manufacturing different types of jewellery items

• The history of silverware
• Silversmithing techniques

• Security checks required for credit card payments
• Personal safety guidelines in the event of an armed robbery
• Security rules to protect staff and product on the shop floor

The only real difference is the name – we have had to change the name to fit in with the requirements of the Regulated Qualifications Framework, where the words 'certificate' and 'diploma’ relate to the size of the qualification rather than the level. So, in actual fact, in terms of size the `JET Diploma’ takes about 170 hours, which puts it firmly in the Certificate camp and not the Diploma camp, which is for qualifications that take 370 hours or more!

The ATHE (Awards for Training and Higher Education) is an awarding organisation (similar to City and Guilds, AQA or Edexcel) that specialises in supporting bespoke professional and industry-standard qualifications such as the NAJ’s JET qualifications.

The ATHE helped the NAJ to get the JET 2 qualification recognised on the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF). Once the qualification is on the RQF, it is nationally and internationally recognised. This means that employers and colleagues will easily recognise the size, level and value of the qualification that you have achieved.

The qualification 'level' relates to the level of stretch and challenge that the qualification demands. The JET Professional Jewellers (JET 2) qualification is Level 3 and demands a similar level of challenge to an `A’ level.

The addition of the word `Certificate’ in the title, helps people to understand the size of the qualification. A Certificate can take anywhere between 121 and 369 hours of study! The ATHE Level 3 Certificate, JET Professional Jewellers (JET 2) will take around 170 hours to complete.

Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) recognition comes with a series of responsibilities for the NAJ, designed to ensure that the student’s learning is of the highest possible standard. The awarding organisation (Awards for Training and Higher Education), on behalf of Ofqual (the national qualifications’ regulator), will make regular external checks to ensure that assessment is being carried out to nationally recognised standards and that student learning is being supported by well-designed learning resources and assignments. You can be assured that the qualifications you pursue with the NAJ, will be of the best quality possible.