Measure twice, cut (or print) once. Double check you have provided accurate stone measurements and your stone count is correct. If the piece incorporates a fancy-shape gemstone, it may be a good idea to scan it using a flatbed scanner and then trace it to design the setting. If you don’t have a scanner, a camera will work, but be sure you are directly over the gem to ensure you are photographing its shape correctly. Better yet, consider getting a 3D scan of the gem for the best fit possible.
It is all in the details. The more information you can provide the CAD person, the better. A word of caution, though. Do not include paragraphs’ worth of information beside the photos or sketches you send. A clean, quick sketch at different angles pointing out certain details is all that is required. People skim-read these days and can miss important details when they are overwhelmed with long explanations. It’s best to keep things concise, although be sure to include the correct finger size, as well as approximate heights and widths in your drawing. Advise your customer to be a little flexible when it comes to certain details like thickness. Adjustments may have to be made for security, wearability, and overall esthetic.
Timing is everything. We all want to make the sale and when there is an occasion or deadline that cannot be changed, you may have no choice but to ask for a rush job. However, be prepared to pay a little extra. Also, you may want to inspect the finished piece a little more closely. We all know the feeling of doing things too quickly and how easy it is to make mistakes, even when we are trying to be careful. In addition, try not to bombard your CAD designer with too many rush jobs. People tend to get tired and burn out if you treat every day like Dec 24.
