Rcvd WF CAD images (a bit disappointed)

[corgan]

I finally got my CAD images late today and I am a bit disappointed. I was originally told I would have them on Friday but after waiting all day I got nothing so I e-mailed them and was told I would get them today. I didn''t mind waiting but I wish they would have contacted me first instead of me having to contact them, I know that they are busy this time of year. So after patiently waiting I got them and I was so excited to see them, it was so not want I wanted. I know they can''t copy the ring exact and I think I had enough of changes to it anyway to make it different but it was missing so many things that were o.k in the e-mail process through my contact. I kinda feel like they just whipped it together without looking to see what I had requested. Anyway here is my inspiration pic and then followed by the CADs (I have already e-mailed them with the changes)

The changes were:

Round halo (this was the biggest one)
Milgrain
There was to be engraving
There should be 2 more surprise diamonds
The band should taper
The middle surprise diamond should have a dip on either side

 

[corgan]

Sorry stupid computer is slow!

WF CAD 1

 

[corgan]

Wow its small let me try and resize

 

[corgan]

Sorry I don''t know how to make it bigger and keep within the 100k limit.

 

[corgan]

I think this will work!

 

[corgan]

Number 2

 

[Allison D.]

Corgan, I took a few quick minutes to do a little homework on this for you.

I do want to promptly apologize that we didn't notify you that your CADs would take an additional day to complete. Vera normally handles these notifications, but she was out of the office at the end of last week, and two people were splitting her tasks. Each unfortunately thought the other had emailed you.

Regarding some of the ring details, you don't see the engraving or the milgrain because these are finish details that happen after the ring is cast. The purpose of the CAD is to make the wax that the ring will be cast from, so it shows what the cast should look like, not what the final ring will look like.

In reviewing your records, I see that we prepared three or four quotations for this piece (due to fluctuating exchange rates), as well as several decision changes regarding metal to be used and deciding for/against/for- again engraving.

I do see your emails after the initial quotes asking for changes to the halo shape (to round) and tapering the shank as well. We can absolutely incorporate those for you with no problem. I want to also reassure you that our design team didn't miss those details due to haste; I think it was more due to just so, so many changes and multiple quotes that those two changes were missed.

I'd like to ask you to get back in touch with your sales assistant to discuss the surprise diamonds. I see a notation from our production manager that when you asked us to change the matching wedding band from single-row pave to three-sided pave, he made a notation back to her recommending against the surprise diamonds because they'd rub with/damage the pave now that it was three-sided.

Above all, corgan, don't despair. We can make whatever adjustments are needed to satisfy you.

 

[LtlFirecracker]

There are a couple things to remember when looking at a CAD.

- the metal appears thicker than it will on the real ring.
- Engraving and multigrain are usually not placed on a CAD, this is done after the ring is made

That being said...

Where did you want the surpirze diamonds placed?
You are right, I did not see the dip by the surprize diamonds, this might be really hard to do, you proabably should clarify that one with them.
The round halo should be an easy fix

Overall, it looks like a very pretty ring to me (but I have seen enough of these to picture it in real life), but you need to feel like you are getting what you want.

ETA: Looks like Allison was cross posting, hopefully this will work out for you

 

[Maisie]

It looks like it will be a gorgeous ring once its finished. I can''t wait to see it. I am sure Whiteflash will sort the details out so you will be happy

 

[neatfreak]

Glad Allison addressed the issues, I am sure WF will make the changes you need. It does get hard when there are multiple changes and requests floating around. That's what CADs are for, to make changes and fix designs BEFORE the ring is made so there is no disappointment on the other end!

 

[decodelighted]

Temper your expectations going in ... with any vendor ... even one as reliable & friendly as Whiteflash. Custom jewelry design is a complicated process with different interpretations of many terms. I still don''t understand what you mean by "dips" by the surprise stone ... but hopefully they do!

