Advice needed about custom making setting

[nimbus]

My boyfriend and I were shopping for engagement ring settings and when we didn't find exactly what we wanted the saleslady at the jewelry store suggested that they could custom make a setting. I gave her a rough idea of what I wanted (channel set diamonds going 1/2 way down the side shank) and she gave me an estimate of the cost. I later added that I wanted a basket halo and two surprise sapphires on the setting and the price quote she gave me increased by quite a bit. Before committing and having them start the process I asked that she give me the total carat weight, number or diamonds and the approximate size of each one, that would be in the ring.
Her response was "There is no way of giving bifurcations regarding diamonds, it come as piece is crafted."

I'm a jewelry buying newbie so I'm not sure exactly how it works when having something custom made but to me it seems like if you get a price quote it should include some indication of the carat weight and number of diamonds that will be in the ring. For a channel set ring it seems like there would be a big difference in having .13 ct of channel set diamonds vs. having .5 ct of diamonds.

Any advice from all you experts out there would be really appreciated about what to ask for when having something custom made. I just want to make sure I'm not committed to buying something without knowing exactly what I'm getting and since we are trying to stay within budget I don't want to be surprised by the cost in the end.

 

[tyty333]

It would be easier to have a picture that was somewhat close to what you wanted then you could just tell them the minor
changes you needed. Are they planning on using CADs so that you can approve the design? There is a lot that goes
into having a custom ring made and I wouldnt just let anyone do it.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I agree. Unless you have seen examples of their custom work, I would not consider it. Generally when people here have custom halo rings made, we don't really hear the carat weight of the stones in the setting. You show them a picture of a ring they have made and discuss any changes and they make the ring to go with your stone. I would recommend looking at this thread to see some prices of custom settings by some of the best:

[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/the-battle-royale-please-provide-inputs.160809/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/the-battle-royale-please-provide-inputs.160809/[/URL]

Then go to their websites and see examples:

http://artofplatinum.com/

http://www.timelessluxury.net/

http://maytalhannah.com/

http://www.engagementringsdirect.com/

Variation in prices will have to do with whether you purchase a diamond from the vendor and whether the pieces are handmade and the level of quality.

 

[Victor Canera]

My boyfriend and I were shopping for engagement ring settings and when we didn't find exactly what we wanted the saleslady at the jewelry store suggested that they could custom make a setting. I gave her a rough idea of what I wanted (channel set diamonds going 1/2 way down the side shank) and she gave me an estimate of the cost. I later added that I wanted a basket halo and two surprise sapphires on the setting and the price quote she gave me increased by quite a bit. Before committing and having them start the process I asked that she give me the total carat weight, number or diamonds and the approximate size of each one, that would be in the ring.
Her response was "There is no way of giving bifurcations regarding diamonds, it come as piece is crafted."

I'm a jewelry buying newbie so I'm not sure exactly how it works when having something custom made but to me it seems like if you get a price quote it should include some indication of the carat weight and number of diamonds that will be in the ring. For a channel set ring it seems like there would be a big difference in having .13 ct of channel set diamonds vs. having .5 ct of diamonds.

Any advice from all you experts out there would be really appreciated about what to ask for when having something custom made. I just want to make sure I'm not committed to buying something without knowing exactly what I'm getting and since we are trying to stay within budget I don't want to be surprised by the cost in the end.

Communication is key. If they're doing CAD renderings for you, make sure you spell out all the additional work you'd like to have done and they should give you a pretty close ball park of the final figure, give or take a couple hundred dollars depending on the complexity of the design. Just make sure you take your time and you finalize your requests before more work is begun. They should spell out the approximate carat weight of the ring and give you a relatively close cost of the final ring.
Adding a basket halo does make the construction of the ring more complex and adds diamond carat weight and additional labor like diamond setting etc. so a cost medium cost increase would be normal.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Sorry Victor, I should have included you on the preferred list of ring makers! You certainly have made some beautiful ones!