How to see handmade rings?

[sparklyforever]

I am not purchasing atleast not right this moment.. so it's not like I am ready to make appts with anyone and take their time.. but if I wanted to go see handmade rings - 100% handmade that Leon, VC and SK do.. would there be anyway at a retail store level to see these? I wanted to get a sense for the differences I believe exist from what I read.. lighter weight, more delicate...

 

[yssie]

Where are you?

Only VC does strictly handforging I believe. I'm 99% sure LM does (or at least used to do) some casting, and Frankie's experience was that SK is the same. DBL is another NY vendor that does both handforging and casting - they just remade my ring.

Some designs are better suited to one method of manufacture or the other - some, like mine, are best done with a bit of both. Having just been down this path myself, if you have a specific design in mind I would strongly recommend that you discuss with potential vendors the benefits and detriments of choosing one method of manufacture over the other, or a mix of the two, for that specific design. As in, don't go into it believing that one is superior to the other in all ways - it will be an expensive mistake.

I believe any of those vendors would be willing to make an appt with you - certainly once you're closer to purchasing... but why not call and find out? The worst they can say is "no, we don't have time"...