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Victor Canera, Steven Kirsch, or Schubach's???

T

tau15

Rough_Rock
Joined
Feb 9, 2015
Messages
2
My boyfriend and I decided to go custom vs. stock for my engagement ring setting. The style I'm drawn to is like the Steven Kirsch "Preciosa" ring except with cathedral shoulders and with a 3 carat cushion.

http://www.stevenkirsch.com/engagement/solitaire/r0202.html

I've received quotes from 3 jewelers that I requested based on reviews I've read on various boards: Victor Canera, Steven Kirsch, and Schubach's. In my heart of hearts I was hoping that SK would quote me somewhere between VC and Schubach's. I was bummed when his quote was about $750 more than VC, and $1350 more than Schubach's.

Does anyone have any experience with Schubach's? Until recently I had read only positive things, but now I'm leery after some more recent negative reviews. Also, we live on the East Coast but they're in Arizona, and I'd be concerned about repairs if anything happened to the ring.

Is Steven Kirsch worth the extra cost? How does he compare to VC?
 
Victor Canera and Steven Kirsch are absolutely top of the line, pave master, handforged ring makers. I have worked with Victor and he is wonderful. I would work with either of those and they would be at the top of the list for quality, as far as I am concerned. I would not usually ask another ringmaker to make an original design by someone else, but it sounds like you are just using a certain ring as your inspiration and making significant changes. So in this case, I would go with Victor since he is less than Steven. You never know until you get quotes because one is not always higher than the other. I have never heard of anyone here getting a custom handforged ring from the other jeweler you mentioned.
 
HI:

If you want SK, then go with him. I have no wish to sound pretentious or cheeky, but you have your heart set on that design and are setting a 3 carat stone. In the grand scheme of things is $750 a lot extra?

cheers--Sharon
 
If it were me it would be Steven Kirsch all the way, but I have never worked with Victor Canera.
 
The 3 carat cushion is an heirloom so there's no out of pocket cost for the stone.
 
tau15|1423536609|3830054 said:
The 3 carat cushion is an heirloom so there's no out of pocket cost for the stone.
Click to expand...

Wow, how awesome and special! Then it may be worth it to go with Steven since he made the inspiration ring, but he and Victor are the only ones I would consider for that setting.
 
Steven.
 
I think what everyone is attempting to say politely is Schubach's isn't in the same league for pave as Victor or Steven and YES it's worth spending the extra money. I'd use Victor personally but either will make you a beautiful ring.
 
There are so many competent local/neighborhood jewelry designers and artisans in and around the North East, particularly NYC. It's nice to work locally, if you can. Any issues, you're visiting a local establishment. Having tried three of the heavily promoted vendors mentioned in this thread, unless you're creating something original or there is a design element indigenous to a particular bench and you want that element inherent to your piece, I wouldn't feel compelled to pay a premium at all. Others here have suggested lower cost options (ERD). I suspect they too can deliver the ring in your link-- its a common design. The money saved can likely pay for a wedding/eternity band.

Congrats on your engagement and good luck building the ring of your dreams.
 
Have you gotten a quote rrom Mark at brilliantly engaged?
They do great pave work too and for less than steven k.
 
Both Steven and Victor will create an excellent hand forged ring for you.

I would also seriously consider Brilliantly Engaged (BE). They do both handforged as well as CAD work and their craftmanship is top notch. Their pricepoint will be lower.

Also, you could consider working with Caysie of CVB Inspired Design.

Personally I worked with Victor, BE, Leon Mege and Caysie. For this piece I would recommend either Victor or BE.
 
Victor only will make rings with diamonds purchased from him, when I spoke with him 3 weeks ago. I went with SK. SK is going on vacation for about two weeks soon so keep that in mind as well.
 
strength|1423626333|3830663 said:
Victor only will make rings with diamonds purchased from him, when I spoke with him 3 weeks ago. I went with SK. SK is going on vacation for about two weeks soon so keep that in mind as well.
Click to expand...

