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leon mege and less than 1 ct stones

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ringster

Brilliant_Rock
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Oct 24, 2007
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hi there,

i'm sooo impressed by what a great community PSers have created :)

i'm looking for an e-ring and am seriously considering a leon mege ring but i probably will get a stone that is less than 1 ct. when i look at his website i am a bit daunted by all of the large stones. do you think a small stone would look funny in a LM creation? will he laugh me out the door if i ask him
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? i am very petite ( 2 inches under 5 feet is the way that i like to put it ) and have ring size 4 so i am looking for something very delicate and elegant.

i am thinking of either :

1) cushion in simple solitaire elegant setting (the elegant setting on LM site)
http://www.artofplatinum.com/4images/details.php?image_id=255
http://www.artofplatinum.com/4images/details.php?image_id=315
OR
2) cushion or round with pear sidestones (trellis setting)
http://www.artofplatinum.com/4images/details.php?image_id=299

i looked at the various threads in show me the ring that highlighted < 1ct stones but i am just wondering about LM and < 1ct stones.

so what do you think?
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He''ll do it, but he isn''t **thrilled** with doing it because as he told me, it''s not worth it to spend so much on a setting for a small stone.
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He DID made a good point however about that setting, which I hadn''t considered, that the setting will look VERY different on a small stone and a small stone will make the setting much less delicate looking.

Certainly food for thought...
 
thanks neatfreak for the info. btw, your ring is beautiful!!

yeah, i''m ascared to ask him as he works on much bigger stones which look really beautiful. even if i could afford over 2-3 carats i don''t know that i would get it anyway b/c i think it would feel like "not me"

though i can see what he means about the setting not looking as delicate with a small stone. i am more focused on the setting than the stone so i am willing to pay a bit more for a really nice setting. i have been so unimpressed by most i see as they either have too much going on for me or they are not elegant enough. i love the pave look on others but haven''t seen one that i like on myself.

do you know of any other designers who make settings that are as elegant/delicate as LM?
 
Date: 10/25/2007 2:03:29 PM
Author: ringster
thanks neatfreak for the info. btw, your ring is beautiful!!


yeah, i''m ascared to ask him as he works on much bigger stones which look really beautiful. even if i could afford over 2-3 carats i don''t know that i would get it anyway b/c i think it would feel like ''not me''


though i can see what he means about the setting not looking as delicate with a small stone. i am more focused on the setting than the stone so i am willing to pay a bit more for a really nice setting. i have been so unimpressed by most i see as they either have too much going on for me or they are not elegant enough. i love the pave look on others but haven''t seen one that i like on myself.


do you know of any other designers who make settings that are as elegant/delicate as LM?
Click to expand...

There are plenty of people who make elegant and delicate settings, but the same thing applies to all. A lot of the designs will look much less delicate with a small stone. It''s just a proportion thing...due to durability issues they just CAN''T make it any skinnier, so the design can''t be scaled down for a small stone.

Why not give him a call and see what he suggests?
 
thanks neatfreak! i''m gonna give him a call. i''ll let you know how it goes.
 
not able to give him a call yet but just thought of another reason that i was going to go the LM route - initially i liked the trellis setting by vatche however i read and have heard several people not being very happy with it after awhile and being disappointed in the quality of the setting. i want to get a setting that will be great quality which i have no doubt will be the case with LM.
 
I''m sorry but he sounds like such a snot!
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"not worth it"
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he''s got a couple rings for sale with smaller stones and his settings and work are beautiful in my opinion. I think talking to him would be best to see what he thinks.

here''s one with a .65 center stone and is stunning. it can be sized down to a 4 if you are at all interested. if not, i''m sure he''d come up with something special for your stone:

http://www.artofplatinum.com/4images/details.php?image_id=380

this one has a .51 center:

http://www.artofplatinum.com/4images/details.php?image_id=320
 
yeah nebe - i''ve read the favorable and unfavorable comments about working with LM. it sounds like some PSers have experienced an "artistic temperment". i guess i''ll see how my interaction goes when i talk to him and i''ll go with my gut instinct whether to go ahead or not. also if the pricing is way out of my budget then i''ll have to rethink my plan.
 
