projectwedding.com/
 

Diamond Jewelry Forums   Picture Gallery   Video Gallery   Journal

   
 Search Posted Today Most Active Help   
 » Home »  » Pricescope café »  » Hangout »  » Custom Order Setting Questions


  

 Custom Order Setting Questions

P:  10/18/2003 10:56:36 PM  
indigo
indigo

Rough Rock
Total Posts: 60
Last Post: 6/7/2005
Member Since: 7/23/2001
 
We found a diamond finally but don't have a ring to put it in yet. The settings that I like are out of my price range so I'm debating whether I should have one copied/ custom order or settle for something else.
For those who have ordered a custom-made setting, what exactly is the procedure?
I'm considering using platinummfg.com and want to know how other places handle custom orders. I'm basically expected to trust the people to make what I ask for, pay them up front, and not see the ring until I get it in the mail. If I want to return it, I lose 25%.
I'm just a little gun shy after being burned by some roofers recently. I have a brand-new roof that I paid $5,000 for, and it has more leaks than the old one.
I'm probably going to place the order early next week so any advice or experience in this area would be appreciated.
Posted:  10/18/2003 10:56:36 PM

 There are 7 replies to this message.  There are 7 replies on this page.

P: 10/20/2003 11:02:01 AM
indigo
indigo

Rough Rock
Total Posts: 60
Last Post: 6/7/2005
Member Since: 7/23/2001
 
NOONE has ordered a custom-made ring??

Posted:  10/20/2003 11:02:01 AM
P: 10/20/2003 12:31:53 PM
valeria101
valeria101

Ideal Rock
Total Posts: 14,048
Last Post: 4/30/2006
Member Since: 8/29/2003
 
I have. Right accross the street from home... not through mail. It is always a trichy step between order and receipt and one has to prepare somehow for what might hapen with the initial illusions when getting the actual ring. I you get to see the wax form of the future setting it is better... but this may not hapen at all if either the jeweler does not work like this or the production process is altogether different than casting. In any case, there must be some understanbding of what hapens if the endproduct does not meet the expectations, if stones are chipped... etc. There has been a recent thread (something like 'beware of jeweler') describing a bad case of dissapointment. I had 6 rings made by now by the same jeweler (and a couple other pieces...). In any case, I guess you should make sure that he has done pieces like the one you are asking for before. After all, the 'designer' ring you like might be technically challenging or requiring techniques that a certain jeweler might not be as familiar with as another. Small shops, for example, are unlikely to provide world class engraving, mil-grain, filigree or what not, plus gem setting all in one ring since these require as many different techniques. Tension settings are considered difficult by some. And the list goes on. How about tradeshop.com? or jewelryexpert? I do not think these require such a fee. One good piece of advice: the 25% policy sounds way strange.

Ana "The greatest experts are only as good as the sum total of what they have seen." [Souren Melikian]

Posted:  10/20/2003 12:31:53 PM
P: 10/20/2003 1:35:16 PM
indigo
indigo

Rough Rock
Total Posts: 60
Last Post: 6/7/2005
Member Since: 7/23/2001
 
Neither of the vendors you mentioned will accept returns on custom orders at all so I guess the 25% isn't THAT bad. It sounds like you get to approve a wax ring before it is cast in metal though.
I'm still worried about the whole process. When someone says "you just have to trust us"... it makes me worry even more

Posted:  10/20/2003 1:35:16 PM
P: 10/20/2003 6:02:45 PM
valeria101
valeria101

Ideal Rock
Total Posts: 14,048
Last Post: 4/30/2006
Member Since: 8/29/2003
 
Hm...Sorry to hear this. My jeweler is in Bucharest, Romania, so this does not help. I am surprised to hear about jewelryexpert,since it seems that they have modified designs upon request, but, again, it could have been either in the 'wax' stage or for extra cost. This did not happen to me though. I like to see the setting before the stones are put in, but this is not the norm. I can get this because my jeweler is not all that bussy and he does all the operation in his backroom (himself plus an aid) so scheduling tasks is easy. These being said, I would personally not get anything made unless I see some work by the same person and get a clear enough idea wether my model resembles previous work. If so, then I would still like to see the wax with or without the 25% back!

Hope someone could be of more help...

Ana "The greatest experts are only as good as the sum total of what they have seen." [Souren Melikian]

Posted:  10/20/2003 6:02:45 PM
P: 10/20/2003 6:36:04 PM
sylvesterii
sylvesterii

Cut Rock
Total Posts: 295
Last Post: 5/27/2009
Member Since: 11/3/2002
 
winkjones.com

he does a lot of custom order, and send you waxes of the cast pieces prior to casting, and if you TRULY* are unhappy, he has accepted something back even though it was a custom order(though i have only heard of 1 or 2 peopel actually going this route). He really is a nice guy. i would check into it.

Posted:  10/20/2003 6:36:04 PM
P: 10/20/2003 11:43:10 PM
indigo
indigo

Rough Rock
Total Posts: 60
Last Post: 6/7/2005
Member Since: 7/23/2001
 
Thanks for the responses and the referral! I looked at the guy's work, and he doesn't seem to have done anything like what I'm looking for. I want a platinum ring with engraving and pave-set diamonds... along the lines of Tacori.
Anyone else have suggestions?

Posted:  10/20/2003 11:43:10 PM
P: 10/24/2003 8:45:18 PM
valeria101
valeria101

Ideal Rock
Total Posts: 14,048
Last Post: 4/30/2006
Member Since: 8/29/2003
 
Your ring does not sound easy to make by a small-scale operation. One way to check this would be to get quotes from a couple of places: I bet they would compare with the brand name setting. I personally shy away from having jewelry 'made by mail' (meaning having a jeweler send the piece away from his shop to have details such as engraving done offsite = "outsource the production stage"), and having a demanding design done by one person is not the norm. I hope I am wrong.

Ana "The greatest experts are only as good as the sum total of what they have seen." [Souren Melikian]

Posted:  10/24/2003 8:45:18 PM

 Previous Page Next Page 
« What to do with diamond? «» I am a sick SICK woman »
Next Topics
YELLOW FANCY PRICE/CT A Girl's Best Friend Pricescope's Graphics Finally..... I am a sick SICK woman Oh My Gosh!! Check out my new upgrade!! local jewellers What to do with diamond? Hiking 736 People Browsing the System! Reappraisal... Ha Ha Ha... Please Help! - Michael B./ pave setting question Has anyone worked with Tradeshop? Pave diamond eternity setting- is it possible to resize?? CA Wildfires looking for proportion applet Ebay gems new forums From the IDEX... Lighting in Macro Photography anyone worked with Michael E. @ The Gem Shoppe Anyone used planetarygems.com IT'S HERE! Inquiring about online gems Wal Mart moves into the high end! Settings for Busy Hands?? Need to sell a diamond my 2 cents Upgrade diamond color Synthethic Diamonds Hitting Market Soon OMG! Only 48 days left until Christmas!

Jump to:



Contact Us  |  Back Home  |  Privacy Statement  |  Forum Agreement  |  Forum Policies

Ideal BB Version: 0.1.5.4.beta1 Message forum software powered by  the Ideal BB

IdealBB Badge


Pricescope - Knowledge - Diamond Prices - Tools - Resources - About

© 2000-2009 Pricescope. Terms of Use Privacy Policy Disclaimer
forum archives