Leon Mege Questions (any regrets?)

[ShannonM]

So after our outing to look at some designer settings this weekend the bf is on board with getting a setting custom designed by Leon. We were originally thinking 3 stone but now are tending more toward a solitaire with some simple pave on the shoulders (like the tiffany novo) and an open head with a surprise diamond (like a scott k we saw). I know Leon is very very good with the pave but I haven''t seen any of his designs without a basket. Is there a reason anybody knows of for this?

Also I was wondering if anyone had ever regretted going with Leon instead of a less expensive option, especially if it was fairly simple?

 

[purrfectpear]

I''m only guessing here but it might be a matter of size. A lot of Leon''s customers have some pretty sizeable diamonds so many of them probably need a basket for support?

It should be interesting when you tell Leon you''d like something similar to a Scott Kay ring

 

[NewEnglandLady]

I would aslo guess that it has something to do with the prongs. I love his delicate prongs and he might not be able to achieve the same aesthetic without the support of a basket--usually non-basket heads have bigger prongs. Just a guess, though.

 

[CrookedRock]

He has def done rings without baskets. I know bc I sat there with him for 3 hours trying to find one I liked... I ended up doing something that he had never done before, but yes he does do rings without baskets. There are a few on his site, but I think if you email him asking for examples of rings with no basket he should be able to help by providing some pics...
Good luck!

 

[swingirl]

What do you like about Leon Mege''s designs? I think the basket is a design feature he uses because each ring is customized for a specific stone.

I love my Leon but I choose them to make my ring because I love the basket and I have a lot of pave.

 

[chrono]

That support basket is also the reason why his prongs and the shank can be made extremely thin.

 

[ShannonM]

I love the delicate prongs and the really beautiful pave I''ve seen in his work. No matter where else I see elements I like his work always seems to be the most elegant and well composed. I have several examples of his work to use to show him the elements I''ve loved about the shank and prongs but hadn''t come up with any of the heads that looked like what I have in mind. Of course the whole process is always awkward since I''m an armature and have no idea what''s realistic and what isn''t.

CR- I was hoping you''d chime in since I thought I read something about you not going with a basket, and I know your rock is MUCH larger that what we''re looking form. I hadn''t thought about asking for examples from him but I will definitely do that once I know we''re closing in on a stone. I would like to use examples of all the elements I want from his work, partially since we''d be working remotely and partially to appease his artistic temperament

. I know he can get touchy about other peoples work. (Which btw doesn''t bother me at all. I have a healthy respect and tolerance for an artists ego.)

 

[CrookedRock]

I think regardless of the size it can be done! This ring doesn''t have a basket. I emailed him once for side pics of it and I receved 2, but you really can''t see bc it isn''t the right angle. I know r782 (cause it is my fav) doesn''t have a basket... One of the things he did mention is th culet. if it''s pointy it makes it more difficult to do this, so maybe keep that in mind. Another ring he showed me was with a basket that just dropped down from the head and was not connected to the shank... Def not what I wanted... I''ll look for the pic but I think the bf hid my folder of Leon pics from me bc I was becoming obsessed!! LOL
I talked to him about so many diffferent rings, and design elements... maybe you could post some links to the ones you like and maybe I can help...

 

[gwendolyn]

By ''basket'' do you guys mean the garter-belt looking thing that goes around the waist of the diamond? Or...something else?

 

[CrookedRock]

Date: 5/5/2008 3:22:41 PM
Author: gwendolyn
By ''basket'' do you guys mean the garter-belt looking thing that goes around the waist of the diamond? Or...something else?

No... Look at r782 on his site and you will see what no basket is in the dramatic sense...

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Date: 5/5/2008 8:09:59 PM
Author: CrookedRock

Date: 5/5/2008 3:22:41 PM
Author: gwendolyn
By ''basket'' do you guys mean the garter-belt looking thing that goes around the waist of the diamond? Or...something else?

No... Look at r782 on his site and you will see what no basket is in the dramatic sense...

She was asking what a basket is.

Yes, it is the little side bar that goes all the way around horizontally.

 

[CDNinNYC]

Date: 5/5/2008 12:09:49 PM
Author:ShannonM
So after our outing to look at some designer settings this weekend the bf is on board with getting a setting custom designed by Leon. We were originally thinking 3 stone but now are tending more toward a solitaire with some simple pave on the shoulders (like the tiffany novo) and an open head with a surprise diamond (like a scott k we saw). I know Leon is very very good with the pave but I haven''t seen any of his designs without a basket. Is there a reason anybody knows of for this?

