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Custom ring in Downtown Los Angeles Jewelry District

ellebelle

ellebelle

Shiny_Rock
Joined
May 23, 2018
Messages
157
Hi there,
After reading through these forums for a weeks, I finally got brave enough to post. Currently, my boyfriend and I (read: mostly me) are designing my sapphire engagement ring. I'm the kind of person who has to research everything before a big decision like this but once we get past the brainstorming stage I'm passing the reins to my boyfriend to execute the design.

I have a pretty clear idea of features I want in my sapphire and setting. The stone will be a peachy/champagne color in a pear shape. The setting will be a low set cathedral halo with some petal details in the gallery. Also the halo will have smaller stones on the top half that gradually get larger towards the bottom. The band will have stones midway. I can attach inspiration pictures if that helps...

Ok, here's where I need help...
I need some help with the details of the pave setting. I dont like when the side of the ring has a scalloped edge where the metal dips around each stone like in fishtail pave. I think what I need is channel or bead and bright? Does bead and bright have to have miligrain details or can the "walls" be plain? I'm also concerned will these styles make the setting look clunky or can it be done in a thin delicate way? I like the streamline look of these setting but sometimes the channel walls are too thick for my taste. Also I work in a hospital so I want a very secure setting.

My next concern is what gem dealer/jeweler I should go with. We live near DTLA and have already gone window shopping a few times for research. Our budget is 1500 so I'm looking to stretch that as far as it can go. I already know the color I'm looking for falls in the pricey padparadscha category so I'm leaning towards a lab created stone from Chatham. I've spoken with Roxbury Jewelers and they are official vendors for Chatham. He agreed to find us some natural options and order a few options from Chatham for comparison. I've also looked online and found Chatham stones at Africagems for a reasonable price. Is it better to buy online and hope its the right color or go with a vendor who can pull a few options before making a decision?

For the custom setting, everyone here seems to rave about David Klass, but would a setting from him be in my budget? How much of my budget would I need to put towards a setting from him? What other jewelers should I be considering in my budget? I've also heard good things about Capri Jewelry.

Ok, that was a lot for a first post! Thanks for sticking with me. Looking forward to your advice through all this..
 
Is $1500 the whole budget? Stone and mounting?
 
Yes, that's the full budget. Any advice on how I should divided it?
 
I don’t know if you could get a halo setting done for under 1k, you might want to see what type of setting you could get for say $600-700? Maybe a thicker sort of faceted bezel that could sort of be like a metal bezel?
 
A diamond halo setting with diamonds half way down the shank will eat your budget.

Please do post your inspiration photos. Maybe you can still get a center stone now, but in a plain solitaire type setting and get the halo later.
 
I don't know much about sapphires - you might want to start a thread in the colored stone section fo help finding a sapphire. That said, I am sorry but I don't think that your budget will accommodate the stone and the type of setting that you are looking for.

Congratulations on your engagement!
 
^^but yah David Klass right there in LA. He might be able to source you a stone too. Or spinel?
 
Unfortunately, your budget isn't adequate for what you are describing. You are describing a highly customized setting; that alone could be $1500. I think you need to reevaluate your priorities.
 
Ok wow, thanks for all the quick responds. Guess I have some thinking to go over..
Well, here are the inspiration pictures anyway..
It would be mostly the design of this ring (minus the wedding band)
il_570xN.1430873734_5wjw.jpg
But the stone in the halo would slightly increase in size like this one...
9x6_pear_moiss_14kr_dia_halo_top_1024x1024.jpg

ringo865 said:
A diamond halo setting with diamonds half way down the shank will eat your budget.

Please do post your inspiration photos. Maybe you can still get a center stone now, but in a plain solitaire type setting and get the halo later.
Click to expand...

Would it be more doable if the halo was moissanite? Also we are not in any hurry to get the ring completed so we will probably get the stone in the next few months and then eventually get the setting. I just personally don't want a super expensive ring. (Shocking, I know). I've seen halos in showrooms that were in the 1000-1200 range, and I was told they could be customized. Was I misled?
 
ac117 said:
No ideas on cost of the stones, but think a halo would be doable if you didn't have diamonds down the shank:
Click to expand...

Alright, if I had to lose a feature it would definitely be the shank diamonds. How are the quality of James Allen setting vs whats available in the jewelry district?
 
