ERD vs LM confusion

[sparklyforever]

I have been lurking for a while now - and after researching these forums I have a few questions for you all!

I am leaning towards a three stone ring.
maybe with the sides being half moons...
double prong platinum...
and i see this basic setting at ERD and LM... will there be a significant quality and design difference between the two?
like the R841 setting from LM for reference...
or the
Debbie [SKU : 37-5060G-PL-E] from ERD

would you go with one versus the other with this type of basic setting? i would rather just deal with ERD for the whole thing - but if the LM is superior... well - i like quality......

as well - chances are that the center stone will be less than 1 carat....

Thanks - would appreciate any advice.

 

[mrssalvo]

Leon''s settings are handmade whereas ERD are cast. There are pro''s and cons to each method but I''d choose a handmade ring from a skilled bench like Leon''s over a cast piece if budget isn''t a huge issue or if pricing is close. I''d get quotes from both. If there''s a huge difference in price then for a simple 3 stone setting mark can still do a beautiful job.

 

[sparklyforever]

i am really not understanding then the difference between cast and hand.
i understand molds are made........ wouldn''t Leon do that as well?

what also confuses me... is Leon picks out the side stones i believe correct? no matter what... does he not also secure the center stones? do people get the stone from mark as he is a gemologist - and Leon is not?

do i have this correct?

 

[mrssalvo]

Date: 1/28/2010 11:29:45 AM
Author: sparklyforever
i am really not understanding then the difference between cast and hand.

i understand molds are made........ wouldn''t Leon do that as well?


what also confuses me... is Leon picks out the side stones i believe correct? no matter what... does he not also secure the center stones? do people get the stone from mark as he is a gemologist - and Leon is not?


do i have this correct?

Most people do send Leon their own center stone and let him pick the sidestones. he can however get center stones and the few that I''ve seen here that are owned by Pricescopers are amazing. I think a lot of pricescopers prefer to find their own stone and Leon isn''t a diamond vendor per se.

Here is a thread that helps explain some of the differences between rings that are handmade and cast:


https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/differences-in-pave-rings-that-are-handmade-vs-cast.41084/

 

[sparklyforever]

thanks MrsSalvo - i am going to read thru that when i am not at work
i also want to throw this out there....
quality is priority
i would prefer VS1 or VS2... D to H color... class 1 or 2 in cut.. excellent to VG polish, etc.......

if i am looking for a center stone around .90 or as big as i can get.... not decided on shape yet.
and two side stones hopefully cushion? (not the biggest fan of baguettes)
platinum -
LM - with the basic type of setting i am thinking about above....
can this realistically be done for absolutely no more than 10K?
i don''t have an understanding of how much LM would charge for the setting and side stones... at all...
i figure the center will end up about 5K?
could the side stones and setting be another 5K?
would be happy to come in less on this.....

thank you very much for your help.

 

[mrssalvo]

If you are wanting cushion sidestones than i think you might want to consider a cushion center was well. You should be able to find a 1 carat cushion with your spec preferences and get a leon setting with the sides for under 10K.

here''s a picture of Moremoremore''s cushion 3 stone ring:

 

[ChunkyCushionLover]

Date: 1/28/2010 11:29:45 AM
Author: sparklyforever
i am really not understanding then the difference between cast and hand.
i understand molds are made........ wouldn''t Leon do that as well?

what also confuses me... is Leon picks out the side stones i believe correct? no matter what... does he not also secure the center stones? do people get the stone from mark as he is a gemologist - and Leon is not?

do i have this correct?

For a design with no pave work (diamonds in the shank) the differences between cast and handmade are minimal. Even if the pieces are cast they are still welded together by hand so the processes are qutie similar. I wouldn''t worry about the process so much as the style. With Leon you are paying for minimal metal (he usually uses thinner pieces) and smooth clean lines and delicate claw prongs. His rings have a refined, delicate, expensive look to them you just won''t match with a CAD/CAM designer like ERD, it might be worth it for you to visit him and Mark to see samples, they work close to each other in Manhatten. The look of the ring is also very dependant on how thick you want the shank to be, Leon''s rings are often ~2mm or thinner and are preferred by those who want this delicate look, if you want more substantial you may not justify the added expense of using him.

You will pay roughly $500 - $1500 more for Leon to do this ring versus a CAD/CAM person depending upon how intricate you want to make the design.

While Leon''s settings are fantastic i would not let Leon pick your centre stone, he is a fantastic benchman but his knowledge of diamond selection is much more limited as it is not his area of expertise. Leon can pick sidestones and I suggest you let him do that, as its more about the look and matching the centre than the light performance of each individual sidestone. You have the option to source your own but I don''t think he is making much of a markup on the sidestones(at least he says he doesn''t) so for both aesthetic and cost reasons I would use him for the sides.

Good-Luck,
CCl

 

[ChunkyCushionLover]

Date: 1/28/2010 9:49:28 AM
Author:sparklyforever
I have been lurking for a while now - and after researching these forums I have a few questions for you all!

I am leaning towards a three stone ring.
maybe with the sides being half moons...
double prong platinum...
and i see this basic setting at ERD and LM... will there be a significant quality and design difference between the two?
like the R841 setting from LM for reference...
or the
Debbie [SKU : 37-5060G-PL-E] from ERD

would you go with one versus the other with this type of basic setting? i would rather just deal with ERD for the whole thing - but if the LM is superior... well - i like quality......

as well - chances are that the center stone will be less than 1 carat....

Thanks - would appreciate any advice.

The first ring from ERD looks like a Cushion Brilliant or Radiant with Half Moon Sidestones its very hard to tell from the moving image.
The LM ring is an Emerald cut(step cut) with Emecerald Cut or Trapezoid side stones.

There is a big difference between step cut (like emerald cut and those trapezoids) and brilliant cuts like the half moons and the centre in the ERD ring. I strongly suggest you look at rings in person and decide a lot more about the diamonds before you consider the setting.

 

[Dreamer_D]

I just want to add that with a 1ct center, the half moons would be *very* tiny to get the proportions right. Too tiny I think.

 

[sparklyforever]

i wasn''t suggesting the stones so much as the setting - i am sure there is a name for this but i dont'' know what it is.. what i mean is a simple platnimum band that holds the three stones with double prongs for the center stone...
with the stones flush together...
i wish i knew how to refer to it...

 

[sparklyforever]

if the half moons don''t seem right - would there be something else you would suggest?
i flip flop between oval center, radiant square, and cushion.....
i was into a RB with two pears for a while - but i think i am more fond of the side stones have a flush continuing look from the center stone... like it all continues like one big stone...

also some one had a beautiful posting on here - with cadillac side stones.. but i wasn''t understanding was cadillac the shape of the side stone or the shape of it along with the facets?

 

[mrssalvo]

i would suggest going to a jewelry store that carries a ton of settings to see which you prefer in person. the giant pics of rings really can make things look totally different than they do in real life. Even if you can get to Tiffany''s where they will have a few 3 stone settings so you can get an idea.