question about custom at local jewelry store

[gail013]

I am going into the local jewlers today to check out the custom setting they did for me. Is it approporiate for me to ask if I can take the wax home and ''live with it for a few days''? I have a hard time deciding sometimes, and on such a large purchase, I would like to make sure.

It will be really interesting to see how this turns out. I am trying to blend together a few different styles-JB Star and Beaudry, with a large round. Can anyone also tell me what I should look for in a well done custom piece? From what I''ve read, I am thinking it takes a few times to get it right.

This is further complicated because after our jeweler offered to make this wax up for us, I found another diamond at Whiteflash for of course a little less. Bob has been very gracious and is holding the stone for me, and knows the situation. I also contacted another jewelry designer who''s name I got from these boards, who does beautiful handmade custom work. The hard part is trying to make comparisons when you can''t look at it all in front of you. The setting will need to be built around the stone also.

Any suggestions for me?

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Well, I know exactly how you feel. I think it depends on how much work this local jeweler has invested in your project. If you had the confidence in them to ask them to do a wax for you, then I sort of feel like you should go forward. But I am not certain how much work that would be. I would not ask to take the wax home. I think it is okay to say that you feel unsure if it is exactly what you want and you want to take more time to think on it. That way you have a way out...you're not really rejecting their work, you are saying you don't know what you really want (been there!).

If you are considering Maytal, I think you'd be very fortunate to get her to make you a ring. But custom has perils no matter who does it...you're basically stuck with the piece once it is done. Plus if you plan to wear pave everyday, you likely will lose some stones, so going local might make it easier to get the little stones replaced. Also, is the WF stone better? I'd definitely want the best stone. Lots of considerations here.

 

[mrssalvo]

Hi gail,

I don't necessarily think it should take a few times to get it right

. If they know what they are doing they should pretty much get it right on the first try

. Have you seen other pieces that your local jeweler has done? tried them on etc.? When attempting an intricate setting like a beaudry i really do think it's best to try and stick with the designer who makes it day in and day out or go with someone you know has a ton of experience with pave. If you are comfortable with the workmanship of your local jeweler than it may very well be more convenient for you to just work local. that way you can approve the wax and be there throughout the process.

As for what to look for in a well done custom piece, well I'm one of the extremely picky people who check out pave with a loupe, but I'd look for even set pave, no stones higher/lower than another, even prongs/beads, no blob beads, nicely polished plat. no tool marks, etc. Again, not everyone is as picky as may and what is considered acceptable by most jewelers/appraisers, but that will at least give you an idea of some things to look for.

 

[gail013]

Thanks Diamond Seeker, that''s a good point about having the pave replaced. Yes I am talking about Maytal, and she seems like a very nice person, and I have seen pictures of her work.

Our jewlerer kind of insisted on making up the wax. I did say ask ''what if we don''t buy it'' and he kind of blew that off. We have bought from before (not knowing what I know now about pricing etc), and he''s been in business for a good 50 years. I wanted a quote before the wax-some kind of ballpark and he said he needed to do the wax to give a quote so there we were! I do seem to get myself into those situations where something better is around the corner.....

The two stones are similar in size , and I have posted before about the local guys stone. He has had it in the store for 20 years! Something does not add up. It is a 3.5 carat round M, ideal cut, VVS 1, strg fluor, BUT it is EGL-USA rated. I don;t have the other specs in front of me, which I do need. The Whiteflash is a K, no fluor, VS2, and about $1000 less, not a ACA, but Bob thinks still a very nice stone. Maytal offered to send me a stone she found but it is EGL-ISrael, for abut $2500 less-I told her no thanks. I know my local guys stone is over priced, and thought it I was to proceed that we would negotiate on that. It looked beautiful, but I was worried about the fluor. The more I read though, the less worried I am, as long as I like it.

I would really rather not go custom, but I don''t want the regular engagement ring. This is a 20 yr upgrade ring, and I want something different. It is surprising, but here in Mpls, there is very little designer jewelry to look at. Going custom with a designer in California does seem scary, but I know it could be worth it too. I love those darn pave with halo rings!

