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Am I being unrealistic?

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jerichoheart

Rough_Rock
Joined
Sep 15, 2012
Messages
41
Hi all,

I posted recently about a sapphire (around 4 carats, cushion oval cut, around 12.5 x 9 x 4 in size) that I am looking to have set into a ring soon. It is a RHR, and unfortunately I have a very humble budget ($400). Because of this, I was looking into LOGR settings. Several people have suggested looking into having something custom made (due to the abnormal size of the stone). I have a couple people's names (Michael E and DanielM) that I was considering contacting, but I'm embarrassed to even contact them for fear of insulting them with my budget. I asked at a couple jewelry stores here if they would consider using silver or white sapphires for a setting and they usually turned their noses up at me and said something along the lines of "it just says you don't value your sapphire enough to think it's worth white gold/diamonds." Which is not the case at all, I just can't afford anything else right now.

For those of you who have had custom settings made before, can you please let me know if I should even contact Michael E or Daniel M or should I just stick with a LOGR setting?

Ideally, I would love white gold with diamonds, but I am doubtful that is possible with my budget. So, I'm open instead to using silver and white sapphires or something similar.

Do you think that's possible for a budget of $400? And for those of you who have experience, do you know if either Michael E or DanielM would even consider using silver & white sapphires? My sapphire isn't super expensive ($1000), but it's not super cheap either, and it's something that is very sentimental and means a lot to me -- I want to pass it on to my children someday (whenever I have some :) ) I'm concerned about durability with the LOGR settings, and believe the settings by Michael E and DanielM would be something that would last a lifetime. (Although, I've never seen a LOGR setting in person, so perhaps I am wrong and they are very durable?).

Thank you again so much for your help!

img_112.jpg
 
I had a GREAT experience with Caren at DanielM (husband and wife team) and their prices in argentium silver were extremely reasonable. Just by looking at their sold selections, they work with all kinds of stones, I doubt they'd refuse to work with white sapphires! Caren if very communicative via email. I received CAD's in a timely fashion and changes were made quickly. The finished item was well within the agreed upon time frame.

What they can't control is the metal pricing fluctuations.

Email Caren and check it out - I highly recommend them over LOGR as a first step. This would be custom specific to you and more likely to become an heirloom instead of fitting your stone to a stock LOGR setting. That's my take on it...
 
see this post: https://www.pricescope.com/communit...ke-white-gold-i-think-it-is-senseless.178695/ and read Lee Little's writing...... his etsy shop is in his signature at the bottom of his posts. he works in silver. he sets color stones into silver... but the BIG question is will he work with a stone you already have? i have no idea but it is certainly worth asking him.

the people you contacted are, imo, higher end. i can understand your frustration. you want something lovely and done well. but admittedly your budget is limited and you'll need to make compromises....perhaps even lots of compromises re the setting.

as i stated in the other thread, i like your sapphire.
consider doing something simple now. very simple.
and then save your $ to have a custome gold setting made in the future.

i agree: the stone is too lovely to sit for more years in a box. a simple design i think could be done for your stone. don't get discouraged. take your time. the right person will accept your circumstances and help you.
 
Hi again,

I can't speak for MichaelE, so I'll let those who've commissioned custom pieces from him respond... However, I can tell you that DanielM will work with white sapphires or any other colorless stone you might like. I've had sterling solitare rings made by them that only cost around $175.00. They didn't require CADs, though... so I would say it all depends on the design of the setting style you select. If you message Caren and Dan and let them know your budget upfront, I'm sure they would be happy to let you know what they can and cannot do within your budget.

Good luck!
 
A simple argentium silver (less resistant to tarnishing) setting from DanielM will still probably be $400+ (based on my experience of having a CAD custom design). You'll have to contact him to see. He won't turn his nose up at you though. I doubt your budget will stretch to accent stones though (or, more realistically, to the costs of setting them). But I have a ring by him in argentium silver and I LOVE it. It is absolutely gorgeous and gets tons of compliments.

I haven't worked with Michael E. I think his prices might be higher. His stuff is beautiful though!
 
sounds like DanielM is worth contacting. do it!
 
You might think about a simple pendant setting, no accent stones. That would let you wear the gem, and still save $ for the setting you eventually want.

Cheers,

Lisa
www.lisaelser.com
 
in her other thread she said she wasn't interested in a pendant...doesn't wear them...it was my suggestion, too!
 
movie zombie|1347752526|3268830 said:
in her other thread she said she wasn't interested in a pendant...doesn't wear them...it was my suggestion, too!
Click to expand...

Ah. Great minds, and all, though!

Lisa
www.lisaelser.com
 
I don't know if you live in a large city or not, but when I was doing my sapphire ring project, I wanted a yellow gold ring with diamond accents on a modest budget, and was able to find a local independent jeweler who was able to come through for me for significantly less than I was quoted elsewhere. Granted it wasn't CAD, it was hand carved in wax, but the end product is lovely. I found her online, she didn't have a storefront, just rented a little work studio on jeweler's row.

