Bailey Napoli JM ’25

“To make art, I had to get over that perfectionist mindset”

Jewelry Making & Repair ’25
Age 27
Boston, Massachusetts

As a parachute rigger in the U.S. Army, Bailey perfected what it means to attend to detail. When an aptitude test at the end of his service pointed him toward jewelry making, it felt right. Hailing from a long line of steelworkers, Bailey would get to work with metal. He would also learn to put an artist’s spin on perfection.

Can you tell us a bit about yourself—how old you are and where you’re from?

I’m 27 years old and originally from Ohio.

What were you doing before NBSS, and what inspired the change?

Right after high school, I joined the U.S. Army and served for seven years. I was a paratrooper and parachute rigger, packing parachutes and working with special forces. 

When I was getting out of the service, I had to take an aptitude test, and that’s what first pointed me to jewelry making. The results gave me a bunch of suggestions: carpenter, welder, and HVAC technician. Having been a paratrooper, I knew I couldn’t handle those physically demanding jobs anymore. So I looked into jewelry making. It’s creative, I get to work with metals, and it’s easier on my body. That was a pretty big deal.

When/how did you discover your discipline/field?

I’ve always been artistic, but I never had a medium. The most I did was sketch, then take that to a tattoo artist and let him put his spin on it. 

I liked the idea of working with metal. On my father’s side, there are three or four generations of steel workers. Jewelry making is quite different, but it still involves working with metal, plus it’s creative. We get some design choices, but I also like how rigid the Jewelry Making & Repair program is—you build such good skills.

Why did you choose to invest in training for a new career?

North Bennet was so receptive when I reached out, and I felt very comfortable given the high number of veterans here. Later, I found out North Bennet is the oldest trade school in America and some people call it the ‘Harvard of trade schools.’ It was a shot in the dark, but it has turned out to be such a blessing.

In what ways have you felt supported during your time at NBSS?

The fact that the School accepted the G.I. Bill® was key—I felt financially supported. The most important thing, though, has been mentorship from my instructors.

How do you feel at the end of a full day in the shop today compared to before NBSS?

I’m so happy at the end of the day, because I can see and appreciate this tangible thing in front of me that I created—it’s mine. In the Army, I was packing 20 to 25 [para]chutes a day. In the rare instance of getting to see my work at the drop zone, I’d watch all the parachutes opening and think, ‘That’s a lot of work I got to do now to repack those chutes.’ [laughs]

What’s next for you?

I was hired as a bench jeweler at Long’s Jewelers, where I also interned last summer. I will be working under their Director of Manufacturing and Repair, Ann Cahoon [JM ’02], a North Bennet grad and the program’s former department head. She is so skilled, and I am very happy to have her as a mentor.

If you could sum up your NBSS experience in one word or phrase, what would it be—and why?

Joy. My teachers and my jewelry making classmates are so cool.

I have also loved working with students in the other programs. I asked a Carpentry student to make me some tools and a frame, and I asked a Bookbinding student to repair one of my brother’s family bibles. I love making those connections.

What’s your favorite thing you’ve made during your time at NBSS?

A forged gold ring with a partial bezel. I used Alexandrite—it’s a color-changing stone, so in natural lighting, you get more violet colors out of it, but in fluorescent lighting, it comes out more teal.

What’s one of your favorite places in or around Boston?

I’m living in the North End, and I have a great community of people around me. I met a lot of good friends through St. Leonard’s Catholic Church on Hanover Street—that’s my main support system. There’s also a great skatepark near Charlestown where I go longboarding. I like going there, hanging out, and getting some sun.

What’s your favorite piece of advice you’ve received while at NBSS?

‘Perfection is the enemy of the good.’ Packing parachutes all day, you have to pay attention to every detail because it is life and death. In the Army, I took something called the Rigger’s Pledge, basically vowing perfection in every way. That was a hard hump for me to get over after leaving the service. Jewelry making is still about precision, but no lives are at stake and there is room to be creative. To make art, I had to get over that perfectionist mindset.

This story is from our Summer 2025 issue of Benchmarks magazine. View more issues.