Help!!! Need a skilled jeweller / crafter for e-ring!

[hunnybee]

Photos they sent me

 

[liaerfbv]

Honestly, I think you need an attitude adjustment. I absolutely understand your frustration with your jeweler not giving you what you're asking for, I would be equally pissed - and I would completely quit this project with them and move on to a more competent jeweler since they are clearly not capable of producing this type of pave. That said, what you're asking for is not easy or inexpensive to create. Going in with the attitude that "anyone should be able to do this" and "if a rookie can do it, why can't they" is not helping. You can't go to a French restaurant and be pissed that they're not making you a world-class Mexican meal.
ETA: Not to defend them for mis-representing themselves and what they are capable of making. That's unacceptable. But to follow the analogy, you should have looked at the menu a little more closely.

VC and SK will likely run you 5k for a setting, depending on the size of your stone. And whether you are in town with your jeweler or not, you probably will not be allowed to visit everyday and see the progress. That's a bit of micromanagement if you ask me. I know it can be nerve racking to send your stone to a jeweler you aren't familiar with, so I recommend doing research on the vendors that have been recommended in this thread, call them, chat with them about your goals, ask to see examples of their work (specifically this type of pave), and see who you feel comfortable with.

 

[hunnybee]

Honestly, I think you need an attitude adjustment. I absolutely understand your frustration with your jeweler not giving you what you're asking for, I would be equally pissed - and I would completely quit this project with them and move on to a more competent jeweler since they are clearly not capable of producing this type of pave. That said, what you're asking for is not easy or inexpensive to create. Going in with the attitude that "anyone should be able to do this" and "if a rookie can do it, why can't they" is not helping. You can't go to a French restaurant and be pissed that they're not making you a world-class Mexican meal.
ETA: Not to defend them for mis-representing themselves and what they are capable of making. That's unacceptable. But to follow the analogy, you should have looked at the menu a little more closely.

VC and SK will likely run you 5k for a setting, depending on the size of your stone. And whether you are in town with your jeweler or not, you probably will not be allowed to visit everyday and see the progress. That's a bit of micromanagement if you ask me. I know it can be nerve racking to send your stone to a jeweler you aren't familiar with, so I recommend doing research on the vendors that have been recommended in this thread, call them, chat with them about your goals, ask to see examples of their work (specifically this type of pave), and see who you feel comfortable with.

first of all, if you read the thread and the link in which that comment was quoted from you would see that I had also taken a quote directly from the link https://leonmege.com/index.php/articles/education/pave-types-in-jewelry "Fishtail pavé
Most often used in cheap jewelry this pavé style recently found a second life. The setting style is similar to cut-down pavé, but there are additional bright facets facing up, or tilted to the side. These facets "fake" the sparkle of diamond facets creating an appearance of bigger stones when viewed from a distance. An increase of mechanical engravers are mostly responsible for the revival. Even a rookie setter is able to create bright and symmetrical faceting on a metal using a tool such as a GraverMax. Fishtail pavé has a pretentious, cheap and gear-like appearance unless stones used are 1.1 mm or less. On a small scale fishtail pavé looks very lovely and smooth. The fishtail pavé is acceptable when used on thin round shanks and halo rings. Nevertheless, big jewelry retail chain companies manufacture tons of jewelry set with a fishtail pavé and many customers insist on this type of setting even when presented with other choices."

So please don't make misinformed assumptions about my attitude, it's rather unbecoming. Furthermore when we went to look at their rings for examples of their work they were showing us Verragio rings as an example. Also we went with them because they are one of two places seemingly world wide that one can purchase that type of stone from. If you pay 30k+ for a stone you don't go in expecting cheap work automatically, considering their claims of selling only the best of the best and being able to make anything your heart desires. Also, the setting itself is exceeding simple. Four prongs with zero embellishments is pretty much the definition of simple when it comes to a setting. But they managed to muck that up as well. The accent stones on the band are what I'm calling to attention, and I'm not going for an eternity band. They should not be telling me how simple it is to do and how they do it all the time if it is indeed not something their crafter is capable of. Considering it was the first thing I pointed out to them and asked if they would be able to execute that level of detailing.

Oh and when I said I would feel uncomfortable with a place that I wouldn't be able to visit "everyday", I meant it in the sense that if it's out of state it isn't the easiest to just pop by whenever to clarify things. And phone and email aren't always as clear as one would hope. I should know, thats what got me into this whole mess to begin with. So am I apprehensive with the concept of sending it somewhere else and starting the whole online correspondence thing all over again? You better damn well believe it.

That said, thanks for VC and SK "quote". People kept mentioning the price like it was going to run me 10 grand or something. Just looking for a ballpark figure.

 

[distracts]

So I got more "proper" photos of the ring today. I can't decide if I should laugh or cry. They have taken such a beautiful concept and butchered it. Nothing turned out right. The pavé though more similar than what I originally thought it still wrong. The band is wrong. The doughnut is HUGE, and best of all, lopsided! They even got the setting wrong. How the hell it went so badly is beyond me. I have to say, I'm worried about sending it anywhere I can't visit daily in person now. I feel like I should have them take the diamond out of the monstrosity of a setting they have created for fear it might taint the diamond somehow. Yay.. half a year wasted!