Sometimes things not being what you imagine them to be isn''t actually a vendor mistake -- like the fact that you didn''t realize engraving & millgrain wouldn''t appear on the CAD. You expected it -- but that isn''t how its done.

Good luck!

 

[corgan]

Thank-you so much Allison for your reply. I did talk to the CAD designer so I think we have worked out some of the issues.

I did not know that the milgrain and engraving could not be shown on the CAD drawing and didn''t know that the CAD is used to make the mould, so thank-you for explaining that!

With the metal that is my fault I have always wanted plat but with the prices I didn''t think it was something I could afford and with little metal to be shown anyway it was agreed with 14k gold. Then I had done a little more research I was not happy with 14 gold so went to 18. Then my husband decided if I was to go 18 might as well do plat unfortunately this conversation occurred after I had already changed it to 18.

Engraving was for the inside of the ring with our wedding date and I was asking the price but unfortunately with the Canadian dollar tanking almost by the hour I decided that was an expense I could forgo as it would end up costing a heck of a lot more than I wanted to spend on that.

With the surprise diamonds I did have a conversation with Jamie about them and I had thought there was a way of imbedding them so that it would not interfere with the wedding band, which I had read somewhere on here. I am going to have to find it again as I don''t think it was an e-mail I sent her.

Don''t worry Allison I do have total faith in Whiteflash its just that I had an image in my head of what it would look like and when I got the images it was just not at all what I had imagined so I was disappointed. I just didn''t get the same feel to the ring as the original.

Thank-you for replying!

 

[AprilBaby]

It sure looks like it is going to be a STUNNING ring!

 

[cara]

This is going to be a lovely ring...

Just to play devil's advocate, why surprise diamonds on a ring that has 3-sided pave for the side view? It you omit it, you also might highlight the culet of the center diamond a bit more when seen from the side. But if you want it, you should get what you want!

 

[Allison D.]

Date: 10/27/2008 8:42:46 PM
Author: corgan
Thank-you so much Allison for your reply. I did talk to the CAD designer so I think we have worked out some of the issues.

I did not know that the milgrain and engraving could not be shown on the CAD drawing and didn''t know that the CAD is used to make the mould, so thank-you for explaining that!

With the metal that is my fault I have always wanted plat but with the prices I didn''t think it was something I could afford and with little metal to be shown anyway it was agreed with 14k gold. Then I had done a little more research I was not happy with 14 gold so went to 18. Then my husband decided if I was to go 18 might as well do plat unfortunately this conversation occurred after I had already changed it to 18.

Engraving was for the inside of the ring with our wedding date and I was asking the price but unfortunately with the Canadian dollar tanking almost by the hour I decided that was an expense I could forgo as it would end up costing a heck of a lot more than I wanted to spend on that.

With the surprise diamonds I did have a conversation with Jamie about them and I had thought there was a way of imbedding them so that it would not interfere with the wedding band, which I had read somewhere on here. I am going to have to find it again as I don''t think it was an e-mail I sent her.

Don''t worry Allison I do have total faith in Whiteflash its just that I had an image in my head of what it would look like and when I got the images it was just not at all what I had imagined so I was disappointed. I just didn''t get the same feel to the ring as the original.

Thank-you for replying!

Corgan, I''m glad you were able to promptly speak with Joe, and I''m happy you''ve been able to communicate what you need to him.

Please, please don''t feel at fault on the above; we don''t mind at all that you changed the metals. I think you were super-smart to really consider what you would be happy with and what you might regret and to work it out before the ring is finished instead of after. We don''t mind changes pre-cad at all; I think it''s just that there were so many changes going on that I think it ultimately led to some confusion for the CAD manager in deciphering which changes should be kept and which shouldn''t.

I''m glad to hear your faith is intact because Joe is literally amazing at what he does. I''ve done a custom design with him and he''s just incredible at what he does. I''ll be looking forward to seeing your creation when it''s done.