Custom e-ring setting

[cheethoe]

Hi, I''ve been shopping for a setting for my engagement ring, I have a design that I like that I saw at robbins bros pictured below

I went to a few places in downtown la that quoted me $600 to make this setting in platinum, but I''m not a big fan of the jewelry district, it feels too shady out there. I went to a few jewelers in LA that were mentioned on PS including 23rd street jewelers (santa monica), Sarah Leonard (westwood), and XIV Karats LTD (beverly hills). The first two places gave me quotes of about $2500 to make it, while XIV quoted me $1500. This large difference in price has really confused me. I still plan on going to some other places to get quotes but why is there such a large difference in prices? XIV Karats has an attractive price, and seems trustworthy, but has anyone had any experience getting a custom platinum setting with them?

I also really like the Sarah Leonard jewelers in westwood, but $2500 is much more than I was expecting to spend. I was expecting to spend around $600 for the setting after going to the LA jewelry district, but going to these other stores has really changed things and I dont know what to think anymore.

Any advice/slaps into reality/recommended jewelers would be greatly appreciated

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I guess my first question would be, that is a common stock setting, so why would you need it to be custom? The other question would be, where are you buying the diamonds, or do you already have them?

$1500 looks about right:

http://www.whiteflash.com/Engagement-Rings/Styles/3Stone/3-Stone-Platinum-Ring_661.htm

 

[mrssalvo]

well the $600 for plat. seems way low. does that include the diamond sidestones too? just the metal costs more than that. I think $1500- $2000 could be right depending on the quality of the sidestones. if it''s a designer like Leon Mege it would be on the higher side of the quotes you posted. I do wonder why you''d want to mess with going custom for such a common stock setting?

 

[cheethoe]

Hi Diamondseeker2006,
Your first question is a very good question... There''s a few reasons for that.
1) the sizes that robbins bros had of that setting were for either .75ct center stone or 1.0ct center stone, I asked them about putting a .90ct center (which is the center stone I already bought) and they said they would have to bend the prongs in or out and it might not look good.
2) My last visit to them was less than favorable, they were trying to push me SI2 diamonds when I told them I wanted VS2 and above. Also I showed them diamonds from blue nile I was looking at and they wouldn''t even try to come near the prices blue nile was selling for. In fact, the sales lady took my papers and said "these are mine now" and then never even mentioned them again, and then wasted 3 hours of my life trying to tell me about how if I buy anywhere else my girlfriend wont say "yes" to marrying me.

So basically I dont really want to go back to robbins bros and deal with their sales people.

For your second question, I bought my diamonds from blue nile, a 0.90ct VS1/F/Ideal cut that has only one inclusion on the gia cert (a small feather on the pavilion near the girdle) and two 0.40ct sides stones which are both VS2/G/Ideal cut, one is a AGS000. I''m very pleased with the diamonds thus far, I used the HCA (halloway cut advisor) on the proportions and they all came out Excellent on everything but the spread. I was thinking of getting an ideal scope, but I might just take it to a well educated appraiser instead.

 

[cheethoe]

mrssalvo,
The $600 is te setting alone, I have all the stones. Hrm, when you guys are saying it''s a common stock setting are you saying lots of places have that setting? I''ve been to a couple places and none have quite the same setting I''m looking for. This one is fairly petite in person, and the top tapers in with the side stones set at an angle that follows the curvature of the band. There are many that are similar but different that I"ve seen.

 

[mrssalvo]

Since you have all the stones, I''d probaby check with WF and see if they will make the setting for you and ask for a quote. Also quest jewelers does beautful custom work and their pricing is very competitive.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Good decision to buy great quality stones from BN! I''m thinking your life would be easier if you chose a more local jeweler to set your stones. So considering that $1500 is what WF charges for that kind of setting, I believe I''d try to see if that XIV Karats would make it for you. Gosh, Beverly Hills! You''d think they''d be really high!

 

[cheethoe]

Diamondseeker2006,
Yeah I thought soo too! But apparantly they are known for good prices and lots of celebrities go there for jewelry (though that doesn't neccessarily mean they are good).

Another thing that kinda worries me is that all 3 stores I went to yesterday said I would have to leave the diamonds with them so they could build the setting around the stones. It makes sense, but I was hoping I could always have my eye on my diamonds, I've heard too many stone swapping stories.

 

[kcoursolle]

Hi there! I completely understand why you don''t want to buy from Robbins bros...Their service and prices are terrible. I''m glad you bought your stones from BN, they are probably better quality and more reasonably priced than non-online vendors. $600 from a jewelry district vendor seems too low to me, I would worry about the quality. I''ve been to both sarah leonard and XIV carats and I think that Sarah Leonard is reliable and high quality, but much too expensive. I would trust XIV carats and I think their quotes and prices are quite reasonable despite being located in beverly hills. As far as other vendors goes, I would add knox jewelers in MN to the list of good quality and reasonably priced custom creations. They also have some stock 3-stone settings you might want to check out at knoxjewelers.biz.

 

[cheethoe]

kcoursolle,
I like the classic 3 stone from Knox, but I dont know if the picture was taken at an angle but one of the side stone settings seems off from the other:

I think Robbins bros is a great place to start the engagement ring search, I definitely learned a lot from them when I first went (they sat me down for 3 hours teaching me about buying diamonds) and I took that base knowledge and learned a lot more from sites like pricescope. But after that initial visit I swear they used a Good cop/Bad cop sales technique on me on subsequent visits.


Btw, I''d like to thank everyone who''s responded, I definitely feel a lot less confused, and checking out these other jewelers is definitely good

 

[kcoursolle]

Date: 10/8/2006 4:22:37 PM
Author: cheethoe
kcoursolle,
I like the classic 3 stone from Knox, but I dont know if the picture was taken at an angle but one of the side stone settings seems off from the other:

I think Robbins bros is a great place to start the engagement ring search, I definitely learned a lot from them when I first went (they sat me down for 3 hours teaching me about buying diamonds) and I took that base knowledge and learned a lot more from sites like pricescope. But after that initial visit I swear they used a Good cop/Bad cop sales technique on me on subsequent visits.


Btw, I''d like to thank everyone who''s responded, I definitely feel a lot less confused, and checking out these other jewelers is definitely good

Hmm, I see what you mean here. One of them does look a bit farther spaced. It could be taken at an angle. I would trust brian knox though, he made me a beautiful RHR with excellent quality. Their custom design quotes are reasonable and well-done, but probably take a little longer than I''d like.

 

[mrssalvo]

Date: 10/8/2006 4:04:34 PM
Author: cheethoe

Another thing that kinda worries me is that all 3 stores I went to yesterday said I would have to leave the diamonds with them so they could build the setting around the stones. It makes sense, but I was hoping I could always have my eye on my diamonds, I''ve heard too many stone swapping stories.

most designers are going to want your stones in order to build the setting exactly around them. swapping stones really isn''t that common and I think with a trusted vendor you''d be fine

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Well, I know how you feel, but I had to leave my new diamond with a jeweler to set, too. It''s just really important to choose a jeweler with an excellent reputation. I really haven''t worried about leaving mine, but I will be looking at it with my loupe just to be sure it''s mine when I get it back!!!