Modern software like Fusion 360 or Rhino 7 requires monthly fees. ArtCAM Jewelsmith 91 was a perpetual license . Once purchased (or if you still have an old dongle), it works forever offline. For small goldsmiths in remote areas with poor internet, this is priceless.
If you have searched for this term, you are likely aware that Autodesk discontinued the entire ArtCAM line in 2018. However, the "Jewelsmith 91 New" release—specifically the 2014 (9.1) build—remains the gold standard for many workshops. This article explores why this "new" version from a decade ago continues to dominate the bench jeweler’s digital toolkit, where to find legitimate updates, and how it compares to modern alternatives. Before dissecting the "New" release, we must understand the product lineage. ArtCAM was originally developed by Delcam, a British software company known for complex 3D machining. The "Jewelsmith" branch was a streamlined, jewelry-specific version of the flagship ArtCAM Pro. artcam jewelsmith 91 new
| Feature | ArtCAM Jewelsmith 91 (New) | Modern Alternative (Aspire 12 / Fusion 360) | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | $0 (if you own it) / ~$200 (used dongle) | $1,500+ (Aspire) or $70/month (Fusion) | | Learning Curve | Low for jewelers | Steep (Parametric) | | 3D Texturing | Excellent (Rapid) | Average (Requires plugins) | | STL Export | Yes (but heavy) | Yes (Lightweight) | | Support | None (Forums only) | 24/7 Official | | Stone Setting | Manual vectors | Automated (Rhino 8 + Clayoo) | Modern software like Fusion 360 or Rhino 7
While ZBrush is powerful, it feels like "digital clay." ArtCAM feels like "digital carving." For churning out simple wedding bands, wax models for engagement rings, or relief pendants, the ArtCAM workflow (Vector -> Extrude -> Sculpt) is significantly faster than organic sculpting apps. For small goldsmiths in remote areas with poor
Published: May 2, 2026 | Category: CAD/CAM for Jewelry Design
However, the lives on via Carveco Maker . When Autodesk killed ArtCAM, the original Delcam developers bought the source code and launched "Carveco." Carveco’s "Jeweller+" module is virtually identical to Jewelsmith 91, but updated for 64-bit Windows 11 with 5th-axis support.
If you do high-relief figurines or engraving , keep ArtCAM 91. If you do parametric wedding bands or castable trees , upgrade to modern software. Troubleshooting the "New" Build Even the "new" 2014 version has quirks. Here are fixes for the top 3 Google search complaints regarding ArtCAM Jewelsmith 91:
