Question about custom job...asking for trouble?

[Laila619]

When my husband proposed, it was with a pretty and unique white gold setting he purchased at a maul store (I know, I know!). Unfortunately, we found out I was allergic to nickel white gold so we had to exhange the setting. Not really knowing much before Pricescope, I had no idea that there were vendors out there who did custom designs. So I settled on a yellow gold setting from the maul that I didn''t really love.

However, since joining Pricescope, I realized that we could have someone replicate the setting that DH proposed with! It''s not a super complicated design, BUT the design of the setting has curved shoulders tapering in to the center stone, which could prove tricky to duplicate. My question is: since all I have are pictures of the old setting, is it asking for trouble to have a vendor try to duplicate a setting just going off of pictures? It might be very hard to duplicate the curved shoulders of the setting exactly the way the original was. And I would want it to be virtually identical. Will I be setting myself up for disappointment?

Or do you think these guys who do custom can pretty much duplicate any design, just from a photo? Or should I just forget about the idea of the original setting, and go with a stock design to save myself the headache? Thanks!

 

[Lula]

I''m not a jeweler, but I have had several pieces of jewelry custom-designed, and I can tell you this -- if you want an exact copy, you may be setting yourself up to be disappointed.

But if you have good your photos of the ring (both on your hand and off your hand) it may be easier for a talented craftsperson to come close to the original design.

 

[Laila619]

I should also mention that it would mean a lot to my DH if I went ahead with trying to duplicate the original setting, because he is really sentimental about it. If you look at my avatar, you can sort of see the curve of the shoulders on my ring. The channel where the melee are set curves as well. Does it seem like it''d be easy to do?

 

[Lula]

Laila, I think it is definitely worth talking to some jewelers to get their opinion on having it custom made, given the sentimental nature of it and the fact that you enjoyed wearing it.

Can you post some pictures of the setting? That may make it easier for us to see the details of the setting, and help us give you better advice.

I had another idea -- do you have any information on the manufacturer of your original setting? If so, perhaps they are still making that design and you can order it in another metal.

 

[WinkHPD]

Date: 8/26/2009 6:14:29 PM
Author:Laila619
When my husband proposed, it was with a pretty and unique white gold setting he purchased at a maul store (I know, I know!). Unfortunately, we found out I was allergic to nickel white gold so we had to exhange the setting. Not really knowing much before Pricescope, I had no idea that there were vendors out there who did custom designs. So I settled on a yellow gold setting from the maul that I didn''t really love.

However, since joining Pricescope, I realized that we could have someone replicate the setting that DH proposed with! It''s not a super complicated design, BUT the design of the setting has curved shoulders tapering in to the center stone, which could prove tricky to duplicate. My question is: since all I have are pictures of the old setting, is it asking for trouble to have a vendor try to duplicate a setting just going off of pictures? It might be very hard to duplicate the curved shoulders of the setting exactly the way the original was. And I would want it to be virtually identical. Will I be setting myself up for disappointment?

Or do you think these guys who do custom can pretty much duplicate any design, just from a photo? Or should I just forget about the idea of the original setting, and go with a stock design to save myself the headache? Thanks!

A good part of it may be how good your photos are, the other may be is it a copywrited design. Will the original manufacturer not make it with the metal you want?

That would be the surest way to have it exact.

If they can not or will not, then with good photos you should be able to get something that is amazingly similar. (depending on that copywrite thing of course.)

Wink

 

[Laila619]

Hi Wink

The store no longer has the setting, and it''s not part of a designer line, so I can''t look it up unfortunately.

Sara I''ll attach some pictures that sort of show the curve. I would be picky about it, I know myself!

 

[Laila619]

.

 

[Laila619]

I would want to turn this into a cathedral style, which would prove even trickier:

 

[Laila619]

You can see how the channel and the shoulder has a subtle curve which tapers:

 

[Lula]

Thanks for posting the pictures, Laila. The pictures are very clear, which is helpful. To me, it looks like a classic, timeless setting which a good jeweler should be able to reproduce.

But again, I''m not a jeweler, and I have no idea about copyright issues, so the next step might be for you to contact several jewelers and see what they say (and also check on the quality of their work!).

Do you live in a city where there are custom goldsmiths? You''ll want to interview several to get an idea of price, timeline, and also look carefully at their work.

If you don''t know any local jewelers, or prefer to work with an online vendor, you could contact Wink, Whiteflash, and Brian Gavin; they all do custom work and have great reputations on PS.

There may be other vendors who do custome work -- but it''s late and I''m not thinking of any others off the top of my head!

Just curious, what''s your budget for this project? And are you planning on yellow gold or platinum?