Thanks for all of the good input.
Artdecolover71, I haven't found anyone near us that has any work that competes with things I see here on PS. Mostly, they carry "designer" rings that they retail for. While we have never had a custom setting, my impression is that I don't want a local retailer being a go between. We want to deal directly. Local jewelers say, "We can do anything. Show us what you want and we'll do it. No problem." That makes me nervous.
As to shipping a stone, we bought from an out of town dealer, and had the stone shipped in. That cost was in the price, but it surely wasn't UPS. It feels like the best route to getting something done is to travel with the stone to the designer, which seems like a hassle, but probably necessary.
Artdecolover71, I haven't found anyone near us that has any work that competes with things I see here on PS. Mostly, they carry "designer" rings that they retail for. While we have never had a custom setting, my impression is that I don't want a local retailer being a go between. We want to deal directly. Local jewelers say, "We can do anything. Show us what you want and we'll do it. No problem." That makes me nervous.
As to shipping a stone, we bought from an out of town dealer, and had the stone shipped in. That cost was in the price, but it surely wasn't UPS. It feels like the best route to getting something done is to travel with the stone to the designer, which seems like a hassle, but probably necessary.
I highly recommend Steven Kirsch in NY. He has done a number of PS rings and gets wonderful reviews (just search his name). He has done a number of 3 stone rings and I think he makes them very delicate, especially the v-prongs on the pears. You could either send the stone via Brinks or fly it out yourself, whatever you are comfortable with! I would ask Steven, I am sure he has worked with stones that size before from out of town clients.
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