I read somewhere else about Leon making snooty comments about working with 1 ct stones, which is a size that only a tiny percentage of North Americans ever reach or exceed.

I just had Mark Morrell do a 1 ct. Flame (about to post his pics in the Show Me Your Ring) section. He adjusts his signature settings to the size of the stone (I've seen a .75ct with the Flame and it looked great). He was a total pleasure to deal with. Very down to earth and not snooty at all.

I'm only interested in giving my money to those who don't feel the need to wash their hands before they accept it.
 
thanks mrssalvo!! i have hope now! the cushion is beautiful...

quash - i know. i am a bit ambivalent but his stuff is so gorgeous that i might be able to take a bit of attitude. i had a friend who had her wedding gown made and the seamstress was a nightmare. i couldn''t comprehend why my friend gave her business but in the end my friend got exactly what she wanted. although i don''t think she would use or recommend this person again so maybe not a good analogy. i guess it''s just sometimes you want what you want. i really need to experience what the interaction will be to decide if i''m willing to put up with it.
 
Date: 10/25/2007 3:23:40 PM
Author: mrssalvo
he''s got a couple rings for sale with smaller stones and his settings and work are beautiful in my opinion. I think talking to him would be best to see what he thinks.

here''s one with a .65 center stone and is stunning. it can be sized down to a 4 if you are at all interested. if not, i''m sure he''d come up with something special for your stone:

http://www.artofplatinum.com/4images/details.php?image_id=380

this one has a .51 center:

http://www.artofplatinum.com/4images/details.php?image_id=320
Click to expand...

Great find! Those are gorgeous.
 
when i had my OEC which was just a touch over one carat, I called Leon about resetting it. he was nothing but polite and nice to me. he never once made me feel my stone was inferior. i know others have not had the same experience but he''s been nothing but a gentleman whenever i''ve spoken with him.
 
thanks mrssalvo! i am hoping that i have a great experience as well because i really love his work.
 
Date: 10/25/2007 3:41:12 PM
Author: ringster
quash - i know. i am a bit ambivalent but his stuff is so gorgeous that i might be able to take a bit of attitude.... i guess it's just sometimes you want what you want.
Click to expand...

On second thought, you're probably right. If Mark Morrell would have been difficult, but I knew I'd get a great and finely crafted product which I loved, I would probably still do the ring.

I guess my reservation is simply, if you make settings for only 1.5ct up, that's okay and stick with it. Just don't belittle people when they approach you about doing smaller stones and act as if you're disgruntled and put out. It's simply unkind.

But, at the end of the day, I still would probably fall where you are. I see these designers as true artists, so I accept them on those terms.
 
thanks quash :). i can understand those who don''t want to put up with a not so nice attitude - gosh it''s alot of money you are spending and plus it''s a really important and special event so not so nice to feel less than worthy. i''m pretty good at not letting someone''s attitude get to me too much and looking at it as a business transaction but i do have my limits as does everyone.

mark morrell''s work is really great too. it''s hard to find someone who has such talent so like you said so well --
I see these designers as true artists, so I accept them on those terms.
Click to expand...
 
hi everyone,
just wanted to give you an updated. i decided that i would first get my stone before i think about the setting. this way i''ll know if a leon mege is in my budget :)

thanks for all of your help esp mrssalvo and if i go leon then i''ll let you know!
 
Ringster,

I think if you want a Leon Mage ring and you are as lovely and sweet when you speak to him as you are in your posts he will be completely charmed by you. Who wouldn''t be? I think if I were you I might consider one of the rings that''s for sale. They are beautiful and elegant and seem to be very well priced. It would also save you the trouble of hunting down a stone and waiting six weeks for completion.

If Leon has a ring made up right now in a 3 carat cushion or solitaire, I''d buy it today. The only one he has is the Princess and I''m just not a Princess girl.

Nancy
 
thanks nancy (i''m blushing). you are too sweet. i''ll check out the listings to see what he has available.
 
