How many CAD changes do you usually make?

[Mooshi]

When you're communicating your jewelry idea to the designer, on average how many emails back to them do you send to change something to your CAD?
Thought it would be interesting to share!

Not feeling guilty about being picky and sending multiple emails, nope definitely not happening to me right now!

 

[Gone_]

it totally depends on the designer/jeweler

some jewelers are not really designers so it take a lot of tweaks...

 

[chere]

I’m new to custom jewelry but I’ve learned a lot in the past 3 months.

I would say it depends if the sales associate or designer gets your vision from the onset. And it’s a lot of work and time to find the right designer and bench duo.

I haven’t had great experiences dealing with sales associates both online and in-person. They didn’t relay what I wanted to the designers or they didn’t send me the CADs as soon as they were ready. They told me what I wanted couldn’t be done and pushed their stock designs. It was very frustrating and stressful. I decided to walk away.

I’m finding it easier to work directly with the designer or bench. They understand exactly what I want from my inspo pictures and the CADs they sent with the quote are perfect. I don’t need to make changes. But I have 2 completely different designs in mind and I need to pick between the 2.

Out of my short list of designers, I’m narrowing it down based on the finished bench work.

 

[whitewave]

Usually 2. They present one, and we tweak. They present second one and that’s either it or can be tweaked further, 3rd cad is usually when I call dibs.

 

[Lookinagain]

I don't think I've ever asked for more than two. It's generally only one. I usually know what I want and it's just a question of communicating it correctly.

 

[yssie]

I honestly can’t think of the last time I wanted more than one CAD alteration.

The key to minimal CAD revisions (and elimination of all micromanagement thereof) is to choose a vendor who
A) Understands your desired design aesthetic, and
B) Is capable of executing on that aesthetic in a pleasing and structurally sound fashion.

In my opinion a project that requires masses of customer-driven CAD alterations is indicative of a mismatch between vendor and client. Could be a design sensibility mismatch or a behavioural mismatch, and could be due to vendor limitations, unreasonable expectations on the customer’s part, buyer/seller communication breakdowns - maybe all of the above!

As a consumer I hold vendors who understand my style near and dear! And many of them do in fact become personal friends outside of that transactional relationship.

 

[AllAboardTheBlingTrain]

I think it totally depends! My jeweller has now started providing a CAD on request whether or not a piece is cast or handforged (to help a customer visualise the final piece, they are more in the nature of drawings, but I digress). Usually one revision is enough for me to get my point across, but for my e-ring, because I wanted something rather complicated and it was a busy time of the year/illnesses on his end (so long stretches of time between work done), we needed to do 2-3 revisions. I knew he would be able to capture my aesthetic, so I persevered.

 

[ZestfullyBling]

Depends...
This most recent project i sent inspiration photos and emailed my specifics...jeweler nailed it in one CAD.

If I'm not sure what I want or if design changes a bit during process then more CADs needed. Guess my projects average half dozen or so...give it take

 

[whitewave]

Yes, communication is key. For my latest project, I said Diana ring as a pendent and wrote what I meant. The vendor did the prongy diana ring, which I didn’t want. So what I wrote and what he knew as “Diana ring” got lost. No biggie, but I should have said halo and not Diana ring.

the second cad fixed that but we got hung up on how many prongs on the sapphire. We ended up at 12 to match the halo for symmetry, but i had to see 6 prongs first.

 

[yssie]

Yes, communication is key. For my latest project, I said Diana ring as a pendent and wrote what I meant. The vendor did the prongy diana ring, which I didn’t want. So what I wrote and what he knew as “Diana ring” got lost. No biggie, but I should have said halo and not Diana ring.

the second cad fixed that but we got hung up on how many prongs on the sapphire. We ended up at 12 to match the halo for symmetry, but i had to see 6 prongs first.

Ditto!!

And unrelated to @whitewave’s post - I do want to point out that there’s a world of difference between
Customer and vendor discuss look and feel and decide on a new/adjusted direction together, execution of which may require CAD alterations
and
Customer receives CAD, customer analyzes CAD, customer requests X alterations, vendor makes requested alterations and sends new CAD, cycle repeats.

The latter puts the entire design burden on the consumer, who is actually the participant who is least qualified to bear it. The customer, who usually has no relevant background or expertise, is forced to micromanage details and the outcome is often a lack of confidence that the final product is the nicest possible incarnation of the original vision.

The former is the opposite - client and vendor are effectively communicating and both voices are positively contributing to the design - this type of collaboration is guaranteed to yield a stylistically fitting and structurally sound piece that the customer is happy with!!

 

[msop04]

I've usually had 2-3 in the past... depends on the designer.

 

[VBottoms891]

I’m working on one and am on CAD number 3, which should be the last. Having a lot of examples of what you want really seems to help!

 

[distracts]

Depends on the cad. The ones I am currently working on had none for the pendant and just one for the ring to update with accurate stone sizes, but everything was great otherwise. I've had multiple others that required no changes or one basic change like I often forget to specify at the beginning that I like thick shanks and then see the cad and go "oh, that shank needs to be thicker," but a couple that required 4-6 rounds of changes. I think it really varies depending usually on whether the jeweler already has made something that is basically exactly what I want (few to no changes) or if I have a specific idea in mind that isn't exactly something they've done before (more changes).

Generally I would recommend for most people only going with a jeweler who you have seen do basically what you want before. With the two I did that required more changes, it was because I had a very specific idea in mind but couldn't find someone who already custom-made that thing with customer's gems, or couldn't find that at a reasonable price (if I'd be paying 10x as much to get it from a fancy jeweler... I can't afford that). I would not recommend that anyone new to custom jewelry go that route.

 

[caolsen]

No more than 3 has been my experience. I think being as descriptive as possible up front reduces the back and forth a good deal.

 

[Ionysis]

Usually 2. They present one, and we tweak. They present second one and that’s either it or can be tweaked further, 3rd cad is usually when I call dibs.

Same here

 

[vintageinjune]

1-3, depending on the project. I've had 2 rings and a pair of earrings made by DK, one ring was 3 CADs, and definitely me requesting adjustments/tweaks to the design. The earrings (6 prong martini) and second ring (engagement ring for my brother to present to his now wife) were 1 CAD each, but fairly simple/straight forward.

My custom 3 prong cupped martini earrings from Distinctive Gems was 2 CADS. The first was nowhere near what I wanted , the second was perfect.

I'm waiting to receive my first CAD from CvB Designs this week. Her design aesthetic is on point with what I'm trying to achieve, so hopefully there will be no need for tweaking, but we will see.