ReMounting Event at Mall Stores

[Sue777]

Hi. As some of you may know I am looking for a new setting for my 1.5 carat round diamond. I ordered one from my jeweler last week but called and had him "hold" the order the next day -- I was having strong and serious doubts as to whether or not I really loved it since it was a total change of style for me. To help me get a better feel for what I really want I went to the mall last night so I could look through six stores worth of settings and styles. It did help a lot - I think I''m narrowing down what I like and will take my concepts to my jeweler and see about ordering something other than the one he has on hold.

However, several of the mall stores told me about an upcoming ReMounting Event where there would be hundreds of settings and a jeweler that would be able to set and re-size any ring I chose, on the spot. I''ve got to tell you - that is VERY tempting to me. I was also told if I found a particular setting online I loved I could bring them the specs and they would make sure the remounter had it with him and I could walk out with it that day.

I know how everyone feels about mall stores but since I am bringing my own stone, would selecting a setting and having my stone set on the spot be a bad idea? I really am tempted, especiallly since I could get my ring back on my finger much quicker. My jeweler is going to need 4 weeks from the time I tell him what I want. One of the mall stores has an event in just a couple weeks.

Your thoughts, please?
Sue

 

[denverappraiser]

Remount shows are to jewelry what fast food is to restaurants. That’s ok if it’s what you want but be aware that the best craftsmen are rarely interested in working the Gypsy circuit from mall to mall, it’s logistically difficult and often against mall rules to bring in some of the useful tools for certain jobs, and most craftsmen don’t do their best work under the kind of time pressure for volume output that is the hallmark of that environment.
You're giving up a lot in exchange for that fast turnaround and convenient location and it's often difficult to redo it or make changes later if it turns out to not be what you want because the folks actually doing the work are long gone by next week.

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

 

[Sue777]

Date: 4/15/2010 10:24:18 AM
Author: denverappraiser
Remount shows are to jewelry what fast food is to restaurants. That’s ok if it’s what you want but be aware that the best craftsmen are rarely interested in working the Gypsy circuit from mall to mall, it’s logistically difficult and often against mall rules to bring in some of the useful tools for certain jobs, and most craftsmen don’t do their best work under the kind of time pressure for volume output that is the hallmark of that environment.
You''re giving up a lot in exchange for that fast turnaround and convenient location and it''s often difficult to redo it or make changes later if it turns out to not be what you want because the folks actually doing the work are long gone by next week.

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

Thanks..... I pretty much needed to hear a voice of reason from a professional. After making the rounds through six sets of sales people who were tempting me with their offer of HUNDREDS of settings to see ON THE SPOT and walk out the same day with my ring, it started to cloud my judgment. I think I''ll go back to the idea of printing pix off the intranet of what I like and taking it to MY jeweler tonight, even if it takes that four to five weeks to get it done right.

Sue

 

[LGK]

Yeah, not all bench jewelers are created equal. I cannot tell you how many ungodly awful sizing jobs I see on a daily basis at work (antique & estate jewelry). Yesterday I saw a ring that had been sized down, but whoever did the work had spaced out on soldering the ring back together and it was split in two still. Oops. Don''t let someone who you don''t know the quality of their work touch your jewelry. (The most common thing I see is white gold solder used on platinum jewelry- it''s cheaper so it''s tempting to use it instead of platinum, but it just doesn''t hold well.) It''s just not a good idea. Four weeks is a bit painful though, I totally understand the temptation!

 

[HVVS]

Or, they might bring in some really nice looking and well made mountings. But they will ask $8k or $13k or whatever for an 18k gold pave'' mounting! (I went to a remount, asked to see the two most impressive mountings in the display case, and those are the prices they wanted.) And it''s not designer name brand items, either. Whatever they bring in, you can bet that it will be high priced. You can usually shop carefully and get a better deal on a mounting. This is all about impulse buys, and convenience, and store financing, and making sales.

 

[Sue777]

Date: 4/15/2010 1:41:11 PM
Author: LittleGreyKitten
Yeah, not all bench jewelers are created equal. I cannot tell you how many ungodly awful sizing jobs I see on a daily basis at work (antique & estate jewelry). Yesterday I saw a ring that had been sized down, but whoever did the work had spaced out on soldering the ring back together and it was split in two still. Oops. Don''t let someone who you don''t know the quality of their work touch your jewelry. (The most common thing I see is white gold solder used on platinum jewelry- it''s cheaper so it''s tempting to use it instead of platinum, but it just doesn''t hold well.) It''s just not a good idea. Four weeks is a bit painful though, I totally understand the temptation!

Thanks for the compassion and understanding on the four weeks - some people just don''t understand! But yes, I agree - it will be worth the wait.

 

[Sue777]

Date: 4/15/2010 3:56:06 PM
Author: HVVS
Or, they might bring in some really nice looking and well made mountings. But they will ask $8k or $13k or whatever for an 18k gold pave'' mounting! (I went to a remount, asked to see the two most impressive mountings in the display case, and those are the prices they wanted.) And it''s not designer name brand items, either. Whatever they bring in, you can bet that it will be high priced. You can usually shop carefully and get a better deal on a mounting. This is all about impulse buys, and convenience, and store financing, and making sales.

OK - I''m convinced. I will attempt to leave the office early today and head down to my jeweler who closes early, unlike the "tempting" mall stores. Thanks for the input - it''s what I needed to hear.

Sue