Different Types of 3D/CAD: Engravings for Wedding Sets

CAD engraving is designed on a computer and modeled into the ring itself before it's ever cast or cut — a look at how it works and the pattern styles it's used for, from scrollwork and florals to milgrain and hidden monograms.

James Ly · August 13, 2026

A pair of yellow gold wedding bands with sunflower and leaf patterns modelled into the metal — CAD lily of the valley and aster floral design. View here →

CAD engraving is engraving that's designed on a computer before it ever reaches the metal. The pattern is built in three dimensions as part of the ring itself, so by the time the piece is cast or cut, the design is already part of the ring. This allows us to create patterns that would take much longer to cut by hand, especially when the design covers a large area or has a lot of detail.

What CAD Engraving Actually Is

CAD stands for computer-aided design. The designer builds the ring as a 3D model on a computer, and the engraving is designed directly into the surface of the ring. The pattern has its own depth and shape, just like the rest of the ring.

That's the part people usually miss. It isn't a picture applied to a finished ring. The scrolls, leaves, and other details are built into the digital model, so when the ring is cast or cut, the pattern is already part of the metal.

The CAD model itself, drag to rotate and see the engraving from any angle. View here →

Scroll Patterns

Scrollwork is one of the most common designs to create in CAD. Spirals and flowing curls can be drawn once and repeated around the entire band, making it easier to keep the pattern consistent from one end to the other. Because the pattern is built digitally, the spacing can stay even around the whole ring, and both shoulders can be made to mirror each other. That level of symmetry is much harder to achieve when the design is done completely by hand.

Yellow gold engagement ring with scrollwork modelled along the band — Scrollwork engraved along the shoulders, spaced evenly to each side. View here →

Rose gold engagement ring with openwork scrollwork modelled through the band — Scrollwork as openworkView here →

Floral and Leaf Patterns

Leaves, vines, and petals can be modeled with real depth, so the shapes sit above and below the surface instead of looking like flat outlines. Details like the veins of a leaf and the curves of a petal can all be built directly into the design. This is where CAD becomes especially useful for intricate designs. A detailed botanical pattern wrapping around an entire band would take a significant amount of time to engrave by hand. With CAD, we can build the entire design first, see how everything fits together, and make changes before the ring ever reaches production.

Yellow gold engagement ring with a delicate floral vine pattern engraved along the band — A fine leaf and vine pattern carried along the band, with the veining built into the model. View here →

A wedding band and engagement ring with a leaf and vine pattern modelled into both bands — The same botanical pattern designed across a full set, so the band and the ring read as one piece. View here →

Geometric and Repeating Patterns

Anything that repeats on a consistent interval works well with CAD. Wheat patterns, chevrons, basketweave, Greek key borders, and other geometric designs can be laid out evenly around the entire band. CAD can also be used for meaningful details like crosses, rosaries, and other religious symbols. The design can be repeated around the band or used as a single hidden detail. Because the pattern is built digitally, it can be sized to fit the exact circumference of the ring and adjusted before the piece reaches production.

Yellow gold band with a Greek key pattern and a row of diamonds, date engraved inside — The client wanted an ancient Greek look, so the meander pattern was laid out to repeat evenly around the band, with their date engraved inside. View here →

White gold wedding band with a hidden motif of the clients' church modelled into the inside of the ring — A hidden motif of the church the clients attend, modelled into the inside of the band where only the wearer sees it. View here →

Milgrain and Surface Texture

Milgrain is the row of tiny beads along the edge of a ring, and it can be modeled directly into the CAD design. The same goes for textures like hammered, matte, and stippled finishes. These details can give a ring a more vintage look without changing the overall design. Modeling them in CAD also keeps the bead size, spacing, and texture consistent along the entire edge.

Yellow gold ring with a daisy pattern band framed by milgrain beading along both edges — Milgrain beading modelled along both edges of the band, framing a floral pattern down the center. View here →

Closeup of milgrain beading and a daisy pattern modelled into a yellow gold band — Up close, the beads hold the same size and spacing the whole way around, with the floral design and a soft matte texture between them. View here →

Monograms and Hidden Details

Initials, dates, and small motifs can be built into places you wouldn't notice at first glance, like the inside of the band, the underside of the setting, or the gallery beneath the diamond. Because the design is built directly into the ring, these details can be more permanent than a surface engraving. It's a simple way to add something personal without changing the overall look of the ring.