Can I review a CAD design, 3D model, or wax/metal prototype before manufacturing?
Custom Jewelry Design Review and Approval Process Explained
This is your primary safeguard in a high-stakes decision. Creating custom jewelry is exciting, but the choice feels permanent and the investment is significant. It’s natural to want control and certainty.
At Olertis, a clear, multi-stage review process is designed to eliminate regret and give you confidence before any irreversible manufacturing begins.
Your Jewelry Approval Journey
Client’s Right to Review and Approve Custom Jewelry Design
As a client, you are attempting to limit your financial liability and ensure the final piece matches your vision, avoiding future regret from:
- Costs associated with non-recoverable labor and materials,
- Aesthetic risks associated with the proportion of design elements, the size of stones, and the overall balance of the design,
- Legal ambiguities surrounding what exactly was agreed upon in terms of the design.
Olertis will begin crafting your custom jewelry once the final design is formally approved. This approach aligns with U.S. consumer protection and fair-trade standards. After you approve a 3D rendering, technical drawings, or a physical model, we will begin production. Production begins immediately after approval, and we commit to providing timely updates throughout the production process.
CAD Jewelry Design Review and 3D Render Before Manufacturing
American customers typically expect to see a CAD-based 3D rendering of their proposed design to verify the proportions, measurements, symmetry, stone placement and visual balance of the piece. A CAD-based 3D rendering allows for an objective evaluation of these parameters that ultimately determine the characteristics of the final jewelry piece.
Modern jewelry 3D systems are highly accurate in terms of dimensional representation. Although there may be some minor differences in surface finish and reflectivity from light after the completion of polishing on the actual jewelry piece, the geometric relationship between the design elements (i.e., stone size and spacing), represented in the CAD system is identical to the finished piece. Therefore, at no additional cost, Olertis will provide you with a detailed, multi-angle photorealistic 3D rendering of your proposed design for your custom jewelry CAD review.
Additionally, upon request, we can provide your CAD file(s) in various formats (STL, OBJ, 3DM, etc.), allowing you to conduct an independent technical review of your 3D model before production.
Wax or Plastic Jewelry Prototype for Fit and Wearability Review
Although most clients in the U.S. prefer to review their design digitally through CAD renderings or photorealistic 3D models, some opt for a physical prototype before production. The reasons for this preference vary depending on the individual. Some consumers prefer to get a better sense of the overall scale and/or fit of the jewelry piece. For custom rings and custom bracelets, this is key to evaluating comfort and wearability. Others are interested in obtaining a tangible model to physically manipulate and evaluate. In these cases, a physical prototype of the design can provide clarity where digital representation may fall short.
Olertis provides physical prototypes of your proposed design at no cost, when either a physical prototype is required for the evaluation of the model, or if you specifically request it. Our physical prototypes are created using 3D printing technology and include placeholder stones that accurately represent the scale of the actual stones that will be used in the final jewelry piece. With the use of physical prototypes, customers can evaluate the relative size of the stones and make adjustments as needed to meet their preferences before production commences.
Unlimited Design Revisions and Final Custom Jewelry Approval
Customers often require several design revisions before we begin production. The typical sequence of events for the design and production process is as follows:
- Review →
- Evaluate Design Elements →
- Provide Feedback →
- Make Design Revision →
- Repeat Process if needed →
- Approval →
- Start Production
Olertis encourages and supports unlimited revisions of your proposed design at no cost to you, whether at the design render/prototype stage, until your proposed design fully meets your expectations. At the time of approval, this represents the point at which you acknowledge your agreement to the final design and Olertis agrees to produce the custom jewelry piece according to the specifications outlined in the design. Although you may cancel an order at any time prior to approval, you will be responsible for any costs incurred by Olertis prior to the date of cancellation. Cancellation after approval is also possible, but the client is responsible for all production costs incurred up to the point of cancellation.
Legal Meaning of Custom Jewelry Design Approval
In the U.S. marketplace, design approval serves as a legally-binding confirmation of specifications. Once you approve a model, Olertis commits to create the custom jewelry piece exactly as described in the model. In turn, by approving the design, you agree to accept the custom jewelry piece as specified in the approved design.
By following a transparent review process, we minimize the potential for disputes. As a result of the precision of our production processes (which utilize modern milling and casting equipment with tolerances measured in tenths of a millimeter—tolerances which are thinner than a hair and not visually discernible), the final piece will consistently match the approved design. Any issues relating to returns and refunds will be addressed based on the design specifications reviewed by both parties.
