3Design CAD vs FormaNova AI Jewelry CAD

3Design CAD is desktop CAD/CAM software for professional jewelry design, available on macOS and Windows. Its parametric construction tree lets users revise designs after creating them. Jewelry-specific tools include custom stone building, advanced pavé, and microsetting; the software also has sculpting and animation tools, parametric modeling, a built-in render engine, and 3D print export. The maker describes Version 13 as adding over 400 fixes and 50 new features across stone setting, curves, interface, and performance. Version 13's rendering engine includes reflections, ambient occlusion, bloom effects, and refined materials. Installers are available for both operating systems, with separate downloads for the software, model libraries, and Swarovski stone libraries. Files can be shared between Mac and Windows, and the maker lists compatibility with 3Dconnexion SpaceMouse. A 30-day Version 13 trial includes access to experts for questions and guidance. Recommended specifications are 16 GB RAM and a dedicated graphics card for Windows, or Apple Silicon with 16 GB RAM for Mac. Pricing and license details are available from a sales representative.

FormaNova AI Jewelry CAD is a browser service for creating jewelry imagery and editable 3D CAD models. Upload product images to receive photoshoot renders on realistic models or mannequins, or describe a design in text or provide a reference image to generate CAD. The built-in studio allows adjustments to materials, lighting and other design details. Models use editable parametric NURBS geometry with separate bodies for bands, heads, prongs and galleries. Exports include native .3dm files for Rhino and MatrixGold and GLB meshes for rendering and visualization. The photoshoot studio supports rings, necklaces, earrings, bracelets and watches. Selected images can be exported to a connected Shopify store as draft products; FormaNova says that integration does not request or intentionally collect customer, order, payment, shipping or checkout data. It says uploads and outputs are not used to train models without explicit consent. One-time credit packs start at 2.00 USD for 50 credits.