Karen Gannon
Rough_Rock
- Joined
- May 23, 2009
- Messages
- 39
Hi bling lover friends. I haven't posted on Pricescope although have enjoyed reading the forums for years. After several years of hearing different feedback about experiences with Leon Mege, I thought I'd share my personal and recent dealings with him. Diamond in question. A 3 + carat, beautiful antique square cushion shaped diamond that I rescued out of a modern yellow gold mounting. Poor thing. The Diamond was one of those very very rare stones that over the years have taken my break away. I am not talking about a 5 carat Royal Asscher D color, or the like that is clearly gasp worthy. Nonetheless, this diamond with the high crown, teeny tiny table, close to 1:1 ratio made my heart stop a beat. It is so full of chunky flashes of fire! So, its mine, sits in a safety deposit box for over a year while me and my daughter collaborate what this diamond needs. A hallo? Love them but like them better with color or asscher in the center. ..Leon's ring with the antique French cut diamonds? .I kept going back and comparing this design to a ring I have that has a 1.06 carat OEC in the center, with bead set OEC tapering down the sides. Both have a raise shoulder shank, low profile. I can wear lots of other rings but people stop me all the time when I am wearing this simple but beautiful edwardian ring. I had to stop wearing it at work because people wanted "that one" and they would point to my ring. Leon's ring speaks to the same sense of simplicity and style. Classic, understated, stunning without apologizing for not being over the top. We kept going back to Leon's simple setting with the antique french cut diamonds. Ok. Should I call Leon? As a Gemologist, I can obviously have a ring done at wholesale. But, this diamond is special. I've seen bigger, whiter, but not more beautiful. Well ok a few lol. Anyway.... We go for it.
By the way, I had sent the diamond to GIA.
Color: J (not surprised)
Clarity SI-1 (totally shocked...should be VS-2 at lowest)
GIA grading report # laser inscribed now on girdle
I send off an email. Rachael, an assitant responds and asks me some questions and then puts Leon on the phone (Yikes...I get nervous. Wasn't expecting to talk to Leon). I try to follow up the email with details that I am hoping and expecting but also let him know any recommendations will be appreciated as well. He asked a number of questions, I answered. I didn't want anything fussy added. I wanted simplicity in the ring, no gallery design or diamonds on the gallery or surprise diamonds. Tiny double claw prongs and very very delicate milgrain. I wanted to ring to look like it had been worn for 100 years but of course stronger. He asked me to send him the diamond and off it went the next day. Along with a check of course. I understood it could take 8-12 weeks. He would send me pics of the sides stones he was matching up with it. I was good with that and we were putting it out of our mind and going to enjoy the summer. Time was not important to me. What was important to be was that Leon could not have been nicer and he made me feel entirely comfortable calling him at any time. I didn't. I wanted perfection. That takes time. It was my intent to leave him to what he does best.
My daughter, who also follows Pricescope had an internship in NYC this summer. She wanted to drop by and maybe see the progress. Leon welcomed her into his office and spent allot of time with her, showing her many of his designs, letting her try them on, talking with her about his business, what he does, how he got to be where he was. She adores him and left feeling like she made a good friend. And, a list of "must haves".
A few weeks ago Rachael rang me requesting final payment. Ring was about ready and would be mailed. Off went the final payment, and a week later Rachael said the ring would be mailed on Monday, Fedx. Ok. Now I was scared. I mean this was allot of money for something I hadn't seen, never met them in person my self, never got to try on....nothing. Box is delivered. I stare at it. My heart is beating. I mean what if I was disappointed? What if we had a miscomuncation? What if the diamonds didn't match well with the center stone as I knew they were whiter. What the french cuts weren't lively. I knew the center stone threw off insane flashes of sparkle and color. As a gemologist, it is very rare I pop for a diamond and it has to make me lose sleep it is so gorgeous, even in a J color. Ok back to the ring. I take a picture of the box and send it to my daughter. She text back open it open it open it omg open it. I can't. Ok finally I get it out of one box. But it is inside of another box. That gives me time to breath. I know...it is just a ring but...finally I get to the ring box. A marroon colored box with Leon logo on it. I can't open it. But my daughter won't leave me alone. My mistake in telling her. (she is in college in Dallas so can't see it in person). Finally I open it and close it fast. I recognize the center stone and knew immediately it was the same diamond. BLING!!! But I never doubted that of course. Finally I look at the ring. It is pure perfection. The chunky facets of the antique french cuts compliment the center stone in a way that they should, making the antique cushion center stage. They make Lola look better if that was even possible. Did I say perfection?
