About Gold And Jewellery Industry In Penang

The 'Federation of Goldsmith and Jewellers Association of Malaysia' and 'Penang Skill Development Corporation initiated by the 'Jewellery Design Programme' have collaborated great efforts to look into and enhance local goldsmith's competency in the field of new innovative production and marketing trends. Malaysia hopes to develop new talents in the gold and jewellery industry and help realise Penang's aspiration in becoming jewellery designing hub within the country.

The gold & jewellery industry is a Heritage Skill Industry in Penang.

The skill industry started more than 100 years ago. Majority of those involved in the industry are from the Chinese community. They operate their business from small to medium sized scale as manufacturers, exporters, wholesale and retail of gold jewelleries and solid gold metal.

The early generation of pioneer craftsmen and stone setters started off as an apprentice and learned their skill through hands-on training from their masters who engage them with low monthly allowances. There was no academic course for further development opportunities in areas of creative jewellery designing, goldsmith engineering and gemology. Hence, their product creativity scope was limited.

The jewellery industry was not challenged and taken for granted at that time. The emphasis was then on hand-on training skill only. Most of the apprentices who upon completing their apprenticeship became qualified goldsmith, but their production skill only enabled them to produce the same type of jewellery as taught by their master. They did not get the chance for further advancement even though they had acquired the skill. As qualified goldsmith, they possess the skill and knowledge of the complete jewellery production cycle from raw scraps of gold or gold rods to finished jewellery products.

Today such traditional methods of piece by piece production have almost completely phased out and are replaced by mass production by advance technology machineries. But the skills of the remaining pioneer goldsmiths are still somehow indispensable whenever there is a call for jewellery repair or modification work at the jewellery shops after purchase. Unfortunately, only a handful of them are still around with the skill to provide such after sales services.

Innovation is required for survival in this competitive industry and to ensure that Penang’s century old gold craftsmanship can continue to grow and uphold the reputation of being one of the finest gold and jewellery craftsmanship in the world.