New technologies, often adapted from other industries, are finding their way into jewellery manufacturing. The use of Computer Aided Design (CAD) is quickly growing and is increasingly being coupled with Rapid Prototyping which enables new designs reach market more quickly, thus increases competitiveness. Laser technology is also being increasingly utilised, not only for repair of defective castings and broken jewellery (it enables gem set jewellery to be repaired without the need for removing the gemstones), but for decoration (laser engraving), cutting and hallmarking. The latter is an innovation pioneered at the Birmingham Assay office, U.K., and enables light fragile jewellery and wares to be hallmarked , avoiding the damage caused by physical marking with stamps.

Examples of technologies being adapted from other industries include cables (in place of conventional chains), knitted wires and powder metallurgy processing. The latter is being used in the production of simple symmetrical shapes such as wedding rings and produces technically better product , faster and at lower cost. The material scrap generated is drastically reduced compared to conventional processing, which means lower gold inventory and therefore lower financing costs (see Gold Technology, No 27, 1999).