A question for the Ladies

[kgrap]

Which do you find more preferable? A good quality setting from brands such as Vatche, Stuller etc or an off the shelf setting from Mark Morrell?

 

[belle]

off the shelf setting from mark morrell?
he only does custom work.

 

[kgrap]

Sorry Belle, by off the shelf I meant asking him to do a design he''s already done before.

 

[belle]

thanks for the clarification.
mm finishes pieces like nothing i have ever seen. if price is not a factor, there is no question.. i would choose mm. easily.

 

[ame]

You don''t get off the shelf from Mark Morell. But without a doubt, Mark Morell. Vatche and Stuller can do off the shelf. But Id take a MWM over anything

 

[kgrap]

Date: 11/7/2005 10:20:22 AM
Author: belle

thanks for the clarification.
mm finishes pieces like nothing i have ever seen. if price is not a factor, there is no question.. i would choose mm. easily.

Thanks Belle, by ''finish'' do you mean the polish on the setting?

 

[Shay37]

Date: 11/7/2005 10:25:29 AM
Author: kgrap

Date: 11/7/2005 10:20:22 AM
Author: belle

thanks for the clarification.
mm finishes pieces like nothing i have ever seen. if price is not a factor, there is no question.. i would choose mm. easily.

Thanks Belle, by ''finish'' do you mean the polish on the setting?

I''m not Belle, but that''s what she meant. I would also choose MM over one of those others. He puts a polish to platinum that looks like liquid metal. It is lovely.

shay

 

[belle]

yes shay is right the polish is amazing. also by finish, i mean he attends to every detail. nothing looks hodgepodge or rough and thrown together. he makes sure the entire piece flows... from the tip of the prongs through the shank. the fluidity, balance and attention to detail is just amazing.

 

[BeaudryBabe]

I agree with Belle...Mark Morell pieces are truly beautiful.

 

[pebbles]

I would choose any MWM setting in a hearbeat!

 

[appletini]

I''d go with the MM, because I''d like knowing that the ring was made especially for me.

 

[Kerbear560]

I would definitely choose a Mark Morrell setting (and I did

)! I can''t wait to see what he comes up with for my design!

My boyfriend and I chose Mark because his attention to detail is amazing, and his pieces have a more fluid, polished look than anything else we have seen (basically all of the reasons belle and Shay gave

).

 

[SeaOats]

MM absolutely!!! If money is no question, then I wouldn''t even think twice!

 

[dandoboy]

I also would (and did) choose Mark Morrell. It looks like the Pricescope community is fairly unamamous in favour of Mark Morrell!

 

[stubee77]

Hey Kgrap,

I''m not a lady, but...

I was thinking the exact same thing as yourself a few weeks back (but, alas, was (also?) not in a position to ask "my lady").. After staggering through the marathon that is the diamond buying experience

'');" height=15 alt="Insert smilie

" src="http://www.pricescope.com/idealbb/images/smilies/9.gif" width="15 border=0">(much kudos to the PS forum, Bob @ WF & Jon @ GOG, btw!

'');" alt="Insert smilie

" src="http://www.pricescope.com/idealbb/images/smilies/36.gif" align="absMiddle border=0"> ), I was all set to go with an "off the shelf" setting from one of the manufacturers you mentioned.. This was until I had another peek @ the MWM site and saw one of his "pre-defined" pieces for the first time (i.e. For me it was the "Ring style #1" - Stunning.). After earlier discounting Mark''s custom settings due to limited funds, I now found myself back in the realm of drastically reduced workplace productivity & unexplainable insomnia (well, unexplainable to my girlfriend anyhow!)

'');" height=15 alt="Insert smilie

" src="http://www.pricescope.com/idealbb/images/smilies/3.gif" width="15 border=0"> .

So, to cut a long story short, I have elected to go with Mark for the setting, in no small part due to his amazing eye for design & quality of finish (of which this forum is full of examples). Of course it''s a personal & subjective process, but after thinking it over for a few days (and nights!), I felt MWM designs'' detailing, elegance & finish will compliment my chosen diamond perfectly & really captured everything that i wanted to give my fiance-to-be, but more importantly, I truly hope it''s something she will adore..

So far, I''ve found Mark to be great to deal with one-on-one over the phone, and completely diligent in answering my sometimes "stoopid" noobie email queries

'');" alt="Insert smilie

" src="http://www.pricescope.com/idealbb/images/smilies/26.gif" border="0">. This, coupled with the (relatively) large amount of time at the bench producing each piece (not to mention setting,engaving,etc), and I figure it all adds up to something that makes his work great value.. Now if only the end of the month would get here quicker so I can check head over to NY (we''re in Europe) and rip open the box to our finished beauty!!!

'');" alt="Insert smilie

" src="http://www.pricescope.com/idealbb/images/smilies/40.gif" align="absMiddle border=0">

Best of luck with your decision, it can be a toughy!
S.

 

[jaz464]

Date: 11/7/2005 11:14:59 AM
Author: appletini
I''d go with the MM, because I''d like knowing that the ring was made especially for me.

Ditto

 

[cymbrie]

I am in complete agreement with PSers on the beauty of MM''s work...just wondering for those of you who have pieces or are awaiting pieces what is the price range to have him create a setting? Thanks.