Will a Jewelry Manufacturer Sell My Designs? Moulds, Exclusivity and Agreements

The short answer

When a manufacturer makes your own jewelry designs, the models and moulds made for them should belong to you, and the pieces should be produced only for you: not shown in the manufacturer's catalogue, not offered to other shops and not used as a base for anyone else's design. Ask for this in writing before production. At Ruvolla, moulds and models made for a customer's design stay that customer's, are never offered in our wholesale catalogue or to other stores, and we can sign a written agreement on it. Customer designs are made only for the customer who brought them.

This is one of the first questions new brands ask us, often before they ask about price. It is the right question to ask early.

Why the mould matters

Most silver jewelry is cast. The workshop turns your design into a 3D model, prints it as a wax pattern, casts it and keeps a mould for repeat production. Once a mould exists, the workshop can make the same piece again in minutes, for anyone.

So the real protection for your design is not the drawing, which is easy to change, but control over the model and the mould. If they stay in the workshop with no agreement, nothing stops the piece from turning up in someone else's shop.

What "your design stays yours" should cover

When a manufacturer says your designs are safe, check that it covers all of these:

Should I sign an agreement?

Yes, if your designs are central to your brand. A short written agreement, sometimes called a non-disclosure or exclusivity agreement, can state that the designs, models and moulds are yours, that the manufacturer produces them only for you and that they are not shown or sold to anyone else.

It does not need to be long. A page that names the designs, says who owns the models and moulds and says they are produced only for you covers most of what a small brand needs. If you have a lawyer's template, send it to the manufacturer; a serious workshop will read it rather than avoid it. We can sign a written agreement on mould ownership and exclusivity with our custom customers.

How custom production works at Ruvolla

1. You send designs. STL or CAD files, or sketches with dimensions. We model from sketches if you don't have 3D files.
2. We quote. Price per piece, based on weight, silver at the Istanbul daily price, labour per gram, stones and plating.
3. Production after payment. We don't start production before the order is paid.
4. Minimums. Custom designs start at 20 pieces per design. Production orders of that size have no modelling or mould fee, so your budget goes into the pieces, not the tooling.
5. Finishing. Casting, polishing, stone setting and plating in our workshop, with your logo stamped if you like. Every piece is stamped 925 and quality-checked.

If you'd like to start with ready-made pieces while your own designs are in development, catalogue designs start at 5 pieces per design. Our custom jewelry manufacturing page has the full process.

Questions to ask any manufacturer before the first order

• Who owns the 3D model and the mould once they are made?
• Will my designs ever appear in your catalogue, on your website or in offers to other shops?
• Will you sign a short written agreement on this?
• Do you charge a mould fee, and does paying it change who owns the mould?
• What is the minimum order per design for custom work, and for repeat orders?
• Do you start production before payment, and how long does production take?
• Can you stamp my logo next to the 925 mark?

The answers tell you a lot about how a workshop works. Our guide on manufacturers vs trading companies explains why it helps to deal with the workshop that actually holds the moulds.

Frequently asked questions

Will a jewelry manufacturer sell my designs to other customers?

A reliable manufacturer should not. Ask for your designs, models and moulds to be produced only for you, kept out of their catalogue and not offered to other shops, and get it in writing. At Ruvolla, customer designs are never offered in our catalogue or to other stores.

Who owns the mould when a manufacturer makes my jewelry?

That depends on what you agree. Ask for the model and mould made from your design to belong to you and be used only for your orders. We treat CAD files and moulds made for a customer's design as that customer's, and we hand them over if asked. If you send us your NDA, we review and sign it before you share your designs.

Can I sign an NDA with a jewelry manufacturer?

Yes. A short written agreement on ownership and exclusivity is normal, and we can sign one with our custom customers.

Do I have to pay a mould fee to own my moulds?

Not necessarily. Some factories charge per model for drawing and moulds. We don't charge them on production orders of 20 pieces or more per design. If you want a physical sample first, modelling and mould are charged once, USD 70 to 120 depending on the piece, and the amount stays as a balance against your production order. Either way, the CAD files and physical moulds made for your designs are yours, and we hand them over if you ask.

What is the minimum order for custom jewelry designs?

It varies between workshops. Our custom manufacturing starts at 20 pieces per design, and catalogue designs at 5 pieces per design.

Talk to us about your designs

Send your sketches or files with rough quantities to help@ruvolla.com, or message us on WhatsApp at +90 540 281 15 53. We'll reply with a quote, and we can put the mould ownership and exclusivity terms in writing. New to working with a workshop? Read how to start a jewelry brand with a manufacturer first, and see the wholesale FAQ for our general terms.