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Love Maytal Hannah, any NYC based designers similar?

O

OHoward

Rough_Rock
Joined
Sep 16, 2012
Messages
11
Hello all, this is my first post so bear with me if I didn't put this topic in the right category ...and this is really long. Sorry! =)
I love Maytal Hannah's designs specifically number 150 (I am computer-challenged and don't know how to insert the picture. Sad, I know)
Either way, I live in NYC and mentioned the idea of traveling to California to go look at her rings but my boyfriend said I was insane. I thought it was an OK idea...
I want to see the ring, try on different rings, etc. so the idea of communicating via email with my engagement ring designer is out. I understand she is great to work with but it is just not for me since I have no idea what I want/like. So now the question is...
Does anyone know of a designer in the NYC area that has a similar style as Maytal Hannah? I don't just want to take the picture of Mayal's ring to a NYC designer and copy it; I would like to see/try on other designs and ideas since we are in the extreme beginnings of our search.
Before I saw Maytal number 150, for years I was set on stealing Victoria Beckham's design (pear with trillion side stones) but now I just don't know.
One last thing...does anyone have an idea of how much a Maytal Hannah ring cost? I understand they vary with the quality/cut of stone but ballpark? Like I said, I have no idea about anything or what I am talking about so I hope this made sense. Thank you so much.
Ps... We are willing to spend 30,000 but he would like to spend half of that. That’s why I am curious about the cost of a Maytal Hannah ring…can I even afford one? I know 30,000 won’t buy you much at De Beers, Cartier, or Tiffany’s.
 
You have plenty of super talented designers in NYC - I wouldn't even consider going to Cali. Try Steven Kirsch or Leon Mege - I would say they are even better. Speaking from someone who has rings from Maytal Hannah, Leon Mege and Steven Kirsch.

Maytal doesn't make her own rings and uses benches. Steven makes his own rings and Leon has his bench in location (overseeing every piece that gets done). I think that makes a diff.
 
My only advice is to take Charmy's advice when it comes to pave... she knows what she's talking about and has the experience to back it up.
 
Lulu... the 150 that I love (boyfriend HATES) is the first ring you see on the website. An asscher with pink pave. I've never seen anything like it...so far. That's why I would take a trip to Cali, just to see it in person!
Charmypoo and Yssi Thank you for the suggestions. If you say Leon Mege and Steven Kirsch are the places to go, that's where I'll go! I'm 25 with no experience in fine jewelry. No siblings/extended family either. My mother hated jewelry...so I'm on my own. Any other suggestions for NYC jewelers, keep em coming!
Thank you thank you
 
I should be clear that maytal does great worj - my prior post didn't mean to imply she doesn't. I feel for y taste that lkeon and Steven are better suited. You will not see many examples at their offices. Thjey do mostly custom worjk so not a lot to show you.

I suggest going to Michael C fina, Tiffany, Jewelry district to take a look at styles and figure out what you want first.
 
Another thing to understand is that these designers do not have showrooms with a lot of rings. They custom make each piece to order. Most of us never go there. We choose a style that they have made before, preferably, and sometimes have some changes made. You choose a diamond and they make the setting. Most of them will now source diamonds, too, but you are not obligated to buy the main stone from them. They make the setting.

My suggestion is to decide what kind of stone you want and make a new thread and tell the kind of stone you are looking for and the budget for just the stone and let people show you some well cut stones. That way you have an idea of what is available. Then if you want the setting vendor to also give you stone options, you have something to compare.

Do you want an asscher in an octagonal halo? That is what is in the picture of the 150. I recommend Jonathan at Good Old Gold (Long Island) for asschers. If he knows your budget, he can call some in for you.
 
