Institute of Jewelry Technology?

Jewelry Discussion
1

Michael,

WHere in Texas is the Institute of Jewelry Technology?

Robert

2

Paris Texas
Paris Junior College
2400 Clarkesville St
Paris Texas, 75460
http://www.paris.cc.tx.us/TIJT
800 232 5804

hope this helps, Zane

3

It’s in Paris, Texas. The closest airport is Dallas-Fort Worth.

Here’s from their website:

  The Texas Institute of Jewelry Technology at Paris Junior
  College in Paris, Texas, has enjoyed a reputation for teaching
  excellence since it opened in 1942. This highly acclaimed
  division of PJC is well known for a diverse student body that
  includes students from around the world as well as those happy
  to commute the 100 miles from Dallas andother regional cities
  for the finest education in jewelry technology today. While
  TIJT prides itself on state-of-the-art instruction, the Jewelry
  program is also well known for teaching time honored
  techniques. 

  With mechanical Watchmaking in a period of true renaissance
  graduates of the Horology program are incredibly in demand
  world wide. 

  The field of Gemology is an essential element in the jewelry
  business. A complete study of the charicteristics of
  the style of cuts and gem identification assure a
  grounded working knowledge of the great variety of natural and
  man-made stones used in the industry today. 

  To compete in todays market place a person must be well
  rounded. To take full advantage of the vast range of
  opportunity students are encouraged to become knowledgeable and
  skilled in all three areas, Jewelry, Watchmaking and Gemology. 

  Small classes provide a faculty/student ratio that ensures the
  individualized training that makes TIJT graduates in demand in
  the job market. The three program areas are designed to teach a
  student the technical, manipulative, and professional skills
  required to enter today's prestigious and lucrative jewelry,
  watchmaking and gemology industry. 

  If you are looking for a career in a dynamic field that
  rewards creativity and offers unlimited opportunities, contact
  the director of Jewelry at Paris Junior College.

Elaine

Elaine Luther
Metalsmith, Certified PMC Instructor
http://www.CreativeTextureTools.com ™
Hard to Find Tools for Metal Clay

4

Michael,

Institute of Jewelry Technology? Where in Texas is the Institute of
Jewelry Technology?

The Texxas Institute of Jewelry Technology is located in Paris Texas
Paris Texas is app. 90 miles west of Texarkana AK / TX , 15 miles
south of the Oklahoma border. I have comuted on weekends to Dallas TX
( when I lived on campus ) in less than 2 hrs.

Paris Junior College, Jewelry Department, Tijt Gemology Horology
Jewelry, (903) 782-0380, 2400 Clarksville St, Paris, TX 75460

My 4th semester instructor, Ulla Raus who was a German trained
Goldsmith and is a JA Master goldsmith could could explain the
relative merits of both. uraus@parisjc.edu

I am glad to be oof service in this matter. If can help in any other
way, please let me know.

ROBB.

5

Hello Robert:

What up? PJC is a great place to start IMHO. I graduated in 1984 and
am glad to have been there. My buddy Frank teaches Horology ther.

6

Hello all,

The website listing for Texas Institute of Jewelry Technology has
recently changed to www.parisjc.edu through Paris Junior College’s
website. It can be accessed by clicking on the Programs of Study
button and then clicking on the TIJT button. The new updated website
version is under reconstruction and should be up and accessible by
next week. I hope this helps out…

Tony Underwood, GG (GIA), CMBJ(JA)
Instructor at TIJT

7

Dear Robert and Zane,

First: Thank you Zane for posting my school’s

Second, Robert: This School is located roughly 1 1/2 to 2 hours
East-Northeast of Dallas/Fort Worth ( or approx. half-way between
DFW and Texarkana.) I am in my last semester of the Jewelry
Technology program and have enormous respect for all our instructors
(and will miss them and their knowledge greatly).

Third: I will repost the address of my school Paris Junior College

Texas Institute of Jewelry Technology
2400 Clarksville St
Paris, TX 75460

Thank you for your interest,

Michael L Gaebler
Student, TIJT

8

Regarding James’ note. I hope you all had a chance to see James’
work. It is the finest I have seen world wide. I too had that same
problem with Paris Junior college. Many years ago, when I moved my
shop to East Texas, I offered field trip courses to the college as I
am only 50 miles to the south. I have had 30 years at the guilloche
machine, enameling and being a jeweler. I was not charging anything
for my service and was completely ignored.

