Jack Kelege setting - please help me with my dilemma

[Dee*Jay]

In the course of looking for a setting I keep running across Jack Kelege. Every time I see a Kelege piece I marvel at how perfect every detail is. I found a Kelege setting in his catalog that is very similar to the one that I originally fell in love with (which would have to be custom made because that designer doesn't make one in a size that would fit my stone) and I was thrilled--quality that I was sure about and a setting that had everything I wanted... but there's one problem. Kelege won't send the setting out for me to see before I commit. They have one of the exact ring that I want made up right now with a diamond in it so I could see almost precisely what I would be getting, but they won't ship it to the jeweler because the insurance alone is $250+ each way and they won't take the diamond out because they want to sell the ring "as is." They also don't have any plans to make another one of these at this time until someone orders it. I even offered to go to them in LA to see it (the airfare on Southwest would be less than $250) but they won't do that either because they aren't open to the public.

I did just have the brain child that maybe they could e-mail me some hand shots of the ring using one of their employees, but there's nothing like having it on your own hand to really see it and feel it. Plus I don't know if they would even do this.

Now seriously, based on the pricing of other settings that I've seen I'm estimating that this one would be in the $7-10K range--how could I commit to that without seeing it first? Is this normal; i.e., a designer refusing to ship a setting to be seen? Am I being unreasonable? Are there other options I'm not thinking of?

Advice please...

 

[Beacon]

Well DJ, where there is smoke there is fire. If this designer has so little interest in customer service just to sell the setting at the beginning, what is going to happen down the road if something goes wrong or needs service?

It is a large purchase and I would be more interested in working with someone who expressed at least a little interest!

 

[FacetFire]

Grrr. That is frustrating. Honestly, I would probably keep looking for something that you could see in person before committing to. I liked a lot of settings in my search for an e-ring, but I pretty much discounted anything that I couldn''t see in person. I know the some settings I thought I''d love didn''t do it for me once they were on my finger. That''s part of the reason I loved working with Bill Pearlman so much. We saw designs on his website that we loved and he was willing to send them to us to see in person. That kind of customer service just can''t be beat. I wouldn''t have ended up with my current setting if I hadn''t been able to see it in person. Stuff is just so different on. That''s part of the reason I just couldn''t go custom either. Sorry if I''m not helping very much, I just know how it is for me...you could be totally different. But, it is alot of money for something you can''t see ahead of time.

 

[Dee*Jay]

Beacon, those thoughts ran through my head too. For $7-10K I *would* like a little customer service.

And Facet, I also need to see things myself, which is why I ended up not going the custom route to recreate the setting that I really liked. And I SOOOOO wish Bill Pearlman carried Kelege--HE could whip those people into line I'm sure!

BTW, I forgot to mention that when I was originally talking with the jeweler about have a setting brought in he said we would have to coordinate our timing exactly because Kelege would only allow a setting to be out for two days. (E.g., they send it on day 1, we get it on day 2 look at it and send it back, they receive it back again on day 3.) And it couldn't be on a Monday or a Friday because they do not want their pieces in shipping over the weekend.

WHY couldn't I have become enamored with a setting made by a *normal* designer???

 

[gail013]

Hi DJ-

This is a big purchase and you want to love it. I took a look at his designs, and I think there is enough other stuff out there that is similar. I have found that talking to local jewelers, that they have salesman coming in and out all the time with new designs and settings. If you talk to a few and tell them what you are looking for, you may be able to find a knock off, and find someone else who actually has a setting for you to try on. Good luck-

Gail

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Dee Jay, I just wanted to say that I have seen Jack Kelege settings in person and they are indeed gorgeous! I couldn''t fathom the $10,000 price tag, but they were extraordinary. But I think, like you, I''d have a problem buying something that expensive without seeing it first. I think I''d at least ask about emailing pictures of the ring they have. If they won''t do that, then I don''t see how they expect to sell anything!

 

[swingirl]

I''m confused. How does Kelege sell their rings is they don''t ship them to jewelers and you can''t see them at their offices. They don''t sell retail?

Where CAN you see their rings? And when you want to purchase one, who do you go to? Most people want to see what a ring feels and looks like on their finger before the order it, unless they are going for a custom design.

 

[Dee*Jay]

Gail, you''re right, there are a lot of similar settings but I''ve found the quality of the Kelege to be consistently excellent. Not a bead out of place; not one diamond set higher than the others; not a bit of waivering in the milgraining... you get the picture. Plus, one of the things I REALLY like about Kelege is that they use bigger melee than a lot of designers. I think with my stone I need slightly larger melee or else it will all get lost, and sometimes the tiny tiny melee just look like bigger milgraining to me. I think the melee that I saw in the last Kelege setting that was made for a 3+ ct stone was 2 pointers.

Diamondseeker, I think I will call them on Monday and ask for some (MANY!) photos and hand shots of the ring. Maybe then I can get a better idea because the picture that I have from the catalog is terrible. (It is a black and white image that was copied on a fax machine so it''s all grainy.) If I hadn''t seen the good picture from the catalog in the first place I almost wouldn''t know what was going on with this one!

And Swingirl, it''s an interesting process as far as I can tell... I''ve seen the same few settings over and over again (with a couple of exceptions) at different jewelers so my guess is that Kelege produces a bunch of what they think will appeal to the mainstream and has those shown in jewelry stores. You must be able to get *some* other settings shipped in to see, but apparently this isn''t one that they make regularly--the jeweler was VERY surprised that they even had one right now, let alone one with a diamond set it it. The Kelege catalog, BTW, is literally a three-ring binder with 50+ pages and 6-10 rings per page. So we''re talking A LOT of potential settings. Plus they will customize in any way that you want.