Ok.. Got it. I was under the impression that the show rooms actually have many sample designs, I guess it’s all those years of walking past Zales in the mall. So many rings!
I was trying to avoid the diamond district at all cost because over the years I have heard horror stories of extremely pushy sales people throwing business cards at you left and right. Then I read somewhere on here that no good ring is on display in a window, but I guess it is a good place to start because I have no idea what I want. I wish I wasn’t a control freak and could just let go and let my boyfriend do all the work! Yeah right.
Thank you all for clarification.
Olivia
PS. Steven Kirsch...wow!! I feel stupid asking this but would it be even more stupid to walk into Steven Kirsch with a budget of $20,000? I feel like his designs are way out of my budget (I like pave halo, 3 stone) and I would be mortified if all I could afford was a Steven Kirsch perfect diamond chip.
 
Again, he would make the setting. Let's say a pave setting similar to the one you liked from Maytal Hannah was $4000-5000 or so. That would leave you $15,000 for a diamond if your total budget is $20k. Trust me, that is a generous budget, and yes, he has set many stones that were less than that. (for a three stone ring, you'd be looking at about a carat or so center and half carat sides)

I'd go to Good Old Gold and look at diamonds, and they also carry many designer settings. If you don't fall in love with one of those, then you can have Steven make you a ring. You are very fortunate to live close enough to go to these places! Incidentally, you'd make an appointment with either of them.
 
Good point diamondseeker... here I am looking to go across the country to see that ring that I feel in love with when I have everything here in NYC at my at my disposal. I need "engagement rings for dummies" :/
 
No you don't! You were very smart to come here first before looking! We see lots of sad stories here where people overpay for not-so-good rings with no return policy when we could have warned them if they had just asked first! You are on the right track!
 
$20,000 is a very sizable budget and not small by any means. Steven and Leon have both worked with budgets that are much smaller. Steven especially is very flexible and have done a range of great projects for people with different budgets. He is working on a project for me on a diamond I bought off ebay. I just got another stone and will likely go back to him for the setting or I may try Victor (depending on price) as I don't have anything from him yet.
 
diamondseeker2006|1347846727|3269371 said:
Again, he would make the setting. Let's say a pave setting similar to the one you liked from Maytal Hannah was $4000-5000 or so. That would leave you $15,000 for a diamond if your total budget is $20k. Trust me, that is a generous budget, and yes, he has set many stones that were less than that. (for a three stone ring, you'd be looking at about a carat or so center and half carat sides)

I'd go to Good Old Gold and look at diamonds, and they also carry many designer settings. If you don't fall in love with one of those, then you can have Steven make you a ring. You are very fortunate to live close enough to go to these places! Incidentally, you'd make an appointment with either of them.
Click to expand...

X2 for Good Old Gold. They also have a website where you can see all of their in-house diamonds : www.goodoldgold.com They also make custom rings themselves if you're interested. Go and try stuff on - it'll be fun and what you THINK you like on your hand may turn out to be completely different! :)
 
Thank you all for the info! You’ve all been so helpful.
Oranges...Wow! I'd like to try that on.
OK, so I have been doing my ring homework all day and I found that NY magazine lists all the "top/best" designers in NYC. So I've just been visiting each website and narrowing things down a bit. I learned today that I like rose gold. That was the highlight of my day. I just want something very unique…something that isn’t seen every day. Nothing modern though... confusing right?
Does anyone know anything about Graff? I think they are million dollar rings but I thought I would ask anyways. I think I fell in love just now with their signature ring with an oval diamond. This is the link, I hope I insert it correctly...
http://www.graffdiamonds.com/#/jewe...ure-styles-bridal/signature-styles-collection

thank you thank you!!
Olivia
 
Graff is a nice place to get ideas! That is a super easy ring for Steven Kirsch to make you. And ovals face up large for their weight. Good Old Gold finds great cut stones in all shapes. If you decide on an oval, I'd call them and tell them your budget and they will call in some for you to look at. Once the stone is chosen, I'd have it sent to Steven to set. That setting will cost big bucks with pink diamonds and much less with pale pink sapphires, just so you know!
 
Oh jeez… I got so excited when I saw the picture I didn't even realize they were pink diamonds! I stopped reading and have been only looking at pictures because I feel my eyeballs starting to strain and burn =/
Yes, with the little that I know, I know I can't afford pink diamonds. Pale pink sapphires it is! Thanks for the timely response diamondseeker.
And the search continues…
Olivia
 
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