Yes. Most established Rajkot manufacturers will make jewellery to your own design, working from a sketch, a reference photo, a CAD file or a physical sample. You will normally pay a one-time development charge for the master model and mould, and the minimum order per design is higher than for pieces already in the maker's catalogue.
The process is straightforward once you know the steps and what each one decides.
The development steps
- Brief: send drawings or photos with sizes, weight target, base metal, plating colour and thickness, stone type and closure.
- Master model: the workshop makes a master by hand or from a 3D-printed CAD model. Approve its shape and size before anything else.
- Mould or die: the master is used to make rubber moulds for casting or steel dies for stamping. This is where most of the development cost sits.
- First sample: a cast, set and plated piece. Check weight, finish, stone setting and comfort, and keep one sealed as the approved sample.
- Bulk production: only after written approval of the sample and the specification.
Casting or stamping
Detailed three-dimensional pieces such as kundan sets, temple jewellery and rings are usually cast. Flat or repeating parts such as chain links, discs and some earrings can be stamped from sheet, which is faster and cheaper per piece once the die is made but needs a larger run to justify the tooling.
Ask the maker which method they plan to use and why. The choice affects weight, detail, cost and how many pieces you need to order.
Time and cost to expect
Development usually takes a few weeks from approved brief to first sample, longer for complex sets or when several revisions are needed. The development charge is often adjusted against the first bulk order, but agree that in writing.
Small changes to an existing design, such as a different plating colour or stone, cost much less than a new design because the mould already exists.
What this means for a buyer
Send a complete brief, approve each stage in writing, and agree who owns the master and moulds before you pay for them. Keep your best designs with makers who have signed a confidentiality agreement.
Creston & Co works for buyers only, for a fixed fee agreed in writing. We brief Rajkot workshops on your designs, follow sampling, check finish and plating against your specification and supervise packing. Ask for a free sourcing review.