If you are considering a bespoke engagement ring or another special piece, you may have come across the term CAD jewellery design. Many jewellers in Hatton Garden, EC1N, now use 3D computer-aided design to plan and refine pieces before any metal is cut, and London's diamond quarter is one of the best places to see it in action. A short walk from Greville Street, Leather Lane and Chancery Lane, the area combines traditional bench skills with modern technology, so you can watch an idea become a precise 3D model. CAD takes much of the guesswork out of commissioning. To begin your project, explore our CAD jewellery design specialists.
What CAD actually means
CAD stands for computer-aided design. It lets you view your piece as a detailed 3D model on screen before the jeweller begins making it, so you can judge proportion, setting and finish in advance.
This matters most for bespoke work. If you have an idea but cannot picture the result, a CAD model shows the design from every angle and makes changes simple before production starts.
From screen to finished ring
Once you approve the 3D design, the file is used to produce a precise wax or resin model of the piece. This pattern captures every detail of the approved design.
From that model, a casting is made and the jeweller finishes the piece by hand, setting stones and polishing the metal. Pairing CAD with traditional craft gives you accuracy without losing the human touch. Our bespoke jewellery designers work this way every day.
Why Hatton Garden suits CAD
Hatton Garden brings designers, casters, setters and gem dealers together in a few streets, which makes the CAD process fast and well coordinated.
The quarter's links to the London Assay Office and to GIA and IGI grading mean your finished piece can be hallmarked and its stones certified close to where it was made. Working near Farringdon and Chancery Lane stations, you can review your design and collect the result in one place. See our engagement rings for inspiration.
Fun fact: A single CAD file can be adjusted and reused, so a jeweller can scale a ring up or down by exact fractions of a millimetre before casting.
CAD gives you confidence that the finished piece will match your vision. Visit Hatton Garden to see your ring take shape in 3D before it is made.
Continue Reading
The Hatton Gazette
Delivered weekly to your inbox
Join 12,000+ Hatton insiders




