Should I use Mark Morell?

[doctork]

After many hours spent searching for the right setting & band and coming up empty handed, I serously began to consider using a custom designer. My only fears about using a custom designer are:

- The costs skyrocketing throughout the design process
- Not giving the designer enough direction and not getting something I like
- The designer not understanding what I want and designing something I don''t like

With that said, I''ve noticed Mark Morell is very highly recommended around here. I''ve looked at his previous works and they all look like they have a great deal of thought and workmanship put into them.

What are you thoughts about using a custom designer? Any tips?

 

[neatfreak]

I think there is a difference between a designer and a benchman. If you love everything someone does and want them to use THEIR TALENT to design something for you that is within their realm of expertise, use a designer like Leon Mege or Mark Morrell.

If you want a ring that you can dictate every single detail, and work with the CADS, etc. yourself, you want a benchman. Mark at ERD, Whiteflash, and Wink, while also great at coming up with ideas, can provide more of this type of service for you without letting their design aesthetics influence you.

I think people who are disappointed with custom work often choose the wrong type of person to do it with.

 

[Fly Girl]

I agree with Neatfreak. I have gotten custom work done, but it is from a local designer where I absolutely adore everything they do. So, it would be nearly impossible for them to come up with something I don''t like, since I love all of ther work to begin with.

So, go with MM or LM only if you could see yourself buying and wearing just about anything they make. Then, there would be no worries in that department.

 

[MP]

I have dealt with both Mark Morrel and Gary down at ERD. Both are great in terms of dealing with you and helping you achieve the look you want. Just remember that Mark is more of an artist and does his best work when he is given some room to build the ring to his liking. That''s a direct quote from him when I dealt with him about a setting that I would like. If you want to nit pick and get extremely detailed with the setting then you definitely want to go with Whiteflash or ERD. They will work with you on a daily basis and send your CAD image after CAD image until you are happy.

One thing to think about is that Mark Morrel is definitely pricier, but you''ll have a true artist working on your setting.

 

[LegacyGirl]

MM''s work is beautiful but I agree with all the above posters- if you want to have 100% say then go with a benchman.

 

[mrssalvo]

which of Mark''s designs are you thinking about? I think if you are open to his suggestions and ideas and have something off his site that you like but are willing to give him creative freedom you''d be fine. if you have a powerpoint of the setting you want him to make, then you would not be a good match. like it was said above, it''s the difference between a designer and a benchman. as for the risk of custom and expectations not being met. it goes with the territory. i personally could not do custom for my e-ring. the process just isn''t for me and i wanted to see and try on the finished product and know exactly what i was getting. there are many success stories here though of custom projects along with a few heartbreaking ones. if i were going to do a custom project than Mark would be one of the ones I''d consider.

 

[doctork]

Great replies!

I do love all of the Mark''s work. I''m sure my girlfriend would as well. I just don''t think any of his current pieces is what I''d like to see on my girlfriend''s finger. I see what you are saying about a designer vs a benchman. I am indeed very picky, and will probably want to tweak things. But then again, I am no designer. There is no way I could find a bunch of settings and tell WF or someone else to "take these prongs, with this [blank], with this [blank], etc".

My favorite piece of Mark''s work would have to be this wedding set: http://www.mwmjewelry.com/D_J_2-653ct_wed_set/

I also have no idea what to expect a custom design from Mark to cost. Can anyone provide me with examples or estimates?

 

[gwendolyn]

He only works with platinum, so his prices are going to change with the plat market. I requested pricing info for his Flame solitaire about two weeks ago: to set a 0.75ct stone was $1900; to set a 1.25ct stone was $2000. I would guess you'd have to talk to him directly to get an estimate of how much his custom price tag is based on the design you like (which is lovely!! but also full of gorgeous diamonds and shared prong work which might (?) up the price quite a bit) and how platinum is doing currently.

ETA: Didn't JadeLeaves get a MWM similar to that one?

ETA2: Yah, here's the thread: https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/my-gog-rock-in-long-awaited-mark-morrell-wedding-set.56404/

She'd be the person to ask about prices, but again, they're going to be dependent upon platinum pricing, so you're probably better off just calling him, citing that design, and asking for how much it would cost to have it remade (even if you don't want it exactly, just to get an idea of price). It is very beautiful.

 

[MP]

Well a custom solitaire setting for a cushion that I wanted to get from Mark would run me around $2500. That's with no other diamonds in the setting except the center stone. I piece with a halo and diamonds running down the band would have been in the mid 4k range.

What exactly do you envision on your fiances finger? We could probably point you in the best direction with more info.

 

[gemgirl]

Gwen, that link IS Jade Leaves set! Hers was the first, to celebrate "Button''s" birth. Those are my favorite pieces of MM''s and I occasionally go back to his website just to stare at them some more. Of course her gorgeous 2.50 carat center stone really made his mounting pop!

 

[gastro]

DoctorK, I was just in the same boat as you. I am slightly further along in the process in that I have just purchased my diamond from WF. Called Mark 1 week ago, and he was extremely friendly and helpful. I looked at all the PS-posted pictures of Mark''s work, had an idea of what I wanted (4-prong solatire +/- pave) and told him so. That first phone call lasted ~20-30 min, and he chatted with me about everything (from his experience with working with diamonds from PS/GOG, opinions on various local appraisers, even a little about his own professional background).

Later on I sent him internet pix of what I liked, and he made further recommendations on what he felt would or wouldn''t work with the setting I had in mind. In fact he just emailed me back constructed pictures of what he had in mind: it was more beautiful than anything I could have imagined. To top that off he made 4 different variations of this setting (they all look amazing).

