One of the most under-appreciated merits of technology is its ability to transform the way we create art. Yes, while some jewelers lean on machines to automate production and churn out identical pieces that lack soul and the human touch, at TACORI we use technology to take our art to the next level.
In our California Design Studios, creation is driven by a passion for the craft and a love for the process of design, which brings cutting-edge technology and slow hand-craftsmanship together in a beautiful synergy. Our technology pushes the boundaries of what's possible, while also preserving the human touch; making our designs more personalized, more precise, and even more meaningful. Here's how the use of cutting-edge technology, alongside passion, craftsmanship, and creativity, make TACORI pieces the most meticulous in the world.
Hand-Crafted & CAD-Crafted
TACORI pieces are handcrafted, and showcase intricate, hand-hewn details. Our iconic TACORI Crescent design motif is so meticulous that it demands an artisan undergo at least four years in a rigorous apprenticeship before they're able to master its precise and proprietary carving technique. And once an artisan can produce a TACORI Crescent, there's almost nothing beyond their capabilities.
As the unifying element in all of our designs, the Crescent is also the essence behind the meticulous nature of every TACORI piece. It drives our attention to detail.
But before a physical piece ever lands on the bench of an artisan, it's created with a digital modeling system called Computer Aided Design, or CAD. CAD was originally used for aerospace development, and has gradually become popular across a wide variety of industries that range from architecture to dentistry.
TACORI was one of the first non-aerospace businesses to adopt CAD technology. In those early days, CAD programs were slow and clunky. But in the decades that we’ve been evolving with CAD, we’ve learned how to use it to the full extent. It powers our customization process to create designs that are completely individualized and and that are cast to exact specifications.
Meet Our CAD Artist
Our CAD technician, Ossanna, orchestrates 3D models of a ring before the ring is produced in real life. And although she’s an engineer in title, she’s an artist in her own right.
With an elaborate symphony of keystrokes, Ossanna translates paper-sketched designs to the screen. She edits each line, arc, and detail with a precision that brings an element of mathematical beauty to the design process, and the patterns that emerge on her screen are bespoke geometric abstractions that tell a story.
Before CAD, prototypes were developed by hand-carving a wax mold. Back then, it could take a full day to make a single ring. Time constraints limited the ability to go farther with a design, and the amount of customization and precision was limited to the skill of the artisan.
CAD machines allow us to customize each and every ring, while also ensuring that the personalizations are both beautiful and functional. Plus, the structural integrity of a CAD-designed ring is unparalleled, as it allows us to cast the ring as a single piece instead of piecing together various independently-cast ring parts.
Technology challenges us to conceive ever more dimensional and nuanced patterns. With CAD, we find ways to transform the Crescent into feats of engineering. Our new Dantela Crescent Fabric, for instance, wouldn't have been possible even five years ago; but CAD allowed us to find an architecturally-sound way to create lace-like tracery from the Crescent's open space.
While CAD has sped up the ability to render a design, it hasn’t necessarily made our process of creation easier. We still make rings to order, one-by-one; but without the time constraint of hand-carving waxed molds, we can allocate more effort to conceive and hand-craft the most meticulous jewelry in the world.
The Extra Effort
The CAD rendering is just the beginning. After a design is conceived, the metals must be mixed, the mold must be cast, every single sand-size accent diamond must be hand-selected, matched, and set; and the intricate details must be etched into the foundation. Our bespoke process requires the skill of 40 different hands.
The use of technology allows our work to align with our love for what we do. Instead of enabling mass production, we’re able to put our soul into the process of creation; reveling in the joyful touches and extra details. We're able to craft pieces that are meaningful, personal, extremely well designed, and exceptionally effortful.
Discover More TACORI:
Striking Yet Simple Engagement Rings
How to Create a Customized Engagement Ring
Engagement Rings With Hidden Details