Real-Time Custom Jewelry Design in Store: How Jewelers Use Pencil in 2025
Custom jewelry consultations used to mean sketches, follow-up appointments, and weeks of waiting for CAD renders. Now, jewelers can design a finished piece with their customer in a single sitting—adjusting metals, stones, and settings on screen while the price updates automatically.
This guide walks through how live custom design works in a retail jewelry store, what equipment you need, and how to run a consultation from first idea to placed order using Pencil's browser-based design platform.
What is live custom jewelry design in a retail store
Live custom jewelry design refers to creating personalized jewelry pieces while your customer sits with you, watching the design take shape on a screen in real time. Using browser-based 3D design software like Pencil on a tablet or large display, you can adjust metals, stone shapes, band widths, and settings instantly—then generate a production-ready CAD file and confirm pricing before the customer leaves.
This approach looks quite different from the traditional custom jewelry process. In the old model, a jeweler would take notes during a consultation, sketch some ideas, then send specifications to a CAD designer. A week or two later, renders would come back. Then you'd schedule another appointment to review, make changes, wait again, and eventually finalize. The whole process could stretch across several weeks and multiple visits.
With live design, that entire feedback loop collapses into a single conversation. Your customer describes what they want, you build it on screen together, and by the end of the appointment, they've seen exactly what they're getting. There's no imagining, no waiting, and no second appointment to review renders that may or may not match what they had in mind.
Why jewelers offer real-time design consultations
So why are more jewelers moving toward this approach? The reasons come down to how customers actually make buying decisions—and how the traditional process often works against those decisions.
Faster customer decisions and on-the-spot sales
When someone can see their ring or pendant rendered in 3D right in front of them, uncertainty tends to disappear. They don't have to imagine what "rose gold with a cushion-cut center stone" looks like because it's already on screen, rotating in three dimensions.
This visual confirmation changes the pace of the conversation. Instead of ending with "let me think about it" or "send me the renders when they're ready," many customers are ready to place their order before they stand up. The excitement that brought them into your store stays with them through the entire process.
Higher conversion on custom orders
Custom jewelry has historically struggled with abandonment. A customer gets excited during the initial consultation, leaves feeling great about the direction, and then... life happens. By the time renders arrive a week later, that initial enthusiasm has cooled. Maybe they've found something else. Maybe they've talked themselves out of the purchase. Maybe they just forgot.
Live design keeps momentum on your side. The customer stays engaged from first idea to final approval, and there's no gap where doubt can creep in. You're not competing against a week of second-guessing—you're closing while the excitement is still fresh.
Competitive edge over online-only jewelers
E-commerce platforms offer convenience, but they can't replicate the experience of sitting with a designer and watching your vision come to life. That collaborative, hands-on process creates value that online retailers simply cannot match.
For customers who want something truly personal, the choice between clicking through a website configurator alone and working with a real person who responds to their ideas in real time isn't much of a choice at all. Live design gives people a reason to visit your store instead of browsing from their couch.
Key features of Pencil's in-store custom jewelry design software
Pencil is built specifically for customer-facing design work. Here's what makes it effective for in-store consultations:
- Real-time 3D rendering: Every change you make—swapping a metal, resizing a stone, adjusting prong style—appears on screen within seconds. There's no lag, no loading bars, no waiting for the software to catch up with your conversation.
- Production-ready CAD file exports: Pencil generates STL files that go directly to your manufacturer or 3D printer. You don't need separate software to prepare files for production, and you don't need to send designs to a CAD specialist for cleanup.
- Diamond and gemstone feed integration: You can connect to supplier inventories like RapNet or Nivoda, which means you can show customers actual available stones with real pricing during the consultation—not placeholder images with "price upon request."
- Live pricing updates: As you modify the design, the price recalculates automatically. Your customer always knows exactly what they're spending, and there are no surprises at the end.
- Support for multiple jewelry categories: Pencil handles rings, necklaces, earrings, and bracelets. You're not limited to engagement rings or any single product type.
FeatureWhat it does for consultationsReal-time 3D renderingCustomers see changes instantly as you make themProduction-ready exportsFiles go straight to manufacturing without additional CAD workDiamond feed integrationShow real stones at real prices from supplier inventoryAutomatic pricingCost updates live as the design evolvesMulti-category supportDesign rings, necklaces, earrings, and bracelets in one platform
How to set up Pencil for live design sessions
Getting Pencil running in your store takes less time than you might expect. Here's how to prepare before your first customer session.
Step 1. Choose your in-store hardware
Pencil runs entirely in a web browser, so you don't need specialized equipment or expensive software licenses. An iPad works well for intimate one-on-one consultations where you're sitting beside the customer, both looking at the same screen. A larger touchscreen display or monitor connected to a laptop works better when you want to present from across a counter.
The main consideration is screen size. A 12.9-inch iPad Pro gives you enough real estate for comfortable viewing up close. A 24-inch or larger monitor works well for presentations where the customer is sitting a few feet away. Either way, Pencil adapts to whatever device you're using.
Step 2. Decide on templates and configuration options
Pencil comes with pre-built templates for common jewelry styles—solitaire rings, halo settings, tennis bracelets, pendant necklaces, and more. Before your first customer session, spend a few minutes browsing the template library and marking the styles that match what your customers typically request.
