Visiting Steven Kirsch to collect

[fige]

It's been a long wait, but I'm finally visiting SK to collect my ring next week. Just wondering if it would be rude to ask to view the ring with a loupe? I will be leaving NY shortly after, so there will be no opportunity for me to request amendments later on.

I have not been coddled throughout the making process, so I do have some concerns about what I will be going to collect. He hasn't ever emailed me to ask what i would like in terms of dimentions, setting height etc. I have sent him one or two emails with some aspects that were important to me, and he responded acknowledging the requests, but no further consultation. Is this normal? I am quite an anxious person and have had to fight the urge to email him every day I don't want to be disappointed just because I didn't want to bother him. I If I am unhappy with something, is it rude to request a change if I had not specified it upfront?

 

[nala]

Maybe you can refresh our memories...what exactly did you request of him?

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Yes, that is normal. There doesn't have to be any communication once the order is placed assuming you told him what you wanted. I had Victor make me halo earrings and I didn't specify anything but platinum because I knew he knows what he is doing!

I really don't think you can ask for changes after the piece is completed. The time for discussion was before the piece was started. Did you show him a style that he has made before? If so, I don't see anything to worry about. I am not sure about the loupe idea. Maybe take a pair of reading glasses that will magnify it a little.

 

[JulieN]

I don't think you should loupe it. IMO, if you can't see it with the naked eye, its not a problem. Out of sight, out of mnd.

 

[CharmyPoo]

What did you ask him to make? I will just echo DS's comments, discussion is for before the ring is made - this isn't a cad or a proof where edits can be made. I think the only things that can be done easily is sizing or prongs.

 

[Gypsy]

I'd ask for a loupe. Why not. You paid thousands of dollars.

Or better yet, just take your own, whip it out, and then you don't have to ask for anything.

 

[fige]

It's essentially the emilya halo with a second halo at a 90 degree angle. I sent a picture of what I was after in for a quote. I accepted the quote, and was sent a work order for signing. After signing, I sent an email specifying a few small variations from the image that I provided. That was the extent of the 'design phase'.

I'm not talking about requesting changes to the fundamental design of the setting. I'm more thinking subtle nuances. Eg the picture I provided had quite thin and exaggeratedly curved struts. If my ring does not have this, am I entitled to ask for this to be changed if i recieve his 'standard' struts? Was it my responsibility to specify that I wanted them made a particular way or should the image suffice? I know that a few people on here have provided very specific instructions when having custom pieces made.

I did at some point expect to receive an email from him asking for further specifications on finer details such as halo width etc but this did not happen. That said, I do trust Steven, and I'm sure it will be fine when I collect, however I am more gathering opinions for if I'm confronted with the worst case scenario.

 

[SMC]

I've seen advice on this thread to always loupe the ring after you collect it from a vendor after cleaning and sizing. Isn't this to make sure the vendor didn't damage the stone? I just bought my own loupe, partly for this purpose.

 

[Christina...]

I don't see a reason why you can't loupe it when you pick it up, it might make ME uncomfortable to do so in front of him, but I don't necessarily think that you shouldn't if you want to. Sortmon makes a good point, I'd want to be assured that the stone wasn't damaged during setting as well.

I'm not sure what would be considered a sufficient amount of discussion with Steven regarding a project, but the only time I've discussed a custom project with a vendor there was A LOT of back and forth, and that was before the design was even drawn out (which very sadly hasn't happened yet ) and mt design was based on an original the vendor had already created. I'm the type of person that needs a bit of hand holding so this worked for me. That said though, I think that every vendor/ client relationship is different. You certainly should have felt able to speak up about your project before hand, and even now that it's been completed, but it sounds like it was a design that he is very familiar with and probably felt comfortable proceeding with the info that you provided, which included the pictures. So yes, I think that if the struts are different on your ring than in the photo that you provided that you have a right to expect that they be changed. However if this is an aspect of the design that is very important to you, then it probably should have been stressed in the beginning to avoid any confusion after the point.

SK does amazing work and I'm sure that you will adore your ring, I know that I can't wait to see photos! Good Luck and be sure to let us know what you think!

 

[CharmyPoo]

He has made so many halos so I think you are in a good spot. He also loves curved struts and doesn't like the straight ones so I think you will be ok. I think absolutely you can discuss if it is not made to design and there is no reason to be worried. I am trying to remember if I loupe things in front of Steven ... I think I actually do and I think I even take the loupe from his desk ... LOL. He is a really nice guy and I am pretty sure you will feel comfortable when you are there.

The other piece is that usually it is a pretty quick process. You go in and grab it and leave. It's not some long meeting that some may envision. I think most of my meetings with Steven are 10 minutes long. There are times when I stay for an hour but that isn't to discuss a project but him showing me cool stuff he is working on or me trying to decide what I want to (unrelated to the projects).

 

[fige]

Thank you all for your replies. I must say that I don't want my preconceptions to have any reflection on Steven. He has been entirely professional and approachable. I was just a little concerned after reading that many of you undertook lengthy discussions during the process, whereas this hasn't been the case for me.

Charmypoo, I'm sure you're right, he has done this hundreds of times before, and knows what he's doing. I really should just stop worrying. I'm sure he knows exactly what I'm after without me explicitly stating every minor detail, and therefore has no reason to clarify just for the sake of it.

Thank you all for helping me readjust my expectations.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

When you are having a piece made that he regularly makes, I see zero reason to have any communication with him after placing the order. That would be the norm. The only communication I had with Victor when he was making my halo earrings was when he asked me if it was okay to use single cut melee and I told him to do whatever he thought was best. He is the artist. So is Steven. I think it is insulting to micromanage after making the initial order.

 

[Dongela]

We just had Steven do a halo setting on a long distance basis. We dealt with Steven through a couple of emails and two short telephone conversations, and the finished ring surpassed our expectations.. Steven is a very nice guy and a skilled pro. His taste and quality control is excellent.