Many jewelers assume that paying for a CAD design means owning the file. Practice varies, and the gap usually shows at the worst moment: when you want to reorder, or move production somewhere else.
Four things that can be owned separately
- The design, meaning the look of the piece.
- The CAD files, the working 3D file and the print-ready version.
- The physical master and molds made from it.
- The right to reproduce it, including whether it is exclusive to you.
Questions to ask before you approve a design
- Do I receive the CAD files when I pay, or only the finished pieces?
- Can another manufacturer produce from those files?
- If I pay for molds or tooling, are they mine, and where are they kept?
- Is the design exclusive to me, and for how long?
- May the manufacturer reuse it, or show it, in their own work?
Why it matters
Reorders are faster when the files are on hand. A signature collection is only yours if nobody else can produce it. And a client’s one-of-a-kind commission carries an expectation of privacy.
Get it in writing
One line on the quote or purchase order is enough, for example: Design files remain the property of the buyer on payment and may not be reproduced or shown without written consent. If the answer is no, you can still decide to proceed. You will just be doing it knowingly.
This is practical guidance, not legal advice. For a full collection, have a lawyer review the terms.