I can''t tell you ultimately who to go to, but just wanted to share my wonderful experience so far with working with Mark. You have to factor in the budget though, as mentioned above, custom setting with Mark will cost you at least $2000-$3000 depending on what you want.

If you''re just curious, just pick up the phone and call Mark. At the very least it will be educational.

 

[kcoursolle]

If MM is in your budget, I''d totally work with him. His designs are incredible!

 

[gemgirl]

The link to JadeLeaves wedding set-

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/my-gog-rock-in-long-awaited-mark-morrell-wedding-set.56404/

 

[doctork]

Date: 2/26/2008 4:57:01 PM
Author: gemgirl
Gwen, that link IS Jade Leaves set! Hers was the first, to celebrate ''Button''s'' birth. Those are my favorite pieces of MM''s and I occasionally go back to his website just to stare at them some more. Of course her gorgeous 2.50 carat center stone really made his mounting pop!

The more I look at her ring set, the more I love it. I would love to work with Mark to make a twist on it. Does anyone know what she ended up paying for that set, minus the center stone of course.

 

[gwendolyn]

Date: 2/26/2008 4:57:01 PM
Author: gemgirl
Gwen, that link IS Jade Leaves set! Hers was the first, to celebrate ''Button''s'' birth. Those are my favorite pieces of MM''s and I occasionally go back to his website just to stare at them some more. Of course her gorgeous 2.50 carat center stone really made his mounting pop!

Ooooh, I didn''t know that was her set up on his site! Sweet.

 

[doctork]

Date: 2/26/2008 6:29:26 PM
Author: gastro
DoctorK, I was just in the same boat as you. I am slightly further along in the process in that I have just purchased my diamond from WF. Called Mark 1 week ago, and he was extremely friendly and helpful. I looked at all the PS-posted pictures of Mark''s work, had an idea of what I wanted (4-prong solatire +/- pave) and told him so. That first phone call lasted ~20-30 min, and he chatted with me about everything (from his experience with working with diamonds from PS/GOG, opinions on various local appraisers, even a little about his own professional background).


Later on I sent him internet pix of what I liked, and he made further recommendations on what he felt would or wouldn''t work with the setting I had in mind. In fact he just emailed me back constructed pictures of what he had in mind: it was more beautiful than anything I could have imagined. To top that off he made 4 different variations of this setting (they all look amazing).


I can''t tell you ultimately who to go to, but just wanted to share my wonderful experience so far with working with Mark. You have to factor in the budget though, as mentioned above, custom setting with Mark will cost you at least $2000-$3000 depending on what you want.


If you''re just curious, just pick up the phone and call Mark. At the very least it will be educational.

That''s very cool. After exchanging a few e-mails with Katie about ideas I had in mind, she said the next step is to pay a $600 development fee where they''ll spend half a day coming up with their own ideas for the project. So I''m just trying to get a better feeling for things before I move too fast.

 

[doctork]

Date: 2/26/2008 8:04:02 PM
Author: doctork

Date: 2/26/2008 4:57:01 PM

Author: gemgirl

Gwen, that link IS Jade Leaves set! Hers was the first, to celebrate ''Button''s'' birth. Those are my favorite pieces of MM''s and I occasionally go back to his website just to stare at them some more. Of course her gorgeous 2.50 carat center stone really made his mounting pop!

The more I look at her ring set, the more I love it. I would love to work with Mark to make a twist on it. Does anyone know what she ended up paying for that set, minus the center stone of course.

After finding out the cost for a remake of this set, my jaw almost dropped.

 

[Gypsy]

Yeah, he''s pricey. But worth it.

 

[Autumn Dreams]

Date: 2/28/2008 12:55:17 PM
Author: doctork

Date: 2/26/2008 8:04:02 PM
Author: doctork

Date: 2/26/2008 4:57:01 PM

Author: gemgirl

Gwen, that link IS Jade Leaves set! Hers was the first, to celebrate ''Button''s'' birth. Those are my favorite pieces of MM''s and I occasionally go back to his website just to stare at them some more. Of course her gorgeous 2.50 carat center stone really made his mounting pop!

The more I look at her ring set, the more I love it. I would love to work with Mark to make a twist on it. Does anyone know what she ended up paying for that set, minus the center stone of course.

After finding out the cost for a remake of this set, my jaw almost dropped.

Yeah, i just requested a quote on the same exact set, and my jaw dropped too. Definitely way out of my price range. Oh well, and I was really starting to love it.

 

[doctork]

Date: 3/3/2008 5:20:48 PM
Author: Autumn Dreams

Date: 2/28/2008 12:55:17 PM

Author: doctork

Date: 2/26/2008 8:04:02 PM

Author: doctork

Date: 2/26/2008 4:57:01 PM


Author: gemgirl


Gwen, that link IS Jade Leaves set! Hers was the first, to celebrate ''Button''s'' birth. Those are my favorite pieces of MM''s and I occasionally go back to his website just to stare at them some more. Of course her gorgeous 2.50 carat center stone really made his mounting pop!

The more I look at her ring set, the more I love it. I would love to work with Mark to make a twist on it. Does anyone know what she ended up paying for that set, minus the center stone of course.

After finding out the cost for a remake of this set, my jaw almost dropped.

Yeah, i just requested a quote on the same exact set, and my jaw dropped too. Definitely way out of my price range. Oh well, and I was really starting to love it.

Hah! I do love the set, and would still like to work with Mark on it to make it unique. That is, if I can ever get over the price.

 

[jadeleaves]

Bit late to the thread!

To the original poster, YES! Mark is awesome, and I am still very happy with my wedding set. Except for the patina that platinum rings get, my set is still as perfect as the day I got them. His work is truly magnificent, and worth every dollar paid.

If it''s going to be your "forever" set, definitely, go with Mark Morrell.