MY CAD - OPINIONS PLEASE

[Niel]

t being neg. I wasn't either. I just didn't see the issue in the pic you posted I was just hoping for another pic for a clearer view

Sorry Nielseel if I jumped the gun on you I'm cranky because my toddlers aren't sleeping! Totally not your fault but I didn't want you think I was picking on you. I haven't ever purchased from ERD but I have worked on quotes etc with them and I just know they would never do anything underhanded- honestly some of the nicest vendors that I have never worked with- have worked with

Oh not a problem, I think I posted that at 3am when my baby girl wasn't sleeping either. No sleep +web forum is always a dangerous game.
I agree I had gotten a preliminary quote from them for something and they were so super nice and helpful. And as someone in customer service I am pretty picky when it comes to it.

 

[momhappy]

I addressed the melee size in relation to the prongs with Chris. He said that they might use slightly smaller diamonds If need be) by half a millimeter (almost impossible to see a difference).

 

[momhappy]

Update: So, things are moving right along. I have seen images of the plain platinum setting (no diamonds yet). I had to ship off my current E-ring/wedding band combo today - my finger feels so bare I've got an old 1.5 carat platinum anniversary-style diamond band that I can wear until my new ring arrives on or before the 28th. The nerves are really setting in now.... I sure hope that I made the right choice because there's no turning back now.

 

[Niel]

Don't be nervous! It'll be amazing. Don't be happy you get to take it off for a little while. Nothing like it being gone for a while then coming back in a halo to make you remember how huge it looks!

 

[momhappy]

^That's true. Thanks for the reassurance

 

[SB621]

I'm expecting my halo to come back around the same time as well I'm sure it will be fine - it will honestly probably take some getting used to going from a solitare to a halo!

 

[TitanCi]

I would be more careful going with this round halo from ERD because your prongs might be off. If you're ok with that, go right ahead. Speaking from my own personal experience. My stone is 1.60ct, finger size 3.25, and I ordered practically the same ring as you did. Want to see what it'll turn out like?



Here's a close up of the prongs. Needless to say, the ring failed to live up to my expectation.


[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/finally-erd-ring-reveal-but-are-the-prongs-off-pls-help.183122/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/finally-erd-ring-reveal-but-are-the-prongs-off-pls-help.183122/[/URL]

Could it be a difference in CAD cast vs. Hand forging? I'm assuming the three you're comparing to are HF, while yours is cast? Regardless it should have been made how you wanted it...

 

[VRBeauty]

Could it be a difference in CAD cast vs. Hand forging? I'm assuming the three you're comparing to are HF, while yours is cast? Regardless it should have been made how you wanted it...

We have seen this happen before: https://www.pricescope.com/communit...eveal-but-are-the-prongs-off-pls-help.183122/ - as TracyBear suggested, it seems to be a question of the melee size relative to the center stone. It looks like in Momhappy's case she was able to communicate her concerns (thanks in part to TracyBear's input, I suspect!) and Mark adjusted the melee size to ensure that she'll get the halo she was expecting. TB - I hope that when all is said and done your ring is perfect too!

 

[momhappy]

I suspect that yes, it is in part due to a difference in hand-forged vs. cast. I have communicated my concerns to Chris and shared pictures with him. He reassured me that they would pay extra attention to the prongs and that sometimes, yes, the melee size needs to be adjusted, but that he would ensure that it would be almost undetectable. Now, whether or not that translates into my actual ring, we will just have to wait and see.
Having said that, it was at least $1000 more to go hand-forged, and as I mentioned before, my round halo is more than likely not my "forever" ring. My current e-ring is a standard solitaire and match-matchy wedding band, which is SO not me. I wanted something a little more dynamic, but, my dream ring is a bright yellow diamond, so the cast halo was a good middle ground for me. If my financial picture changed and I had to live with the halo, I could probably be fine with that, but I'm still looking towards my yellow stone someday fairly soon.

 

[CharmyPoo]

My advice is try not to go back and forth with a vendor too much - it tends to confuse things for the vendor. Give them the design and be done with it. We have to remember that we are not the only customer. Yes, it is the vendor's job to keep things straight and organized ... but I have seen too many mistakes occur when customers are nervous and start sending off hundreds of emails, start being indecisive, want this and don't want that.

I bet in Tracybear's case ... the images confused the matter - Mark probably thought the "DO NOT DO" picture was a "DO THIS" picture. Anyways, I am not sure if I even see an issue with different melee size. I think the following ring is stunning and it has different melee size. This one is by Mike Robinson.

 

[momhappy]

My advice is try not to go back and forth with a vendor too much - it tends to confuse things for the vendor. Give them the design and be done with it. We have to remember that we are not the only customer. Yes, it is the vendor's job to keep things straight and organized ... but I have seen too many mistakes occur when customers are nervous and start sending off hundreds of emails, start being indecisive, want this and don't want that.

I bet in Tracybear's case ... the images confused the matter - Mark probably thought the "DO NOT DO" picture was a "DO THIS" picture. Anyways, I am not sure if I even see an issue with different melee size. I think the following ring is stunning and it has different melee size. This one is by Mike Robinson.

