CounterSketch vs TiaraCAD

CounterSketch is 3D custom jewelry design software for jewelers working with customers on designs in real time. Its library includes more than 3,000 customizable styles and components, and users can access over one million natural and lab-grown diamonds and gemstones in Stuller's inventory. Designs can display real-time prices using business-specific markups and photorealistic renderings. A built-in Freehand tool supports creating designs from scratch. Completed work can be sent to Stuller's CAD/CAM Services team for CAD verification, casting, and finishing. Users can open available designs from Stuller.com or Stuller Showcase directly in CounterSketch. It runs on Mac or Windows computers. The 15-day trial includes other functionality but limits the library to 25 styles and 21 Freehand parts. Membership includes technical support, Online Academy access, monthly library updates, quarterly virtual seminars, and software upgrades; one-on-one training is also offered. Listed US pricing includes a $349 a year membership, or one-time licenses at 2495.00 USD and 2995.00 USD with Rhinoceros 8. Both license options include a one-year membership.

TiaraCAD is jewellery CAD software for designing rings, necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and custom diamond jewellery. It works as a plugin for Rhino, and Rhino 8 is required to evaluate it. The product describes its design approach as “Stone-First,” building metal around a stone and generating only the metal required by the design. Its tools include gem settings, modular design, detailing, and support for multiple open files. Users can import company gem charts, metal density charts, and setting parameters for default use. TiaraCAD can generate a bill of material report for a quotation in one click, and release notes say version 2.6.5 added JewelCAD file import. It is offered for macOS and Windows; the features page says TiaraCAD 2.0 works natively on macOS. A 15-day evaluation is available, with no free plan. Continuous internet access is not required, though license validation needs an internet connection once, or once every 14 days with Cloud Licensing. Listed one-time plans include TiaraCAD 2 for Rhino 8 users at $995, paid once, and TiaraCAD 2 with Rhino 8 Commercial at $1,990, paid once.