JA settings are nice, they go through quality control and are a good value for what you get. I believe their halo settings are cast to fit the stone, so there's less of a gap.

Another option is asking David Klass how much the same setting would be for him to make. Or, asking if he could get this Stuller setting (but you'd have to make sure the center stone you get is a standard size or very close to it):
https://www.stuller.com/products/bu...dationSource=CategoryBrowse#/mounting-options
https://www.stuller.com/products/bu...dationSource=CategoryBrowse#/mounting-options
 
ohh I like that second one. It has the petal detail I'm looking for. I know that Chatham stones are calibrated so that should allow it to fit in a pre-made halo, right?
And thank you for your help, I was beginning to think all hope was lost of getting the details I wanted. So if I were to ask DK to make the same setting, would it be possible to add those larger stones to the halo or is that pushing it too far?
 
I’d just talk to him and see what he can do within your budget. Personally I think that Chatham stones are kind of expensive for what they are? I think there are other perfectly nice synthetics out there. Peachy/champagne doesn’t sound exactly pad to me, so you may be able to find some cost savings there since you aren’t looking for a pad proper. However lots of peachy sapphires these days are getting labeled “pad” for the price premium even though they are really not. Definitely start a thread in the colored stone section to get further advice on the stone. I don’t think we’re allowed to talk about synthetics, but it’ll be useful to see what they say in terms of finding your stone and options there.
 
leukolenos said:
I’d just talk to him and see what he can do within your budget. Personally I think that Chatham stones are kind of expensive for what they are? I think there are other perfectly nice synthetics out there. Peachy/champagne doesn’t sound exactly pad to me, so you may be able to find some cost savings there since you aren’t looking for a pad proper. However lots of peachy sapphires these days are getting labeled “pad” for the price premium even though they are really not. Definitely start a thread in the colored stone section to get further advice on the stone. I don’t think we’re allowed to talk about synthetics, but it’ll be useful to see what they say in terms of finding your stone and options there.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice. I did some window shopping for naturals and noticed the color spectrum for pad was quite large. But as soon as they threw out the word pad, the price went up.
I did start a thread in the colored stone section but I'm starting to sense there is a taboo against synthetics? I'm new to all this. But if there are other synthetics I should consider, would you know which ones?
 
I responded over on your CS thread.
https://www.pricescope.com/communit...al-jeweler-or-africagems.241007/#post-4345973

p.s. It's not that talking about synthetics are 'taboo' just that each of the boards here has a specific focus and a set of user-terms we agree to. On this Board (RockyTalky) we can certainly help you with the setting, custom vendors and post lots of potential stock of inspiration options. The Colored Stone board can help find natural sapphires (heated allowed). The Fabulous Fashion board (linked above) can help with synthetics. Many of us post on all of the boards, but within their specific focus.
 
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Contact EVS Designs. Eric is based out of Los Angeles and is one of the most helpful individuals I've had the pleasure of interacting with. I'm sure he could make something work within your budget, although it would probably be with a moissanite or Sapphire center Stone.

Link to his storefront:
http://www.evsdesigns.store/index.html

And his Etsy storefront:
https://www.etsy.com/no-en/shop/EVSdesign
 
ellebelle said:
ohh I like that second one. It has the petal detail I'm looking for. I know that Chatham stones are calibrated so that should allow it to fit in a pre-made halo, right?
And thank you for your help, I was beginning to think all hope was lost of getting the details I wanted. So if I were to ask DK to make the same setting, would it be possible to add those larger stones to the halo or is that pushing it too far?
Click to expand...

Don't let some folks discourage you - there's something beautiful for EVERY budget and if anyone could find it, it's the PS group!

I have no idea about DK, you'll need to talk it out with him. I know he's reasonable but not sure what he'll be able to do that will leave you with enough room for your center stone.

I'm not a colored stone person, but have you considered morganite or kunzite? Think both of those come in a peachy/pinkish color.
 
Helli everyone and thank you all for the advice and links and vendors to check out. I'm on lunch break and don't have time to fully respond to everything but I'll do that tonight.
I just wanted to throw out there that my boyfriend got us an appt with David Klass for tomorrow afternoon. Are there any other questions or things I should think about before a consultation?
 
ellebelle said:
Helli everyone and thank you all for the advice and links and vendors to check out. I'm on lunch break and don't have time to fully respond to everything but I'll do that tonight.
I just wanted to throw out there that my boyfriend got us an appt with David Klass for tomorrow afternoon. Are there any other questions or things I should think about before a consultation?
Click to expand...

