Leon Style 401 quote

[kalare]

I''''m currently getting quotes for settings and wanted to know if anyone here had recently gotten a quote for this (401) or a similar setting from Leon.

http://www.artofplatinum.com/4images/details.php?image_id=549

I recieved a quote recently and was just wondering if it is more or less in line with what others have been recieving. I''''ve seen people on this forum quoted less for more expensive (per his star rating) settings that I''''ve just recieved for this 1.5 star setting. I also see in another post that somenoe was quoted 4500 for reproducing acebriun''''s beautiful ring (http://www.artofplatinum.com/4images/details.php?image_id=86) which is only slightly more than he quoted me for a much simpler setting. I know prices for metals and whatnot fluctuate as well though. FYI, i''''m setting around a 1.25-1.35 ct stone in the setting.

Any help/input would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks all

 

[Bella_mezzo]

HI Kalare-I don''t have any quotes from leon, but platinum is really expensive right now so it''s probably going to be a higher quote.

 

[yssie]

Date: 1/12/2010 9:18:48 PM
Author: Bella_mezzo
HI Kalare-I don't have any quotes from leon, but platinum is really expensive right now so it's probably going to be a higher quote.

I think plat. is cheaper now than it was, and gold is more.. It will still be more than gold though.



I rather think Leon charges what Leon wants, and I'm not sure what Leon wants is always based entirely on market prices + labour

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 1/12/2010 10:29:30 PM
Author: yssie

Date: 1/12/2010 9:18:48 PM
Author: Bella_mezzo
HI Kalare-I don''t have any quotes from leon, but platinum is really expensive right now so it''s probably going to be a higher quote.

I think plat. is cheaper now than it was, and gold is more.. It will still be more than gold though.



I rather think Leon charges what Leon wants, and I''m not sure what Leon wants is always based entirely on market prices + labour

LOL!

 

[neatfreak]

Date: 1/13/2010 2:11:50 AM
Author: dreamer_dachsie

Date: 1/12/2010 10:29:30 PM

Author: yssie

Date: 1/12/2010 9:18:48 PM

Author: Bella_mezzo

HI Kalare-I don't have any quotes from leon, but platinum is really expensive right now so it's probably going to be a higher quote.

I think plat. is cheaper now than it was, and gold is more.. It will still be more than gold though.




I rather think Leon charges what Leon wants, and I'm not sure what Leon wants is always based entirely on market prices + labour

LOL!

I hate to say it but I think this is true. If he doesn't really want to do a job for whatever reason (he is overloaded on other stuff, he didn't mesh with you, he's cranky) I think he quotes a higher price...

Which is really basic economics. If he has a lot of work then he raises his prices until he achieves equilibrium by making the most amount of $ with the smallest amount of work!

 

[kalare]

Thanks all for the comments. I of course know I''d be paying more in chosing a custom setting from LM. I just want to make sure I''m not being quoted a overly high price. I was thinking of going with ERD but I just don''t think they can get the same look pave with wax and casts.

 

[kcoursolle]

That does seem high for that type of setting, but Leon can charge what he would like. Why not politely ask him to explain the quote?

 

[Asscherhalo_lover]

Date: 1/13/2010 6:14:22 PM
Author: kcoursolle
That does seem high for that type of setting, but Leon can charge what he would like. Why not politely ask him to explain the quote?

Ditto, I would just ask him why the quote is so high, maybe he made a mistake?

 

[y2kitty]

After reading many Leon threads I have some observations: if you have something unique that excites him he is very nice and reasonable. For instance, you can tell how excited he is about some of his pieces on his website using less common stones like Pariabas and such. He likes antique OMCs. I think he just gets cranky about being asked to make the same designs over and over for round brilliants. Maybe I am way off base, but this is the conclusion I have come to after reading many threads and looking at his website.

 

[Lenamama]

Date: 1/12/2010 8:37:56 PM
Author:kalare
I'm currently getting quotes for settings and wanted to know if anyone here had recently gotten a quote for this (401) or a similar setting from Leon.


http://www.artofplatinum.com/4images/details.php?image_id=549


I recieved a quote recently and was just wondering if it is more or less in line with what others have been recieving. I've seen people on this forum quoted less for more expensive (per his star rating) settings that I've just recieved for this 1.5 star setting. I also see in another post that somenoe was quoted 4500 for reproducing acebriun's beautiful ring (http://www.artofplatinum.com/4images/details.php?image_id=86) which is only slightly more than he quoted me for a much simpler setting. I know prices for metals and whatnot fluctuate as well though. FYI, i'm setting around a 1.25-1.35 ct stone in the setting.


Any help/input would be greatly appreciated.


Thanks all

Hey Kalare! That's my ring!!! The cost was $2650, well worth it ... the ctr stone is 3ct....

