Is a good custom job REALLY that hard to find?

[puravida]

Recently visited Damiani Jewellers on more than one occasion (outside Toronto area) who carry the Michael B collection. As expected, found the settings very $$$. Love the Princess ring (solataire with single sided pave, eternity band)!


http://www.michaelbjewelry.com/collection_princess_new.html

Things I dont'' like are that:

-the prong tips seems a bit large and not-so delicate looking,
-the diamond is "covered" near the bottom by metal.
-I''d really only want the diamonds to go at most 3/4 way around the band.
-I''g prob get it in 18K white gold, not platinum

I spoke to them at length about having them make me a custom e-ring and matching w-band similar to the Michael B rings, and most similar to Lynn B''s ring....which I love! (Love how the "bottom" of the diamond is visible and love the scalloped side bars instead of the closed metal. )

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/finally-gorgeous-new-fishtail-pave-set-from-wf.46129/

While they were very confident in their goldsmith (very detailed, patient, etc.) and admitted they could replicate the Michael B ring for a cheaper cost than the actual one, they STILL discouraged me from getting a custom e-ring made, even by them.

They said that they feared that I would not end up with the exact ring I wanted. THey also said that companies like Michael B and Ritani have near-perfected the way they make their pave bands and the craftsmanship of these companies is really hard to beat or even match.

I appreciated their honesty but feel a bit defeated. I don''t really want to "settle" for a setting that isn''t 100% what I want.

Are there ANY other designers/lines who make an e-ring similar to the Michael B setting but for a more reasonable price?

What about prices aside, any other models similar to the Michael B Princess setting/Lynn''s B''s set that I should check out?

Can anyone recomend somewhere in Toronto area that could make a ring like Lynn B''s? Or like the Michael B but without the closed metal at the bottom?

Or do I have to "settle" for the Michael B setting and pay more than what I think its worth for something that I''d have to learn to love?

 

[puravida]

Not sure it matters but I guess I should also add that we''d be willing to buy a diamond/setting online BUT:

-Diamond: with the exchange rate these days, Damiani (a VERY reputable B&M store in my area just outside Toronto) seems to be well priced

-Setting: Not sure how comfortable I am buying a setting I''ve never tryed on. Also, same point as above for exchange rate.)


http://www.damianijewellers.com/home.html

They do have an online diamond inventory. While they don''t give you much info online as to the specs of the stones, they are indeed VERY helpful in person.

 

[CharmyPoo]

I am also from Toronto but haven't found any amazing custom jewelers or bench people. We went to the US.

Try this one too ..
Bandiera Jewellers
200 Marycroft Ave. Suite 18 & 19
Tel: 905 856.8860
http://www.bandierajewellers.com

 

[puravida]

Thanks, I''ll take a peek at their stuff. They''re about 5 mins from where I live. Interested to see how they compare to Damiani as no one I''ve been to even comes close to Damiani in terms of selection, customer service and know-how.

Did you actually GO to the US to buy a stone and setting or did you buy over the internet? PS vendor?

 

[CharmyPoo]

We used an online vendor but dealt with it like an in person transaction. We travel to NYC a lot so we dropped by to look at the diamonds and pay up. The vendor shipped the diamond to our designer in California. We dealt with the designer remotely. The thing is - both my boyfriend and I work better through electronic means.

 

[puravida]

Charmy: DO you have pics of your ring? I did a quick search and couldn''t come up with any on the forum?

 

[JulieN]

Why don''t you have WF make Lynn''s set? It''d be way cheaper than a Michael B you don''t 100% dig.

 

[CharmyPoo]

I didn''t get it yet! My boyfriend told me it was delayed but I have a sneaking suspicion that he is lying. We went with Maytal Hannah who has a really good track record for being on time. The ring is inspired by the Daniel K split crown with some changes. If you have read some of my past posts, I am actually anxious about the outcome since we both have no idea what it will look like. I am a total control freak so it is hard for me to trust.

I will be sure to post photos once he proposes. I have no idea how long that will take. He does not want me to see the ring before he proposes.

 

[puravida]

well good luck waiting....t would drive me nuts too!

can''t wait to see the pics!

 

[VictoriaEremita]

I''ve actually been to Michael B''s own jewelry store where all his settings get made and shipped from. I was fortunate enough to meet Michael and his wife who were both *super* nice and very down to earth people. I was looking at the "trois" collection and they seemed very open to accommodating small changes such as having the pave go 70% around a band or eliminating some of the pave underneath the main halo to bring the cost down a bit. They also talked about how they have done some "custom" orders in the past for customers who had very specific things that they wanted done and that Michael agreed with. I don''t know the cost implication of a "custom order," but I thought I would mention it because I know it can be done. You might have your jewelery place call Michael''s shop and see if anything can be worked out, or if some of the costs could be shaved down by eliminating some of the pave. I''m not sure if they work with any other metal besides platinum though.

