Expert craftsmanship for custom setting in So. Florida

[CJ2008]

Hi everyone,

I'm hoping to get some guidance on finding a designer for a custom setting in South Florida. I am looking for a plain solitaire design in platinum (I absolutely love the Lucida setting from Tiffany's) -- so more important than the designer being creative, I want someone experienced, extremely detail oriented, will understand I'll want to know exactly what materials they're mixing in with the platinum and in what proportions, and who will make sure every crook and cranny of that setting will be polished to perfection. So far, I have not seen a setting that has matched Tiffany's in terms of this. What has kept me from just going for a Lucida is knowing that I can get a bigger (and most likely better) stone at a vendor like GOG. However, I do realize that getting a stone separate from the setting creates its own set of challenges. Although I don't have the stone yet, and that has felt overwhelming as well, I feel it will be easier than finding the setting.

Any ideas on how to find someone I can trust to produce an exquisite and simple setting? Or other ideas?

On a related topic, what do you guys think of the Ingwer quality? A jeweler I went to see this weekend didn't have any in stock but told me they are the best with platinum, and that they have a setting very similar to the Lucida. Should I bother getting this setting in or based on what I've said, the setting probably won't meet my expectations?

ClaudinaM

 

[JulieN]

mm, well, sounds a bit like reinventing the wheel to me, and I''d just get a Vatche.

But if you want a more custom piece, sounds like Mark Morrell is your man?

 

[CJ2008]

Thanks, JulieN. I know it''s rumored that Vatche makes the settings for Tiffany...but in my opinion, and from what I remember (I saw Vatche settings a couple of months back) it didn''t match the Tiffany in style or polish. I''ve seen many replicas but they''re lacking one way or another. If I found someone I could trust perhaps I would add a little touch to make it more "mine" and customized...and yes, MM does beautiful work. I was just hoping to find someone I can visit personally.