MWG
Brilliant_Rock
- Joined
- Jan 24, 2007
- Messages
- 530
Good idea! I am sure it will be awesome!!!Date: 5/24/2007 10:15:54 PM
Author: Harriet
If I see his artistry, I''m just handing him my stone and leaving him be.Date: 5/24/2007 10:00:33 PM
Author: widget
I feel the need to jump in here and defend poor Leon!
My impressions of him are that he is first and foremost a benchman/jeweler/artist, and probably fairly new to, and and not terribly comfortable with ''dealing with the public''. Many PS vendors hire people whose sole job is to work with the client. For those who want much more ''hands-on'' involvement, there are probably more suitable choices.
He is, never-the-less, a very nice man, and as we almost all agree, his work is superb. For those of us who absolutely trust his eye and judgement, who don''t want to micro-manage a project...he is beyond perfect.
widget
Date: 5/24/2007 9:29:15 PM
Author: surfgirl
As much as I love LMs designs, I decided not to go with him after several phonecalls. He was nice initially but he''s very opinionated and it rubbed me the wrong way because I felt like I couldn''t have a conversation with him. I told him I''d be flying in to see him from the West Coast and he said he would only be able to show me two stones. When I explained that I am the type of person who wants to see as many stones as need be before I decide, he got fed up and said I should get my stone elsewhere, and then proceeded to try to make me feel bad that he only makes 1% on the stones he sells and I''m depriving him...I told him he could charge me an extra 1% if he wanted to...He also basically insulted my intelligence with regard to what I like in a stone and thought I was bizarre to not want the same things he wanted in a stone...I cant remember if I wanted better color or clarity than he was offering...And in the end i realized that I need someone who''ll take the time to really sit with me and talk as much as need be. And who''ll update me as needed. I knew we weren''t a good fit right now. But I envy those who use him...I love nearly all his pieces. I''m sure Harriet will be able to tell within her meeting, if he''s right for her. I''m interested in seeing how it goes. I get the feeling he prefers to work with larger stones.
Date: 5/24/2007 9:29:15 PM
Author: surfgirl
I get the feeling he prefers to work with larger stones.
Date: 5/24/2007 10:19:38 PM
Author: MWG
Bring your cute lil ''pooch'' with you......*S* Have fun!!!!
Take pictures and post details later.
MWG
Thank you very much. We just got the message that he''s up and standing, as well as eating, and it hasn''t been 12 hours since the end of the op. Thanks for your prayers.Date: 5/24/2007 10:38:21 PM
Author: Skippy123
Good idea! I am sure it will be awesome!!!
How is your fil? Sorry for the hijack but I was thinking of him and you today.
Thanks for the update. When I called to make the appointment, he''d already had one at 4. I asked for 3.30, but was told that wasn''t early enough. I tried 3:15 (ok, I operate on a tight schedule), and was told the same thing. So, I actually have the impression that he wants more time rather than less. Don''t worry, I won''t ask to try on everything. There are only 2 items that I''d like to see.Date: 5/24/2007 10:40:19 PM
Author: starryeyed
Hi Harriet. I went back to LM''s site to check where exactly I read about the 30 minute preferred limit, but the site has been changed/updated. The ''Policies'' section does not work for me, so maybe he is updating this next.
What I remember reading was that he will never cut you off or ask you to leave, but he would prefer if visitors respected a 30-minute limit. I also remember reading that he will gladly take more time if needed, but in his experience, most issues can be worked out in 30 minutes. I''m relying on my memory right now, so I could be slightly wrong, but that candid disclosure made an impression on me when I read it.
I think the thing to keep in mind is that he is an artist first. It''s not like visiting a store.
Wise words.Date: 5/24/2007 10:45:04 PM
Author: neatfreak
Oh you totally got the right feeling!
When I called him about setting my cushion, he basically told me that it wasn''t ''worth it'' to set such a ''small'' stone in such an expensive setting. When I explained to him that since we''re in graduate school I wouldn''t likely be upgrading it for many years and I was very picky about my setting and that the setting was just as, if not more, important to me than the center stone, he did back off, but I was a little put off by the comment initially.
Not to say I wouldn''t work with him in the future, but everyone knows I ended up with a Ritani instead for this stone!You just can''t let his comments get to you or else you''d go nuts!
Thanks! There's a pave piece that I most definitely want to see. Can you guess which one that might be?Date: 5/24/2007 11:07:34 PM
Author: mrssalvo
Harriet, good luck tomorrow. I would definitely ask Leon to see some of his pave pieces. I know you're looking for a simple solitaire but since your there you might as well look at his most popular style of work.
