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Is Leon's work worth it? Or whiteflash custom?

C

cameeelia

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jan 25, 2011
Messages
75
I want the simple Leon Mege solitaire. I have the quote of price, but want to know if it is worth it. I love the simplicity and delicate prongs he does. I also like WF's Legato Sleekline, but not as much. Is his and his benchworkers work really worth the price?
 
I like the BGD option suggested by Maisie. For some reason I don't like the Legato Sleekline (I don't think I care for the tapered shank). Leon's work is beautiful but I'm just not sure I would pay that premium for his solitaire.
 
Nope, not worth it in my opinion. If you wanted delicate, perfect pave, yes, solitaire, save the cash. BGD grace, or elegance would be perfect.
 
If you want to pay for handmade, I think I'd go with Victor Canera. he seems to be a perfectionist. Leon is good but tends to set the stones too low, in my opinion.

http://www.victorcanera.com/jewelry/engagement-rings/the-trueste-solitaire.html

Oh, and I actually like the proportions of the Vatche Caroline better than Leon's classic solitaire. You should really look through the solitaire thread because most of these are posted there.

[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/post-your-favorite-plain-solitaire-setting.164906/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/post-your-favorite-plain-solitaire-setting.164906/[/URL]
 
I got a Leon Mege solitaire ring for my fiance and would say that it is worth it.

The difference in price between LM and the others for a plain solitare isn't extreme as far as I remember.

Since a solitaire setting is so simplistic and doesn't have anything else, I would say it needs to be made to proportion. It doesn't have anything to distract from the main diamond and the craftsmanship of the setting.

But I am biased :)

Below is the link to my fiance's ring:

[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/at-last-my-fiances-2-70ct-leon-mege-solitaire-ring.161793/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/at-last-my-fiances-2-70ct-leon-mege-solitaire-ring.161793/[/URL]

Let us know what you decide!

P.S. Leon does tend to set his rings on the low side, but I remember he gave me a choice when we put together the order. So you can ask to have it set higher.
 
I'm torn on this one. First I do not have anything by Leon, but i have two friends with Leon rings and both of them have structural issues- the pave falls out and they are warping though they are not even 2 years old. however, i'm not sure if that is Leon or the fact that they both have super thin bands with pave work. Since you are interested in something without diamonds I would think they would be better made.

Do you mind me asking what the price difference is? I'm guessing it is significant. Have you looked at VC, SK or ERD to see what they would charge? I definitely think custom hand made is much nicer then anything cast by at the same time for a simple solitare I would probably go cast and then with the money saved get an awsome wedding band.
 
When I had my Leon solitaire made, I did not think the price was all that much more than other high quality settings. The other one I was considering at the time was the Excel Tiffany and they were about the same price. The starting price on the Vatche Tiffany is around $1900 now. So I doubt Leon is significantly higher. My setting was totally durable. But I don't like the stone set so low.
 
The price Leon quoted me in Aug of 2010 was $2400, which I thought was a bit higher than other solitaires.
 
The price for my ring would be 1,750 which is slightly higher than the one I like from White Flash and Brian Gavin, but I'd get it in platinum and have to pay more than I would to Leon if I got a platnium WF or BGD. Thank you for your responses. I like my stones to be set low, but I'll look into that diamondseeker2006. I'm also looking into getting a pave band, not sure how it'd look with my moissanite center stone though. hmmm.
 
Sarahbear621- The prices are better at WF or BGD if I get it in white gold, but if I get it in platnium it is the same or more.

I really want something that is delicate and will compliment my stone. I like the Elegance setting at BGD, but I would want the prongs thinned out a bit. I just feel that when I look at Leon's solitaire, that's the one. I don't want to look elsewear. Not sure what it is about it, it is just so appealing to me. Do any of you have experience with the structure of the rings? Sarahbear621, you mentioned the structure isn't too good. Anyone else have any input on that?
 
aquanaut- did you choose to have it set lower or higher?
 
