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Custom Halo Ring - best vendor for delicate style halo?

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Pr3tty_kitty

Rough_Rock
Joined
Dec 28, 2014
Messages
6
Hello everyone :)

I've been on the search for an e-ring that I would absolutely love. I recently found amazing photos on here of Victor Canera's Emilya round halo and fell in love! Unfortunately, (1) he is a bit pricier than I can afford, and (2) as a CA resident, there would be an extra 9% sales tax. :(( So I am hoping to make a custom ring similar to VC's Emilya.

Who do you think would be the best vendor in making this style of e-ring but with a more affordable price? My maximum budget is around $9k and I am trying to get a center diamond about 1ct. I've already reached out to Quest Jewelers and Engagement Rings Direct after reading some past posts on their quality of custom halos. Any advice would be very welcome!! Thank you in advanced :wavey:
 
Chiming in as I got quotes from about 6 different vendors, and the pricing went from about 2500 to 6000! I ended up spending more on my center stone and so had my local jeweler in DTLA make my setting- it isn't a VC but I went into it with the proper expectations and was happy with it for the price (around 1700). I guess the bottom line is you can spend a little or a lot, but how much of your overall budget do you want to take up on the setting? For some people it is totally worth it to spend half their budget, for others (and I fall in this camp) it wasn't.

Not sure if that was the kind of advice you were looking for...lol.
 
I think BE (formerly ERD) do the best cast HW style halo.
 
The most delicate halo will be handforged, in particular by the PS favourites like VC, SK, Maytal, LM and the like. With that level of delicacy and workmanship comes the hefty price tag. So far, the only CAD/cast work I've seen that comes close are those done by ERD/BE, which will run you in the $3K range (half the price of handforged).
 
I'd suggest contacting Victor first, tell him your total price range and ask him for suggestions for the stone and ring - he discounts the setting if you buy both which is why I am suggesting this as the first option. If there is nothing in your price range then I agree with the others Brilliantly Engaged would be my next choice.
 
Chrono|1422023143|3820847 said:
The most delicate halo will be handforged, in particular by the PS favourites like VC, SK, Maytal, LM and the like. With that level of delicacy and workmanship comes the hefty price tag. So far, the only CAD/cast work I've seen that comes close are those done by ERD/BE, which will run you in the $3K range (half the price of handforged).
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Speaking from the quotes I have received for an Emilya from VC, it hasn't gone up to $6K. I am I am guessing that $3K would be about 70%ish of the price. There are ways to manage the cost a bit. You could opt for no melee on the shank, or no melee on the prongs. Those options would affect the price. If you went with a split shank like Anne Marie or double shank like Donna, the price would be higher. Just makes sense. But by how much, only a quote from VC could confirm that. It's kind of like a menu. Hold this. Add this.

I think you could just talk to VC, and be upfront with him saying that you have a budget of $xxx, and what is most important to you so you can figure out what are must haves and what are nice to haves.

I guess if you're paying up to $3K, it would be at least worth the effort to ask VC.

I would also ask Caysie Van Bebber. I have no idea of her prices for a halo, but she will do cast pieces, and my understanding is that her prices are lower than the handforgers, all else being equal. Just look up her pieces here, and you will see how happy the PSers have been with her work. She is super nice too. Doesn't hurt to ask.
 
The same can be said for the CAD/cast version. It can be lessened by removing the melees from the shank, removing melees from the prongs, etc. When comparing apples to apples, it is significantly higher based on past quotations for my project, some almost doubling in price. I checked out CvB's website and was frankly stunned by the price.
 
LLJsmom|1422034961|3820918 said:
I would also ask Caysie Van Bebber. I have no idea of her prices for a halo, but she will do cast pieces, and my understanding is that her prices are lower than the handforgers, all else being equal. Just look up her pieces here, and you will see how happy the PSers have been with her work. She is super nice too. Doesn't hurt to ask.
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One thing to keep is mind is CvB charges a $400 design fee basically before you even get a quote for what the total project might be.
 
Thank you everyone for your helpful advice!! I did speak with Chris at BE/ERD just now and he was very nice. He gave me an initial quote for $2300 in 18K white gold. He also sent me youtube links which was very useful. :D

littleweight – congratulations on your beautiful halo! :love:

arkieb1 and LLJsmom– Thanks for the suggestions. I will definitely try and contact VC :)
 
I worked with Chris at BE/ERD and had a wonderful experience - couldn't be happier with my ring

img_6724.jpg
 
momhappy|1422149812|3821628 said:
I worked with Chris at BE/ERD and had a wonderful experience - couldn't be happier with my ring
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+1
 
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