3Design CAD vs Drakon

3Design CAD9.3Visit Drakon8.5Visit

Higher score 3Design CAD #1 in Jewelry Design Software 9.3/10 Pricing on request ✓ 1 of 5 features Visit 3Design CAD

vs

Drakon #6 in Jewelry Design Software 8.5/10 30-day trial Free trial✓ 5 of 5 features Visit Drakon

• 3Design CAD fits best

  Professional jewelry CAD teams

• Drakon fits best

  Parametric jewelry designers needing AI help

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Side by side

Feature	3Design CAD 9.3/10 Visit ↗	Drakon 8.5/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.3	8.5
Ranking	#1 in Jewelry Design Software	#6 in Jewelry Design Software
Best for	Professional jewelry CAD teams	Parametric jewelry designers needing AI help
Pricing model	Paid	Paid
Starting price	Pricing on request	€1,995 one-time
Free plan	Not checked yet	—
Free trial	—	30 days
Deployment	Desktop	Desktop
Platforms	Windows, macOS	Web, Windows
Support	Email, Phone	Email, Docs
Built for	Small business, Mid-market	Solo, Small business, Mid-market
Features 3Design CAD 1/5 · Drakon 5/5
Parametric modeling	✓	✓
Ring sizing tools	Not checked yet	✓ (best)
Stone setting tools	Not checked yet	✓ (best)
Photorealistic rendering	Not checked yet	✓ (best)
Manufacturing export	Not checked yet	✓ (best)
Specs
Supported platforms	Not checked yet	Desktop
File export formats	Not checked yet	STL
Our review
Pros	Jewelry-specific tools for stones, pavé, claws, channels, and rings Parametric modeling with editable construction parameters Windows and macOS support with broad export formats	Parametric builders cover rings, resizing, gems, settings, and modeling history Automatic pavé placement supports Nurbs, SubD, and mesh objects Technical reports, STL generation, and Rhino rendering support production workflows
Cons	Pricing requires contact with sales Desktop access limits the software to supported computers Organic and freeform modeling requires the optional 3Shaper module	Requires Rhino and runs on Windows The perpetual license costs €1,995 upfront After the 30-day trial, only a few tools remain available
Our verdict	3Design CAD is desktop 3D computer-aided design software for jewelry professionals, including jewelers, goldsmiths, and designers. Its core workflow combines parametric modeling with construction tools tailored to rings, stones, pavé,… Read the review →	Drakon is a desktop jewelry CAD plug-in for Rhino and Grasshopper, aimed at jewelry designers and manufacturers who need adjustable models and production-oriented outputs. Its scope covers parametric jewelry builders, gemstone creation and… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• 3Design CAD — where it wins

  • Jewelry-specific tools for stones, pavé, claws, channels, and rings
  • Parametric modeling with editable construction parameters
  • Windows and macOS support with broad export formats

  Where it doesn't

  • Pricing requires contact with sales
  • Desktop access limits the software to supported computers
  • Organic and freeform modeling requires the optional 3Shaper module

• Drakon — where it wins

  • Parametric builders cover rings, resizing, gems, settings, and modeling history
  • Automatic pavé placement supports Nurbs, SubD, and mesh objects
  • Technical reports, STL generation, and Rhino rendering support production workflows

  Where it doesn't

  • Requires Rhino and runs on Windows
  • The perpetual license costs €1,995 upfront
  • After the 30-day trial, only a few tools remain available

• 3Design CAD9.3/10 · Pricing on request

  A jewelry-focused desktop CAD suite for professional modeling, rendering, and export.

  Visit 3Design CADFull verdict →
• Drakon8.5/10 · 30-day trial

  A focused Rhino plug-in combining parametric jewelry tools, AI assistance, and STL output.

  Visit DrakonFull verdict →