Published by Design Jewellers | West Edmonton Mall | Edmonton, Alberta
Your Dream Ring Exists. We Just Need to Build It First.
You have an idea. Maybe it's a sketch on your phone, a photo you saved years ago, or simply a feeling you haven't been able to put into words yet. You want something that doesn't exist in any display case, something made specifically for you or the person you love.
That's exactly where 3D printing changes everything.
At Design Jewellers in West Edmonton Mall, we use professional jewellery CAD software and 3D printing technology to design and produce custom pieces with a level of precision and personalisation that traditional hand-sketching alone simply cannot match. Before a single gram of gold or platinum is cast, you get to see and approve exactly what your piece will look like.
No guesswork. No surprises. Just the ring you imagined, brought to life.
What Is 3D Printing in Jewellery, and Why Does It Matter?
From Screen to Physical Model
3D printing in jewellery starts long before any metal is involved. Using professional CAD software (Computer-Aided Design), our designer builds a precise digital model of your piece, millimetre by millimetre. Every curve, every prong, every surface detail is modelled on screen and reviewed with you before anything physical is produced.
Once the design is approved, that digital file is sent to a high-resolution resin printer, which builds a physical wax or resin model of the piece layer by layer. This model is not the final ring: it is a prototype, a life-sized replica of exactly what your finished piece will look like.
The Lost-Wax Casting Process
The printed model is then used in a process called lost-wax casting. The resin model is encased in a plaster-like material called investment, which hardens around it. The model is then burned out in a kiln, leaving a perfect hollow cavity in the shape of your ring. Molten metal, whether yellow gold, white gold, rose gold, or platinum, is then poured or injected into that cavity under pressure.
What comes out is a raw casting of your ring, in your chosen metal, with every detail from the original digital design faithfully reproduced. From there, our goldsmiths take over: cleaning, setting stones, polishing, and finishing the piece by hand until it meets our standards.
Why This Process Produces Better Custom Jewellery
The combination of CAD design and 3D printing eliminates the margin for error that comes with freehand wax carving. Complex geometries, precise stone seat dimensions, and intricate surface textures that would be extremely difficult to achieve by hand are straightforward to model digitally. The result is a piece that fits better, holds stones more securely, and looks exactly as intended.
What the Custom Design Process Looks Like at Design Jewellers
Step 1: The Consultation
Everything starts with a conversation. You bring your ideas, your inspiration images, your sketches, or simply your thoughts, and we listen. We ask questions about metal preferences, stone choices, lifestyle considerations, and budget. By the end of the consultation, we have a clear picture of what we are building.
Step 2: CAD Design
Our designer builds your piece in 3D software and produces rendered images that show the ring from every angle, with realistic metal and stone textures. You review these renders and request any changes before we proceed. Nothing moves forward until you are completely happy with the design.
Step 3: Printing the Model
Once the design is approved, we print the resin model. At this stage, you can come in and physically hold a replica of your ring, check the proportions, confirm the finger fit, and make any final adjustments. This is the step that sets custom jewellery done this way apart from anything else: you know exactly what you are getting before it is cast in metal.
Step 4: Casting and Finishing
The approved model goes to casting. Your chosen metal is poured, the raw piece is cleaned and refined, stones are set by hand, and the piece is polished to its final finish. From first consultation to finished ring, most custom projects are completed within 7 to 10 days depending on complexity.
What Can Be Made Using 3D Printing?
The short answer is: almost anything. The process is particularly well suited to:
- Custom engagement rings with unique settings, unusual stone shapes, or personalised details
- Wedding bands with engraving, mixed metals, or custom profiles
- Anniversary and dress rings designed to complement or match an existing piece
- Pendants and earrings requiring precise geometric or organic forms
- Replicas of heirloom pieces where the original metal will be melted down and recast in a new design
If you can describe it or show us an image, we can almost certainly build it.
Frequently Asked Questions About 3D Printed Jewellery
Is 3D printed jewellery real jewellery?
Yes, completely. The 3D printed model is only a prototype used to create the mould for casting. The finished piece is cast in solid gold or platinum, set with genuine stones, and finished by hand by our goldsmiths. The 3D printing is a tool for precision and accuracy, not the final material. Your ring will be every bit as real and durable as anything you would find in a traditional jewellery case.
Can I make changes after seeing the CAD design?
Absolutely, and that is exactly the point of the process. The CAD stage exists specifically so that you can review, refine, and approve the design before any metal or stone is committed. Revisions at the digital stage cost nothing compared to changes made after casting, which is why we encourage clients to take their time during the design review.
How long does a custom piece take?
Most custom jewellery projects at Design Jewellers are completed within 7 to 10 days from the point of design approval. Rush timelines may be possible depending on our current workload, so if you have a specific date in mind, such as a proposal or anniversary, let us know at your consultation and we will work around it.
Is custom jewellery significantly more expensive than buying off the shelf?
Not necessarily. Because we produce pieces in-house using our own CAD and casting process, we can often create a custom piece at a price comparable to a ready-made ring of similar quality from a larger retailer. You are not paying for a brand name or a retail markup: you are paying for the metal, the stones, and the craftsmanship. We provide a full quote after the design consultation so you know exactly what is involved before committing to anything.
Can you recreate or redesign an old piece of jewellery?
Yes. This is one of the most meaningful things we do. If you have inherited a piece with sentimental value but want to give it new life in a updated design, we can scan or measure the original, build a new CAD model inspired by it, and cast the new piece using the recycled metal if you choose. The result carries the history of the original in a form that fits your life today.
Why Choose Design Jewellers for Your Custom Piece in Edmonton?
Custom jewellery is a significant decision, and who you trust with it matters. At Design Jewellers, everything happens in-house at our West Edmonton Mall location. Our designer and goldsmiths work together under the same roof, which means tighter quality control, faster communication, and a process that keeps you informed and involved at every stage.
You are not dealing with a middleman or a catalogue. You are working directly with the people building your ring.
Start Your Custom Jewellery Journey
If you have an idea for a custom piece, the best first step is simply to come in and talk to us. Consultations are free, there is no obligation, and you will leave with a much clearer picture of what is possible and what it will cost.
Design Jewellers is located in West Edmonton Mall, Edmonton, Alberta. Walk in any time or book a design consultation to sit down with our team and start turning your idea into something real.
Ready to Design Something Unique?
Visit us in-store at West Edmonton Mall. No appointment is necessary for an initial conversation.
Book a design consultation to reserve dedicated time with our CAD designer and goldsmith.
Call or message us with your idea and we will let you know what is possible before you even come in.
Design Jewellers | West Edmonton Mall | Custom Jewellery Edmonton | 3D Printed Jewellery | In-House Goldsmith | CAD Jewellery Design Edmonton
