How often do you check in with jeweler?

[jaysonsmom]

I know many PSers get custom
cut stones and custom
Made settings. How often do you keep in touch with the jeweler? What do you think is considered “too often?” And annoying?

 

[seaurchin]

I may have misunderstood the question but I'd think that completely depends on how much work you need from them.

I assume that, like anyone who is working for a living, they would always be happy for another paid job to do but that contacting them beyond whatever is needed for that would be out of line.

 

[Gussie]

When I first begin a project, I ask for a lead time. A few days after that time has passed, I will usually email to see where it stands. I never get in touch with them until after the full amount of time that he/she specified has passed unless I have a question about the design (really rare). I don't want to be a PITA but I do expect vendors to be reasonable with the timeliness have prior agreed upon.

 

[seaurchin]

When I first begin a project, I ask for a lead time. A few days after that time has passed, I will usually email to see where it stands. I never get in touch with them until after the full amount of time that he/she specified has passed unless I have a question about the design (really rare). I don't want to be a PITA but I do expect vendors to be reasonable with the timeliness have prior agreed upon.

Oh, she meant how often should you contact them when they are working on a project for you. LOL. Somehow that went right over my head so I couldn't figure out why she was asking how often she should contact her jeweler.

 

[MeowMeow]

I'm similar to Gussie. I find out how much time they think they will need when I put down my deposit or fully pay depending on which jeweller I am working with. My private one only wants half down. If I am working with an internet one like the one who made my favourite carved band I pay in full. Then I pretty much leave everybody alone until either it ships and arrives at my home or the estimated time has passed and then I politely ask for a new timeline. I know the jewellers are very busy so I try to be patient

 

[ringbling17]

I haven’t worked on a project with David Klass in a while but I usually send him a greeting during the holidays. Like for Christmas and New Years I sent him my regards. And when I heard he wasn’t well I‘ve sent him my regards.
I haven’t contacted him since Covid started though, but maybe I should. I just feel funny contacting him when I don’t have any projects going at this time. Hmmm, I will send him a hello now that I think about it.

 

[jaysonsmom]

Actually my question is more related
To checking in during the duration of the project. For eg, If a setting is going to be done in 6 weeks, do you check in weekly to see how it is coming along?

 

[MeowMeow]

Actually my question is more related
To checking in during the duration of the project. For eg, If a setting is going to be done in 6 weeks, do you check in weekly to see how it is coming along?

I don't. Like I said in my last post. I feel like that is too often and likely there wouldn't be anything yet to update unless it's extremely custom and you asked them beforehand to update you with pictures at specific steps so you can check them.

I've done custom before but not quite that level of custom so I'm pretty satisfied to leave them alone unless they go over the due date.

If you really really feel uncomfortable with that though then maybe contact them halfway through at 3 weeks, assuming a 6 week timeline. You shouldn't be afraid to ask them for an update. Just be aware there might not be much to show

 

[ringbling17]

Actually my question is more related
To checking in during the duration of the project. For eg, If a setting is going to be done in 6 weeks, do you check in weekly to see how it is coming along?

Ahh! So to be honest I don’t think I’ve ever asked David for a time frame or expected date of completion. I never want him to feel rushed to do a project for me.
He is normally pretty fast though so usually I’ll check up after three weeks and see how it’s going. A few times he’s finished something a lot earlier than I expected (less than two weeks).

I would probably check up a week prior to the expected completion date. So for 6 weeks I would check up around the 5 week mark. Just in case they put my project on the back burner and forgot about it.

 

[distracts]

When I first begin a project, I ask for a lead time. A few days after that time has passed, I will usually email to see where it stands. I never get in touch with them until after the full amount of time that he/she specified has passed unless I have a question about the design (really rare). I don't want to be a PITA but I do expect vendors to be reasonable with the timeliness have prior agreed upon.

This is how I do it too.

Actually my question is more related
To checking in during the duration of the project. For eg, If a setting is going to be done in 6 weeks, do you check in weekly to see how it is coming along?

No - I would wait until the six weeks are up. I assume they can manage their scheduling unless proven otherwise and there is no need for me to nanny them through it.

 

[MamaBee]

I haven’t worked on a project with David Klass in a while but I usually send him a greeting during the holidays. Like for Christmas and New Years I sent him my regards. And when I heard he wasn’t well I‘ve sent him my regards.
I haven’t contacted him since Covid started though, but maybe I should. I just feel funny contacting him when I don’t have any projects going at this time. Hmmm, I will send him a hello now that I think about it.

@Kayla I emailed him when the riots were on his street. I asked him if he was okay. I saw his building on the news..It was pretty scary..

 

[jordyonbass]

I'll give the opposite perspective here from a vendor; whenever I do custom work in an Opal I will send through videos of the Opal and give a little explanation of where we are at with the recut. Usually at the end of the shaping, pre-polish, polished and finished stages.

Sometimes I wonder if it's too much and whether people care that much about the little intricacies of Opal cutting and what their Opal is looking like as it approaches a final, polished gem. Sometimes I think it's just me.

 

[ringbling17]

@Kayla I emailed him when the riots were on his street. I asked him if he was okay. I saw his building on the news..It was pretty scary..

That’s scary. I didn’t know that. I have a few things I’d like him to do but they are not major projects so they can wait. I just hope he is safe.

 

[lilmosun]

I'll give the opposite perspective here from a vendor; whenever I do custom work in an Opal I will send through videos of the Opal and give a little explanation of where we are at with the recut. Usually at the end of the shaping, pre-polish, polished and finished stages.

Sometimes I wonder if it's too much and whether people care that much about the little intricacies of Opal cutting and what their Opal is looking like as it approaches a final, polished gem. Sometimes I think it's just me.

I think this is awesome service. Although like many others, I don't typically reach out until after the quoted time has passed, I would LOVE updates on the progress if provided.

Although one time I left some stones with a new vendor to have set in stock settings. They said it may be a few weeks...but got it done early and shipped without telling me. Weeks later I inquired on when they would ship when they assumed I had it. Turned out UPS was holding it because they saw the package was tampered with (and contents missing).

 

[kenny]

Never.

 

[AllAboardTheBlingTrain]

I usually ask my jeweler how long a project will take once we’ve cleared design approval, and ask him for an update close to when the slated end of the project will be. His timing estimates are pretty rough however - sometimes he’s done weeks in advance, other times projects get delayed by a week or two. If there are delays I don’t mind as long as he keeps me in the loop. I don’t really need or want constant updates, but he has told me before that if I want weekly updates with pictures he’s happy to provide them and I just need to tell him.

 

[yssie]

I consider my favourite tradepeople personal friends - I love working with them because they're friends! As such, I check in with them at least once a week or two. Since they're "into" jewellery and gemstones, and I'm "into" jewellery and gemstones, those are often topics of conversation, but not always!

I'll do a monthly-ish project check-in if I've got a work in progress with a vendor with whom I don't have regular conversations. I don't care if something's taking longer than expected, but sometimes I'll discover that something unexpected has happened, or the bench has had an alternate idea that might work well