 

[Diamond*Dana]

They seem to have an awful ot of restrictions, afterall...you are the customer! I agree, I would not feel good about making such an expensive without seeing it on my hand. Good luck with what you decide to do.

 

[gail013]

Dee Jay-

I can tell how much you love the setting! I will tell you though that I have fallen in love with a JB Star setting and it was kind of the same probelm-no one had the setting, hard to see etc... And I went to a jeweler I have worked with in the past. They were able to call JB directly and get all the info-size of stones etc, down to the last detail. Now, I am making a few minor changes for myself, so the ring won''t be identical, but I think it will be close. I also havent gotten the price quote yet, so when I do, I may go thru JB after all. But what I have learned too, is that jewelers can order in the setting on your behalf, right from the manufacturer. I would ask for their help, and then you can buy it thru them. I personally feel that the setting is very important, and it will make or break the entire ring.....you don''t want regrets....

 

[Dee*Jay]

Diamond Dana, yes, that part about ME being the *customer*, LOL!

And Gail, it''s so funny that you mention the JB Star settings! I looked up on line who carried their settings in my area and went there specifically to see them. The didn''t have a single one--and weren''t too hip to the idea of showing me the catalog either. All they wanted to do was have me look at their custom work (which wasn''t that great, by the way) and appeared to be based on JB Star designs as far as I could tell. Which setting are you considering? I would love to see it!

 

[sanfranciscoellen]

DeeJay, I have to differ with everyone here...I feel like you have left no stone unturned in your search, you know what you want, you know what imperfections would drive you crazy, and you seem to be drawn to the level of quality these rings have.

To me, the only difference between going the custom route (can''t see it until it is done, can''t try it on, can''t return it) and this route is that you have the benefit of SEEING the ring exactly how it will be, you''ve seen other iterations of this designer''s stuff in real life... sounds like it has the custom route beat, hands down.

As for customer service, all you need is an assurance that they will stand behind their product. Smooth talk and bending over backwards to make this decision IS nice, and ISN''T what they are doing, but may not make a difference in the long run if you are getting what you want.

It''s a high price, but you are a discriminating consumer who knows what she wants, no? In the grand scheme of things, the extra $ may very well be worth it.

 

[gail013]

DJ-

I am looking at 1234-003, with a 3.5 carat center stone. I have not been able to see this setting in person, but found one that is close, so I know if I like it on my hand. The setting is actually somewhere between 9k and 12k depending on a few differences, which is more than I want to spend. I guess I figured that if I can have it made for quite a bit less, to the same dimensions, and same or near-same quality, that I would be happy. If I can''t, than I may contact them directly to buy the setting. My thinking was though, that getting this made locally, I would have more input on the design.....I am thinking of incorporating yellow or brown diamond sidestones-just not sure. I am having a wax made that should be ready within a week.

Has anyone bought a JB Star ring? I have heard they are very high quality.

 

[Dee*Jay]

Wallermama - "no stone unturned" -- ain''t that the truth, LOL! And you raise a great point; if I can''t this one my temptation is to go custom... which I also can''t see, so what am I gaining by doing that? Will have to talk to the jeweler tomorrow and see if he''s any help...

And Gail, wow! I just spent another hour scrolling through the JB Star site and I do love their work. You''re ring is going to be gorgeous and I can''t wait to see it. Will you post pics of the wax this week when it''s ready?

 

[gail013]

Hi Dee Jay-

I should tell you I am nervous about having this ring designed! It is exciting, and scary at the same time. I have never done this before. I am going thru a jeweler that we have done business with before,a nd they are a very respected business. It was surprising to me how many of the stores I went to had the same old stuff. THere has got to be alot of us looking for something different.

I will post when I get a picture, and please keep me posted on what you decide for your setting-they are beautiful...

 

[mrssalvo]

Hey dee jay,
gosh what a tough decision. I guess I would have a really hard time buying a setting from a company who wasn''t willing to accomodate a request to see a setting when your going to be spending 10K on it. Not letting you come and see it in person if you''re willing to fly there seems really weird. do they not want your business? who spends 10k on a setting w/out seeing it first and who''s going to buy the 3 carat in the 10K setting without seeing it. anyway, i also understand that this is perfection for you and has all the things you''ve been looking for. I''d probably try to figure out some way to see that setting. can they take it to a local retailer in CA where you could go see it?

 

[kcoursolle]

My thought is that they are definitely not abnormal in their behavior. Many designers won''t send you their pieces or have a public showing. However, is it dissappointing and less than what designers should be, absolutely. I think getting this ring would be very similar to a custom design process. There is a lot of trust involved and many times you don''t *really* know what it will look like untill you have it on your hand. I do like that custom designers are starting to show cads and waxes though, which helps.

So...I guess it comes down to trust. Do you trust yourself that this design is the one you want? Do you trust Kelege to make it to your specifications?

Good luck, tough decision.

 

[Dee*Jay]

Ooooh Mrs. S., what a good idea about maybe having it taken to a store in California where I could see it. I will save that option in my back pocket in case I really can''t get them to accommodate me in some other way.

And Kcoursolle... trust... hmmm... I was thinking that by going with Kelege and using a design that he''s made before there would be less "trust" involved that going totally custom, but I do see what you mean. I have to mull that over for a while...