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Most OEM and ODM jewelry manufacturers you’ll find online are based in China, India, or Thailand. They offer competitive unit prices, high volume capacity, and broad material ranges. What they can’t offer is a conversation in the same time zone, a facility you can visit, IP protection enforceable under US law, or production turnaround measured in days rather than weeks.
Lukas Casting House is an OEM and ODM jewelry manufacturer based in Los Angeles, in the heart of the city’s jewelry district. We work with fine jewelry brands, independent designers, and emerging labels that need a domestic production partner for gold, silver, and platinum pieces — from a single prototype to a full collection run.
What OEM and ODM Mean in Jewelry Manufacturing
OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) in jewelry means you bring the design — a sketch, a CAD file, a reference piece, or a detailed specification — and we manufacture it to your exact requirements. The design is yours, the brand is yours, and the finished pieces carry your identity. OEM is the right model for brands with a defined aesthetic and proprietary designs they want to protect.
ODM (Original Design Manufacturer) means we bring design expertise to the table alongside manufacturing capability. If you have a direction — a material, a style, a market positioning — but need help translating that into production-ready designs, our in-house CAD team works with you to develop pieces that are both visually aligned with your brand and technically optimized for casting. ODM is well suited for brands launching new categories, testing new markets, or building a collection without a dedicated in-house design team.
Many brands use both models simultaneously: OEM for signature pieces that define their identity, ODM for volume styles that fill out a collection efficiently. We support both within the same production relationship.
OEM vs. ODM: Which Model Fits Your Brand
Choosing between OEM and ODM comes down to three things: how defined your designs are, how much design support you need, and what level of exclusivity matters to your brand positioning.
Choose OEM when:
- You have finished CAD files or detailed design references ready for production
- Your designs are proprietary and exclusivity is part of your brand value proposition
- You’ve already tested and refined your designs and are ready to move into production
- You work with a design team or designer who handles creative development independently
- You’re scaling an existing collection and need a reliable production partner to execute at volume
Choose ODM when:
- You have a brand vision and market direction but need design-to-production support
- You’re launching a new jewelry category without an in-house design team
- You want to move quickly — ODM reduces the design phase by starting from technically proven concepts
- You’re testing a new price point or product type before committing to original design development
- You need a partner who can translate trend research or mood board references into manufacturable pieces
Combine both when:
- Your core collection consists of signature OEM pieces that define brand identity, supplemented by ODM styles for seasonal or volume-driven SKUs
- You’re scaling and want to maintain a proprietary hero product while filling out the catalog efficiently
- Different product categories within your brand call for different levels of design involvement
Most established jewelry brands we work with at Lukas Casting House run a hybrid model — OEM for the pieces they’re known for, ODM for everything else. We support both within the same production relationship and production schedule.
Precious Metals and Specifications for Jewelry Production
Lukas Casting House specializes in fine jewelry casting across precious metals. Unlike most offshore OEM/ODM manufacturers who work primarily in base metals and plated fashion jewelry, our core expertise is in solid precious metal casting — the material standard expected by fine jewelry retailers, wholesale accounts, and discerning end consumers.
Gold We cast in 10K, 14K, and 18K gold across yellow, white, and rose color variants. 14K is the most common specification for US market fine jewelry, balancing durability and precious metal content. 18K is preferred for luxury positioning and European market requirements. 10K is available for budget-conscious collections where lower price points are the priority. All gold castings are available with rhodium plating for white gold, and high-polish or matte finishing depending on your design intent.
Sterling Silver 925 sterling silver is available across the full range of finishing options: high-polish, matte, brushed, and oxidized. Rhodium plating is standard for anti-tarnish protection and a bright white finish; we also offer anti-tarnish coating for pieces where rhodium isn’t appropriate to the design. Sterling silver is the most cost-effective precious metal for OEM/ODM production and the right choice for brands building accessible fine jewelry or launching at lower price points.
Platinum We cast in 950 and 900 platinum alloys for fine jewelry applications where durability, density, and hypoallergenic properties are required. Platinum production is more demanding and carries higher material and labor costs than gold or silver — but for engagement jewelry, heirloom pieces, and premium positioning, it’s the appropriate specification. We work with both alloys depending on your design requirements and target market.
Brass Brass casting is available for fashion jewelry collections and plated pieces where precious metal cost needs to be managed. Brass takes gold and rhodium plating well and is a practical choice for trend-driven, higher-volume styles where longevity is less critical than price accessibility.

Who Uses OEM and ODM Jewelry Manufacturing
Our OEM and ODM clients come from several distinct brand categories, each with different production priorities.
Established jewelry brands scaling production. Brands with proven collections that need a reliable domestic production partner for ongoing runs. The priority is consistency — same quality, same specifications, same turnaround, order after order. OEM is the standard model here, with CAD files already in hand and production specifications fully defined.
Independent designers launching their own label. Designers who have been creating one-off or small-batch custom pieces and are ready to build a branded collection. They typically come with strong creative direction and some design files, but need manufacturing infrastructure to scale beyond what they can produce by hand. We support both OEM production from their existing designs and ODM development for new pieces in their aesthetic.
Fashion and lifestyle brands adding jewelry. Apparel brands, accessories labels, and lifestyle companies expanding into jewelry as a category extension. They bring strong brand identity and consumer understanding but typically don’t have jewelry design infrastructure. ODM is usually the starting point — we develop designs aligned with their aesthetic and price point, then move into production.
