Harry Winston original vs replicas in London/New York

[duckwebber]

Hi i am new to this forum and wow, so much useful information here! I really hope to get some help on a couple of queries. I am totally in love with the Harry Winston classic round brilliant with tapered baguettes for my engagement ring. For a 1.31c, F/VVS1, we were quoted £20,000 in HW London, where we are based. Looking through afew threads here, it sounds like the prices for a similar ring in Harry Winston New York is cheaper? Does anyone know if HW prices are different across its different country locations? I also considered getting a jeweller to replicate the design, however I do not want the workmanship to be compromised. I dont mind not having the HW brand to get better value for money but will not want to lose the delicate features of the HW design (the split prong/claw in particular which is so delicate!) . I hear Leon Mege in New York can do great replicas. However I am based in London, is it still possible to get him to do something? Or does anyone know of a jeweller in London famous for HW replicas? I really need a reputable and experienced jeweller to undertake this task if I do not buy it from HW direct. I know there are lots of choices in Hatton Garden but is there a specific one specialising in HW designs? Actually, we will also be making a trip to Singapore in a couple of weeks, if you know of any HW specialists there, it will also help me greatly in my options. Thank you very much! I cant stop obssessing about it!!

 

[bee*]

I can''t help with the HW, but I live in Ireland and we got our ring in Tiffanys in NY. As we don''t have a Tiffanys in Ireland I had to get my valuation from the UK and it was £6000 more expensive in the UK than in the US. So it would definitely be worth it to email or call HW in NY or somewhere and price the ring there. For the money you save you can fly over and have a little holiday.

 

[duckwebber]

Thank you, i did call NY to get them to price a similar ring. After taking into account flight/hotel costs, it would come to under £1000 savings, and of course a little holiday in the process. Im still wondering if there is a Leon Mege equivalent in London who is experienced in HW designs - hoping if someone here in the forum have some direction to point me towards.

 

[Dutchgirlll]

I bought my Tif&co in Vegas, nearest one for me is Paris, but the prices in euro''s where almost the same as in $$$

So, we''re better of getting the ring there, just plan a little bit of extra time if it needs to be resized.

And in my opinion everything in the UK sounds more expensive lol

 

[bee*]

Date: 1/8/2008 2:29:03 PM
Author: Dutchgirlll
I bought my Tif&co in Vegas, nearest one for me is Paris, but the prices in euro''s where almost the same as in $$$

So, we''re better of getting the ring there, just plan a little bit of extra time if it needs to be resized.


And in my opinion everything in the UK sounds more expensive lol

It''s crazy isn''t it! I couldn''t believe it when I got my valuation in the post.

 

[bee*]

Date: 1/8/2008 7:05:49 AM
Author: duckwebber
Thank you, i did call NY to get them to price a similar ring. After taking into account flight/hotel costs, it would come to under £1000 savings, and of course a little holiday in the process. Im still wondering if there is a Leon Mege equivalent in London who is experienced in HW designs - hoping if someone here in the forum have some direction to point me towards.

No prob. If you don''t find anyone in the UK it seems like it would definitely be worth traveling over for a holiday

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Buying an ideal cut diamond and having someone like Leon Mege make the setting will probably save you half the cost! Someone on here recently went shopping at some of the major jewelers such as HW and Graff, and they found that the cut quality of the stones was NOT as good as the stone people here typically buy from vendors such as WhiteFlash and Good Old Gold.

Vatche makes a beautiful repro of that setting, too. Asscherisme has one. I''ll see if I can find a picture. Center stone is 1.6 cts.

 

[duckwebber]

Thank you so much for all the advice. Unfortunately I am based in London so do not have the luxury of using Leon Mege or Vatch or any other of the more trusted jewellers mentioned here else I would be a happy girl already!! I have asked if anyone knows of a jeweller in London who is known for HW reproductions but did not get any responses. Thank you for the picture as well, i think the custom-making route is the one I have to choose. However I am unable to find really good pictures of the HW ring I am after (which is the round brilliant with side tapered baguettes). I need to show the pictures (front, side and particularly the HW signature split prong feature). If anyone has this specific ring can you share the pictures with me from different angles, or if someone point me to the right thread, although i have done a fair bit of research and looked through loads of pics here (and inluding on artofplatinum) but could not find pictures clear enough I can entrust to a jeweller..... so any help would be greatly appreciated!