Good luck. It sounds like his mood changes with the wind. I''ve e-mailed him several ideas and lots of photos and questions and he is always quick to repsond. I will say that he quoted me $5K and i read seveal other posts where he quoted the same thing. Not sure if that is standard or not. I was asking his about 1 carat center stone w/ a halo and baguettes in platinum. He was very nice, but his respponses were more canned and generic rather than answering my specific question. I emailed numerous deisigners both local and nationwide with my ideas and questions. I will go look at some designers here locally, but I must say, Bob at WF has been great so far.

I think its all about what you like, what fits in your budget and prioriteis and what makes you comfortable
 
so i saw a ring on leon''s site that might be a possibility - i really want to try it on first though before having it resized. does anyone know his policy on the Rings in the Rings for Sale section? anyone have experience with this? i understand if i will need to pay for the ring and have it sent to me but would i be able to return and get a full refund if i don''t like the way it looks on my hand?

thanks fansynancy for the suggestion!
 
ringster, he doesn''t do refunds on his for sale items unless you work out an agreement with him on the front end. masie, who''s in the UK was very interested in one of his rings but unsure of the color and he wouldn''t offer the refund option to her. of course, if you commissioned him for custom I suspect there is a no refund policy there too so it might not be too much different. still a big risk IMO.
 
So. . . which ring is it???
 
If you are more into the setting than the stone, have you considered a coloured centre stone with diamond sides?

LM has some gorgeous examples.
 
fansynancy i don't want to say yet (hope you understand - i've just read about people lurking and then grabbing an item discussed so want to be careful ) but will after i hear from leon tomorrow - i called him but he is already gone for the day so i sent him an email and will try him again tomorrow

if he doesn't have a return policy i prob won't go for it

pandoraII - unfortunately, i am only interested in white diamond but that brownish one was really lovely (tempting :))

thanks everyone!

ed: addressed pandoraII's comment
 
I got a quote from him when I was thinking my stone would be quite a bit smaller than 1 carat, and I never got any attitude about it being too small. I ended up going with a .99ct and my preference is still for a Leon setting. I know he does quite a bit of work with smaller stones than pictured on his site, but the pics he posts is predominantly with the larger stones.

I have no issue having a setting that costs as much as the stone- it depends on preference- some would rather not spend a lot on the setting and put that money towards a larger diamond... for me, the setting is just about as important as the diamond. Also, it''s not likely I will upgrade (instead of upgrading, I''m thinking going with a fancy color diamond RHR), so I want a setting I am going to absolutely love.

As to the ''tude... I totally get the artist attitude- he is an expert and he understands what will and what won''t work aesthetically and structurally. His work is very recognizable, and I don''t blame him for not doing just whatever a client wants because that is what a client wants because it is his name stamped on that ring.

I just love his work! If it''s what you want, go for it.
 
Ringster,

I am not offended in the least. I''m sure anything you choose wll be beautiful, but I can''t wait to see what you picked!

Sera,

I am glad to see you write that you would spend alot on the setting. I have been going through alot of soul searching trying to find a stone/ring for myself. I am torturing myself because my budget isn''t buying as much as I hoped it would. I think I may go down in size and leave lots of $$ for the setting. I may go for a Leon or a Michael B myself!!

Nancy
 
Yeah... I guess we are in the minority here; most would rather spend a few extra thousand on the stone rather than the setting, which I totally understand. It's not that I wouldn't want a larger diamond, but I would not want to sacrifice a setting I love for a plain band larger solitaire- it's just not me- just as my choice in settings with a smaller diamond isn't for everyone.
 
I think people feel they''d like to get as much rock as they possible can and then stick it in a plain setting. They figure later on they''ll upgrade the setting. I think I have a really liberal budget (40K) to work with. I think my husband would find it a real slap in the face if six months from now I start whining about a bigger setting and I would never presume to ask for a reset so soon. Remember, my ring is a replacement and I am out of pocket for the whole thing. He has already upgraded me for our 10th. Still, the $$ belongs to both of us. We both earned it 50/50.

Nancy
 
Oooh, Pandora!

Those colored stone rings are incredible. I would totally consider one. Are they less expensive?

Nancy
 
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