Take pictures of the inspiration piece and just have an honest conversation with them about what you are trying to achieve, etc. I'd ask for the farm to start with and then back down my wish list as appropriate to meet your budget. My guess is they will have ideas how to make the ring more economical.
 
ac117 said:
I'm not a colored stone person, but have you considered morganite or kunzite? Think both of those come in a peachy/pinkish color.
Click to expand...
I really want to stay with sapphire since its my birthstone. I love the colors found in morganite but have heard stories of it going dull in a few years from the softness.

sledge said:
Several folks here know I've been on quite the journey to get a setting for my girl. DK offered a really great solution between price & quality. I think it's worth a conversation to find out for sure.

FYI, here is another pre-made setting from Stuller.

https://www.stuller.com/products/12...yId=22151&recommendationSource=CategoryBrowse
Click to expand...
Thank you for that reassurance. I would hate to waste his time if there was nothing he could do within my budget. Helped me make the decision to actually reach out to him. And that setting is really nice, one of my favorites from Stuller's inventory.
 
Ok, so I went through david's gallery on instagram and found a ring that looks almost identical to one of my inspiration rings! Is it still concerconsidered custom to ask him to recreate a ring he already designed? Ideally I'd still add a few things to this one but its a really good start...
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bbw1oJHl8YM/?hl=en&taken-by=davidklassjewelry

I really like the details under the stone on this one:
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bat9KswFQLC/?hl=en&taken-by=davidklassjewelry

Also any advice on determining the right amount of finger coverage? I have size 5 fingers, I'm under 5ft tall and usually wear dainty jewelry. I think 8x5 is a comfortable size for me and I like the proportions of this ratio best. But how do I know when its just right?
 
ellebelle said:
Ok, so I went through david's gallery on instagram and found a ring that looks almost identical to one of my inspiration rings! Is it still concerconsidered custom to ask him to recreate a ring he already designed? Ideally I'd still add a few things to this one but its a really good start...
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bbw1oJHl8YM/?hl=en&taken-by=davidklassjewelry

I really like the details under the stone on this one:
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bat9KswFQLC/?hl=en&taken-by=davidklassjewelry

Also any advice on determining the right amount of finger coverage? I have size 5 fingers, I'm under 5ft tall and usually wear dainty jewelry. I think 8x5 is a comfortable size for me and I like the proportions of this ratio best. But how do I know when its just right?
Click to expand...
How much coverage you want is really personal. Here's a few inspirations.

Here's an 8x5 stone with a narrow halo on a size 5.5.

upload_2018-5-25_15-39-7.png

9x5 stone on 5.5 (so, this would be the coverage with a .5 mm wider halo all around the 8x5 mm)
upload_2018-5-25_15-37-43.png
upload_2018-5-25_15-38-36.png

If you customize the setting with a graduated halo, you'll have a bit more coverage on the rounded end like the blue sapphire above.

A variation on the halo you posted that does not graduate the stones. I think the edges look pretty and floral. I also like the two-tones metal look here.

upload_2018-5-25_15-41-38.png
upload_2018-5-25_15-42-9.png

This vendor has Chatham stones too. You'd just have to ask for the price. Here is the above-setting.
https://fireandbrilliance.com/produ...diamonds-ring-1-40-cttw?variant=7004116156444
 

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Ohh thank you for such pretty inspirations. We window shopped al ittle more and I think 8x5 is just the right size. I like the L/W ratio and the coverage is nice. If the diamond pear setting is your ring, do you know the mm of the halo and band? I really like the proportions of this one to the center stone.
 
Nihaojewelry said:
Hello, I recommend that https://www.nihaojewelry.com/fashion-jewelry/wedding-jewelry, hope you can get inspiration from this.:D
Click to expand...

Hello,

Welcome to the forum.

Firstly @ellebelle went through a very long process following this starting thread and now has an absolutely glorious engagement ring.

Secondly as you look to be a trade member you need to register as such on the forum and then read the forum rules about trades people and the advertising of your own products and company. :)

Have a great day!
 
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