Also I was wondering if anyone had ever regretted going with Leon instead of a less expensive option, especially if it was fairly simple?

Hey Shannon,

I know you''re now leaning towards getting a solitaire but I remember you were initially looking for a three stone cushion ring. I came across this new one on Leon''s website; don''t know if you''ve seen it yet and thought you might be interested.

 

[swingirl]

This one doesn''t have a basket.

300 Tulip

 

[ShannonM]

Boy do you guys know my taste without even knowing me! I ran across the tulip 300 earlier today and thought it was beautiful, and the three stone with the pave is one of my favorite on his site. I would love one just like it for a RHR one day. But then who wouldn''t love some matching cushion bling. The more the bf and I looked the more we liked the solitare look for an e-ring because it sets off the center stone so nicely, and its very classic.

Go figure I did some more ps searching (David is starting to worry because I referr to you all "as if you were real") and found a Leon setting that made my heart go pitter patter. The stone is very different than what we''re trying to hunt down but the setting is lovely. Unique but very classic. I think it belongs to Tiger.

I sent a price quote request in so wish me luck. I''d like a little less pave on the band but I figure that would be an easy modification to work out. If we could have him make something like this for 3k or less I think it would be perfect. Am I dreaming or would this be a possible number?

On a side note I talked with Gary from ERD today. He had a possible stone but it''s a bit smaller than we''d like (the price was amazing however). Unfortunately he was pretty insistant that there are no sotes at all in the 1.75 to 2 ct range which is more what we''d preferr. We''re willing to wait but I was a little discouraged that he didn''t think he''d find anything.

 

[scarlet16]

Date: 5/5/2008 9:51:55 PM
Author: ShannonM
Boy do you guys know my taste without even knowing me! I ran across the tulip 300 earlier today and thought it was beautiful, and the three stone with the pave is one of my favorite on his site. I would love one just like it for a RHR one day. But then who wouldn't love some matching cushion bling. The more the bf and I looked the more we liked the solitare look for an e-ring because it sets off the center stone so nicely, and its very classic.

Go figure I did some more ps searching (David is starting to worry because I referr to you all 'as if you were real') and found a Leon setting that made my heart go pitter patter. The stone is very different than what we're trying to hunt down but the setting is lovely. Unique but very classic. I think it belongs to Tiger.

I sent a price quote request in so wish me luck. I'd like a little less pave on the band but I figure that would be an easy modification to work out. If we could have him make something like this for 3k or less I think it would be perfect. Am I dreaming or would this be a possible number?

On a side note I talked with Gary from ERD today. He had a possible stone but it's a bit smaller than we'd like (the price was amazing however). Unfortunately he was pretty insistant that there are no sotes at all in the 1.75 to 2 ct range which is more what we'd preferr. We're willing to wait but I was a little discouraged that he didn't think he'd find anything.

Hey Shannon-
I'm having Leon make a ring almost exactly like Tiger's for me (with what sounds like a cushion similar to what you're looking for). Unique yet classic was exactly what I was going for. My quote about 4 1/2 weeks ago was about $2500 +/-. It should be ready in about a week.

As for the stone, like I've mentioned before, the selection of stones from 1.75-2ct is very very rare...we looked for 2 months and only saw 2 stones (and ended up with something slightly smaller at 1.66). Here's a link to my stone. Just be patient, something will come around!

 

[ShannonM]

Thanks so much Scarlet. After reading your post I was hopeful and his quote came back this morning (what fast turn around) and it''s right in line with that. Looks like I''ll be getting my own Leon after all. Yay! I hope you don''t mind a copy cat. Now we just have to find that darned diamond. Your post also made me take a second look at the stone Gary sent me though. I''m going to give it it''s own thread to get some more opinions.

 

[scarlet16]

Date: 5/6/2008 9:16:55 AM
Author: ShannonM
Thanks so much Scarlet. After reading your post I was hopeful and his quote came back this morning (what fast turn around) and it''s right in line with that. Looks like I''ll be getting my own Leon after all. Yay! I hope you don''t mind a copy cat. Now we just have to find that darned diamond. Your post also made me take a second look at the stone Gary sent me though. I''m going to give it it''s own thread to get some more opinions.

You''d be as much of a copy cat as I am...we can all thank Tiger for her fabulous idea! I took a look at the stone Gary sent you...but unfortunately, without pictures, it''s hard to tell! The numbers from what I can see look pretty good. Are you looking for chunky facets or one of the new cut ex/ex cushions?

