CAD

cad | ˈkad

noun

An acronym for computer aided design

CAD is an acronym for Computer Aided Design software. Today, jewelers and artisans design their pieces not by sketching with pen and paper but by using CAD software, which gives them a 2D or 3D model of what the piece will look like, and also the dimensions of each aspect of a piece of jewelry. Additionally, the finalized CAD file can be easily distributed for jewelry prototyping and eventually, individual production or mass production. An added benefit of using CAD to design jewelry is that it allows jewelers to show their clients models of what their pieces will look like, before investing in having prototypes created. Not only does this make getting one’s design purchased by a jewelry store easier, but it also more affordably allows for buyers to make modifications without the need for multiple prototypes to be created. While CAD files are large-format files that must be opened using a special viewer, the files can easily be converted to PDFs where clients with Adobe Acrobat or another PDF reader can easily view the models.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

C C catch Cable Cabochon CAD Calibre Cut Caliper Cameo Cameo Habille Canary Diamond Cannetille Carat Carbide Carbon-Fiber Carbuncle Carmen Lucia Ruby Carnelian Cartouche Casting Catalin Cathedral Setting Celluloid Celtic Center Stone Chalcedony Champleve Channel Channel Setting Charm Chasing Chatelaine Chaton Cut Choker Chrome Chrysoberyl Cire-perdue Citrine Clarity Classic Cloisonne Cloud Cluster Collet Collier Color Color Diamond Comfort Fit Contemporary Contrasting Finish Copper Coral Corundum Creole earrings Crest Criss-Cross Cross Cross facet Crown Crystal Cubic Zirconium Cuff Link Culet Cullinan Diamond Cultured pearl Cushion Cut Custom Custom Cut Gemstone Cut Cut Steel