Haven
Super_Ideal_Rock
- Joined
- Feb 15, 2007
- Messages
- 13,166
Frankie's awesome comparison thread in SMTB made me curious about the process everyone went through to have their custom ring/s made.
The custom design process is obviously going to vary greatly depending on the individual's preferences, but I think there is a lot to be gained by sharing our experiences. This seems to be especially true for those who are very particular about details. However, I think it could help a lot of people avoid some mistakes that others have already made. (I'm thinking of the info Frankie learned along the way, and how it would have helped her to know that right from the start.)
So, what was your process?
My Process:
Ring Details/Info
2.30 ct O/P SI1 antique cushion set in a hand forged 18K rose gold ring with two surprise single cuts and a fancy yellow melee RB set under the culet. Created by Burdeen's Jewelry in Illinois.
Main Goals/Desires/Concerns
I fell in love with this stone the moment I saw her, and my only goal was to put her in a setting that allowed her to shine. While I did have a desired design in mind and I drew a picture of it, I wasn't really very particular about the details. My jeweler knows me and my taste very well, and I told him that I defer to his expertise. He surprised me with the fancy yellow stone under the culet, for example, and I love it. In other words, I would not have been upset if the ring was different than the design I drew.
Time Line
2/18/11: I see the stone in person for the first time. It's love. We commit to trading in my original e-ring for the new stone *pending* certification, and I start daydreaming. My jeweler sends her in to GIA at this point.
3/3 to 3/11/11: Stone comes back from GIA with lower-than-expected specs. I post on PS to get feedback on the stone. I agonize over whether to go through with the trade. All the while I'm looking for design inspiration, have a thread going on PS for the setting, and come up with a design I want for the new stone. I decide to move forward on 3/11.
3/11/11: I give my jeweler the drawing I made of the design, I share it on PS. I get very, very excited.
3/12/11: I contact the jeweler with a question about where the rose gold ends and the platinum will begin. This is because Yssie brought up a great concern. I wouldn't have thought of it otherwise. It was a false alarm, but still worth checking into.
3/15/11: My jeweler emails me to double-check that I want my new ring to be the same size as my original ring. We hadn't discussed it, and he just wanted to double-check. (I have my rings sized extra large because I like 'em loose.)
4/1/11: I get the email that my ring is in! (I was so excited and nervous at the same time.) I rush home from work, grab DH, and we go in to pick up the ring. I'm so nervous on the way there because I realize I have no idea what this ring is going to look like. Needless to say, I see it and fall in love immediately. I have a moment of sadness as I hand over my original engagement ring, but it melts away pretty much the moment I put my upgrade ring on my finger. I promptly come home, take hundreds of pictures, and post them on PS.
Communication
- Three meetings with my jeweler: the first to see the stone (10 to 20 minutes, maybe), the second with DH to see the stone (30 minutes, DH has a lot of questions), and the third to discuss the setting (30 minutes?).
- Two emails: The first was that question about the metals, and the second was from him to me about my ring size.
If I had known then what I know now, I would have . . .
Saved myself all of that time agonizing over whether to go for this stone. It was obviously the right choice for me! Otherwise, I don't really have any regrets, but I think that's because I didn't go into it with particular expectations for the setting. I was most concerned about having a setting that showed off my stone, and left the details up to my amazing jeweler.
I don't regret being so hands off at all. I love the setting I ended up with, and I certainly don't know more about making beautiful settings than my jeweler, so I think I made the right decision, there.
My threads from this particular ring:
https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/how-would-you-set-an-antique-cushion.156766/
https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/omb-feedback.157401/page-3
https://www.pricescope.com/communit...y-2-30-ct-omb-antique-cushion-upgrade.158760/
Thanks in advance for sharing! I hope we can help some future PSers on their custom design process by collecting all of our experiences in one place.
The custom design process is obviously going to vary greatly depending on the individual's preferences, but I think there is a lot to be gained by sharing our experiences. This seems to be especially true for those who are very particular about details. However, I think it could help a lot of people avoid some mistakes that others have already made. (I'm thinking of the info Frankie learned along the way, and how it would have helped her to know that right from the start.)
So, what was your process?
My Process:
Ring Details/Info
2.30 ct O/P SI1 antique cushion set in a hand forged 18K rose gold ring with two surprise single cuts and a fancy yellow melee RB set under the culet. Created by Burdeen's Jewelry in Illinois.
Main Goals/Desires/Concerns
I fell in love with this stone the moment I saw her, and my only goal was to put her in a setting that allowed her to shine. While I did have a desired design in mind and I drew a picture of it, I wasn't really very particular about the details. My jeweler knows me and my taste very well, and I told him that I defer to his expertise. He surprised me with the fancy yellow stone under the culet, for example, and I love it. In other words, I would not have been upset if the ring was different than the design I drew.
Time Line
2/18/11: I see the stone in person for the first time. It's love. We commit to trading in my original e-ring for the new stone *pending* certification, and I start daydreaming. My jeweler sends her in to GIA at this point.
3/3 to 3/11/11: Stone comes back from GIA with lower-than-expected specs. I post on PS to get feedback on the stone. I agonize over whether to go through with the trade. All the while I'm looking for design inspiration, have a thread going on PS for the setting, and come up with a design I want for the new stone. I decide to move forward on 3/11.
3/11/11: I give my jeweler the drawing I made of the design, I share it on PS. I get very, very excited.
3/12/11: I contact the jeweler with a question about where the rose gold ends and the platinum will begin. This is because Yssie brought up a great concern. I wouldn't have thought of it otherwise. It was a false alarm, but still worth checking into.
3/15/11: My jeweler emails me to double-check that I want my new ring to be the same size as my original ring. We hadn't discussed it, and he just wanted to double-check. (I have my rings sized extra large because I like 'em loose.)
4/1/11: I get the email that my ring is in! (I was so excited and nervous at the same time.) I rush home from work, grab DH, and we go in to pick up the ring. I'm so nervous on the way there because I realize I have no idea what this ring is going to look like. Needless to say, I see it and fall in love immediately. I have a moment of sadness as I hand over my original engagement ring, but it melts away pretty much the moment I put my upgrade ring on my finger. I promptly come home, take hundreds of pictures, and post them on PS.
Communication
- Three meetings with my jeweler: the first to see the stone (10 to 20 minutes, maybe), the second with DH to see the stone (30 minutes, DH has a lot of questions), and the third to discuss the setting (30 minutes?).
- Two emails: The first was that question about the metals, and the second was from him to me about my ring size.
If I had known then what I know now, I would have . . .
Saved myself all of that time agonizing over whether to go for this stone. It was obviously the right choice for me! Otherwise, I don't really have any regrets, but I think that's because I didn't go into it with particular expectations for the setting. I was most concerned about having a setting that showed off my stone, and left the details up to my amazing jeweler.
I don't regret being so hands off at all. I love the setting I ended up with, and I certainly don't know more about making beautiful settings than my jeweler, so I think I made the right decision, there.
My threads from this particular ring:
https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/how-would-you-set-an-antique-cushion.156766/
https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/omb-feedback.157401/page-3
https://www.pricescope.com/communit...y-2-30-ct-omb-antique-cushion-upgrade.158760/
Thanks in advance for sharing! I hope we can help some future PSers on their custom design process by collecting all of our experiences in one place.