 

[Cehrabehra]

Date: 10/17/2006 10:00:33 AM
Author: diamondseeker2006
Well, I know exactly how you feel. I think it depends on how much work this local jeweler has invested in your project. If you had the confidence in them to ask them to do a wax for you, then I sort of feel like you should go forward. But I am not certain how much work that would be. I would not ask to take the wax home. I think it is okay to say that you feel unsure if it is exactly what you want and you want to take more time to think on it. That way you have a way out...you''re not really rejecting their work, you are saying you don''t know what you really want (been there!).

If you are considering Maytal, I think you''d be very fortunate to get her to make you a ring. But custom has perils no matter who does it...you''re basically stuck with the piece once it is done. Plus if you plan to wear pave everyday, you likely will lose some stones, so going local might make it easier to get the little stones replaced. Also, is the WF stone better? I''d definitely want the best stone. Lots of considerations here.

greenlake offers one free do-over if you''re not satisfied with the finished product.

anyway, I''m in the same boat and I''d ask to sleep with the wax overnight... what could it hurt to ask? Greenlake will even mail you their wax if you''re long distance so you can inspect it up close.

I agree with DS on getting the best stone - that''s paramount, though a gorgeous stone in a horrid setting isn''t any better than a horrid stone in a gorgeous setting lol!

I''ve seen the old wax modified 3 times and she''s making a new wax for the 4th. The first girl did two and it went from bad to worse and the 2nd girl fiddled with it and saw where the head was too small and needed a whole new wax so she''s working on that one... if you see the wax and you aren''t in love with it, ask them to tweak it. It''s ALL about the *details* in this project... if they are unreceptive to your ideas/suggestions, no matter how minute (unless of course it is a structural or budget issue) then find someone you feel comfortable working with.

 

[Cehrabehra]

Date: 10/17/2006 10:17:26 AM
Author: gail013
Thanks Diamond Seeker, that''s a good point about having the pave replaced. Yes I am talking about Maytal, and she seems like a very nice person, and I have seen pictures of her work.

Our jewlerer kind of insisted on making up the wax. I did say ask ''what if we don''t buy it'' and he kind of blew that off. We have bought from before (not knowing what I know now about pricing etc), and he''s been in business for a good 50 years. I wanted a quote before the wax-some kind of ballpark and he said he needed to do the wax to give a quote so there we were! I do seem to get myself into those situations where something better is around the corner.....

The two stones are similar in size , and I have posted before about the local guys stone. He has had it in the store for 20 years! Something does not add up. It is a 3.5 carat round M, ideal cut, VVS 1, strg fluor, BUT it is EGL-USA rated. I don;t have the other specs in front of me, which I do need. The Whiteflash is a K, no fluor, VS2, and about $1000 less, not a ACA, but Bob thinks still a very nice stone. Maytal offered to send me a stone she found but it is EGL-ISrael, for abut $2500 less-I told her no thanks. I know my local guys stone is over priced, and thought it I was to proceed that we would negotiate on that. It looked beautiful, but I was worried about the fluor. The more I read though, the less worried I am, as long as I like it.

I would really rather not go custom, but I don''t want the regular engagement ring. This is a 20 yr upgrade ring, and I want something different. It is surprising, but here in Mpls, there is very little designer jewelry to look at. Going custom with a designer in California does seem scary, but I know it could be worth it too. I love those darn pave with halo rings!

I wouldn''t be afraid outright of that stone.... not after an INDEPENDENT APPRAISAL so I really knew what I was buying!!!

 

[jmtomaui]

It is surprising, but here in Mpls, there is very little designer jewelry to look at.

Gail, I too am from Mpls. May I ask who you are working with?

I don''t want to confuse your situation but if you would be interested, I could give you another local name and website you might be interested in.

 

[gail013]

Hello-

I am working with Badiner''s downtown, and also talking with Whiteflash and Maytal about doing the custom design. Badiners certainly has a good reputation, but not alot of help on the creativity end of things. I am heading there this aft to take a look at the wax and kinda nervous!