I have hired a few jewelers from the colege thinking that they must
be skilled since they have degrees. WRONG. Most of the ones I hired
graduated with eminse egos and had virtually no skills that would
make me any money. I was told by one of the employees that the
school instills this sense of adequacy and tells them that when they
graduate that they will make lots of money when they step foot out
of the college. It is true that some of the teachers probably can
actually make jewelry, however I have never seen any and they sure
have never contacted me.

I have a unique shop that performs skills all but forgotten. Maybe
its their egos getting in the way.

Hi James. Robert

9

Mr. Robert Whiteside,

When I was at the Texas Institute Jewelry Technology at Paris Texas,
a Job listing was, and still is, provided by Jewelers and
Manufactures who sent job notices. These listings are from all over
the United States. This service is for graduates of the school.

This “TIJT Jewelry Job Listing” had 186 jobs offered. The job
offers were for bench jewelers primarily. Some were for Gemologist,
and a few were for sales associates . The job offers were dated from
Sept. 25, 2001 to Sept. 4, 2002

Job offers for watchmakers and watch repair persons were on another
list which I did not get. I do not work on watches.

Even though the economy has tanked and jobs are scarcer, it is my
experience that jobs are more available, the better qualified the
applicants are. A number of persons with disabilities, of which I am
one, have attended this school. It is my firm belief that this school
offers one the best cost effective solution available. I can provide
copies of this old job listing for any who need confirmation.

Or you can go to the source.

Texas Institute of Jewelry Technology
2400 Clarksville St
Paris, TX 75460

I have hired a few jewelers from the colege thinking that they
must be skilled since they have degrees. WRONG. Most of the ones I
hired graduated with eminse egos and had virtually no skills that
would make me any money. I was told by one of the employees that
the school instills this sense of adequacy and tells them that when
they graduate that they will make lots of money when they step foot
out of the college.  It is true that some of the teachers probably
can actually make jewelry, however I have never seen any and they
sure have never contacted me.

I am sorry that I was not able to avail myself of your expertise. I
did not know. I do respect skills which have taken a lifetime to
learn. When they are lost, we all lose. I am sincere in this last
statement. I can see it occurring in the 3 skilled trades I worked
in my younger years. This was not my first apprenticeship .

Respectfully Yours ,
Robert L. Powell - aka - ROBB

10

Hello everybody,

I attended TIJT, and i would have loved to see Mr. Robert’s shop!

while there, i asked lots of questions about lapidary, inlay, and
enameling; and never got any real answers. in fact, i recall one
memorable day when all the instructors were absent, with no-one to
answer questions. the emphasis for the school is general repair,
with some stone setting and casting. basically, first out of school,
the students are sufficient to work on Zale’s type jewelry.

we were told to expect not less than 10 dollars an hour, that we
were “pros” and should be justifiably compensated. accordingly, i
acted like an ass, and promptly got an attitude adjustment from the
poor jeweler that had hired me. i was lucky later on to be hired by
a wonderful and talented jeweler in colorado, from whom i learned
quite a lot.

to be fair, if possible, i would like to say that learning shouldn’t
stop when a student leaves school. it is up to the student to learn
more about their chosen trade. it sounds like the attitude of the
graduates worked more against them than their actual lack of skill.
unfortunately, that is a direct result of the school’s inner
propaganda.

Susannah Garcia
Moonshine Metal Creations
@susannah_wiseman

11

Oddly, I am looking for an experienced bench jeweler for a repair
position. I, belive it or not, am still looking at TIJT for possible
applicants. At this time I am adding repair to my offerings as I
need a little help in producing the commissions I currently have on
the books. I was hoping for a crossover bench man/woman.

I also think that tijt could expand their horizons a little and look
into old world traditions still in use today. This applicant will
become exposed to a craft the teachers at tijt likely never heard of.

ever optimistic
Robert