A jewellery mould is the tool that gives a piece its shape: a rubber mould for wax casting, a metal mould for die-casting, or a steel die for stamping. Ownership should follow whoever paid for it, but in practice it belongs to the buyer only if that is written into the order.
Without that clause, many makers assume the mould is theirs. They may reuse it for other customers, which is one of the most common ways a design ends up in another seller's catalogue.
Types of moulds and dies
- Master model: the original piece in metal or resin from which other moulds are taken.
- Rubber mould: used for lost-wax casting; it wears out and is remade from the master.
- Die-casting mould: a steel mould for zinc alloy parts; costly but long-lasting.
- Stamping die: hardened steel tools for sheet metal parts.
Who pays and how
Makers in Rajkot usually charge tooling one of three ways: as a separate one-time charge, spread into the piece price, or absorbed for designs they plan to sell to others. If tooling is absorbed, expect the maker to treat the design as theirs. If you want exclusivity, pay for the tooling separately and record it.
What to write into the order
- The buyer owns the master model, moulds and dies for these style numbers.
- The maker will not use them, or copies of them, for any other customer.
- The maker stores them safely and returns or destroys them on request.
- The tooling charge is shown on the invoice as a separate line.
- If the relationship ends, the tooling is handed to the buyer or an agent the buyer names.
Practical protection
A written clause is only as good as your ability to check it. Keep photos of the moulds and dies with their numbers, ask to see them on visits, and keep a sealed counter-sample of each approved piece. Splitting a complex set between two makers can also reduce the risk of the whole design being copied.
What this means for a buyer
Settle tooling ownership before the first die is cut, not after you see your design elsewhere. Creston & Co works for buyers only, for a fixed fee agreed in writing: we put tooling terms in the order, record the moulds on our workshop visits and supervise packing. Start with a free sourcing review.