How are processing fees calculated?

Processing fees depend on three things: order tier, design complexity, and finished gram weight. Style-library orders start at 25 pieces with no tooling charge. Fully personalized orders under 100 pieces carry a one-time mold/tooling fee from $30 that scales with the difficulty of the design and the gram weight, refunded once cumulative orders for that design reach 100 pieces.

The two order tiers and their fee structures

What drives the mold/tooling fee above $30

The $30 floor covers straightforward designs in a modest gram weight. Fees rise when the design calls for deep relief, undercuts, fine stone settings, multiple components, or heavier castings. We quote the exact fee in the proforma before you commit, so there is no surprise after production begins. Once paid, there are no recurring tooling charges for reorders of the same design.

Per-unit processing vs. the one-time mold fee

The mold fee is not a per-unit cost. It is a one-time setup charge for tooling and the first sample run. Per-unit processing is built into the piece price and reflects labor, finishing, stone setting, and polishing. Larger quantities lower the per-unit labor share, which is why 100-piece pricing is sharper than 30-piece pricing.

No hidden charges after approval

Once you approve the proforma invoice, the price is locked unless you change the spec. Material upgrades, additional finishes, or quantity changes trigger a revised quote. We do not produce 18K gold-plated items; if your line requires that finish, we are not the right fit.

How to reduce your first-order processing cost

The simplest way to lower upfront fees is to start with a style-library design at 25 pieces, then move to a personalized version once demand is proven. You can also combine styles in one shipment to optimize freight, though MOQ still applies per design. For personalized pieces, remember that the mold fee is refunded at 100 cumulative pieces, so the effective first-order cost drops over time.

Stone setting, engraving, and special finishes

Additional processing steps are priced per design. Micro-pavé stone setting, deep engraving, matte or oxidized finishes, and two-tone treatments add labor and sometimes material. We itemize these in the quote so you can decide which features belong in the first run and which can wait for a later version.

Why gram weight matters more than you think

Heavier pieces use more silver and more polishing time, which raises both material and labor costs. They also tend to require stronger molds and longer casting cycles. That is why the mold fee scales with gram weight as well as difficulty. If your target retail price is tight, reducing gram weight is often the most effective way to protect margin without sacrificing design identity.

Processing fees on style-library variants

Even within the style library, small customizations such as adding a logo tag, changing the oxidized finish, or resizing the piece can introduce a light processing charge. These are not full mold fees because the base tooling already exists. We list any variant charge in the quote so you can compare the standard library price with your customized version side by side.

Get a processing-fee estimate and we will confirm the exact setup for your project.