EP 105_Crafting Brilliance: David Baird & the Art of Master Casting & CAD

In this episode, we shine a spotlight on David Baird, Head of Growth at Master Casting & CAD, a company that has become a trusted partner for jewelers across the country seeking to elevate their custom design capabilities. Based in Chicago's bustling jewelry district, Master Casting & CAD has built its reputation on providing A-to-Z production, including CAD design, casting, polishing, and finishing — all with a level of care and collaboration that sets them apart. David shares how the company, founded more than 20 years ago by Oscar Valencia and now incorporating the next generation with Oscar's son joining leadership, remains rooted in family values, craftsmanship, and personal relationships. Their goal has always been to strike the perfect balance: large enough to handle volume, but personal enough to deeply support every jeweler they work with. Throughout the conversation, David highlights how the jewelry industry is shifting toward custom work, with customers wanting meaningful, personalized pieces that tell a story. He explains how Master Casting & CAD uses advanced technology like 3D rendering and AI-assisted design tools to help jewelers speed up production, improve the customer experience, and close sales more confidently. This includes allowing clients to provide images, generate lifelike previews, and make easy adjustments before a piece is ever cast — reducing risk and increasing satisfaction. David also touches on the challenges of rising costs, finding skilled bench jewelers, and staying ahead of evolving technology. Yet, through trade show involvement, outreach, and strong community engagement through groups like RJO, IJO, Jewelers Helping Jewelers, and CBG, Master Casting & CAD continues to thrive. This episode is full of insight, inspiration, and practical takeaways — be sure to listen and discover how your store can benefit from partnering with Master Casting & CAD!   Brought to you by: Southern Jewelry News: https://southernjewelrynews.com/    Jewelry Store Marketers: https://jewelrystoremarketers.com/    Learn more about the Pearls of Wisdom Jewelry Podcast https://southernjewelrynews.com/podcast   Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform: • Apple Podcast = https://podcastsconnect.apple.com/my.-..   • Amazon Music/Audible = https://www.audible.com/pd/Pearls-of.-..   • iHeartRadio = https://www.iheart.com/podcast/263-pe...   • Spotify = https://open.spotify.com/show/6IU1OHw...   • Google Podcast = https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0...