DTC brands and e-commerce sellers. Direct-to-consumer brands that sell online and need fast restocking, consistent quality, and the ability to add new SKUs without long development cycles. The domestic production model suits DTC brands well: shorter lead times support tighter inventory management, and the ability to reorder small quantities without offshore MOQ minimums gives more flexibility.
Retailers launching private label collections. Jewelry retailers, boutiques, and multi-brand stores that want to develop house-brand pieces to differentiate from wholesale inventory. We work with retailers on ODM development of exclusive designs that aren’t available through their wholesale suppliers.
From Design Brief to Finished Piece: The Production Process
Whether you’re working with us on OEM or ODM, the production process follows a clear sequence with defined approval points before any commitment to full production.
Step 1 — Brief and design intake. OEM clients share CAD files, sketches, reference pieces, or technical specifications. ODM clients share a design brief: aesthetic direction, target market, metal preferences, stone requirements, and price point. We review the brief and confirm scope, timeline, and any technical considerations before work begins.
Step 2 — CAD development and review. For OEM clients with existing CAD files, we review for casting feasibility and flag any adjustments needed before production. For ODM clients, our design team develops CAD concepts based on the brief and shares them for review and iteration. Revisions continue until the design is confirmed.
Step 3 — Prototype and sample approval. We produce a wax prototype or metal sample for your physical review before any full production run is committed. This is the stage where fit, proportion, weight, and finish are confirmed. We offer free recasting if the prototype doesn’t meet your specifications.
Step 4 — Production. Once the sample is approved, we move into full casting, assembly, stone setting if applicable, and finishing. Our standard casting turnaround is 1–2 business days; full production time from approved sample to finished pieces depends on complexity, finishing requirements, and order volume.
Step 5 — Quality control and delivery. Every piece undergoes inspection before it leaves our facility — dimensional accuracy, surface finish, stone security if applicable, and overall craftsmanship. Pieces that don’t meet specification are recast at no additional cost. Finished orders are packaged and shipped, or available for pickup at our Los Angeles location.
Lukas Casting House: Fine Jewelry Manufacturing in the Los Angeles Jewelry District
Lukas Casting House has been manufacturing fine jewelry in Los Angeles since 2013, working with designers, brands, and retailers across the United States. Our facility is located in the heart of LA’s jewelry district — at 640 S Hill Street in downtown Los Angeles, within Saint Vincent Court, one of the oldest and most concentrated jewelry trade areas in the country.
The Los Angeles jewelry district gives us direct access to the city’s network of material suppliers, gemstone dealers, stone setters, and finishing specialists. For OEM and ODM clients who source stones alongside production, our location in the district means faster access to a broader selection than a standalone facility outside this ecosystem could offer.
Our production infrastructure combines traditional lost-wax casting with modern technology: in-house CAD design, high-resolution 3D wax printing, electric hammering for porosity-free castings, and a full finishing suite including polishing, rhodium plating, and gold plating. The electric hammering system in particular produces castings that are denser and smoother than standard vacuum casting, reducing polishing time and improving structural integrity — a tangible quality advantage for brands where finish quality is part of the product’s value.
With over 10 years of manufacturing experience and a client base spanning independent designers to established labels, we bring the production depth of a mature manufacturing operation to brands at every stage of growth. Our team works directly with each client — there’s no offshore handoff, no communication gap, and no ambiguity about who is responsible for your production.
FAQ
What do I need to get started with OEM production at Lukas Casting House?
For OEM, the starting point is your design — a CAD file is ideal, but we also work from detailed sketches, reference pieces, or technical drawings. If you have a concept but no CAD file, our design team can develop one from your reference materials before production begins. Contact us with what you have and we’ll advise on the fastest path to a sample.
How do you protect my designs?
We operate under US law, which means NDA and IP protection agreements are enforceable in US courts. We sign confidentiality agreements before any design review and do not share, replicate, or display client designs outside of your production relationship with us. Your CAD files and molds remain proprietary to your brand.
How long does ODM design development take?
ODM development timelines depend on the complexity of the brief and how many revision cycles are needed. A straightforward brief with clear aesthetic direction can move from concept to approved CAD in 1–2 weeks. More complex briefs involving multiple design directions or significant iteration typically take 2–4 weeks before prototype production begins.
Can I combine OEM and ODM in the same order?
Yes. Many clients run both models simultaneously — OEM for their signature or proprietary designs, ODM for new styles being developed with our design team. We manage both within the same production schedule and relationship.
Can I order different metals in the same production run?
Yes. You can produce the same design in multiple metal specifications — for example, 14K yellow gold and sterling silver — in a single order. We manage the different casting requirements within the same run. Specify metal variants when you submit your design brief or CAD files.
What finishing options are available for OEM and ODM pieces?
We offer the full range of standard fine jewelry finishes: high-polish, matte, brushed, and oxidized surfaces; rhodium plating for white metal; yellow and rose gold plating over silver; anti-tarnish coatings. If your design requires a specific finish not listed here, contact us to discuss — we work with specialized finishing on request.
How does your MOQ work?
We keep minimum order quantities flexible and accessible — our production model is built to support brands at every stage, not just high-volume orders. MOQ depends on the specific design, metal, and finishing requirements of your project. Contact us with your design brief and we’ll confirm the minimum for your specific order.