Commissioning a custom line means buying a production process, not a single design. That process decides whether the ten-thousandth piece matches the sample you approved. Below is ours, end to end.
The seven stages
| Stage | What happens | Typical time |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Brief & feasibility | You send a sketch, CAD file, photograph or physical sample plus target retail price and quantity. We confirm stone availability, metal options and MOQ. | 1–2 days |
| 2. Quotation | Per-piece pricing at your target quantity, with tooling or mould cost shown separately and amortisation stated. | 1–2 days |
| 3. CAD modelling | 3D model developed from the brief, supplied as renders and, on request, a printable file. | 48 hours |
| 4. Render approval | You approve proportions, stone sizes, setting style and finish. Changes are cheapest at this stage. | 1–3 revision rounds |
| 5. Physical sample | Resin or wax prototype, then a metal sample with the specified stones set. | 7–12 days |
| 6. Approval sheet | A signed document fixing stone grade, metal, gram weight tolerance, plating thickness, dimensions and packing. This becomes the production contract. | 1 day |
| 7. Tooling & production | Moulds or masters cut, then the run is scheduled and executed with in-line QC. | 12–20 days |
What you can customise
- Stone: centre and accent stones can be moissanite, lab grown diamond, lab grown emerald, ruby, sapphire, paraiba, padparadscha or zircon, mixed within one piece.
- Stone grade: D–H colour with VVS–SI clarity, locked in on the approval sheet.
- Metal: 925 sterling silver, 10K, 14K, 18K gold in yellow, white or rose, and platinum.
- Finishing: high polish, satin, matte, rhodium or coloured plating to a stated thickness.
- Sizing: ring sizes to US, EU, UK or JP standards; chain and bracelet lengths to specification.
- Branding: engraving on the piece, logo tags, branded boxes, pouches, care cards and certificate wallets.
MOQ tiers
| Order type | MOQ | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Existing catalogue design | 10 pcs | No tooling cost; fastest route to market |
| Custom from your CAD/3D file | 30 pcs | Mould cost applies, amortisable |
| Custom from sketch or photo | 50 pcs | Includes development and revision rounds |
| Fully bespoke componentry | 100 pcs | New findings, clasps or mechanisms |
File formats we accept
3DM, STL and OBJ import directly and give the most accurate result. AI or CDR vectors and dimensioned DWG/DXF files work well when every dimension is stated. High-resolution photos can be used, though they usually bring extra revision rounds because proportions have to be inferred.
Protecting your design
Before development starts we sign mutual NDAs, limit file access to the development team, and state in writing that tooling made for your designs will not be reused for other customers. Where a design is core to your brand, register the design right in your own market before a large run — that protection sits with you, not us.
How we keep a custom line consistent over time
The approval sheet is what holds a line together over time. It fixes stone grade, metal, target gram weight with tolerance, plating thickness, dimensions, finish and packing. Once signed it is filed to your account and referenced on every later run; a reorder eight months later works from that sheet, not a fresh reading of the original sketch. That is why we treat the sheet as a working document, not paperwork.
Costs beyond the unit price
Three costs sit outside the per-piece quote. Tooling or mould cost is one-off and may be amortised over the first run. Sample cost is usually a multiple of unit cost and is credited against the first bulk order above 200 pieces. Packaging tooling for logo-printed boxes or pouches carries its own set-up charge separate from the jewellery. All three are itemised on the quote so nothing surprises at invoice.
A development workflow that avoids rework
Send what you have — sketch, CAD file, reference photo, any existing sample. A dimensioned vector or 3DM/STL file usually needs one revision round; a photo alone usually needs two to three, since proportions must be inferred, and proportions are what the eye notices most. If the design targets a set retail price, say so up front; we will size the stone and metal weight to fit that price rather than quote a piece you cannot sell.