Custom Setting Design Price - Online vs. Brick and Mortar

[sasapurdue]

I've searched for an answer on the forum but didn't find it - so please forgive if this has already been asked...

My boyfriend just bought a loose diamond on JamesAllen.com . Compared to retail cost plus tax he saved over $2K going this route.

My question is this - are there also savings to be had by working with someone like JamesAllen.com to create a custom setting? He got an estimate from a local jeweler on the setting he wants to have made (he's going to surprise me with that part of the ring ) - we both thought the estimate seemed crazy expensive for a setting!

Let me know your thoughts...

 

[Christina...]

Re: Custom Setting Design Price - Online vs. Brick and Morta

Without knowing the details of the setting it's difficult to say. I think that your best bet is to contact several local vendors and online vendors, compare workmanship and pricing and make a decision based on your findings.

 

[sasapurdue]

Re: Custom Setting Design Price - Online vs. Brick and Morta

Ok, thank you.

 

[SB621]

Re: Custom Setting Design Price - Online vs. Brick and Morta

Make sure you see samples of their work if possible. The most obvious example is pave. Lots of jewelers do it but only a hand full do it well. So besides comparing pricing try to see if that designer/ vendor has something similar for the look you are going for.

 

[sasapurdue]

Re: Custom Setting Design Price - Online vs. Brick and Morta

Thank you for posting that! We are going with a pave setting, so that's great to know. I appreciate it.