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Custom WAX Cost???

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Patsmom

Rough_Rock
Joined
Sep 20, 2006
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Hi everyone,

I was wondering if anybody could comment on what the cost would be for a custom ring wax for a channel set wedding band to hold 6 stones, and the same exact setting to mount a head for the center stone. This would be done in white gold with all the stones coming out of my original band and e-ring.

I priced what it would cost to have a custom channel set band 6 stones .20 each (stones belong to me) and an additional channel set band to accomodate 6 stones and the head for an oval. All the stones are being taken out of my original band and e-ring and it is all to be done in white gold. The price I got was $1,700 for the metal and the setting of the stones. To me that price seems very high, but I have never had a custom ring done before and have not had up ring ever upgraded. My rings in question are the ones in my avatar.

The store wants $700 up front for the wax with two revisions allowed and then 50 percent upon approval of the wax before actually setting the stones.

Thanks in advance to everybody!
 
I think the price and service could vary as they could with everything else in life.
Like coke in a supermarket - chill it yourself - to a fine restaurant - where it should feel great for the $$$''s

I suspect though - if the store has rules - 2 try''s and your out - then they may not have a fine service ethos.

Our policy in my store is the customer is right - and if they are wrong we have to discover how to make them get the right thing and feel like they made the decison themselves. But if you are not happy then it is our problem because you will tell a dozen other clients.

In general though - working directly with a jeweller is not as good as working with a good intuitive and stylish salesperson with design ability.
 
What I'm getting from your post is that you are basically trying to make two straight channel-set bands with one having an oval head set in the middle of one (peg-head style) all using your stones?

In this case $1700 sounds a little high, but not too bad for a retail store. The key is that they give you two revisions on the wax, which is not all that common. Many stores will charge you for each wax individually (often $300-$400 each). It sounds like the store in question is just charging a little more up-front to cover their costs in case it needs adjustments. The key to me would be the quality of their work and whether it is worth the cost to you.


Paul, G.J.G
www.dercodiamonds.com


Edit: After re-reading the post, are they actually charging $1700 plus $700 for the wax? If that is the case, then it is indeed overpriced in my opinion.
 
two revisions? forget it - I wouldn''t go there... as long as it''s in wax the should continualy work to get it perfect even if i is more than 2 revisions. where I went the first designer went from not right to worse to downright bad so there''s my revisions! Now I''m out 700 bucks for that? I think not!!
 
I''m curious yet confused on the design (and bummed cause I love your current set but I won''t rub it in lol) so you have 11 smaller stones... are you making two or three rings? how many are going on each?
 
Date: 10/24/2006 12:12:17 AM
Author: Garry H (Cut Nut)

In general though - working directly with a jeweller is not as good as working with a good intuitive and stylish salesperson with design ability.
How right!

Only, training the salesperson to this level is hard work and they are rare.
 
Date: 10/24/2006 3:17:06 AM
Author: Iiro

Date: 10/24/2006 12:12:17 AM
Author: Garry H (Cut Nut)

In general though - working directly with a jeweller is not as good as working with a good intuitive and stylish salesperson with design ability.
How right!

Only, training the salesperson to this level is hard work and they are rare.
Aha! Yes. But it is achievable, where as finding a craftsperson and enhamcing the design and service qualities to the same level is rare. I have them - but they are rare. Where as i have and have had many great saleperson designers who have great empathy and style.

A great custom designer should not impose their ego onto the design - they should have different looks for different people.
 
As my own collection is rather limited, I have made decison to enter into 3D world. But, I dont think we can charge our customer anything for a rendered picture. To make a custom wax by laser stereolithography costs us 70-110 USD+VAT per piece and this will be chargerd if customer wants to see it before he/she makes decision to continue with the project.
 
Patsmom''s wax is probaply produced/carved/refined by different method. I cant say anything for the price she is quoted.
 

That’s not an inexpensive store and you can probably find a lower price elsewhere if you shop but the process of custom making a ring involves a fair amount more than just carving a wax. As Garry points out, the contribution of the sales person to the process can actually be considerable. It’s a far less painful transaction if everyone gets it right the first time.


Asking for a deposit before beginning work is entirely reasonable and appropriate.


Neil Beaty
GG(GIA) ICGA(AGS) NAJA
Professional Appraisals in Denver
 
Thanks for all your comments.

Path914, I am looking to get two exact channel set bands and they told me that they would make one mold and would make two bands. The only difference would be that one band would have a peg head, as you said, in place for my oval. So right off the bat I am saying that they are only making one band in wax and not two so the cost should be cheaper.

I was actually a little reluctant when the salesperson said that only 2 revisions can be done without costing me any additional money and she she went and got the bench person who came out and explained the whole process all over again along with the 2 revision policy.

The total cost of the ring was to be 1,600 to 1,700 including the deposit for the wax. I still think it is high and I think I am going to shop around.

My rings were purchased originally from the jewelers building in Boston and they will take them back on trade, but with sentimental value against me, I wanted to keep the stones.

Cehra, I havent forget how you feel and in the end you may win out!!!!
 
hi patsmom.

I would be uncomfortable with the 2 revisions policy as well. the deposit I wouldn''t mind at all about as long as it''s going to toward the final cost of the ring and they aren''t trying to charge you $700 just to make the wax. Honestly, I''m not a senitmental ring gal at all but I read your story in another thread and what your hubby did is so sweet I vote for keeping your current set as is and resetting the center stone into a whole new setting. you could put a colored stone or something else in your original set and keep it. Then you could by a nice wedding set already made w/out necessarily having to go custom. Just my very humble .02
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Date: 10/24/2006 10:19:15 AM
Author: Patsmom
Thanks for all your comments.

Path914, I am looking to get two exact channel set bands and they told me that they would make one mold and would make two bands. The only difference would be that one band would have a peg head, as you said, in place for my oval. So right off the bat I am saying that they are only making one band in wax and not two so the cost should be cheaper.
The two bands will still be different and if they''re using the wax for casting they''ll need two anyway. I still don''t understand the stone orientation... if you have 5 on one ring and 4 on another that leaves a pair of earrings!!

I was actually a little reluctant when the salesperson said that only 2 revisions can be done without costing me any additional money and she she went and got the bench person who came out and explained the whole process all over again along with the 2 revision policy.

The total cost of the ring was to be 1,600 to 1,700 including the deposit for the wax. I still think it is high and I think I am going to shop around.

My rings were purchased originally from the jewelers building in Boston and they will take them back on trade, but with sentimental value against me, I wanted to keep the stones.

Cehra, I havent forget how you feel and in the end you may win out!!!!
I have my opinions on the matter but how I feel really is irrelevant - YOU are the one who needs to win here!!
 
Hi Cehra, I know I am the one to win in the long run, but I do agree with your opinion and as such I am so torn both ways.

The way they explained the configuration of the rings, it would be 5 stones channel set for the band, the e-ring would have 2 channel set on both sides and the peg head in the center so that all stones lined up. That would leave me with one .20 pointer for something. The ring would be 8 mm in total for the 2 rings to compensate for the large .20 stones, which they tell me is a bit unusual in a wedding band and e-ring, and that scares me too that it might be too bulky. Honestly, the more I look into things, the more I want to keep things the same.

Not sure what I would do. I have diamond earrings already and my second holes closed, but I do have nieces so who knows.

Mrssalvo, I appreciate your honesty and have read your suggestion before about the colored stone in the center. I do agree that would look great - like a sapphire or ruby to compliment the diamonds. I do like a simple tiffany style ring and I think my oval would look good that way too. I will keep all posted as I get more opinions from jewelers and then try to decide.

Thanks all
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