Calling Canadians who purchased from Mark Morrell!

[Dreamer_D]

Can any Canadians who purchased rings from Mark Morrell comment on their experiences with his international shipping policy (i.e., you to US appriaser to Mark to US appraiser to you)? Was this a hassle? Was it relatively simple for you? I live near Toronto, so would consider driving down to pick up the final piece, has anyone done this?

Thanks!

DD

 

[bem3231]

I''m not sure what you have in mind but I believe goodoldgold carries some Mark Morrell settings.

I am currently going through the same process with Leon Mege - my stone went from GOG to Dave Atlas and tomorrow it will be shipped to Leon.

I know that Mark Morrell has a very good reputation - I''m sure that it would work out fine.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Thanks Bem. Mark Morrell only does custom work, so no one else carries his settings, so you have to go right to him. I just wonder at the extra expense and time of sending my stone (it it a re-mount) to an appraiser and then to him and then back to the appraiser who sends it to me... but I guess this is common if you are doing it with your stone too. Will Atlas send it directly back to you?

DD

 

[bem3231]

Hey DD -

Good Old Gold does have Mark Morrell settings listed on their site, although I know that he is a custom designer. Perhaps that means that they will arrange for all of the delivery, etc.? I don't know.

Once the stone gets set by Leon I will arrange to have it sent directly to me. Is your intention to get it reappraised once it's set?

b.

 

[chrono]

Bem,
GOG has MM listed as one of their designers because they can act as the liason between the customer and Mark. Mark does not accepts diamonds directly from the customer; only vendors and appraisers.

 

[bem3231]

That makes sense - thanks, Chrono!

 

[Quash]

dreamer_daschie, I live in Toronto and just purchased a Mark Morrell Flame setting in December. So, I''ve just gone through this process. It''s intimating but quite manageable and we love the ring!!!!!!!!!!!!

Because Mark won''t accept diamonds direct, for his security and yours, it goes through a vendor or appraiser. Personally, I recommend an appraiser.

This is what I did:
1) purchased diamond from GOG. you place deposit.
2) GOG shipped it to Dave Atlas. Chris did the appraisal for loose stone at Dave Atlas. Once you agree to purchase, you pay GOG remaining amount. GOG confirms this with Dave Atlas/Chris, who releases the stone to you.
3) Chris sends it to Mark for you.
4) Mark does the setting. you pay Mark. Mark sends it back to Chris. Chris does final appraisal for insurance purposes.
5) you give emailed appraisal to insurance company and they insure.
6) you pay Chris for appraisal and shipping charges. Chris then sent it to me in new york city, where I proposed.


Sounds complicated, right? It''s actually not, as all these folks had worked with each other before, which is the main reason, along with reputation, that I selected each of them.

Aside from going to the bank to wire funds for the diamond and setting and paying for the appraisal and initial deposit on my credit card, it was all email and totally easy. Chris at Dave Atlas is basically the heart of the process, as everything flows back and forth through them. Chris is a total pro. And you never have to arrange shipping at any stage.

In terms of your other thread, shipping a loose stone to Canada gets nailed with gst/pst. Excise tax now dropped. No duty on loose stones!!! BUT, shipping that same diamond in a setting (even a temporary one) turns it in to a piece of jewelry, so 8% duty is added.

In terms of cost, the price of the diamond I got at GOG, at that quality, I couldn''t match at a retailer in Toronto, as much as I tried. And Mark''s Flame setting is reasonably priced, imho, given what a fine piece of work it is (and it is! - read my other threads and comments in recent ones).

So, I think that covers the bases. It may seem daunting, but a .60 rb similar quality diamond in a classic Tiffany setting in Toronto would have cost me more than going through the above process and getting a far more finely cut 1 carat diamond in a Mark Morrell Flame.

So glad I took the jump and just went through this process!!

If you have any questions, shoot.

Let us know what you decide.

Quash