Thanks, DS. I'll do my homework.Date: 5/24/2007 11:25:47 PM
Author: diamondseeker2006
I do think it is much easier if you go in with a couple of his designs that you really like. For example, someday I hope to make a sapphire and diamond 3 stone ring, and I'd just call him and say, make it like Widget's (sapphire and diamond) or Kaleigh's (oval diamond 3 stone). We might discuss whether he thinks single or double claw prongs would look best, and that's about it. I wouldn't need to go there, although I think it would be wonderful if I lived there like Harriet does!
Good luck, Harriet, and I hope you have a productive meeting!
I worked with him on a project for a 1.2 RB, and he mentioned that he does not like double claws on a small stone, but it was not a put down it was a preference he statedi I didn''t take it personally because my stone is small in comparison to the large stones that he does work with. He was very happy to work with my stone, and I found him to be nice and helpful.Date: 5/24/2007 10:45:04 PM
Author: neatfreak
Date: 5/24/2007 9:29:15 PM
Author: surfgirl
As much as I love LMs designs, I decided not to go with him after several phonecalls. He was nice initially but he''s very opinionated and it rubbed me the wrong way because I felt like I couldn''t have a conversation with him. I told him I''d be flying in to see him from the West Coast and he said he would only be able to show me two stones. When I explained that I am the type of person who wants to see as many stones as need be before I decide, he got fed up and said I should get my stone elsewhere, and then proceeded to try to make me feel bad that he only makes 1% on the stones he sells and I''m depriving him...I told him he could charge me an extra 1% if he wanted to...He also basically insulted my intelligence with regard to what I like in a stone and thought I was bizarre to not want the same things he wanted in a stone...I cant remember if I wanted better color or clarity than he was offering...And in the end i realized that I need someone who''ll take the time to really sit with me and talk as much as need be. And who''ll update me as needed. I knew we weren''t a good fit right now. But I envy those who use him...I love nearly all his pieces. I''m sure Harriet will be able to tell within her meeting, if he''s right for her. I''m interested in seeing how it goes. I get the feeling he prefers to work with larger stones.
Oh you totally got the right feeling!
When I called him about setting my cushion, he basically told me that it wasn''t ''worth it'' to set such a ''small'' stone in such an expensive setting. When I explained to him that since we''re in graduate school I wouldn''t likely be upgrading it for many years and I was very picky about my setting and that the setting was just as, if not more, important to me than the center stone, he did back off, but I was a little put off by the comment initially.
Not to say I wouldn''t work with him in the future, but everyone knows I ended up with a Ritani instead for this stone!You just can''t let his comments get to you or else you''d go nuts!
No, he did have that O color diamond on his site that Maisie was interested in at one time, so he does not just do colorless.Date: 5/25/2007 7:47:05 AM
Author: Harriet
Someone please tell me that he doesn't draw the line at F.
Phew! Thanks.Date: 5/25/2007 7:57:56 AM
Author: Pyramid
No, he did have that O color diamond on his site that Maisie was interested in at one time, so he does not just do colorless.Date: 5/25/2007 7:47:05 AM
Author: Harriet
Someone please tell me that he doesn''t draw the line at F.
Good to know.Date: 5/25/2007 7:54:22 AM
Author: Kasey3
I worked with him on a project for a 1.2 RB, and he mentioned that he does not like double claws on a small stone, but it was not a put down it was a preference he statedi I didn''t take it personally because my stone is small in comparison to the large stones that he does work with. He was very happy to work with my stone, and I found him to be nice and helpful.
Lol. But YOU made it all the way through law school! I am in public policy actually. I do mostly social welfare research, esp. on children and families. Healthcare/Health insurance, poverty, and food (either insecurity or obesity) are my main interests.Date: 5/25/2007 7:41:00 AM
Author: Harriet
Wise words.Date: 5/24/2007 10:45:04 PM
Author: neatfreak
Oh you totally got the right feeling!
When I called him about setting my cushion, he basically told me that it wasn''t ''worth it'' to set such a ''small'' stone in such an expensive setting. When I explained to him that since we''re in graduate school I wouldn''t likely be upgrading it for many years and I was very picky about my setting and that the setting was just as, if not more, important to me than the center stone, he did back off, but I was a little put off by the comment initially.
Not to say I wouldn''t work with him in the future, but everyone knows I ended up with a Ritani instead for this stone!You just can''t let his comments get to you or else you''d go nuts!
Btw, what grad programme are you in? I''m a grad school runaway.
Date: 5/25/2007 4:19:04 PM
Author: Skippy123
Harriet,
You crack me up. I saw you asking kokolee804 what time they met with LM. Yeah, when is it going to be ready?!??!? Very exciting.
Yes.Date: 5/25/2007 4:21:19 PM
Author: mrssalvo
so, are you going with him for your setting?
Date: 5/25/2007 4:23:48 PM
Author: Harriet
Yes.Date: 5/25/2007 4:21:19 PM
Author: mrssalvo
so, are you going with him for your setting?
It will be this one:Date: 5/25/2007 4:24:52 PM
Author: Skippy123
pweeez tell us more