A jewellery retailer in Brisbane used to think ordering custom meant weeks of back-and-forth by email and a final piece that drifted from the sketch. Their last four orders with us moved from brief to shipped sample in eleven working days, because the online design process has hard approval gates at every stage. The buyer never pays for a render that misses, and we never cut wax before a signed approval. That discipline is what makes custom moissanite repeatable at a wholesale price point.
If you are preparing to place your first order, our checklist in prep for the first custom call tells you what to bring to the table. The five stages below are what happens after that call.
Stage 1: Brief and reference board, within 24 hours
The buyer uploads three to five reference images, a target retail price, finger sizes and the stone shape they want. We reply within one working day with a feasibility note: what is buildable at that price, what is not, and the first dimension sketch. Roughly one in three briefs comes back flagged as too thin, too narrow or too heavy for daily wear, and we say so before any design fee is spent. This is the stage where a good supplier saves the buyer a rejected batch, not a polite one. For the metal choice that most often unlocks a price point, see our 14k gold custom moissanite ring build notes.
Stage 2: CAD render, within 48 hours, two revisions included
Our CAD bench turns the approved sketch into a rotated 3D render with measurements labelled: shank width, prong gauge, gallery height, stone diameter. The buyer gets two free revision rounds to move a shoulder, widen a band or swap a prong shape. Most buyers use one revision, not two. We do not charge for renders because a render that cannot be approved is our cost to fix, not the buyer's. The render is also the document the buyer shows their end client for sign-off, which is why we label every dimension on it.
Stage 3: Wax approval, optional but recommended
For orders above ten pieces or above a certain price point, we mill a resin wax from the CAD and ship photos of the physical model on a mandrel. This catches fit problems a render hides, like a shank that pinches at the knuckle. About 60 percent of buyers take the wax step on their first order, then skip it on reorders once they trust the fit. The timing standards we hold to are benchmarked against IGI's jewellery manufacturing documentation; the certification body does not grade moissanite, but its process language sets the industry tempo we match.
Stage 4: Cast, set and finish, seven to ten working days
The approved wax goes to investment casting, the metal is alloyed and cast, stones are set, and the piece is hand-finished and polished. On a standard solitaire this takes about eight working days; a two-row halo adds three days for the extra accent setting. We photograph every piece against a size reference before QC. The metal alloy markings we stamp follow the karat convention described on Wikipedia's karat article, and we keep the finished alloy inside ISO 9202 tolerances for the stamped purity.
Stage 5: QC, appraisal and shipping, two days
Every ring passes a stone-tension check, a polish inspection and a size verification against the order sheet. We ship with photos, and we can include a written valuation report for insurance; that paperwork is detailed in our appraisal and valuation reporting guide. The whole process, brief to parcel, lands around eleven working days for a reorder and fourteen for a first build.
How many revisions are included?
Two CAD revisions at no charge. A third revision costs a small CAD rework fee because it usually means re-milling the wax.
Can I see the piece before it is cast in metal?
Yes. We recommend the resin wax step on first orders and on any batch above ten pieces. It is optional but it catches fit issues a render cannot.
What if the end client changes their mind after approval?
Once wax is approved and casting starts, changes mean a new CAD and a new wax. We freeze the design at the approval gate and confirm in writing before we pour metal.
Do you ship samples before a full batch?
On a first order we build one sample piece, ship it for your approval, then release the batch. This is standard for new buyers and we structure the deposit around it.
What changes the timeline
A standard batch moves in eleven working days, but three things add time: a rush wax approval, a third CAD revision, or a new stone shape we have not cut before. We flag any timeline risk on the feasibility note so the buyer can plan stock around it. Reorders on an approved CAD skip the wax step and run about three days faster, which is why repeat buyers get quicker turnaround.
Send us your reference board, target price and finger sizes. We return the feasibility note and a timeline within one working day. Ask us to run your next custom moissanite order through the online design process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is moissanite a good diamond alternative for retail buyers?
Yes for price-sensitive customers who want brilliance and hardness. Moissanite ranks 9.25 on the Mohs scale, holds up to daily wear and costs a fraction of a natural diamond of the same size, so it resells fast in bridal and fashion lines.
What is the minimum order for wholesale moissanite?
MOQ starts at 50 pieces per design for stock items. Custom cuts and private-label settings usually start at 100–300 pieces depending on the mold.
Do you provide certificates with moissanite stones?
Yes. Every parcel ships with GRA or IGI documentation listing carat weight, color grade and cut. We recommend passing the certificate to your end customer for trust.
How long does sample and bulk production take?
Samples ship in 3–5 days. Bulk runs take 15–20 days under 500 pieces, and 25–30 days for custom work.
