A buyer in Singapore sent us their first enquiry as a single Pinterest screenshot and a one-line note: "make this." We replied with a spec sheet and waited nine days for the measurements. By the time the numbers came back, the buyer's customer had walked to a competitor. The render was ready two days after the numbers arrived. The bottleneck was never the CAD; it was the first email.
Below is the checklist we ask wholesale buyers to send in that first email, so the first render moves in seven working days instead of two weeks. This is the handoff that separates a smooth custom order from a stalled one.
The reference photo: one is not enough
A single front-on photo hides the shoulder profile, the head height and the band width. We ask for three angles: straight-on face-up, 45-degree profile, and a side view of the shank on a finger. If the buyer is designing from scratch rather than copying a photo, a hand sketch with annotated dimensions works just as well. Our sketch-to-CAD write-up shows the kind of annotated sketch we accept.
The nine spec fields we want in the first email
Stone shape and mm, band base width in mm, band shank thickness in mm, head height off the finger, prong count and wire gauge, metal alloy and karat, ring size, finish (polish, matte, hammered), and target retail price band. We do not need all nine to open the conversation, but we need them to open CAD. The fields buyers most often miss are head height off the finger and shank thickness; those two drive the most render revisions. Our idea-to-render guide lists the same fields for engagement rings.
Stone: lab-grown moissanite, buyer-supplied, or consignment?
We stock near-colourless (D to F equivalent) round, cushion, oval, pear, emerald and radiant moissanite in 4 mm to 10 mm. If the buyer wants a stock stone, we spec the seat to our inventory. If the buyer supplies a stone, we ask for the IGI or NGTC report and the measured girdle. If the buyer wants a melee halo, we quote the melee on its own line and confirm the clarity grade. We reference IGI's grading vocabulary when discussing colour and clarity; moissanite is graded on its own refractive index and not as a diamond.
The deposit and the two-free-render policy
We take a 30 percent deposit on the proforma. That deposit unlocks two CAD render revisions. A third revision or a structural change (prong count, stone size, metal) is a paid CAD round of USD 35. Buyers who want to lock the design in one render should send the nine spec fields in the first email; buyers who want to explore visually should budget the third round. Our deposit and payment guide lists the same terms in writing.
Lead time from first email to shipped sample
First email to first render: seven working days if the spec sheet is complete. Approved render to casting: one working day. Casting and setting: 12 to 15 working days. Polish and QC: two working days. Shipping: three to five working days by express courier. Total: roughly 25 to 30 working days from a complete brief to a delivered sample. Rush production at a 25 percent surcharge cuts the casting stage to eight working days; our rush order guide covers the surcharge tiers.
What a complete first email looks like
The fastest briefs we receive read like a spec sheet, not a mood board: a 6.5 mm round near-colourless moissanite, 2.0 mm band base, 1.6 mm shank thickness, 1.8 mm head height, six 0.85 mm prongs, 14K yellow gold, size 6, high polish, target retail USD 450. That email gets a render in five working days. The slowest briefs send a screenshot and wait nine days for the numbers. The difference is not the buyer's experience; it is whether the buyer fills the spec sheet before hitting send.
Can I start the enquiry with just a mood board?
Yes. We will reply with the spec sheet and a questionnaire. The mood board tells us the direction; the nine spec fields tell us the engineering. We need both before CAD opens.
What if I change my mind after the first render?
First and second renders include structural changes at no charge. Third render onward is USD 35 per round. We advise locking the design before the second render, because production release is a one-way step.
Do you provide a 3D-printed wax before casting?
On request, for orders above 20 pieces. The wax model lets the buyer check the fit on a finger before we commit metal. It adds five working days and USD 40 per model.
What is the minimum order for a custom design?
One piece for a sample. Production runs start at 10 pieces per design. Our small-batch MOQ guide lists the price breaks at 10, 30 and 100 pieces.
Send the three-angle reference, the nine spec fields and the target retail band. We reply within one working day with a signed spec sheet and a render timeline. Start your custom moissanite ring brief today.
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.
