An optical element forming mold has a mold face for molding an optical element, and comprises: a matrix with a mold base level; a heat insulating layer provided over the mold base level of the matrix; an intermediate layer provided on the heat insulating layer; and a surface processed layer covering the intermediate layer. Out of the face of the surface processed layer, an upper portion of the mold base level over the matrix is a mold face. It is preferable that the heat insulating layer is a ceramic layer, the surface processed layer is a metallic material layer, and thickness of the intermediate layer does not exceed 200 mum. In this way there is provided an optical element forming mold equipped with a surface processed layer excellent in adhesion and capable of realizing high duplication accuracy. |