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Getting impatient, what do I do?

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Aida1010

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I have a dilima, and I''m not sure what to do. I have been working with a private jeweler on a custom ring since February of this year. I was referred to him by a friend as it is her ex as she said he would be able to make me a beautiful ring for a very good price. He has worked with other friends of hers and they were very happy and received beautiful rings for the same price, if not better than fron online vendors, but custom made.

When i initially met with him we discussed what I wanted and he assured me he could work with my budget and give me the ring i desired. He started out by making my setting design. I posted pics on here in another thread. I didn''t understand why he didn''t start looking for my diamond first, but he wanted to get the design done. Well he completed the design in approximately April and I''ve been waiting on him to "source my stone" ever since. The problem is he is taking forever and is very slow to communicate with me. On the 6th of this month he emailed me a cushion that he found. My requirements are that it is an antique looking style with a culet. My total budget is $5,000 which i know is small. I know what I could afford if I bought off an online vendor, and like i said before he assured me we could work with my budget. He however has not given me a specific quote for my setting or band. When he emailed me a cert of hte diamond it was a modified brilliant with a 4 main pav. it''s GIA 1 C, 5.9 by 5.7, I color, VS2. I originally said that i was hoping for more of a squarish shape, but actually have come to really like ones up to a 1:2 as long as they are set east to west, as the chunky antique look is what is most important.

I emailed him back and said that i was hoping for something with a bit larger dimensions and that i have never seen a modified cushion like the one that he found, that actually has the chunky faceting. he didn''t say if it had a culet, didn''t say how much it was, or provide any other details. As the time has been dragging on I''ve been doing some looking on my own and found a GIA G colored 1.04 C that has the antique look that I want and with larger dimensions. It''s a little over my budget at 3,600 but if I bought it through the online vendor that i found it, I could get a similar setting to what I want, as well as the band, and be within my budget. After I sent him the email asking for more details regarding the diamond and voicing my concerns, I have not heard back. It''s been over two weeks and I''m really contemplating just purchasing this diamond that I found through the online vendor before someone else does. I''d be willing to still have him make my setting and set this diamond that I found, but understand if he can''t really make the setting and band that I want for around $1800. I can get similar setting from the online vendor for $1650 for both. I know that it won''t be as unique, but it is within my budget and there would be no sales tax either. Purchasing my settinig from the jeweler would also mean paying a good chunk of tax as I live in WA state.

What would you do?
 
Hi Aida,

At this point, I'd say buy the stone online, and get the setting through the vendor. He has really dragged this out, and is now being unresponsive. I'd say you've tried, but it's time to move on. I would simply email him thanking him for his time, but let him know this has not gone on in a timely manner, that you found another stone that's exactly what you want and feel it's best to work with that particular vendor on the setting. I would be leary to work with him anymore at this point personally.

Just curious, is it just the drawing of the setting he finished, or the actual setting?
 
Hi Aida,

It sounds like you and your jeweler should have a summit meeting to see if your specific expectations & timeline are in harmony - or whether you may need to part amicably and go elsewhere. This part of your post stuck out to me:


...I have not heard back. It's been over two weeks ...
Any business should grant the courtesy of a reply, even if the news is simply “still in progress.” Perhaps the email did not reach him? Either way it’s worth picking up the phone as a live conversation is in-order. If your summit is positive and you are confident going forward with him understanding your expectations I think it would be prudent for you to agree on a time-frame that’s reasonable to you both.

If you decide you need to go another direction it sounds like you’re finding settings similar to what you like in other places. While this offers options I would say your priority should be finding a jeweler experienced in sourcing antique cuts, especially since you have specific preferences. In that sense I would not encourage you to use online lists - find and interact with someone who has an established history of sourcing such stones; whether online or in traditional stores.
 
Hey Ellen, we have got to stop meeting like this. When I hit "reply" yours had not posted yet (again).
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Date: 6/24/2009 6:20:51 AM
Author: John Pollard
Hey Ellen, we have got to stop meeting like this. When I hit ''reply'' yours had not posted yet (again).
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Oh sure.
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As far as I know, he has not actually started casting my setting. I have not given him any money yet either. Here is a post with the pictures of the setting that he designed for me. We agreed on the last one I posted with the european shank and curved single prongs.

