What price for a setting like this? Worth 5 K?

[JulieA]

HI-
Sorry- I am going to be a bit wordy... I originally posted these links in the "color gem" forum because the center stone will be good sized vivid blue tanzanite cushion, but I need some advice from a broader audience about what I should expect for prices of setting. Just some background- I love the work of Leon, Morell, etc. and decided on a 3 stone setting for this stone with shields or other on each side. It will be a RHR. I REALLY loved Leon''s 5 stone rings with cushion centers, but I think that will be a bit over the top for my RHR. I don''t have an exact picture of what I can get locally, but I am going to put together different parts of setting so you see almost exactly what I am getting for 5k. I saw the actual setting that I love in an amazing sapphire so I know my blue tanzanite will look amazing.

My question is... is the setting I am about to describe worth 5K? Would similar work from leon be around the same price?

Here is my concept setting...

The side stones would look close to the ring on top of this first picture, but I would add more than just sidestones. Next to the sidestone they would put little diamonds like those in the second picture (not the halo). Then, on the band they would put beautiful micro pave stones all the way around the band sort of right in the middle of it were you see it is a bit raised on picture number 2.



The workmanship is fabulous and it is a very well known, respected local place, but the 5k price seems very high and it obviously does not include my center stone or the two larger sidestones. If I brought 3 stones to Leon- would it be 5 K to set with micro pave and the extra detail with the second tiny diamond side accents???

 

[JulieA]

This is the pic of second setting and I would copy these cute smaller stone detail and band detail but add micro- pave to band.

 

[Gypsy]

Don''t know. Possibly though.

Um... I love that bezel set round with it''s channel set shank. Are these by a certain designer? Cause I am LOVING that setting.

 

[JulieA]

Yes- these pics are all from a local shop that has two designers who work together on designs and set custom stones. I don''t think they have a work shop there- but send the work out after designed. The website is 23rdstreetjewelers.com and some very delicate pieces! Love it.

 

[mrssalvo]

The sidestone''s will jump up the price. Leon or Mark morrell could easilly run you the 5K but it''s best to email them for a quote. Could be more, could be less..i''m just guessing based on what others have said they paid and quotes I''ve gotten..

 

[neatfreak]

If the workmanship is fantastic, unfortunately $5k doesn''t seem out of the ballpark. But if their workmanship isn''t as good as Leon, I would go with a Leon personally. His pave work just looks sooooo delicate.

Another thing to remember about spending $5k on this setting, is that tanzanite is a somewhat soft stone and this probably shouldn''t be an everyday ring...

 

[Eva17]

Hi JuliaA, wow, that place is amazing!!! I could easily take one of everything.

It looks like you are in the same ball park as far as price, regardless of who you use.

I don''t think you could go wrong with a setting from this place. The detail looks beautiful on all of thier products.

 

[JulieA]

Ok- so five grand is the right ballpark. Thanks. I thought leaon might be around 5 grand total- but that might include all the diamonds and I could just bring in my center tanzanite. Just to remind folks- that 5 k price I got does not include the two largest diamonds on either side of my stone, only the tiny tiny ones and the micro pave. For anyone who looked at their site- thank you for agreeing that their work looks great. Simple, classy, yet unique at the same time. Looks antique and modern combined together. I also like that one of the designers is from S. Africa so she has seem and knows a lot about tanzanite and helped pick a good setting for a more fragile stone. She said forget about a bezel because won''t protect facets- just love it and wear it carefully.

 

[Eva17]

What side stone are you looking to put in and what size?

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Those rings are just gorgeous, but wow, setting a tanzanite in a $5000+ setting without a halo is very scary to me. DiamondFan has hers set very much like the one in the halo picture. Mine does not have a halo and I hardly ever wear it because I know it cannot take any bumps or scratches. I did not relaize how fragile tanzanite was when I bought that ring, unfortunately.

 

[JulieA]

Just spoke with leon on the phone and he was very nice. If i bring in tanzanite and sidestones- he will set in band like the one in this picture for approx. 2,800 total. Much less than my 5 grand quote and I assume it is not worth the little extra details of the smaller diamonds set to the side of the larger side stones seen in the halo pic I origianlly attatched. Right? I guess it is a no brainer to go with Leon, huh? What do you guys think after seeing the example I attached from my local jeweler?

I plan to bring back my tanzanite stone as a very special souvenir from an upcoming trip to Africa. I depart on Monday and will be going to a gem dealer who my friends have used for many diamonds and other so I know he will only show me very high quality vivid blue stones. His larger tanzanites are certified from tanzanite foundation. Considering the expense and beauty of just the setting... I will be looking for a cushion cut in the 6 ct range so it is really going to be a special and bold piece. I love larger rings, but want it delicate at the same time!