Officially need to start from scratch.

Anyone know how much Steven Kirsch, Victor Canera, and Leon Megé charge for a thin pavé platinum band (diamonds running halfway) with very simple setting? People keep mentioning price, so I'm wondering how large a sum we are talking.

Don't be. LOOK at the work of these vendors. Pick the one that has stuff that looks most like what you want. Then TRUST whoever you hire. Your mistake - and we ALL make this mistake at first, it's like a trial by fire everyone has to go through - was not making sure the jeweler could do exactly what you want before you hire them. We've all been there and we know it sucks. The way you fix that is by making sure they can do the work by look at pictures of their past work before you ever start on anything. Require proof of similar settings FIRST.

Your jeweler was telling you they could do it because tbh what they did would satisfy 99% of people. You are in the 1% with higher standards. So are most of the people here. Which is why you should listen to their recommendations.

Also, don't listen to Leon Mege about "any rookie." Leon is an arrogant dickwad and everyone knows that. He also insists that you shouldn't wear the engagement and wedding bands together on the same finger. He insists a lot of stuff that isn't really true. And even if anyone can do some approximation of fishtail pave, not just anyone can do it to perfection.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

If it is just a solitaire with pave on the shank, I think it will be less than $5k from Victor or Steven. The halo settings are more like $5k.

 

[hunnybee]

In the process of getting quotes and such and looking for past works that are similar to what I want. Fingers crossed it goes well the second time round and I manage to find someone I'm happy with.

Steven Kirsch quoted just over 4k

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Sounds like what I expected. I assume he said he can do the kind of pave you want?

 

[liaerfbv]

first of all, if you read the thread and the link in which that comment was quoted from you would see that I had also taken a quote directly from the link https://leonmege.com/index.php/articles/education/pave-types-in-jewelry "Fishtail pavé
Most often used in cheap jewelry this pavé style recently found a second life. The setting style is similar to cut-down pavé, but there are additional bright facets facing up, or tilted to the side. These facets "fake" the sparkle of diamond facets creating an appearance of bigger stones when viewed from a distance. An increase of mechanical engravers are mostly responsible for the revival. Even a rookie setter is able to create bright and symmetrical faceting on a metal using a tool such as a GraverMax. Fishtail pavé has a pretentious, cheap and gear-like appearance unless stones used are 1.1 mm or less. On a small scale fishtail pavé looks very lovely and smooth. The fishtail pavé is acceptable when used on thin round shanks and halo rings. Nevertheless, big jewelry retail chain companies manufacture tons of jewelry set with a fishtail pavé and many customers insist on this type of setting even when presented with other choices."

So please don't make misinformed assumptions about my attitude, it's rather unbecoming. Furthermore when we went to look at their rings for examples of their work they were showing us Verragio rings as an example. Also we went with them because they are one of two places seemingly world wide that one can purchase that type of stone from. If you pay 30k+ for a stone you don't go in expecting cheap work automatically, considering their claims of selling only the best of the best and being able to make anything your heart desires. Also, the setting itself is exceeding simple. Four prongs with zero embellishments is pretty much the definition of simple when it comes to a setting. But they managed to muck that up as well. The accent stones on the band are what I'm calling to attention, and I'm not going for an eternity band. They should not be telling me how simple it is to do and how they do it all the time if it is indeed not something their crafter is capable of. Considering it was the first thing I pointed out to them and asked if they would be able to execute that level of detailing.

Oh and when I said I would feel uncomfortable with a place that I wouldn't be able to visit "everyday", I meant it in the sense that if it's out of state it isn't the easiest to just pop by whenever to clarify things. And phone and email aren't always as clear as one would hope. I should know, thats what got me into this whole mess to begin with. So am I apprehensive with the concept of sending it somewhere else and starting the whole online correspondence thing all over again? You better damn well believe it.

That said, thanks for VC and SK "quote". People kept mentioning the price like it was going to run me 10 grand or something. Just looking for a ballpark figure.

I think you missed the entire point of my post. Nonetheless, good luck with your setting. I hope you are satisfied with a new jeweler.

 

[hunnybee]

Sounds like what I expected. I assume he said he can do the kind of pave you want?

actually the reply was unnervingly vague. All it said was "solitaire with pave on shank" and the process with the quote. Seems they didn't bother to look at any images I provided. (said quote was based on my verbal message only)
"Melee (the small stones for pave) is included in the total cost: full cut
F/VS super-ideal cut diamonds. The quote is for approximately 3/4 of the
 band set, leaving small space on the bottom of the ring unset (only if your 
design does have pave on the shank). It is done so to allow a space for 
future sizing. Also, bottom section of a ring gets hit disproportionally 
more often. In case you want stones set all the way around the shank we will
 charge extra.
** Shipping is not included"

:/