His settings are expensive and I''m sure you could find something that was close to his design for a cheaper price, but I wanted to let you know of these possible options in case nothing else works out or you decide to go through with a Michael B setting. You can really feel the quality and substantial nature in his work, albeit you do pay for it!

 

[puravida]

JulieN: Yes I suppose I could get WF to make Lynn B''s setting. But I''m not sure that I''d buy my stone from them. With the CDN dollar not doing its best, it may be cheaper for me to buy the stone locally. Then I''m not sure what would be involved in sending the stone out to WF to set. I haven''t dont much research into this cause I''m not sure how comfortable I''d fel sending the ring out on my own.

VE: Thanks for the heads up. Though I just wouldn''t feel right contacting Michael B about doing a custom job where I''d like to tweak so many things. If it was just a matter of having them make the prongs tips finer and/or reducing how far around the pave goes, then maybe. But I''d want to change the way the entire setting of the solitaire to eliminate the piece of metal that makes it charachteristically a Michael B piece.

As for finding a design that is close to Michael B but cheaper, lemme know if you see anything cause I haven''t found a thing. Only one would be Lynn B''s ring, and that was custom made.

 

[pixley]

Date: 12/19/2008 5:21:18 PM
Author: JulieN
Why don''t you have WF make Lynn''s set? It''d be way cheaper than a Michael B you don''t 100% dig.

Ditto Julie''s advice! All of the WF custom work I''ve seen on SMTR has been fantastic.

 

[rainydaze]

hi puravida,

whiteflash actually offers lynn b.''s ring (they are the ones who made her ring, and offered it amoung their stock settings afterward). they also offer it in 18k WG.
http://www.whiteflash.com/Engagement-Rings/Styles/Diamond-Settings/-Harmony--Diamond-Engagement-Ring_1136.htm#

i know you said you weren''t sure you wanted to order from them, but i figured i should mention it anyway. also, i wonder if you can buy just the setting from WF? if so, you can have it shipped up to you and then have the jeweler you buy the stone from set it. that is, if you really are determined not to buy your stone from WF (which, considering their reputation, and the fact that they carry exactly what you are looking for in a setting, seems to me to be a great option!).

 

[puravida]

rainydaze: thanks for pointing that out! now that you mentioned it, i think it does ring a bell that someone once mentioned that Lynn B''s setting is now offered by WF. Good news!

Unfortunately, when I clocked on the link it did say that the setting would not be shipped without a diamond set in it. Of course, I haven''t asked yet how firm this policy is.

I''m not deadset AGAINST buying from WF. In fact, if I do buy online it''ll prob be from either WF or GOG for the stone. Its just that from what I''ve seen so far, a 1 carat H&A, G, eyeclean SI1 is more expenisve for me to buy online vs. a local retailer when the exchange rate is considered.

BUT the fact that WF has the setting I want is a BIG incentive!!

yay!

 

[w3ss]

I'm also from Toronto. Thinking of getting the diamond and setting from WF.

puravida - Which stores did you find diamonds cheaper in toronto vs online (US)?

 

[puravida]

Every now and then I''ll pop into Damiani Jewellers and pick up their RB inventory list which lists prices.

For example, on their online inventory right now they have a 1 ct Ideal Cut, with Gemscan cert, G colour, SI1 for $6585 Canadian. Of course I don''t have the specs or anything so can''t say its a suuuuper performer or if its H&A. And also, I don''t know to much about Gemscan vs AGS or GIA.

But from what I''ve seen on WF, their prices for a 1 ct H&A AGS/GIA G, SI1 are in the 6000-7000 range.....but USD. If we could get their stones at that price in CANADIAN dollars they''d be cheapest but when you consider the exchange rate, their prices steepen a bit for Canadians.

Damiani is prob the only B&M store in the GTA that we''ve been to that we would feel comfortable buying from. Amazing customer service, good selection, and they really know their stuff. Next on the list would be WF (esp since they have the exact setting I want) if it wasn''t for the exchange rate

 

[zar99]

I''ve just bought a diamond from Martin at USA Certed Diamonds. He''s based out of Thornhill and can bring in any stone you''re looking for. Generally only deals with AGS/GIA certed diamonds. I believe I paid a good 20% less that what I saw on WF and Blue Nile. Martin is easy to work with but you need to not be in too much of a rush as the process takes quite a bit of time.

I actually need to find a good jeweler locally for the setting. I''m trying to get something similar to the Tiffany bead-set band. Most probably will go with 18K, although still considering platinum. Any recommendations on where I could source this locally are appreciated.

http://www.tiffany.com/Engagement/item.aspx?selectedsku=23582589&groupsku=GRP10020#f+2/0/2004/0/0/2004

 

[wishinpink]

You can ship your stone to whiteflash to have them set it for you. They will just charge you under $100 to set it into that ring + the cost of the setting.