I decided to get trapaziods for side stones. Still considering shields- but I saw a cushion sapphire with traps and I loved it. have not seen ring with shields except on the internet.

Sooooo excited!

Any final recommendations to go with Leon for 1/2 price of 23rd street??? I just don''t want it to look like a sapphire e-ring and I KNOW 23rd setting will not look like I am married. I hope leon''s work will also look very RHR.

 

[mrssalvo]

I think Leon will do an amazing job for you. have fun on your trip and please keep us posted on the progress of this ring..

 

[Eva17]

Wow, great price!! Seems like a no brainer.

And of course it will be beautiful.

 

[surfgirl]

Hi Julie...I thought those top trip of rings were from 23rd St. They make a very fine custom setting and do a lot of one-of-a-kind work as well. Yes their prices are high. They have a large celebrity clientele so they can charge higher prices. However, the rings you show from 23rd are totally different in style compared to the LM design you show. The 23rd St rings are very vintage in style and the bottom two are not screaming ERING! But the LM looks very ering to me. Personally, I think your Tanz would like fabulous in a style similar to any in the 23rd examples, especially that cushion. That one doesn't look too eringy at all. The LM though, looks quite eringy to me in terms of style, as do most of his rings on his site. I'm not digging the shank setting either on the LM. It looks more fishtail than pave and just doesn't seem to flow easily. I dont know. The 23rd design I like better. If you notice, the devil is in the details on the 23rd designs. Look at the cushion and notice the detailing on the prongs, for example. There's alot of work on those rings. I think a similar ring from LM would be in the same price range. Why dont you show him those designs and ask him his thoughts and a price range?

Lastly, I've done quite a lot of work in Africa so I'm quite familiar with stones there. Please be careful when buying, especially Tanzanite. I'm not sure where you're going but I'd start by asking for a good reference from the concierge of a high end hotel. Just as a starting point. You really need to know what you're looking at when buying in that environment...for example, can you tell if a stone is treated or not?

Have fun!

 

[JulieA]

Oh, surfergirl. I DO understand what you are saying. The devil is in the details. I figured I could reference that specific Leon style for a price quote, but I figured I would show him the actual stone so he might advise on some adjustments so it doesn''t look like e-ring. The pic I attatched is obvioulsy an e-ring. I am back and forth with 23rd vintage look vs. Leon''s cleaner styles. I love both eqally. I just want a setting that I will love forever. Here is a pic of a blue stone leon did and I think it is breathtaking.

Now- your tanzanite comments. I have been all over the web trying to research and I thought vivid blue tanzanites are almost always heat treated- unlike sapphires?? I thought I could not go wromg with a guy who has tanzanite foundation cetified gems and I know I need to get eye clean, etc. I learned about the GIA grading so want to find v/B 6/5 type of stone. I also figured as long as I see stone in actual daylight- it is more about finding a stone that I just fall in love with color and less about specific grading like in diamonds. ANy advice here is appreciated. Thanks.

 

[JulieA]

P.S. I own a large aquamarine pendant set with milgrain and small diamonds all the way around almost exactly like the setting around the pic of 23rd streets cushion. It is an old family stone so I wanted it set in a more antique looking way. I love it, but this is one reason why I am leaning towrds Leon- to get something a bit more edgy and modern. I will try to take pic and attach it...

 

[Gypsy]

Oh yeah. I would take one of everything and order some ''bespoke'' pieces from them.

 

[JulieA]

ok- I have a new camera. how to I make file smaller so I can send?

 

[widget]

Date: 6/27/2007 1:26:12 PM
Author: JulieA
ok- I have a new camera. how to I make file smaller so I can send?

You have a photo editing program on your computer, don''t you? Go there, open your picture, find "edit" on the tool bar, and hit it. A menu drops down...hit "image size". Change either hor or vert number (200-400 pixels is nice), save change.

At least that''s how mine works!

I''m still fretting about using a tanzanite in this ring. It really would have to be worn "carefully". Have you considered a good color-change sapphire? Just a thought.

If I were doing this, I''d have Leon source the sidestones...he has such a great sense of proportion...

widget

 

[JulieA]

Finally- this is a pic of the pendant I own and why thinking of something different for tanzanite ring. By the way- Mark morell DID warn that facets get chipped eaily and should only be worn for special occasions. Still trying to figure out HOW fragile we are talking about becaue 23rd said be careful- but wear and enjoy as ring if that is what I prefer. I would not want to bang my opal or a pearl ring. ARe we talking same type of fragile... or worse?

 

[kcoursolle]

I''m not sure what advice to give, but your project is just beautiful and I can''t wait to see pictures of the final product!!