Overview
Fine Jewelry Buyer Jobs in Noblesville at Smith’s Jewelers
Inventory Buyer / Graduate Gemologist Job Description
Position Summary
The Inventory Buyer / Graduate Gemologist is responsible for selecting, managing, and improving the performance of Smith’s Jewelers’ inventory while also overseeing the store’s appraisal practices. This role requires strong jewelry product knowledge, market awareness, analytical thinking, vendor relationship skills, and a Graduate Gemologist designation from GIA.
The primary focus of this position is on inventory buying and inventory performance. The secondary focus includes appraisal completion, appraisal oversight, and sales support. This position plays an important role in ensuring that Smith’s Jewelers carries merchandise that reflects the store’s brand, serves customers well, and contributes to overall profitability.
Role Breakdown
Inventory Buying: 60%
Appraisals: 20%
Sales: 20%
Inventory Buying Responsibilities
Primary Duty — Approximately 60% of Role
The Inventory Buyer is responsible for selecting, managing, and improving the performance of Smith’s Jewelers’ inventory. This role requires a strong understanding of jewelry trends, vendor relationships, sales data, customer preferences, over-the-counter purchasing opportunities, and overall stock performance.
The Inventory Buyer must balance creativity, market awareness, and analytical decision-making to ensure the store carries merchandise that supports both brand identity and profitability.
Product Purchasing & Market Awareness
The Inventory Buyer is responsible for selecting new merchandise for the store. This includes attending industry trade shows and working with vendors to source products that align with Smith’s Jewelers’ brand, customer base, and sales goals.
This responsibility also includes supporting purchasing opportunities over the counter, including helping evaluate, grade, and assess diamonds, gemstones, and jewelry brought in by customers for potential purchase.
The Inventory Buyer must stay current on jewelry trends by following social media, fashion and jewelry publications, vendor releases, industry leaders, trade shows, and other relevant market sources.
Inventory Analysis & Sell-Through Tracking
The Inventory Buyer must regularly analyze inventory performance, including sell-through rates, aged inventory, category performance, vendor performance, price-point performance, and customer demand.
Purchasing decisions should be supported by data, not just personal preference. This role is responsible for identifying what is selling, what is not selling, and what inventory adjustments need to be made.
Sell-Through Strategy & Inventory Performance
The Inventory Buyer is responsible for implementing strategies to increase sell-through and reduce aged inventory. This may include:
- Redisplaying or highlighting specific items
- Creating product groupings or display features
- Recommending sales or promotions
- Working with marketing to feature specific merchandise
- Coordinating associate spiffs or incentives
- Identifying stock balancing opportunities
- Recommending vendor exchanges or inventory adjustments
The goal is not only to purchase merchandise, but to actively manage inventory so it performs well over time.
+-Vendor Relations & Negotiation
The Inventory Buyer works directly with vendors to build and maintain strong professional relationships. This includes negotiating pricing, payment terms, memo opportunities, stock balancing, return or exchange options, special orders, exclusives, and other vendor-supported opportunities that benefit the store.
The Inventory Buyer should represent Smith’s Jewelers professionally and work to create vendor partnerships that support long-term growth.
Stock Balancing & Inventory Control
The Inventory Buyer is responsible for maintaining a healthy inventory mix across categories, vendors, styles, price points, and customer segments.
This includes identifying gaps in inventory, overstocked areas, underperforming vendors, and opportunities to better align merchandise with store goals. The role requires ongoing communication with leadership, sales associates, marketing, and vendors to ensure inventory is both beautiful and productive.
Appraisal Responsibilities
Secondary Duty — Approximately 20% of Role
The Inventory Buyer / Graduate Gemologist is responsible for overseeing Smith’s Jewelers’ appraisal practices. This role is not limited to completing appraisal paperwork. It carries responsibility for the accuracy, consistency, professionalism, and credibility of the store’s appraisal process.
Because this position requires a Graduate Gemologist designation from GIA, the Inventory Buyer / Graduate Gemologist is expected to serve as a trusted authority for diamond, gemstone, and jewelry identification within the store.
