Interview with Caroline Hess and Jessey Dilly

In our November 8th news update, we introduced four future masters of crafts who had just passed their practical exams. Today, we would like to focus on Caroline Hess, the engraver, and Jessey Dilly, the gem cutter.

Caroline Hess was trained by Udo Juchem and his son Christoph who both support us in the practical instruction of young gem cutters. Jessey Dilly started his apprenticeship at Stephan as a gem cutter in 2014 and is now working in our manufactur.

How did you choose your kind of crafts?

Caroline Hess:

The family of a friend is in the engraving business. So, my family somehow pushed me into applying for an apprenticeship there.

Jessey Dilly:

I always wanted to get trained in handcrafts. Therefore I completed several internships with a goldsmith. There, the gem cutter introduced me to working with stones which in the end led to my decision to become a gemstone cutter.

 

Caroline Hess mit ihrem fertigen Meisterstück.

Caroline Hess and her completed masterpiece.

Had there been a plan B concerning an apprenticeship?

Caroline Hess:

Before my apprenticeship, I completed a 12 month internship at a veterinarian clinic. I could have very well imagined becoming a veterinary assistant.

Jessey Dilly:

Actually, becoming a gem cutter had been my plan B. Initially, I wanted to become a goldsmith. It failed due to the lack of openings and – in my opinion – adequate monetary compensation.

Jessey Dilly zeigt das Ergebnis langer Arbeit.

Jessey Dilly showing the result of long hours work

Next to the company itself, the master is important for a succesful training. What made him or her special to you?

Caroline Hess:

The men at Juchem showed me how much care and fun there is in engraving. They helped me to realize my potential and strengthened my self-esteem. They have always been there for me, giving expert advice.

Jessey Dilly:

I highly appreciated the individual operation of my masters and the fact that each one was able to teach me their special techniques. The older, experienced masters, in particular, taught me a lot. Their expertise motivated and inspired me to create those rather extraordinary journeyman and masterpieces.  

Now we want to learn more about your masterpieces. How did you come up with the idea? What’s the story behind it?

Caroline Hess:

Together with Mr. Juchem, I went through various seal imprints. We tried to find out what suits me best, in which direction my personal seal could possibly go. Followig that we did first sketches which helped me decide what to choose and where to place it on the seal.

Caroline Hess: Mein Kürstück ist ein sehr persönliches Wappen geworden.

Caroline Hess: My masterpiece turned out to be a very personal seal.

Jessey Dilly:

At first, I had only a vague idea of how my masterpiece should look. But soon, I realized it had to deal with the moon. The lunar eclipse in 2018, also called bloodmoon, inspired me and finally became the base of my masterpiece of the same name. For the presentation, I used an amethyst for the ‘crescent moon’ and a citrine for the ‘shadow of the earth’.

Caroline Hess:

My masterpiece turned out to be a very personal seal. It reflects me as a person, as well as my attitude. It allegorizes my home, my family and my companion. It shows my wanderlust and my urge to travel. It represents people who are dear to me and for whom I will always be there. The lions and the deer symbolize power and the fighting will to be undefeatable. In order to reach my goal, I am willing to move mountains. That’s why I chose the following quotation: ‘Veni, vidi, vici’ which describes best my steadfast determination. I chose a 20 x 18 mm carnelian to work with because its red colour stands for my heart.

Jessey Dilly:

I had to develop a special technique to craft my masterpiece. And of course I had some advice from my colleagues. Each step of the process was challenging. Never before had I worked on anything compareable, especially since I am specialised in faceted gems. Within this masterpiece, I combined techniques of all gem processing professions such as lapidary, cutting and engraving.

Jessey Dilly: Ich hatte zu Anfang nur eine grobe Vorstellung davon, wie mein Meisterstück aussehen könnte

Jessey Dilly: At first, I had only a vague idea of how my masterpiece should look.

When did you start working on your pieces?

Caroline Hess:

I worked on my masterpiece from June 20th – June 24th 2019.

Jessey Dilly:

Right after the theoretical exam, I got started. Every Friday afternoon and Saturdays when I was off work.

What is next on the shedule, after you have your master’s diploma?

Caroline Hess:

I am not finished yet, I still have to craft piece no. 3 and 4 to get the diploma.

Jessey Dilly:

STEPHAN is a reliable employer and furthermore provides me with a good working position.

5 years from now – how will your career look?

Caroline Hess:

I live here and now and that’s why I don’t waste any thought about it. I let the future be the future.

Jessey Dilly:

I see myself as training master for the next generation of gemstone cutters.

Thanks for the interview.