So it might be worth checking around for local talent as well. :) You never know!
 
Even if you go with silver, there is still the cost of time, labour and other materials. The bulk of the cost of a halo setting is the labour to set each melee. Michael E will be out of your budget. Daniel M is possible if you do a plain silver setting. If you want something fancier but well priced, durable, in white gold with diamonds, look into LOGR and Lanb0.
 
At the top of this forum is a recommended seller list, and within that list, is a list of recommended ebay setting sellers. I have had a lot of luck with them, and I like gold and diamonds, and have found affordable settings with such materials. You may want to take a look at what they have to offer as well.
 
Just slightly off topic but why are you concerned about the durability of the LOGR settings? Many of us have them and there's only been a few reports of issues of durability. I've not had ANY problems with mine. Don't know if that helps or not? Check out LanBo on Ebay as well - his custom work and prices are much better than LOGR (who has got a bit expensive).
 
Thank you all for your guidance! Now I know better what my options are -- who might be in my price range, and who isn't.

Movie zombie -- Thank you SO much! I just went to his eBay store and it says that he does do custom jewelry -- he handcrafts it all, which I love! Plus, he works with other colorless/white stones (perhaps even white sapphires?) so that might be an option, too, as opposed to diamonds. I think I will send him a message and perhaps a picture of what I'm looking for and get a quote. THANK YOU!!!

LD -- I have never seen or felt a LOGR setting, so I was going based on the reviews I read on here (I did a forum search for LOGR) and some people had said they would not use them for an engagement ring or an every day ring. I've never purchased a setting from them, so I have no idea what they're like. I've heard many people absolutely love their settings though, and have raved about them. I'm just worried about the language barrier since it would have to be a custom piece/size.

MakingTheGrade -- I spent several hours yesterday looking for local small/independent jewelers (I do live in a large city -- Atlanta). Great idea! Haven't found one yet, but I will continue to look!

Coco914 -- Thank you for your continued advice! You have been so helpful!! Perhaps DanielM will have a design already created that would just need to be slightly modified (no CAD) to fit my stone.

Distracts & Enerchi -- Thank you for sharing your experiences! I greatly appreciate your honesty! They (Daniel M & Caren) seem like lovely people to work with...I just hope it's possible to still be in my price range. Thank you both!

You all have been absolutely wonderful! Can't wait to get this sapphire set so I can post pics and share it with you all. THANK YOU so much for your help! I had no idea I had so many options...you all have helped open my eyes to so many different ideas! So much to consider. Greatly appreciate all of your input!!
 
jerichoheart|1347880870|3269519 said:
Coco914 -- Thank you for your continued advice! You have been so helpful!! Perhaps DanielM will have a design already created that would just need to be slightly modified (no CAD) to fit my stone.
Click to expand...

I thought that as well - why incur a cost if "*THIS* Is the perfect ring for me? I emailed Caren about that and she explained the CAD's are specific for YOUR stone and its unique measurements. Daniel is able to tweak the design/prongs/bandwidth.... once the CAD's are up. I think it is all part of the cost for your piece. Just thought I'd fill in that tidbit of info I had learned! :))
 
Unfortunately, it doesn't quite work that way. The CAD is created so that the machine is able to make the mold / wax to make the ring. Either way, it still has to be modified because it must fit your stone perfectly. This is the meaning of a custom setting - it is made to fit your stone.
 
Someone - I think its JewelJunke - has had excellent results with the ebay vendor Diamondmounts. You might see if their prices are comparable to LOGR and if the gram weight of gold is heavier so the ring might be sturdier. I think I'm one of those that got an LOGR setting and wasn't wild about the amount of metal. It is lightweight and definitely not a contender for long term wear...however, there is nothing "wrong" with it other than its just lightweight compared to my other settings.
 
Here are some pretty settings from diamondmounts. TL, a long time poster on PS, has a number of *very* nice gems set into customized settings by LOGR, Lanbo, etc... if you look in the Eye Candy thread you can see some them. They're very nicely done.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/OVAL-CUT-9-11MM-SOLID-14K-WHITE-GOLD-NATURAL-DIAMOND-SETTING-SEMI-RING-MOUNT-/400320338782?pt=US_Fine_Rings&hash=item5d34f39b5e


http://www.ebay.com/itm/OVAL-Cut-9-11mm-SOLID-14K-WHITE-GOLD-NATURAL-DIAMOND-SETTING-SEMI-RING-MOUNT-/180974875984?pt=US_Fine_Rings&hash=item2a22f17550
 
Jericho I just wanted to pop in to say not to be too despondent - there is a setting out there within your budget and you've had some good guidance. Just a matter of a l'il bit of persistence perhaps to find it. As has been said, quite a few PS members have LOGR type settings and have been happy, don't dismiss them if it's what you really want. OTOH let us know what Daniel M says :))
 
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