A buyer in Austin called us on a Monday: their client was proposing on the following Sunday and needed a custom solitaire. Standard lead time is 21 to 25 working days; we shipped in 11. That order worked because we compressed the right steps and refused to compress the wrong ones. Rush production in jewelry is not about working faster - it is about removing decision delays and keeping the bench sequenced. Below is the rush workflow we run, the surcharge tiers, and the steps we will not skip even when the client is waiting at the airport.
Which steps can be compressed
Our standard seven-step workflow is intake, sketch, CAD, casting, setting, QC and shipping. The compressible parts are:
- Intake and sketch (day 1 to 2 normally): same-day when the brief is complete.
- CAD revisions: capped at one round on a rush order, not three. The buyer must be ready to approve on the first render.
- Bench queue: we pull the rush order to the front of the CAD, casting and setting queue, which adds a 30% surcharge.
- Shipping: express courier both ways instead of standard insured post.
The standard process write-up shows the day-by-day timeline; the rush version cuts roughly 8 to 10 days out of the 21.
What adds days and cannot be skipped
Three steps we do not compress, even on a rush:
- Casting investment and burnout: the investment plaster needs to set and burn out on a schedule; pulling it early causes porosity in the ring. This is a 48-hour minimum.
- Stone setting and drying: epoxy and bead setting need to cure; rushing setting loosens stones.
- QC and photo sign-off: we still run the 14-point checklist and send a photo set. The QC checklist is the step that prevents a rush defect from arriving on proposal day.
We also do not rush pave halos at under 15 days, because micro-pave cannot be sped up. The pave durability guide explains why.
Rush surcharge tiers
We price rush in three tiers, based on the working-day target:
- Standard (21 to 25 days): base price.
- Express (15 working days): +20% surcharge, one CAD revision round, express courier.
- Rush (10 to 12 working days): +35% surcharge, one CAD revision, front-of-queue bench, express courier. Available for solitaire and three-stone pieces only; not for pave halos or birthstone combination pieces that need side-stone sourcing.
We reference IGI's certification lead times when a rush order also needs a stone certificate; lab certs are not compressible below their standard window, which is why we ship rush pieces with our in-house mm spec rather than a lab report.
How to brief a rush order correctly
A rush order lives or dies by the intake brief. To hit a 10-day target, the buyer must send, in one email:
- Center stone mm size and cut.
- Metal (925, 10K, 14K) and color.
- Band width and finger size, with a note if the client's size is uncertain.
- Reference photo or sketch, with the specific elements to keep.
- Engraving text, font and side.
- Shipping address and phone for the courier.
If any of these are missing, the order slips a day per missing item. The proofing guide shows what the render and measurement sheet look like when it lands.
What to do when the brief is not ready
Sometimes the buyer calls us in a rush but does not yet have the client's finger size or the reference photo. We hold the CAD slot for 24 hours while they chase it, but we do not start the render without the mm size and the metal. Starting a render on a guess is the single most common reason a rush order slips past its ship date. If the finger size is genuinely unknown, we build to a comfort-fit US 6.5 (women) or US 9.5 (men) and disclose the size on the quote; 80% of first-time clients land within half a size of those defaults. The post-delivery resize guide covers what happens if the default size is off.
What is the fastest lead time you offer?
10 to 12 working days for a solitaire or three-stone piece, at a 35% surcharge. Pave halos and birthstone combination pieces are not available on the 10-day tier.
How much does rush cost?
+20% for a 15-day express, +35% for a 10- to 12-day rush. Express courier is included in the surcharge.
Can you rush a pave halo?
Not below 18 working days. Micro-pave setting cannot be compressed without loosening beads.
Does rush affect QC?
No. We still run the 14-point checklist and send a photo set for sign-off before shipment. QC is the step we will not cut.
How do I prioritize CAD revisions on a rush?
One revision round is included. We ask buyers to send all feedback in one email so we can implement it in a single CAD pass.
Send us the brief today. We will confirm the rush tier, the target ship date and the surcharge within two hours. Start your rush custom order now.
The Gemological Institute of America’s gem encyclopedia is an authoritative, widely cited reference on moissanite and diamond quality factors.
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.
