When a wholesale buyer needs a jewelry design that does not yet exist in our catalog, the clock starts earlier than most expect. At Hengdian (HD) Jewelry, custom development is built on brass with 18K gold plating at 0.1–0.3 micron and set with AAA cubic zirconia, and it follows a fixed production path: design confirmation, tooling (mold), plating, quality control, then packing and shipping. Because each step needs its own window, the practical rule is simple — open the custom conversation about two months before your target delivery date.

Why custom development runs on a longer clock

Ready-to-ship styles draw from a live catalog of more than 40,000 designs, so they can be ordered against stock at almost any time. A custom design does not exist until it is made, which means it must pass through tooling and plating before it can ship. That sequence — not the calendar date alone — sets the lead time. Planning two months out protects both your season and our production queue.

The two-month timeline, step by step

1. Brief and confirm (days 1–7). Share references, target quantity, finish, and stone specs. We confirm feasibility and quote any tooling (mold) fee.
2. Tooling and first samples (weeks 2–4). The mold is produced and a sample set is made for your approval before a full run.
3. Plating run (weeks 4–6). 18K gold plating at 0.1–0.3 micron over brass, with AAA cubic zirconia set per the approved sample.
4. QC and packing (week 7). Every piece is checked, then packed in standard transparent OPP poly bags. There is no overseas warehouse — all orders ship from our Guangzhou facility.
5. Transit (2–3 weeks). Standard freight to most US and EU destinations. Build this into your shelf date.

Your annual start-date map

The annual production rhythm changes how early you must begin. Use this reverse-count as a guide:

What to prepare before you reach out

• Design references — sketches, photos, or existing styles you want reworked.
• Target quantity — custom development starts at 120 pieces per design; orders below that carry a tooling (mold) fee, quoted by size and complexity.
• Target delivery date — your shelf or launch date, so we can reverse-count the start.
• Specs — finish (18K gold plating 0.1–0.3 micron over brass), stone (AAA cubic zirconia), and any packaging notes.

When ready-to-ship is the faster path

If your need is sooner than two months, the live catalog may already cover it. In-stock styles order at 6–12 pieces per style (HAI-coded hero styles at 36 pieces per style), each purchase order contains one design only, and 5–7 free samples are available per request with freight collected. Browse current stock through our ready-to-ship catalog before committing to a custom run.

Questions buyers ask

Custom development rewards early planning. Share your brief two months before the window and the production path above takes care of the rest — start your custom order plan with Hengdian (HD) Jewelry.