 

[jmtomaui]

Good luck this afternoon Gail!

If you are interested, check out http://www.innsbruckjewelers.com/ for another local source. I think you would love working w/ Steve and Margaret! They have some designer but also do a lot of custom work as well.

Oh, I hope this is OK to recommend a dealer I have worked with for many years now. If not Moderator, please feel free to delete this message and accept my apologies!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Gail, the strong flour. probably is a big plus in a 3 ct. M color stone. Have you been able to take it outside and look at it in natural daylight, both sun and shade? I''d never buy anything under H color without looking at the color in various light.

I wouldn''t necessarily dismiss the stone Maytal found either. The K from WF would still need to be looked at. Soemone else has said, and it may have even been on your thread about the M stone..not sure, that color can be yellow, browish, grayish, etc. You really wouldn''t be able to decide on any of them without seeing them.

I will say this. Maytal worked for Beaudry and as far as I''m concerned, it doesn''t get much better than that. I''d put her work right up there with Leon. (But I have only seen photos of any of it!)

 

[allycat0303]

I had a ring custom made by Maytal. It''s really, really gorgeous. It''s not a halo ring though. She was a pleasure to work with.

I think the only thing I suggest is that because Halo ring''s have to be built around the ring, and are frequently pretty expensive, if there is a particular setting made by someone you love, then (if possible) have that designer make the exact ring. I find that cuts down on the surprises. I find that each designer has a subtle style in halo rings, frequently, I feel like I can look at a halo ring and tell who made it (bizzare enough, might be because I look at so many beautiful rings on this site

).

The halo ring I had, did not have a wax, he drew the sketch and that''s it (so it was scary at the time) but I trusted the jeweler so I think that is paramount.

 

[denverappraiser]

Date: 10/17/2006 9:49:49 AM
Author:gail013

I am going into the local jewlers today to check out the custom setting they did for me. Is it approporiate for me to ask if I can take the wax home and ''live with it for a few days''? I have a hard time deciding sometimes, and on such a large purchase, I would like to make sure.

Gail,

A lot of jewelers are fairly nervous about this sort of thing but it''s ok to ask. The problems are:

#1. Waxes are extremely fragile and can be very time consuming to make and repair. You can, in effect, do hundreds of dollars of damage very easily and when the jeweler quite reasonably charges for repairs, the customers always get upset about it.

#2. Many jewelers charge a single estimated price for a custom job. It’s difficult to separate how much to charge you for just the wax component and they fear that you are going to take it to do the casting, finishing, setting, etc. Aside from losing a part of the sale, this means that someone will have a ring that they might be inclined to describe as made by XYZ jewelers when, in fact, only the wax was done by them. If the craftsmanship of the remainder of the project isn’t up to their standards, it somehow is their fault and their reputation can suffer.

#3. Access to the uncast wax gives their competitors the best possible opportunity to knock off their designs. Professional designers tend to guard these things VERY carefully for this reason.

By all means, feel free to ask them, but don''t be offended if they decline.

Neil Beaty
GG(GIA) ICGA(AGS) NAJA
Professional Appraisals in Denver

 

[gail013]

OK, so I just got back from the jewelers. They did an excellent job on the wax-it is really everything I hoped it could be. I am not sure about the diamond though. It is actually a N, EGL rated. I took it out into the skyway where the outside light shines in. It does look a little yellow-which I guess being a N it would. My hubbie thought it was yellow, and a friend of ours who happened by thought so too. The price is right, but I am debating what to do. It seems to me that set into a platinum setting with lots of mellee, it will look even yellower, although our jeweler thought that in the bezel setting it would be lovely.

He''s going to check elsewhere to see if he can find a J or K 3 carat for us in our price range. I have come to the conclusion it is far easier to work thru the same person if I can and if the price is right.

Any suggestions on the N ? I am trying to determine if the yellow bothers me? I guess if I"m not proud to say it''s an N it might.....

 

[gail013]

Alleycat,

What kind of ring did Maytal make for you? I have no doubt she does beautiful work.