Ring CADs Can Look Ugly – Ring Design and Your CAD
Barb and the Ugly CAD. CAD = Computer Aided Design
Barb called me when she got the email and said, “I know you warned me that my ring CAD image would not be pretty, but I’m not sure we should go forward.”
Barb felt the prongs were too long and wanted to see how the hand engraving would look and the CAD of her ring just looked blocky and kind of ugly. That was not how she wanted her ring to look.
“My brother is an architect, so I’ve seen CADs and this just isn’t the ring we discussed.”
I realized that I’d need to do a better job of preparing people for the type of ring CAD images I use in custom jewelry design. And I’d have to put out this fire fast or I wouldn’t be able to make Barb’s beautiful diamond ring.
Illustrative CADs vs. Utilitarian CADs
CADs that attempt to show the finished piece are more like illustrations. They show detail, color and are representative of what your ring will look like when finished.
In other words they show the pretty. They sell you on that design. A simple utilitarian CAD shows the shape of the wax that will be created in the 3D model wax prototype.
An illustrative CAD image takes more time to create and therefore is more costly. Expect to pay more for your design if you wish to have a beautiful illustrative CAD image of it.
The Utilitarian CAD – What I Use
A utilitarian CAD has the depths, thickness and correct measurements of your design with no details other than those necessary for the creation of the wax model for casting your rings.
If you’d like to know more about CADs read my post : CAD and CAM, a Jeweler’s Workshop on Your Computer Screen.
Why Parts of Your CAD Look Blocky
Why are the prongs so huge and blocky? The most challenging parts of a design to cast successfully are the narrow and small parts.
Because the prongs are small and narrow. They are the most challenging part of a piece of jewelry to cast correctly. When we create ring CAD prongs, we make the wax extra thick and extra long to give your design the best chance to cast up successfully.
Your design may look a bit alarming and unfinished in CAD. Once we’ve successfully cast your design we’ll make our alterations. We’ll file those prongs shorter, polish and refine them into the tapered, elegant and graceful prongs we’ve envisioned.
If the prongs don’t cast successfully, any post-casting repair wouldn’t have the integrity of cast together metal. We want you to have a strong and beautiful piece of jewelry. That’s why we do it this way.
How Do You Know it’ll Come Out Nice?
Look at the other designs that your jeweler has created, to see what the finished details of your ring will probably look like.
Details that Come Later
If your ring will have hand engraving on it, that will be done after casting. So if you’re looking at a dull as dirt, boring ring CAD, fear not.
It doesn’t show you the magic of your finished ring.
What About Barb?
I explained about the different CADs that are used. And showed her before and after pictures of other projects I’d done. She said “go ahead.” And when it was all done she said, “It’s what I’ve dreamed of. I just love it!”
I decided to write this blog with her story. And to help my future clients who may freak out when they see their CADs.
Your finished ring will dazzle you.
Your CAD-Happy Jewelry Designer,
Calla Gold
Great story, Calla! CADs are scary- I didn’t realize that there were levels of looks with CAD. I see that the utilitarian one shows the design, but without the pretty details.
I wouldn’t want to pay for the pretty details CAD.
Good for you, for telling to your story, explaining what your client is getting and what your style of CAD shows. Looking at your work shows your clients how talented you are! Your CADs show what you heard from your client in shape, not detail. Your finished work shows that.
Hi Alexandra,
I appreciate your telling me what you’d like and how you’d know if the jeweler you chose could get the details right. Thanks too for your kind words!
Your Personal Jeweler,
Calla
Great info on CADs. I can see how people would be nervous seeing the utilitarian CAD, but your end result work is beautiful. Not having known that CADs came in different styles made this a very interesting read for me.
Thanks for your body of interesting question answering blogs.
Lisa
Dear Lisa, I appreciate your feedback. True story, I’m working with a client in Florida and he wanted to know how his ring project was going along. I emailed him, told him gemstone selection was done and we’d just created the wax model for casting. I also send one of the CAD images. He came back by email a bit concerned about the prongs sticking “up to the sky.” I sent him the link to this newly published CAD blog and he thanked me and said “carry on.” His ring is done and I just emailed him the picture of… Read more »
I’m glad Barb was able to get past the ugliness of the CAD and end up with her dream ring!
Do you now show images of rings during CAD and at their finished stage when warning clients about the ugliness of CAD?
We just got my CAD drawings yesterday, we both thought it looked very boxy, so I Googled drawings and saw your description I feel a lot better about it.glad I found this!
Hello Crystal,
I’m so pleased that that helped. Do come by when your ring is done and let us know if that clunky CAD turned into a swan.
Your Personal Jeweler,
Calla
I think it’s kinda cool..to be able to see and make possibly any changes , before it’s set in gold
Thank you for sharing this. I like seeing the process.
This is why I chose YOU to make my rings!
Hi Liz,
I love that you read this before looking at the CADs I emailed to you. That you chose me makes my day!!
Your Personal Jeweler,
Calla
thank you, this helped me years later!
Hi Tyty,
That’s cool.
Calla