 

[arjunajane]

Hi girls,
I know this is a little off topic. But I have also just received a quote back from Leon, which I have to admit seemed a lil steep for what i was asking..and now compared to what you girls are discussing i''m abit confused.
I only want the classic solitaire but with a tiny bit of melee on the piece of metal that wraps around the head, just underneath the girdle of the diamond. This would probably ~ 12 really small stones at most.
The quote for this was $2600..??
To me, it seems this is alot less pave work than on Tiger''s ring, but more expensive..??
Does anybody have a view on this, as i''m feeling a lil miffed!

 

[ShannonM]

Date: 5/6/2008 11:29:03 AM
Author: arjunajane
Hi girls,
I know this is a little off topic. But I have also just received a quote back from Leon, which I have to admit seemed a lil steep for what i was asking..and now compared to what you girls are discussing i''m abit confused.
I only want the classic solitaire but with a tiny bit of melee on the piece of metal that wraps around the head, just underneath the girdle of the diamond. This would probably ~ 12 really small stones at most.
The quote for this was $2600..??
To me, it seems this is alot less pave work than on Tiger''s ring, but more expensive..??
Does anybody have a view on this, as i''m feeling a lil miffed!

Hmmm maybe that is a more difficult area to put the pave. I know most of the price on my quote was for the labor not the stones. That does sound a little more expensive than I would have estimated based on my quote, but I''m no expert.

 

[acegirlbda]

Date: 5/5/2008 9:51:55 PM
Author: ShannonM
Boy do you guys know my taste without even knowing me! I ran across the tulip 300 earlier today and thought it was beautiful, and the three stone with the pave is one of my favorite on his site. I would love one just like it for a RHR one day. But then who wouldn''t love some matching cushion bling. The more the bf and I looked the more we liked the solitare look for an e-ring because it sets off the center stone so nicely, and its very classic.


Go figure I did some more ps searching (David is starting to worry because I referr to you all ''as if you were real'') and found a Leon setting that made my heart go pitter patter. The stone is very different than what we''re trying to hunt down but the setting is lovely. Unique but very classic. I think it belongs to Tiger.


I sent a price quote request in so wish me luck. I''d like a little less pave on the band but I figure that would be an easy modification to work out. If we could have him make something like this for 3k or less I think it would be perfect. Am I dreaming or would this be a possible number?


On a side note I talked with Gary from ERD today. He had a possible stone but it''s a bit smaller than we''d like (the price was amazing however). Unfortunately he was pretty insistant that there are no sotes at all in the 1.75 to 2 ct range which is more what we''d preferr. We''re willing to wait but I was a little discouraged that he didn''t think he''d find anything.

My center stone is 1.85 ct and i was also told i wouldn''t be able to find one just under 2 ct but we did! it just takes time searching...

 

[IronMikey]

Date: 5/31/2008 5:13:05 PM
Author: acegirlbda

Date: 5/5/2008 9:51:55 PM

Author: ShannonM

Boy do you guys know my taste without even knowing me! I ran across the tulip 300 earlier today and thought it was beautiful, and the three stone with the pave is one of my favorite on his site. I would love one just like it for a RHR one day. But then who wouldn''t love some matching cushion bling. The more the bf and I looked the more we liked the solitare look for an e-ring because it sets off the center stone so nicely, and its very classic.



Go figure I did some more ps searching (David is starting to worry because I referr to you all ''as if you were real'') and found a Leon setting that made my heart go pitter patter. The stone is very different than what we''re trying to hunt down but the setting is lovely. Unique but very classic. I think it belongs to Tiger.



I sent a price quote request in so wish me luck. I''d like a little less pave on the band but I figure that would be an easy modification to work out. If we could have him make something like this for 3k or less I think it would be perfect. Am I dreaming or would this be a possible number?



On a side note I talked with Gary from ERD today. He had a possible stone but it''s a bit smaller than we''d like (the price was amazing however). Unfortunately he was pretty insistant that there are no sotes at all in the 1.75 to 2 ct range which is more what we''d preferr. We''re willing to wait but I was a little discouraged that he didn''t think he''d find anything.

My center stone is 1.85 ct and i was also told i wouldn''t be able to find one just under 2 ct but we did! it just takes time searching...

Was it from GOG? I think I know the one you''re talking about. If you have it I''m jealous!!!