The Bench Test, Demystified: A Jeweler's Comprehensive Guide with Casey Sobel

Few moments in a jeweler's career carry as much weight (or as much mystery) as the bench test. This week on Pass The Torch, Nadja sits down with Casey Sobel, a Brooklyn based master jeweler, engraver, and Pratt Institute professor whose career spans Catbird, Alex Sepkus, and Cartier, where she served as a jeweler, technical writer, and educator. Casey pulls back the curtain on what employers are really looking for when they hand you a task and a deadline: how to prepare, what separates clean work from rushed work, how to handle nerves at an unfamiliar bench, and what a test reveals about your habits beyond the finished piece. Whether you're sitting your first bench test or you're the one designing them, this episode is your roadmap to walking in ready.Want the full presentation? Casey is happy to share a complete copy of her slides. Reach out to her directly at https://assantesobelstudios.com/contact.