Anyone who has reservations about working with Leon should at least give him the opportunity. He doesn't make jewelry. He makes heirlooms. As someone who has been in the business since 1980, and has access to most of the known brands at cost and goldsmiths who are very skilled to make custom ring, I don't regret for a second have Leon Mege make this ring for us and paying for it. It was worth it. He is kind, easy going, and a pure genius when it comes to the craft of jewelry making. I am already planning on a few other things I am going to have him do for us.
I promise to get pics soon!!! These are rough shots taken before I rushed off to work. They are terrible but I will work on them. I just wanted to talk about Leon.
By the way, I had sent the diamond to GIA.
Color: J (not surprised)
Clarity SI-1 (totally shocked...should be VS-2 at lowest)
GIA grading report # laser inscribed now on girdle
I send off an email. Rachael, an assitant responds and asks me some questions and then puts Leon on the phone (Yikes...I get nervous. Wasn't expecting to talk to Leon). I try to follow up the email with details that I am hoping and expecting but also let him know any recommendations will be appreciated as well. He asked a number of questions, I answered. I didn't want anything fussy added. I wanted simplicity in the ring, no gallery design or diamonds on the gallery or surprise diamonds. Tiny double claw prongs and very very delicate milgrain. I wanted to ring to look like it had been worn for 100 years but of course stronger. He asked me to send him the diamond and off it went the next day. Along with a check of course. I understood it could take 8-12 weeks. He would send me pics of the sides stones he was matching up with it. I was good with that and we were putting it out of our mind and going to enjoy the summer. Time was not important to me. What was important to be was that Leon could not have been nicer and he made me feel entirely comfortable calling him at any time. I didn't. I wanted perfection. That takes time. It was my intent to leave him to what he does best.
My daughter, who also follows Pricescope had an internship in NYC this summer. She wanted to drop by and maybe see the progress. Leon welcomed her into his office and spent allot of time with her, showing her many of his designs, letting her try them on, talking with her about his business, what he does, how he got to be where he was. She adores him and left feeling like she made a good friend. And, a list of "must haves".
A few weeks ago Rachael rang me requesting final payment. Ring was about ready and would be mailed. Off went the final payment, and a week later Rachael said the ring would be mailed on Monday, Fedx. Ok. Now I was scared. I mean this was allot of money for something I hadn't seen, never met them in person my self, never got to try on....nothing. Box is delivered. I stare at it. My heart is beating. I mean what if I was disappointed? What if we had a miscomuncation? What if the diamonds didn't match well with the center stone as I knew they were whiter. What the french cuts weren't lively. I knew the center stone threw off insane flashes of sparkle and color. As a gemologist, it is very rare I pop for a diamond and it has to make me lose sleep it is so gorgeous, even in a J color. Ok back to the ring. I take a picture of the box and send it to my daughter. She text back open it open it open it omg open it. I can't. Ok finally I get it out of one box. But it is inside of another box. That gives me time to breath. I know...it is just a ring but...finally I get to the ring box. A marroon colored box with Leon logo on it. I can't open it. But my daughter won't leave me alone. My mistake in telling her. (she is in college in Dallas so can't see it in person). Finally I open it and close it fast. I recognize the center stone and knew immediately it was the same diamond. BLING!!! But I never doubted that of course. Finally I look at the ring. It is pure perfection. The chunky facets of the antique french cuts compliment the center stone in a way that they should, making the antique cushion center stage. They make Lola look better if that was even possible. Did I say perfection?
Anyone who has reservations about working with Leon should at least give him the opportunity. He doesn't make jewelry. He makes heirlooms. As someone who has been in the business since 1980, and has access to most of the known brands at cost and goldsmiths who are very skilled to make custom ring, I don't regret for a second have Leon Mege make this ring for us and paying for it. It was worth it. He is kind, easy going, and a pure genius when it comes to the craft of jewelry making. I am already planning on a few other things I am going to have him do for us.
I promise to get pics soon!!! These are rough shots taken before I rushed off to work. They are terrible but I will work on them. I just wanted to talk about Leon.
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