Price of Platinum Custom Solitaire setting

[woofmama]

Hi Pricescopers,

I posted last week about a custom solitaire design based upon a Van Cleef & Arpels ring. A local jeweler makes the setting and told me they have made several over the last year.

Here is my dilema, I really, really want platinum. I don't own anything in platinum now, this would be my first custom piece.
I was quoted sligthly over 3K. Does this seem like like an exceptionally high price?

I looked at other solitaire settings I would consider like this one: http://www.dimendscaasi.com/build/step1.asp?prodID=asscher1
Or this: http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/cathedral-solitaire-platinum-5550p

I also visited another local jeweler with my stone & they had a setting in stock similar to the BGD posted above. The price on it was $1350.00
but it was for a round. The saleperson told me that it was an old price and she would get a current price quote. I'm waiting to hear back from her.

I really can't justify paying as much for my setting as I did for my diamond. I love my stone and am pleased as punch with myself for finding it. I really feel as though I got a great value for the money spent, my stone faces up very white for a K, it is cut beautifully.
I really can't increase my budget to set the stone right now. I have to stay under $1700 or so. The custom place I was working with quoted
$1700 for 14k white gold. I think that is extremely high & I don't want 14k.

Thoughts????

 

[diamondseeker2006]

My platinum Vatche solitaire setting was around $1800. There's no way I'd pay $3000 for a plain solitaire setting. That is way too high. Dimend Scaasi has some gorgeous solitaires and I believe they will set a customer's stone if you tell them you are a pricescope member. Do ask for one of these two platinum alloys because they are harder and more scratch resistant than the typical 95plat/5iridium: 90plat/10iridium or 95plat/5ruthenium.

 

[Enerchi]

My BGD 3 stone trellis reset in platinum was just as posted on their site - $1100 (ok, not looking AT the site right now - going on memory!) and that was with CADs and Brian making some alterations to modify for a split shank on princess stones. I think your quote seems pretty high for a solitaire.

 

[milton333]

Might also check with David Klass, his quotes are quite reasonable.

 

[Bosie]

I would expect the price of plat to go up given the troubles currently in Souh Africa. The mine that is on strike is the 3rd largest producer of plat.

 

[Gypsy]

I think even BGD would cost you a lot less. MAXIMUM 2000, but probably right around 1800 is where I'd guess it would end up. Personally given how much skill Brian has with design, he would be my first choice.

 

[woofmama]

Thank you very much for the advice and info! I sent a quote request to ERD with a reference to my thread yesterday before I posted this.
I will also get a quote from BGD. I find it interesting that the local B&M stores are trying to push me toward 14k. Perhaps they get a higher profit margin off of those settings. I am more than willing to see what the PS vendors have to say.

I love the VCA setting I was considering but am having second thoughts. I'll have my EC five stone next week & think I should try on some solitaire settings with it. Still not sure if the rings would work together on the same finger or each should be a stand alone piece.
I really want the solitaire ring to look art deco, sleek and classic. If any of you have suggestions feel free to post them.

Thanks Again!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

A classic solitaire with baguette sides comes to mind...but we need to see your band, first!

 

[Gypsy]

Here are my favorites.

 

[woofmama]

DS & GYPSY,

Most of what I had saved in my inspiration file was various step cuts with bags. Probably every ring every posted on here in that style actually.
These were my favorites: Browneyedcountrygirl's LM ring, Kellyfish's ring ( I think another LM), Littlespakles ring(hers is an AVC & huge but with milgrain step sides), Kelso's gorgeous asscher, Emeraldringlovers 5 stone. I do like the first setting you posted Gypsy.

I also love mommy2nks very cool halo with cad sides, the Daniel K rosebud (dimend scassi makes a replica of it), loads of the SS settings,
Decodelights setting. Also love Lauren the Partiers bezel ring & Lil Misfits BGD designed setting.

I also love the look of Pixlys set,(AVC not stepcut)but the overall look of the classic solitare with that delicious SS ec band.

I looked at and tried on every bag setting the stores had & was underwhelmed in real life. Maybe it is the size of my fingers (7 1/2) or the fact that my original ring has 1ct of tapered bags channel set down each side so thats what I have been looking at for years but what I thought I would love didn't do it for me.