You can also configure which options appear in your design interface. If you only work with 14k and 18k gold, for example, you can hide platinum from the metal options. This keeps the interface clean and prevents customers from falling in love with something you don't offer.
Step 3. Practice using Pencil
Pencil doesn't require CAD experience, but you'll feel more confident with customers after a bit of practice. Spend 20 to 30 minutes designing a few pieces on your own. Get comfortable rotating the 3D view, swapping elements, and navigating between design options.
Tip: Try recreating a piece you've made before. Working with a familiar design lets you focus on learning the tools without also having to think through design decisions.
The interface is intuitive, but familiarity helps you stay focused on your customer rather than hunting for buttons. Most people feel comfortable after an hour or two of practice.
What a live design session looks like with Pencil
Understanding the flow of a consultation helps you prepare for real customer interactions. Here's how a typical session unfolds from start to finish.
Opening the consultation
Start by asking your customer about their vision. What's the occasion? Do they have inspiration images? What's their budget range? What styles do they gravitate toward? This conversation gives you direction before you touch the software.
Once you have a sense of what they're looking for, open Pencil and either start from a blank canvas or select a template that matches their initial concept. If they've brought reference photos, you can pull those up on a second screen or keep them nearby for comparison as you build.
Adjusting design elements in real time
This is where the collaborative part happens. As your customer describes what they want, you make changes on screen—switching from white gold to yellow gold, trying an oval stone instead of round, widening the band, adding side stones. Each change renders immediately, so the customer sees the result within seconds.
You might say something like, "Let's see what this looks like with a bezel setting instead of prongs," and then make the swap while they watch. If they don't like it, you switch back just as quickly. This back-and-forth exploration is what makes live design engaging—the customer feels like a participant, not just a spectator.
Reviewing the design together
Once you've landed on something the customer likes, take a moment to review it together. Rotate the 3D model so they can see it from every angle. Zoom in on details like the gallery or the way the stone sits in the setting. This is also a good time to discuss any final tweaks before moving forward.
Pencil's photorealistic rendering means what appears on screen closely matches what the finished piece will look like. That visual accuracy builds confidence in the purchase—customers aren't left wondering whether the real thing will match their expectations.
Confirming pricing and placing the order
Throughout the session, Pencil has been updating the price based on your design choices. By the time you're ready to close, the customer already knows the cost. There's no awkward moment where you have to calculate everything and come back with a number.
You can review the final price together, confirm the order, and export the production-ready CAD file to send to your manufacturer—all before the customer walks out the door. This is a complete transaction: design, approval, pricing, and order placement in a single visit.
Training staff to use Pencil without CAD experience
One of the most common concerns about adopting design software is whether your team can actually use it. Traditional CAD programs like MatrixGold or RhinoGold require months of training and a technical mindset. Pencil works differently.
The interface is designed for salespeople, not engineers. The tools are visual and intuitive: click to select, drag to adjust, tap to swap. There are no complex menus, keyboard shortcuts, or technical commands to memorize. If someone can use an iPad, they can learn Pencil.
The best way to train your team is through short practice sessions. Have each staff member design three or four pieces on their own, then run a few mock consultations with colleagues playing the customer role. Role-playing helps people get comfortable with the flow of a session—not just the software, but the conversation around it.
Most people feel confident after an hour or two of practice. And because Pencil runs in a browser, your team can practice from home on their own devices if they want extra time with the tools.
Start designing with Pencil for free
Turn every consultation into a custom jewelry sale
Live custom design changes the rhythm of how customers buy jewelry. Instead of leaving with a promise and a follow-up appointment, they leave with a design they helped create and an order already in production. That immediacy builds trust and keeps the sale from slipping away during a week of waiting.
Pencil makes this possible without requiring CAD expertise, expensive software, or specialized hardware. The platform runs in any browser, generates production-ready files, and updates pricing automatically as you design.
If you're looking to offer real-time custom design in your store, explore how Pencil can help.
FAQs about live custom jewelry design in store
Do I need CAD experience to use Pencil with customers?
No. Pencil is built for salespeople and store owners without technical design backgrounds. The interface uses visual tools rather than CAD commands, so anyone comfortable with a tablet or computer can learn it in an hour or two of practice.
What hardware works best for in-store jewelry design sessions?
Tablets like the iPad Pro work well for intimate one-on-one consultations. For larger presentations where both you and the customer view the screen together, a touchscreen monitor or large display connected to a laptop is more effective. Pencil runs in any modern web browser, so you're not locked into specific devices.
Can I export CAD files from Pencil for my own manufacturer?
Yes. Pencil generates production-ready STL files that you can download and send to any manufacturer or use with your own 3D printer. There's no additional CAD software required to prepare files for production.
Does Pencil support jewelry types beyond rings?
Pencil supports necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and other jewelry categories in addition to rings. You can use the same platform for virtually any custom piece your customers request.
How long does a typical live jewelry design session take?
Most consultations take between 5 and 15 minutes, depending on the complexity of the design and how much exploration the customer wants to do. Because changes render instantly and pricing updates automatically, there's no waiting around for the software.
Can customers receive a copy of their custom jewelry design after the session?
Yes. You can email customers a photorealistic render of their design or send them a shareable link where they can view the 3D model on their own device. This gives them something to show friends and family while they wait for the finished piece.