Appraisal Completion
This position is responsible for completing full jewelry appraisals when needed. This includes inspecting, identifying, grading, documenting, and valuing jewelry in accordance with Smith’s Jewelers’ appraisal standards and accepted industry practices.
Appraisal Oversight & Delegation
The Inventory Buyer / Graduate Gemologist may delegate portions of the appraisal process to qualified team members when appropriate. This may include gathering item details, photographing jewelry, entering descriptions, performing preliminary research, preparing appraisal documents, or organizing supporting information.
While portions of the work may be delegated, this position remains responsible for the final quality and accuracy of the appraisal.
Final Review & Sign-Off
All delegated appraisal work must be reviewed by the Inventory Buyer / Graduate Gemologist before completion. This position is responsible for verifying accuracy, confirming descriptions and values, ensuring proper documentation, and providing final sign-off on completed appraisals.
No appraisal should be considered complete until it has been reviewed and approved by this position or another authorized appraiser.
Appraisal Standards & Consistency
The Inventory Buyer / Graduate Gemologist helps maintain consistent appraisal practices across the store. This includes ensuring that appraisals are clear, accurate, professional, properly formatted, and aligned with Smith’s Jewelers’ standards for quality and customer service.
This role should help establish and maintain internal appraisal procedures so the store’s appraisal work remains dependable, consistent, and professional.
Gemological Evaluation
This role requires the ability to evaluate diamonds, gemstones, metals, craftsmanship, condition, and overall item quality. The Inventory Buyer / Graduate Gemologist should be able to identify when additional testing, research, outside verification, or specialist review is needed.
Customer & Internal Support
The Inventory Buyer / Graduate Gemologist may support the sales team by answering appraisal-related questions, explaining appraisal findings, and helping customers understand the purpose and limitations of an appraisal.
This position should communicate clearly, professionally, and with confidence when discussing appraised items.
Sales Responsibilities
Secondary Duty — Approximately 20% of Role
See Sales Associate Job Description.
Required Qualifications
- Graduate Gemologist designation from GIA required
- Strong knowledge of diamonds, gemstones, metals, jewelry construction, jewelry valuation, and over-the-counter purchasing evaluation
- Experience with jewelry purchasing, vendor relations, or inventory management preferred
- Ability to analyze sales data, sell-through, aged inventory, and product performance
- Strong understanding of jewelry trends, customer preferences, and luxury retail presentation
- Ability to attend trade shows and represent Smith’s Jewelers professionally
- Strong communication and negotiation skills
- close attention to detail and commitment to accuracy
- Ability to work with leadership, vendors, sales associates, marketing, and customers
- Professional judgment and discretion when handling high-value merchandise and customer property
Preferred Skills & Traits
- Strong eye for product selection, styling, and merchandising
- Ability to balance creativity with financial discipline
- Comfortable using data to support purchasing decisions
- Strong vendor relationship skills
- Ability to recognize market trends without chasing every trend
- Confidence in evaluating diamonds, gemstones, and fine jewelry
- Strong organizational skills
- Clear communication style
- Professional, trustworthy, and detail-oriented
- Team-focused with a willingness to support sales, appraisal, and inventory needs
Position Summary Statement
The Inventory Buyer / Graduate Gemologist must combine product taste, gemological knowledge, trend awareness, sales insight, and financial discipline. Their goal is not only to purchase attractive jewelry but to manage inventory in a way that increases sell-through, supports the Smith’s Jewelers brand, strengthens vendor relationships, and contributes directly to store profitability.
In addition, this person serves as an appraisal authority within the store, ensuring that appraisal work is accurate, consistent, professional, and properly reviewed before final sign-off. This position also supports over-the-counter purchasing by helping evaluate, grade, and assess customer-owned diamonds, gemstones, and jewelry for potential purchase.
Pay: $50,000.00 – $65,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Employee discount
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
Title: Fine Jewelry Buyer
Company: Smith’s Jewelers
Location: Noblesville