 

[laurenfischer5]

This was the quote I got for "401" this summer:

Dear Lauren,
You requested a price quote for custom made ring.
Design of the ring is assumed to be similar to catalogue sample r1079
Style: RING SOLITAIRE “401™”
Finger size: 6 1/2.
Material - platinum.
Keystone: 1.25 ct round diamond
Total cost of labor: $2,700

*This includes price for the melee

 

[Collee]

I have no idea how to interpret the star rating but when I read your your post I thought, "yeah, that seems high but maybe on par with that particular setting." However, after reading the replies from laurenfischer5 and especially Lenamama (3ct), something is WAY off.

Side-note - I stupidly recently showed a "copycat" friend Leon's website and a setting that I am interested in. Very impressed, she inquired about the prices. Since I didn't request a quote yet I told her that I was unsure but "heard" that the prices were reasonable. Being that she is one of those nosey "must know all the details" type of person she requested a fake quote for the very same setting She called me a few days later and said she was curious about his prices so she submitted a quote and received a reply that it was $xxx. While I was somewhat annoyed that she felt the need to "invade", I was psyched to hear that the quote was so reasonable. A day later a submitted a quote for the same setting. Since I don't have the stone yet, I guestimated the size. The stone size that I stated was less than what my friend submitted and my ring size was a smaller. Guess what, her FAKE quote was $400 less than mine.

The price quote that I received is still very reasonable for a custom setting but WTH???

I have exchanged several emails with Leon and he was very prompt and cordial. Confused about the difference in price quote though.

 

[D&T]

yeah, his prices seems to fluctuate without really any set rules. Hmmm, are you really set on his ring? I bet Brian Gavin, could make an equally beautiful piece (not exactly of course) without all the price variances...

 

[PushinCushion]

Hi,

I recently had ERD custom make me a setting based on a combination of settings including Leon''s mushroom pave. The photos are on another thread in SMTR, I took some close ups of the basket and the pave work on the band. I was quite pleased with how well Mark executed the pave. You might contact Mark or Gary @ ERD and see what the difference in price is between your Leon quote and them.

Good luck!

 

[kalare]

Wow...thanks for all the replies once again. I was off for the weekend and just got back. I''m hoping he made a mistake.

$2700 just this summer...that''s more in league of what I was thinking it would be. I''d jump on it at that price. He quoted me OVER 3800...

Maybe I should wait till the two weeks is up on this quote and submit for a new one? I''ve considered going to ERD as well and will probably go for a quote. I would just love however to be able to get a Leon ring for around the same price as others have gotten...

 

[Collee]

I would call him to inquire about the quote. Waiting until the quote period time expires and then requesting a new quote is IMO counter-productive. What if the new quote is higher or he is reluctant to re-quote?

 

[mrssalvo]

I''d have your friend order the ring for you and use her quote

seriously though, Leon can and does pretty much do what he wants. I emailed him for a quote a while back and got a not so friendly letter that this was my 3rd request in 5 years he would not give me one unless I make a non-refundable deposit towards a ring purchase. Again, his business and I get that his time is valuable and why he wants to limit quotes etc. But, I will never buy from him, no matter how skilled, just b/c of that email. You can always call and ask him to explain the quote and even mention you friend getting a reduced price for the same ring and see what he says, but don''t expect him to go out of his way to adjust, if anything I would think it would annoy him and he might even decline your project all together.

 

[swingirl]

You should get a quote from BGD. His recent fish tail pave is beautiful and IMO comparable to LM.

I would also ask LM what the 2 star rating price range is so you can go back to his web site and find something in your price range since his quote is higher than your budget. When I was working with him and got the initial quote I asked him what could we do to lower the cost. He gave me some suggestions and was well aware people have budgets and expectations of what they want to spend.

 

[Laila619]

I too would try to use your friend''s quote.

 

[Collee]

Thanks for your input Swingirl and Laila619.

My 2nd post was actually in response to the OP's reply and mention of waiting for the quote to expire. In re: to my dilemma, I am going to just leave well enough alone and not mention my friend's cheaper fake quote. Perhaps my quote was higher due to the uncertainty of the center stone guestimate (might be larger than). In addition, my friend indicated, "an exact copy of Leon's work" whereas I did not.

Anyway, thanks for the advice. I wish you good luck kalare. Let us know what happens!

 

[kalare]

Thank you all for your suggestions, I''ve called Leon and it turns out there was a miscommunication somewhere along the line and a mistake was made in the quote. He was very apologetic and a pleasure to talk to over the phone. I must say that anyone hesitating to call him should not. I hope to be making an appointment to bring in my stone stoon

 

[tyty333]

So happy for you!

 

[winternight]

Great, I''m happy to hear how it turned out! I think your ring will be stunning in that setting.