Jewellery CAD software for Mac: what runs, and what does not
Rhino, 3Design, ZBrush, Blender and the rest, checked against each maker's own requirements, plus the Windows-only tools and why Parallels is not a way round them.
Short answer: on a current Apple silicon Mac you can run Rhino 8, 3Design, ZBrush, Blender with JewelCraft, Plasticity and Shapr3D. MatrixGold, CounterSketch, RhinoArtisan, Pro-J and JewelCAD Pro are Windows only, and running Windows on an Apple silicon Mac through Parallels is not a supported way round that. For jewellery-specific tools on a Mac, the choices are 3Design or Blender with JewelCraft; for precise general CAD, Rhino 8.
Requirements were checked on each maker's website on 22 October 2026.
| Software | Runs on a Mac? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Rhino 8 | Yes: Intel and Apple silicon, macOS 12.4 or later | No jewellery tools built in; several jewellery plug-ins are Windows only |
| 3Design | Yes: Apple silicon | Version 13 does not support Intel Macs |
| ZBrush | Yes, and iPad | One subscription covers desktop and iPad |
| Blender + JewelCraft | Yes: Apple silicon, macOS 13 or later | Free; Intel Macs stay on Blender 4.5 |
| Plasticity | Yes: Intel and Apple silicon, macOS 12 or later | One licence covers Windows, Mac and Linux |
| Shapr3D | Yes: macOS 14 or later, and iPad | Free plan is non-commercial |
| Nomad Sculpt | Yes, and iPad | Sculpting; one-off purchase |
| MatrixGold | No | Windows 10 or 11, not ARM |
| CounterSketch | No | Windows 10 or 11, not ARM |
| RhinoArtisan | No | Windows only; Parallels not supported |
| Pro-J | No | Rhino 8 for Windows only |
| JewelCAD Pro | No | Windows only; latest build dated 2019 |
Rhino 8: the precise base, without its Windows plug-ins
Rhino 8 runs natively on Macs with Intel or Apple processors, on macOS 12.4 or later, and a licence is US$995. It is the base for most jewellery CAD, but it has no jewellery tools of its own, and several of the plug-ins that add them are Windows only: MatrixGold, RhinoArtisan and Pro-J all are. Check any plug-in's Mac support before you buy it. On a Mac, Rhino on its own is a precise general modeller rather than a jewellery package.
3Design: parametric jewellery CAD that runs natively
3Design, from TYPE3 (part of Gravotech), is the main jewellery-specific package with a native Mac version, built on its own engine rather than on Rhino. Its parametric approach keeps a design's settings, so a ring size or stone count can change later without rebuilding. The current version 13 runs on Apple silicon Macs but not on Intel Macs; native Mac support began with version 12. There is a free trial, and prices are given on request.
Blender with JewelCraft: the free route
Blender runs on Apple silicon Macs with macOS 13 or later; from Blender 5 there is no Intel Mac version. With the free JewelCraft add-on it has gems, prongs, cutters, gem spacing and weight estimates. Blender for jewellery design covers setup and limits.
Plasticity and Shapr3D: precise modelling, no jewellery tools
Both are modern solid modellers that run natively on a Mac. Plasticity supports Intel and Apple silicon Macs on macOS 12 or later, and one licence covers Windows, Mac and Linux; Indie is US$175 and Studio US$299, both perpetual. Shapr3D runs on macOS 14 or later and on iPad, with Pro at US$299 per seat per year. Neither has jewellery tools, so stones and settings are modelled by hand.
ZBrush and Nomad Sculpt: sculpting on a Mac and iPad
ZBrush, from Maxon, runs on macOS and iPad, and one subscription covers both. Nomad Sculpt is a cheaper sculpting app, a one-off US$19.99 on iPad and iPhone, with a separate desktop version. Both are good for forming a piece; for seats, shanks and anything that must measure exactly, most studios finish in a precise CAD program.
Which jewellery software is Windows only?
MatrixGold and CounterSketch list Windows 10 and 11 only, and not ARM. RhinoArtisan is Windows only and says Parallels is not supported. Pro-J runs on Rhino 8 for Windows. JewelCAD Pro lists Windows with a USB dongle, and its latest build is dated 2019.
Can you run Windows jewellery software on a Mac with Parallels?
Not in a supported way. On an Apple silicon Mac, Windows runs as the ARM version inside a virtual machine such as Parallels, and Boot Camp is not available. McNeel lists Parallels, ARM processors and Boot Camp on Apple silicon among the setups it does not support for Rhino for Windows, which MatrixGold 4 needs. Gemvision's requirements exclude ARM, and RhinoArtisan says Parallels is not supported. Some people try it anyway; if something breaks, no vendor supports that setup.
An older Intel Mac running Windows through Boot Camp is different: McNeel supports Rhino for Windows that way. Apple no longer sells Intel Macs, though, so it is not a route for a new purchase.
Which should you choose on a Mac?
- Jewellery tools, paid: 3Design.
- Jewellery tools, free: Blender with JewelCraft.
- Precise general CAD, building settings yourself: Rhino 8.
- Sculpted, organic work: ZBrush, or Nomad Sculpt to start cheaply.
- You need MatrixGold specifically: a Windows PC.
Or keep the Mac for the business and outsource the CAD: we model in Rhino and deliver STL, with STEP where the model must stay editable, ready for any caster. The full software comparison and Rhino vs MatrixGold cover the prices.
