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Help me help HIM/US with custom setting!

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love_sparkles

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jul 17, 2008
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Hi, everyone! After months of lurking, I'm making my first post! I am SO relieved to have found this forum. I've learned SO much about diamonds in the past few months &, although I know I've only scratched the surface, I feel I can ask much more educated questions now!

My bf and I started looking at e-rings about 5 months ago & we finally have a good idea of what we like & want. I am VERY drawn to settings with micro-pave and very thin shanks. I love the look of double (or single) claw prongs. Everything I have liked has been very very delicate with the diamond set fairly low- I really want my center stone to be the star of the show. We have considered the Ritani Endless Love w/o halo because it fits most of those characteristics, but I don't love the modifications they've made to the setting- I've seen some recent threads that show they're moving away from the old setting & seems to sit up kind of high.

The setting I am really lusting over is the DanielK rosebud. I've seen it in october2008bride, jmatthewjenkins and pavelover's threads and I come back every day to check out that PROFILE....
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. But, there is no way we would even be able to consider the designer setting due to the cost. My bf hasn't let me in on the budget, but he does want my input. Last night, we decided to investigate going custom. My only concern regarding that is that I really want to emphasize the delicacy of the setting and don't want it to end up looking 'chunky.'

As I have spent WAY more time on Pricescope than my bf, I am taking on the tasking of researching reputable custom setting designers. I feel you all would recommend that we check out the following people/companies: Leon, Quest, Maytal Hannah, GOG. We are in Chicago and Dimend Scaasi also has a repro of this setting, but they require that we go with one of their diamonds as well. Am I missing anyone?

I apologize for my wordy post, but I guess what I am asking is:
a) With the risks of going custom, would you recommend the aforementioned to take on the job? Is there anyone who would be *most* suited to this type of work?

b) What is the best way to start the process? Do we email with pictures & ask for a quote?

c) Is it conceivable that this setting could be similar to the price of the Ritani setting (around $2600) to keep it around budget parameters?

d) Is there any reason to worry about the communication during creation & subsequent maintenance of a custom ring when we are nowhere near most of these designers/companies? Scaasi has a lifetime cleaning/repair/maintenance agreement on their rings that is very attractive.

Thanks in advance for helping out two newbies!
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This process is one that brings out my anxious side.
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Here are some links to the 'look' we are going for (I hope no one minds me posting their beauties!)

October2008bride's: https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/im-new-and-engaged-here-are-the-pics.68459/
pavelover: https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/omg-i-have-been-dying-to-show-you-guys.67727/
jmatthewjenkins: https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/she-said-yes.81178/
the "original" with an Asscher: https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/daniel-k-ring-pics-not-mine-but-i-can-dream.36909/
the Dimend Scaasi version: http://www.dimendscaasi.com/build/step1.asp?prodID=asscher2B
 
I don''t have any advice on custom work, but I just wanted to say congratulations and think the ring you''ve described is scrumptious. I love all those features -- delicate pave and shank with the diamond in low-set double claws.
 
Why thank you, RXTech! I love your avatar ring- gorgeous! This will be our first "real" jewelry purchase so I think we are both a little nervous. I hope some other PScopers will jump in with some custom advice!
 
In my experience, being near a jeweler doesn't mean that you will get the best results. I think that once you start communicating with jewelers, you will get a feel for how they work and if you are compatible with them. Some custom jewelers that people here on PS have been happy with are Quest and Knox (www.knoxjewelers.biz). I have been happy with Roc Rawlings in Carrollton, Texas for my custom work (http://www.rawlingsjewelry.com/). He is very detail oriented and seemed to pick up on what I wanted even when I could not verbalize it. Even if you use a distant designer/diamond vendor for this project, you still need to establish a relationship with a local jeweler so that you can get your ring cleaned/maintained without too much effort.

Having a lot of photos is always good, and I think that having a list of things you don't want is just as important as the list of things you want. Also, are you planning on buying the diamond first? Many of the PS diamond vendors like GoodOldGold, Whiteflash, James Allen and others might just have a setting you like that you won't have to go custom for. They can probably do custom for you as well. Yes, just email them.

You are correct to be thinking about this so much because custom work can be a real headache due to the fact that you can't try on a sample to see if you like it. On the other hand, it gives you the opportunity to do something really unique. Please post photos when you get your finished ring!
 
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