Tech Trends

Technology in the jewelry industry continues to evolve at a rapid pace! Fortunately for jewelers, some of your top suppliers are completely on top of tech trends that will benefit your business. From 3D printing jewelry to software that will make merchants’ lives easier, many of the industry’s most forward-thinking manufacturers are armed with tech tools that will aid your business.

With the price of gold at a record high, every maker is scrambling for ways to make the hikes more palatable to consumers. That’s not an easy task, especially when the cost of producing pieces skyrockets; sticker shock is an understatement.

ODI is managing high gold prices by utilizing DRC, a 3D-printed resin that goes directly to casting, skipping mold and model making.

ODI / Original Designs

“This allows you to design large-format pieces that are very thin and lightweight, with open mesh or filigree, that would not be possible using traditional casting,” explains Valerie Fletcher, vice president of product development. “The high price of gold … is compelling developers to use techniques that provide the biggest look and minimize gold loss.”

In fact, one of Fletcher’s favorite products is 3D-printed bracelets.

“Even the smallest, most intricate links can be assembled in CAD and printed in resin,” she adds. “Once supports are removed after casting, links are perfectly joined with no soldering, lasers, or seams.”

And given how pricey gold has gotten, many are turning more to platinum—the rarer metal that has become an incredible value in fine jewelry. The only sticking point is manufacturing with it; that can be more costly. That point is why ODI aims to minimize that barrier in 2025.

“We are making investments in state-of-the-art platinum casting equipment and testing the performance of various platinum alloys, with the goal of bringing the cost of platinum down to match with 14k white gold,” she says. “This will give our customers a superior product at a competitive price.”

Meanwhile, Royal Chain Group’s Phillip Gabriel Maroof, vice president of marketing and design, has some tech lifesavers for front-of-house operations. For example, in 2024, the company started transitioning to a new method of taking client orders, “moving away from paper forms to digital form using tablets,” he says. “This method is faster, more efficient, and allows us to see our sales at a glance and more easily to recognize order trends and what products are succeeding at specific shows.”

In 2025, Royal Chain will use new software to update its digital catalog experience, allowing its team to automate digital catalog uploads so all products are easily searchable and shoppable for customers online.

“With this investment, we plan to reach customers who rely on the catalog for browsing and discovering jewelry for their store more easily, so they have fewer steps to restocking their assortment,” he maintains.

         Royal Chain

Finally, Maroof firmly believes in the use of a strong email marketing platform. “It’s the most underrated piece of technology for retailers to utilize,” he says. And compared to social media, email is a direct line to customers who are interested in your products.

“Advancements in software allow you to automate messages, segment customers into ideal targets for specific messaging, and create an engaged community of repeat buyers.”