About the Company
Founded in 2014 by Jerome Jacques Marie Mage, Jacques Marie Mage is a Los Angeles-based producer of limited-edition designer goods specializing in the micro-production of luxury eyewear for a clientele of discerning tastes.
With each new collection, JMM embraces a unique palette of precious materials, rich colors, and striking geometric forms, which cleverly reference and beautifully reconfigure the striking individuals, artistic movements, and world events of previous centuries. All JMM eyewear is ethically sourced and produced with the utmost respect for industry partners' environment and wellbeing.
About the Role
Jacques Marie Mage is seeking a Lapidary Apprentice to join our team in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Reporting to the Director of Lapidary the apprentice will learn the craft of cutting, shaping, grinding, and polishing stones and other natural materials to JMM's exacting standards. This is a hands-on, learn-by-doing role suited to someone with a natural aptitude for working with their hands, a strong sense of spatial and geometric reasoning, and the patience to master a precise and demanding craft. The ideal candidate brings a strong work ethic, a steady temperament, and a genuine willingness to learn and follow established techniques exactly as they are taught.
Responsibilities
- Apprenticeship & Training: Learn lapidary techniques under the direct guidance of the Director of Lapidary and senior artisans, including cutting, shaping, grinding, sanding, and polishing stones and natural materials.
- Following Direction: Carry out each task as instructed, following established methods, specifications, and sequences of work, and checking with the Director of Lapidary before making any changes to the process.
- Precision Work: Use drawings, templates, and samples to visualize finished pieces in three dimensions, and shape materials to precise dimensions, angles, and geometric forms.
- Material Handling: Inspect, sort, and handle raw and finished stones with care, minimizing waste and protecting high-value materials.
- Quality: Check your own work against JMM standards and reference samples, accept feedback, and rework pieces as directed until they meet specification.
- Workshop Care: Set up, clean, and maintain lapidary tools and equipment (saws, grinding wheels, laps, and polishing machines), and keep the workspace organized.
- Safety: Follow all workshop safety procedures, including proper use of protective equipment, dust and water controls, and machine guards.
- Skill Progression: Practice consistently to build speed and accuracy, taking on more complex pieces as your skills develop and as assigned by the Director of Lapidary.
Key Requirements:
- No prior lapidary experience required; experience in hands-on craft or trade (jewelry, woodworking, ceramics, metalwork, model-making, sculpture, or similar) is a plus.
- Strong aptitude for working with your hands, with good manual dexterity, hand-eye coordination, and fine motor control.
- Ability to think three-dimensionally and geometrically, visualizing shapes, angles, and finished forms in your mind, with strong spatial awareness.
- A genuine desire to learn a traditional craft and the ability to pick up new skills through demonstration and practice.
- Strong character and work ethic: dependable, punctual, honest, and committed to doing the job well.
- Patience and perseverance to work through the challenges of learning a new job, including repetitive tasks and pieces that need to be redone.
- Flexibility and coachability: willing to follow instructions and established methods as directed rather than substituting your own approach, and open to correction and feedback.
- Exceptional attention to detail and respect for handling high-value materials with care.
- Mut be able to reliably commute to our Santa Fe, NM location
- Physically able to sit or stand at a workbench for extended periods, perform repetitive hand motions, lift moderate loads, and work in a shop environment with water, dust, and machine noise.
Equal Opportunity Statement
Jacques Marie Mage is a company that respects the uniqueness of each employee and offers everyone the means to find their place and thrive. We promote initiatives aimed at supporting professional equality for everyone. We strive to go above and beyond purely symbolic measures by building a culture focused on meaningful strategies aimed at creating an inclusive workforce.
Our Benefits
Jacques Marie Mage provides a comprehensive and thoughtfully designed benefits package for full-time employees. These offerings reflect our commitment to supporting and valuing our team.
- Health Coverage: Medical, dental, and vision plans with up to 100% employer contribution and FSA options.
- Retirement Plan: 401(k) with 4% company match after 90 days.
- Life & Disability Insurance: Company-paid life insurance plus optional long-term disability coverage.
- Eyewear Perks: Access to exclusive seasonal product allowances and discounts.
- Employee Assistance Program: 24/7 confidential support services.
- Additional Benefits: Pet, auto, and home insurance, commuter benefits, identity theft protection.
- Time Off: Major holidays, birthday off, vacation, sick time, and winter break.
- Community Engagement: Volunteer opportunities through the JMM Stewardship Program.