At one jeweler we set my stone in multiple semi mounts. They had several Bev K style mounts( not actual bev k) but only in 14k.
I liked one but it really brought out the color in my stone. When I asked if it could be ordered with lower colored sidestones I was told no.
I wasn't in love with it so I didn't pursue that option.

We also set my stone in an unplated white gold solitaire x prong setting. That really brought out the color and made it seem like the diamond blended in to the band, definately a bad choice of metal color for this stone. When we set it in a platinum solitaire setting the diamond looked amazing and I liked the look on my hand. I found that I prefer a thicker band overall.

When I pick up my 5 stone I will take my homeless diamond with and see what they have. That shop is a huge Tacori & Simon G dealer, and I'm pretty sure I don't want to go with either of those brands. Both are beautiful but I don't want to spend that much and they are a bit too overdone for my taste. I don't care for pave or high set stones on me.

When I tried on the Van Cleef replica I loved it. It had a round CZ in it and I realize the original CAD's with my stone made the prongs and shank look too thick. I am going to request a quote from BGD. I haven't heard back from ERD yet. Can you recommend any other vendor to get a quote from?

 

[Enerchi]

Hey Woofmama, I'm someone who rushes into decisions too quickly (not just jewelry!!) and have learned to have to try and wait it out to see what the best options are for me (again, not just jewelry, this was a life lesson) so I'd suggest taking your time on this. Pick up that stunning band (dahling!!!), bring in your stone, have a browse, but don't feel you instantly have to commit to anything. That new band will hopefully satisfy that 'itch' you are feeling. I know the power of new bling itch... its hard to tame!!! I think we all know that itch, actually!! Wait on the quotes. I've only dealt w BGD for custom, but it was worth every penny. Get what you want, don't settle. Isn't that DS's tag line - its not a bargain if it isn't what you want - or something to that effect because I can't see tag lines on posts.

Dahling, you know Audrey wouldn't rush, she'd let the design come to her, not seek it out!

 

[woofmama]

My Dahling Enerchi Such wisdom! You are making many good points. I am totally second guessing my decisions on everything

I love my diamond and love the 5 stone...but is it step cut overkill????
Will both rings fit on my finger??? Should I even attempt that???
Did I really need two new rings??? Will I ever set this diamond???
Should I go custom, what if I want to trade up in 2 years???
Sidestones or solitaire??? Art deco or classic??? Thick band or thin???
If I go on a diet will my fingers lose weight???
If they do and I went custom can it be sized down???
What the hell was I thinking!!!!! I am going mad I tell you, mad!!!!

Now that I got that off my ample bosum I shall slip back into Audrey mode as I stare at my beautiful diamond which I am wearing the clip holder thingy supplied with it and drink wine whilst I leaf thru the pages of PS and wait for the revelation of "The Setting" to become clear. Good Evening Dahling

 

[Gypsy]

I'd stick it in a temp for a while and live with it. If you liked halos, I'd say bezel it with an airline halo... there are a lot of options. But you need to make some decisions first, I think.

 

[Enerchi]

My Dahling Enerchi Such wisdom! You are making many good points. I am totally second guessing my decisions on everything

I love my diamond and love the 5 stone...but is it step cut overkill????
Will both rings fit on my finger??? Should I even attempt that???
Did I really need two new rings??? Will I ever set this diamond???
Should I go custom, what if I want to trade up in 2 years???
Sidestones or solitaire??? Art deco or classic??? Thick band or thin???
If I go on a diet will my fingers lose weight???
If they do and I went custom can it be sized down???
What the hell was I thinking!!!!! I am going mad I tell you, mad!!!!

Now that I got that off my ample bosum I shall slip back into Audrey mode as I stare at my beautiful diamond which I am wearing the clip holder thingy supplied with it and drink wine whilst I leaf thru the pages of PS and wait for the revelation of "The Setting" to become clear. Good Evening Dahling

oh we are two of a kind!! I get your dilemmas and indecisions! My advice for the weekend...and until you get your ring, keep sipping the wine and wearing your stone and just let it ride! Sure, that could be interpreted as avoidance, but that's not what I mean by it. With all that stuff going on in your head, you are not ready to settle on a design yet. Enjoy your band with the EC in the stone holder. Keep flipping thru PS and google and anything else you come across. you'd hate to pick something then regret it, right?

Life is too short to settle - don't rush not something just "because".

That's my Obi Wan Kenobi moment for the day!