I appreciate your advice, CharmyPoo, but I disagree. I am the customer and although I realize that I am one of many, that doesn't mean that I shouldn't feel free to communicate with my vendor. I keep in touch with Chris regularly (about once a day), which is not to say that I send off "hundreds" of emails. I laid out my design in the beginning, I expressed a couple of concerns after the CADs were made, and then I routinely track the progress of my ring. I actually think that customers make mistakes by NOT communicating enough with their vendor. Like the old saying goes, "the squeaky wheel gets the grease." In other words, by keeping the lines of communication open, Chris knows that I'm not the type of customer that's going to just sit back and wait for the completion of my ring. I have more specific requirements than that and he knew that right form the beginning. Also, one of the reasons why I chose ERD in the first place was because I appreciated their customer service, which is something that I found was lacking with some of the other vendors I contacted. For example, I called SK on the phone and twice I was instructed to just fill out an email request....

 

[heididdl]

As an aside I love the diamonds all the way down the ring at 5 and 7:00....

 

[CharmyPoo]

I know ERD well and how to work with - I like both Mark and Chris a lot. In fact, I saw them on Friday and Saturday. Mark was so kind and took me on a tour of a diamond cutting factory.

I wasn't referring to you necessary but there are customers that go back and forth literally hundreds of times throughout the course of making a ring. They send pictures here and there .. then confirm a billion times. Seriously, this confuses vendors versus adding clarification. It is better to have clear instructions laid out - there is no problem confirming a few things. But just imagine if you go back 10 times a day .. I feel sorry for the vendors.

 

[momhappy]

^Yes, I see what you mean now. I'm sure that it can get confusing for them. I tried to be as clear & concise as possible in the beginning, so that I wouldn't have to interfere too much with the actual design process. I hope that it all works out for me. It's a big step shipping off your ring and getting a ring back that you hope will live up to your expectations.

 

[VRBeauty]

I bet in Tracybear's case ... the images confused the matter - Mark probably thought the "DO NOT DO" picture was a "DO THIS" picture.

I'm sorry, but - that's quite a stretch, and -- since there doesn't appear to be any evidence to support that conclusion -- unfair to Tracybear.

 

[momhappy]

Update: My ring us still on schedule and unless something changes, It will be ready for shipping on Monday. By early next week, I should have my new ring

 

[Niel]

Update: My ring us still on schedule and unless something changes, It will be ready for shipping on Monday. By early next week, I should have my new ring

Yay!!!! Can't wait to see I hope he sends some glamour shots first.

 

[CharmyPoo]

I bet in Tracybear's case ... the images confused the matter - Mark probably thought the "DO NOT DO" picture was a "DO THIS" picture.

I'm sorry, but - that's quite a stretch, and -- since there doesn't appear to be any evidence to support that conclusion -- unfair to Tracybear.

I actually know this to be the case but I won't be providing more details.

 

[momhappy]

Ok, I normally don't make it a habit to say "OMG" but this moment calls for an OMG!!! My halo is done! I'm assuming it will ship Monday because it was completed late this afternoon. I hope they ship overnight for arrival on Tuesday. I suck at waiting....

 

[Niel]

Ok, I normally don't make it a habit to say "OMG" but this moment calls for an OMG!!! My halo is done! I'm assuming it will ship Monday because it was completed late this afternoon. I hope they ship overnight for arrival on Tuesday. I suck at waiting....

bah oh my goodness any pics?!?!?!?

 

[momhappy]

I've also been thinking about to wear a band with my new halo or not to wear a band? Part of the reason why I wanted to get a halo was to get away from the match-matchy e-ring/wedding band set. If I decide to wear a band, I want it to be mis-matched. I currently own a 1.20 carat platinum diamond anniversary band (channel set, I believe it's called?). It's not exactly what I would consider "mis-matched" but it's a different style. I found a picture of a halo with a similar style band as mine (obviously a very different ring, but still gives an idea of how it might look). Any thoughts?

 

[Niel]

rolling ring??? i know you want one... haha

personally i dont like pave band with different pave band... but if it was with a bezet band or something, that would be nice

 

[momhappy]

^Yes, my initial thought was that I like mis-matched, but I'm not sure if the band I currently own will fit the bill. I guess that I will just have to wait until the halo arrives - I'm getting too far ahead of myself here. My halo's not even here and I'm already on the hunt for a band. I have a poisoned head...

 

[Niel]

^Yes, my initial thought was that I like mis-matched, but I'm not sure if the band I currently own will fit the bill. I guess that I will just have to wait until the halo arrives - I'm getting too far ahead of myself here. My halo's not even here and I'm already on the hunt for a band. I have a poisoned head...

PS will do that

 

[momhappy]

Update: My ring has been shipped out and should be ready for me to pick it up by late morning. I've seen a couple of images and was very pleased with the prongs (they made them thin per my request) and the melee size in the halo, which stayed consistent throughout the entire halo (especially around the prongs where they sometimes have to change melee size to accommodate the prongs). Of course, I'm reserving my judgement until I see the ring in person but I'm happy with what I've seen so far. Chris has been such a pleasure to work with

 

[Niel]

What you can't be a bling tease! Let's see the pics! I'm glad you are haply with it so far!