Opinion on Ouros and custom / duplication of a setting

[bryanwood74]

Hi all,

First time post been stalking the site for a few weeks. After doing a lot of research I bought a IGI E color VVS2 2 carat HPHT stone at clean origin. I am pretty pleased with it and read many of the posts here on what to look for and the forum has been super helpful.

The next in my thought process is now the setting - an engagement ring that I found at a jewelry designer's site that I like the look of. It and the matching band (attached photos) are about $3600 including tax and all the usual warranty, mounting of center stone, and sizing, etc stuff you'd find at a retailer like Diamonds Direct, etc. I got a quote from another jeweler for a couple hundred more for the same setting.

I've been watching the forum and it seems everyone universally likes what Ouros Jewels has done for them, so I asked to see if they could essentially create a duplicate of it and they said yes. To include lab created E, VS1 stones, matching band and rhodium plating size 8 for about $1k.

My questions are would you trust them with this, and do you think they can get all the detail and approximate the ratios of stone sizes right? Also quality of the metal used, and heavy enough shank, etc. I think it's almost a no brainer to try and for 1/3 of the price, and shipped in 3-4 weeks as opposed to 4-6 weeks for the retail version. I'm not in a super hurry. I just want a very good, very high quality copy of this setting.

Any advice or input is much appreciated!

Thanks,
Bryan

 

[bryanwood74]

This is my center stone and IGI cert attached.
https://ssdweb.co/ssdweb/hd/Vision3...asicInfo.aspx?STONELIST=903350002&ISCONFIRM=0

Stone pdf attached.

Feel free to let me know thoughts on the stone.

 

[Mooshi]

I've had Vijay make me a setting with a flush set diamond and open spot for a stone I already had, I was very impressed with the quality of the product I received. Going back and forth on CADs took a while for me, explaining what I wanted changed was difficult, so as long as you have patience I'd say it's worth it.

Giving him a photo of exactly what you want to recreate would be much easier than my experience of, "like this photo, but change this and this and this and this.."

 

[rosethorn]

I’ve worked with Vijay a bunch and as far as custom work goes my best experiences have been when I’ve used photos to show him exactly what I wanted. I think the language barrier makes small, finicky changes more difficult without pictures to show exactly what you mean.

In essence, this is exactly the kind of work I would be fine having him do.

 

[bryanwood74]

Is there anyone else I should also be looking at, any other jewelers that are "trusted" amongst the folks here?

 

[Alybetter]

At this point I have had a Vijay make two custom settings for me. Although neither of them are nearly as ornate or detailed as the one that you have pictured. The overall experience working with him has been positive. However there is a bit of a language barrier, and I do not blame him for that at all, he is bilingual and I am not. However there is a tendency for things to become lost in translation and that would worry me if I were having him create some thing as detailed as what you have in mind.

As I have discovered purchasing items from India and Israel, the returns process is not always easy. Customs or duties or whatever they call it, I think they call it release, need to be paid by them when they receive the item back from you. And it’s pretty expensive. If you were able to clarify with Vijay what the returns process would be and who would be responsible for paying what, I think that would be optimum. I would also ask for high resolution close up photography of the item when it is completed before he ships it out. He’s always been happy to do that for me. Although you may have to ask multiple times for clear photographs, the first set of photos I got from him weren’t as close as I had wanted them to be.

As far as the workmanship I am completely satisfied.

 

[Kim N]

Is there anyone else I should also be looking at, any other jewelers that are "trusted" amongst the folks here?

This is a piece that I would highly recommend David Klass Jewelry for. His halo and pave work are gorgeous.

 

[monipod]

Looking at what you want done, I also think it may be best to find a local jeweller. Not that I don't think Vijay can deliver but as others have said, it's too intricate a project to not get right, and the returns/redo process will be exhausting. It may well cost you as much to have it done overseas.

I've only bought off the rack from Vijay but if you do decide to go ahead, then just be very clear about what you're after with photos and simple instructions.

 

[AllAboardTheBlingTrain]

Open offer for anyone struggling with language barrier issues with Ouros btw - I speak Hindi and I can help translate things if needed! I end up having to always explain things in “Hinglish” to my own jeweler in India as well so I get the struggle. I haven’t bought anything from Ouros so I can’t say.

 

[Alybetter]

Open offer for anyone struggling with language barrier issues with Ouros btw - I speak Hindi and I can help translate things if needed! I end up having to always explain things in “Hinglish” to my own jeweler in India as well so I get the struggle. I haven’t bought anything from Ouros so I can’t say.

That’s just awesome!! I may ask for your help next project I do with Vijay.

 

[bryanwood74]

Looking at what you want done, I also think it may be best to find a local jeweller. Not that I don't think Vijay can deliver but as others have said, it's too intricate a project to not get right, and the returns/redo process will be exhausting. It may well cost you as much to have it done overseas.

I've only bought off the rack from Vijay but if you do decide to go ahead, then just be very clear about what you're after with photos and simple instructions.

Yeah one of the local jewelers has a "guy" they would send photos of it off to for him to make it and them just set the center stone.

One of the others here said they would be able to in house build something if I had pictures. I think their price was reasonable but I haven't showed them this at this point to see what a price would be.

I have reached out to David Klass to get his input. I may also let the second of the two local jewelers give me an estimate.

 

[bryanwood74]

Open offer for anyone struggling with language barrier issues with Ouros btw - I speak Hindi and I can help translate things if needed! I end up having to always explain things in “Hinglish” to my own jeweler in India as well so I get the struggle. I haven’t bought anything from Ouros so I can’t say.

Thank you I may take you up on this, and if not now in the future for other projects!

 

[Tourmaline]

I haven’t worked with him, but I have asked him questions. I would be a bit concerned that his company’s jewelry-making is nowhere near as advanced as their diamond cutting. If you look at all of the jewelry in his shop, none of it is what I would consider comparable to higher end pieces.

 

[bryanwood74]

I spoke to David Klass via Etsy message and he gave me a quote for the ring and band that was about $700 shy of the original designer / retail ring. I think I may just buy from DD as I am concerned about the quality and detail that Ouros could produce and since other pricing isn't far off. Decisions, decisions...