Help getting custom setting made (preferably in NYC)

[teamawesome]

Hi all,

I am looking to get a custom pave setting made for a diamond that I already have. On the recommendations of these boards, I have reached out to several vendors for quotes and over the month I have been pursuing this I have not been able to get a single quote from any of them. When I contacted Leon Mege, I got an email asking to resubmit pictures and after I did and did not hear back for over a week I sent a follow up email and still have heard nothing. Victor Canera "respectfully declined" working with me without ever discussing budget or time lines. A few other vendors I have reached out to have simply not responded.

While I don't want to have to FORCE somebody to take my money, I am really surprised that I am having so much difficulty finding somebody to do business with, especially with jewelers that come so highly recommended on these forums. I am based in NYC but with the hours I work, I don't have time to be going to many places in person and would like at least a quote ahead of time before I take time off of work to go meet with somebody.

So my question is two-fold- 1) Have other people experienced this difficulty in getting feedback from jewelers, or have I been secretly blacklisted/ come off as difficult and am being avoided/ am sending my emails into a black hole? and 2) Any recommendations for NYC based jewelers with great customer service that can do a nice job on a custom pave setting?

Thanks for any help anyone can provide!

 

[J_Rock]

Tell us more about the design and maybe folks can give you some insight on why you are not getting responses.

 

[distracts]

Can you post what you wrote in your email and the pictures you were sending?

 

[teamawesome]

I am looking for a ring similar to this vintage Jean Schlumberger ring, except in rose gold and rather than a 3-sided pave shank, I would like a slimmer more delicate shank. (And the inquiry emails I have sent have been very similar to that except with a salutation and signed at the end).

http://www.coquetteanddove.co.uk/2011/02/lust-list-someone-somewhere.html

I know it is a design that has now been put into production by Tiffany, but as i have a 2.5 carat pear, the above link is what I was sending because it is more in line with what I envision the finished project would look like. I am open to feedback from a jeweler as to whether the design changes I am interested in would be do-able (they are after all the experts), however, I have never even gotten to that stage. Any thoughts, anybody?

 

[Mayk]

How about Engagement Rings Direct? They are in the city. I really enjoyed working with Chris on my custom project Very fast and he's a great resource.


http://www.engagementringsdirect.com/designring

 

[yssie]

How about Engagement Rings Direct? They are in the city. I really enjoyed working with Chris on my custom project Very fast and he's a great resource.


http://www.engagementringsdirect.com/designring

What's the budget? What vendors have you reached out to?

Definitely possible that emails are going into a black hole - call and follow up with the vendors you haven't heard back from.

You know that no one will copy the design without some modification, right? Possibly more modification than you currently envision? The specifics will be up to you and your jeweller.

Vendors decline to work with people sometimes - could be the customer, the project, the timeline, current workload... don't take it personally, even if it is *you* there's another vendor out there who will be proud and happy to make you a ring you love, promise

I like Mayk's ERD rec - they've been doing some really lovely work. You might try David at www.diamondsbylauren.com as well, I don't know if they still set outside stones but they have a fantastic bench, and several PSers have had good experiences with Steven Kirsch - www.timelessluxury.com ... I'm sure other PSers will have more suggestions.

 

[alene]

Have you tried Steven Kirsch? I found him to be most responsive of all the vendors i contacted. And his work is fantastic.

 

[Gypsy]

The ring design wouldn't appeal to victor, or steven or leon. I'd get Mark at ERD to do it for you if he would. You might have to modify that profile/undergallery for copyright. Mark also does hand forged now. So can do both CAD and hand forged.

If that fails, contact Diamonds by Lauren and talk to David as a last ditch.