As far as trusting an online vendor, I do, as I have seen the actual photo of the diamond as it is through James Allen. I know I was really vague about what I wanted out of my diamond in this post, but I have been looking on my own and pricing cushions for a couple years. My best friend used to work for Blue Nile and I know the pros and cons of buying through a vendor, but to me if I can see a picture of the diamond, have a 30 day return time frime, and get a pricescope discount, I don''t see what''s to lose, except for the fact i''m not getting my unique custom setting.

I''m a really loyal person and want to give this guy business, but I''ve been really underwhelmed in the whole process. I don''t know if he''s going to be able to find me the kind of cushion I want, with the specs that I want, for the price that I want, and I don''t want to pass up this other diamond if in the end he just simply can''t. I guess I should call him and see what the deal is.
 
I would buy that stone elsewhere before it''s grabbed up by someone else. He''s not replying as he should.
 
I would let him know that you''ve found what you wanted elsewhere and that you''re moving on since he''s been so slow to respond. Then I would get the whole ring with the new vendor to make things easier. Without any price quotes you have no idea if your guy would suddenly claim the setting will cost you $3k now that you''re getting the stone elsewhere, so I''d do the whole thing with someone else assuming you are reasonably happy with the stock setting you''d get.

IMO, he should have done the right thing--worked diligently to find you a stone--without you having to threaten to go elsewhere, so I wouldn''t do this as a test, merely as a way to be upfront with him and move on. However, if you do still want to work with him, you might tell him that you are prepared to move on but will give him until Friday to suggest a suitable stone and provide all the necessary info on it. Alternately, you could tell him you''re moving on but wait a few days to see if he says, "But wait! I have the perfect stone . . ." Personally, though, I''d just cut the ties and move on. You snooze, you lose!
 
Date: 6/24/2009 8:46:50 AM
Author: atroop711
I would buy that stone elsewhere before it's grabbed up by someone else. He's not replying as he should.

Ditto. Get the stone for sure so you don't lose it to someone else. I looked at your other post; your jeweler looks like he does quality work and I love your design. Could you afford the JA stone, go ahead with the engagement ring setting from your jeweler (but only with strict timelines for completion, in writing!!), and then buy your wedding band online?

I understand about the sales tax, though, and unless you really loooooove this setting and really want the custom design, I would thank this guy for his time, give him the reason you're moving on, and purchase your rings and the diamond from JA.
 
hi aida :)

in this economic climate, he could well be having cash flow issues. i''d buy the stone you like, move on and be grateful you didn''t lose any money on this exchange. there''s a lot of people losing money these days with vendors going out of business, and the jewelry industry has got to be hit hard.

just a thought.
 
It sounds like your local jeweler either has something going on in his life that is preventing him from providing you with the level of service you deserve, or he doesn''t really want or need your business. If you''ve found a diamond that you like, why not purchase it? There are plenty of excellent custom jewelers available online who are capable of producing the ring for you in a reasonable amount of time. I think you''ve given your local jeweler ample opportunity to work with you...
 
buy it online, and then shoot off an email let him know you''ve found something "exactly" what you wanted and couldn''t pass up the offer, at least it still is a nice response to his lack of response time.
 
Thanks for your imput guys. I sent him an email and said i found a diamond that is pretty much perfect for what i want and that i do have around $2,000 left over in my budget for my setting and band. I basically said that I would like to hear back from him before I make my decision to go through with this purchase just to make sure he doesn''t have something going on on his end that I don''t know about, and that if I go ahead with this purchase I would still like to purchase my setting and band from him, if my budget is enough to do so. I said if not that i would just go through the online vendor and that I hoped he understood where I''m coming from as I am just trying to look out for my best interest.

As soon as I have made an official desicion I will let you all know! I am eager to see what others think of this diamond that I have found.
 
Hey!!! Just curious but what was that setting you found from a online dealer that was similar to what you wanted? Can you post a link as I''m looking for a setting for my cushion too
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I love your setting that you posted up!!! It''s beautiful!
 
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