I wonder why he quoted $2400 to one person and $1750 to another :confused:
 
Sarahbear621|1323207237|3075558 said:
I'm torn on this one. First I do not have anything by Leon, but i have two friends with Leon rings and both of them have structural issues- the pave falls out and they are warping though they are not even 2 years old. however, i'm not sure if that is Leon or the fact that they both have super thin bands with pave work. Since you are interested in something without diamonds I would think they would be better made.
Click to expand...

Actually, Harriet had same problem with a Leon solitaire. There is a thread on it. I just reread that thread last night.
 
kathleenparrish|1323237023|3075893 said:
aquanaut- did you choose to have it set lower or higher?
Click to expand...

I had it set as low as possible because my fiance and I determined that is the way that rings look best on her hand, and because it is safer to have the diamond as low as possible to avoid banging it against various things. When we went to Harry Winston to look ar various rings, they told us that they set their rings as low as possible too so we went with their approach. Leon also has a preference for low as possible. But it is a taste thing.

Looking back, I probably could have it set just a tad bit higher to make it pop a bit more.

But we are both completely satisfied with it.

As far as quality, so far no issues whatsoever, but I do inspect the ring every so often to make sure no damage has been done to the prongs which are very small and delicate (but just the way I wanted them).

Good luck!
 
Maisie said:
I wonder why he quoted $2400 to one person and $1750 to another :confused:
Click to expand...

Maybe prices have dropped since a chunk of his former clients have now switched to working with Victor Canera and Steven Kirsch?? :Up_to_something:
 
Imdanny|1323259456|3075993 said:
Sarahbear621|1323207237|3075558 said:
I'm torn on this one. First I do not have anything by Leon, but i have two friends with Leon rings and both of them have structural issues- the pave falls out and they are warping though they are not even 2 years old. however, i'm not sure if that is Leon or the fact that they both have super thin bands with pave work. Since you are interested in something without diamonds I would think they would be better made.
Click to expand...

Actually, Harriet had same problem with a Leon solitaire. There is a thread on it. I just reread that thread last night.
Click to expand...

I also remember a while ago 2 people (or maybe it was one person with 2 Leon rings) posted on DB to sell their Leon rings and both of them had minor structural problem. They both needed to be sent back to Leon to have them fixed. I think prongs needed to be fix and some pave needed to be corrected as welll. It has been awhile so I can't remember exactly.
 
Maisie|1323259127|3075989 said:
I wonder why he quoted $2400 to one person and $1750 to another :confused:
Click to expand...

It was my 3rd price quote request and he was very annoyed that he'd yet to see any business from me. That may have nothing to do with the solitaire price he quoted me but at the time I wondered... our conversation was very unpleasant.
 
Maisie|1323259127|3075989 said:
I wonder why he quoted $2400 to one person and $1750 to another :confused:
Click to expand...

What size was your stone with the quote? It has to do with the stone size and preferences with the ring.
 
I think Leon is probably worth it. My pave band is not from him, but I have a solitaire. I am very happy with it, but I will say it turned out more delicate than I had been expecting. I did everything over the Internet (including buying my diamond) so when I finally saw it all in person, it seemed much smaller and thinner than I thought it would be. This goes for the diamond too ha ha!

When you're used to looking at tons of close up macro shots of the beautiful rings and quality craftsmanship from so many great vendors, everything seems much smaller in person. Like Leon's prongs: very dainty! That I like, as well as the low setting, but the shank itself I wish was a tad less thin and tall if that makes sense.
 
I bought my wife a LM engagement ring last year, and I can tell you that I think it was worth every penny. Was it expensive? Yes, but he did a fantastic job. We got her wedding band from another designer and I am withing I had just gone to him - there was no comparison.

As for the other names mentioned in this thread, I think the pricescope community does a great job of providing quality alternatives.
 
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