Victor made 3 settings for me with outside stones. The last one was finalised in January. I am also speaking with him about a next project with an outside side. Unless you have a diamond from the August Vintage Line (perhaps that was the case in this particular case Strength?), Victor will definitely set it for you. Just ask him.
 
Didn't leon mege also make a ring just like this in the cathedral style? I think it's gorgeous- (belongs to ringabling)

_26914.jpg
 
Perhaps cause he set stones for you in the past, but he clearly told me it was his business decision to not do rings without diamonds purchased from him mid January because he had way too many projects happening. No problems with that, I took my business to SK and saved a ton of money on a better stone. All respect to VC, I'm glad he has a steady stream of clientele.
 
I just received a custom setting quote from VC for a colored stone I have. I don't know about diamonds but he is accepting new work for clients providing their own gemstones.
 
makeable|1423747936|3831315 said:
I just received a custom setting quote from VC for a colored stone I have. I don't know about diamonds but he is accepting new work for clients providing their own gemstones.
Click to expand...

Yes, Victor has always accepted outside stones, both diamonds as well as colored stones as long as it's not from the August Vintage (cushion?) line.

What kind of colored stone are you going to set makeable?
 
Acinom, I'll be setting a 10ct tanzanite. I've had it since the late 90's and its been sitting in the safety deposit box. Poor thing hasn't seen the light of day for many years.
 
makeable|1423761519|3831410 said:
Acinom, I'll be setting a 10ct tanzanite. I've had it since the late 90's and its been sitting in the safety deposit box. Poor thing hasn't seen the light of day for many years.
Click to expand...
A
10
Carat
Tanzanite
8-)

I am so glad the poor thing will be able to enjoy the daylight soon. What kind of setting are you opting for?
 
Acinom|1423760517|3831394 said:
makeable|1423747936|3831315 said:
I just received a custom setting quote from VC for a colored stone I have. I don't know about diamonds but he is accepting new work for clients providing their own gemstones.
Click to expand...

Yes, Victor has always accepted outside stones, both diamonds as well as colored stones as long as it's not from the August Vintage (cushion?) line.

What kind of colored stone are you going to set makeable?
Click to expand...
Just curious, but why doesn't VC do AVC's?
 
Acinom|1423762394|3831419 said:
makeable|1423761519|3831410 said:
Acinom, I'll be setting a 10ct tanzanite. I've had it since the late 90's and its been sitting in the safety deposit box. Poor thing hasn't seen the light of day for many years.
Click to expand...
A
10
Carat
Tanzanite
8-)

I am so glad the poor thing will be able to enjoy the daylight soon. What kind of setting are you opting for?
Click to expand...

Sophia. It's such an elegant crisp setting which will also provide some protection for the tanzanite. This will be my first time working with him. I'm very much looking forward to the experience.
 
Medical|1423763209|3831422 said:
Acinom|1423760517|3831394 said:
makeable|1423747936|3831315 said:
I just received a custom setting quote from VC for a colored stone I have. I don't know about diamonds but he is accepting new work for clients providing their own gemstones.
Click to expand...

Yes, Victor has always accepted outside stones, both diamonds as well as colored stones as long as it's not from the August Vintage (cushion?) line.

What kind of colored stone are you going to set makeable?
Click to expand...
Just curious, but why doesn't VC do AVC's?
Click to expand...

No idea why Leon and Victor do not accept AVC's. I guess it's because they have their own branded antique cushion lines.
 
It's good he's accepting outside stones again. I guess I missed the perfect timing since I was shopping end of December to mid January. He told he he was slammed. His diamonds were very pricey although exquisite and beautiful when I saw them in person. With a good amount of time invested I saved a ton on a much larger, higher graded Hearts and arrows purchased locally from another r jeweler. Purchased my own idealscope and aset scope as well. My diamond is ideal. Wil post images in my own thread when SK is done with them.
 
I don't think he ever stopped accepting outside stones he just doesn't take AVCS and AVRs now because he cuts his own. Neither does Leon.
 
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