The New Custom Design: Why CAD beats Hand-carving

A revolution is has swept across the custom jewelry industry. Several years ago getting a hand-carved wax might have been a normal occurrence. These days, however, CAD (Computer Aided Design) is king and the benefits it brings can really make the custom design process simpler and easier. Though there is a certain charm to a hand-carved wax, CAD can get you the same or better end product, with more flexibility to boot.

CAD starts out, amazingly enough, on a computer. Since computers have made almost every other aspect of life simpler, why not jewelry design? Using specialized software, a ring can be crafted in a matter of minutes, depending on the complexity. For instance, a simple eternity band or solitaire ring will take very little time, and the accuracy afforded by the CAD software ensures that your ring will be perfect. Since your design exists in the computer, much like a popular 3D movie, it can rendered into a photo-realistic depiction so you can see just what you ring will look like, complete with sparkling diamonds.

At this stage, changes can easily be made, whether you would like to add features, or change the size of the diamonds. Then another image can be produced and you can have a look at your design and decide if its ready. Once your happy with the product, a special and very expensive machine called a laser cutter will be used. The CAD designs mathematical description of your ring will be uploaded to the cutter, and it will use precision lasers to cut a wax for you. At this stage, the wax isn’t much different than a hand-carved wax, save for the method of its production.

Say at the last minute you want another change, you want a bigger diamond, for instance. The hand-carver would need to start from scratch and create a whole new wax. A CAD designer can go back to the computer model, make the change and pop out a new wax. You will most likely save time, and when you see the finished product you will appreciate the precision of CAD.

If you are interested in a piece of custom jewelry, please give us a call. We will help you through the process and narrow down the exact ring that your mind’s eye desires. With the help of CAD technology, we will be able to show you our progress at every step to keep your mind at ease and ensure your buying experience is fun and exciting.