Which e-ring setting for my petite AVC?

[heididdl]

I love the first setting. I agree with DS in that you should use a setting GOG can find you. I am sure that they can find something similar to your number 1 setting. I love your stone. I love petite things and this stone is so nice Enjoy and Happy almost Anniversary

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Okay, let me take a shot at this. There have been people mad that he made rings that were similar or like their rings (but I am going to say that one should not post a ring on the internet if they are concerned about someone wanting one similar). One that I can think of was never intended to be an exact replica and therefore wasn't exactly like the original ring and not a fair comparison. I imagine the one he made probably cost a small fraction of the inspiration ring. There is another ring that he replicated and it is as good or better than the original as far as I am concerned.

I just think from the pictures on the thread, he makes a good quality ring for your budget, and I definitely think his work looks better than the ones at LJN. Judge based on the links of pictures of the settings he has made whether they are pleasing to YOU or not. I think the price he gave you is very good. The fact is, not everyone can pay $3-6k for a setting, so we have to give the very best options within someone's budget. That's why I recommended him. But I cannot tell you that I think it would be as perfect as a Van Craeynest like it that might run $3k+.

 

[tuqoa]

There has been issues in the past. But also people dont like him around here because he has copied some very well know PS rings. We cannot link other forums, but if you google david klass ring and look at the google images, youll get an example of his work. I cant answer you as to when you need to pay him, but in that thread i know it says he offers a full refund if you dont like it. Maybe ask him about that?

Ahhh the plot thickens. I personally do not have a problem with him doing that. From what I've seen of the most-loved rings on PS, most people would never be able to afford the original level of craftsmanship. There are always going to be affordable knock-offs of high-cost items, for instance in the fashion industry this is a regular and expected occurrence. There were knock-offs of Kate Middleton's wedding dress available within months of her wedding. And you see Tiffany-style ring settings all over the place. Anyway I don't want this thread to turn into a debate about DK and this particular issue so I will stop there.

I did look at his Facebook and Instagram prior to contacting him, and there is also a thread on another forum with several pages of pictures of his work. On his FB he has a floral filigree ring with a red center stone that I think is quite stunning. For this price-point of custom work, his work seems good to me, though I'm no expert.

Obviously at this price-point I am not expecting an utterly perfect work of art like with LM or VC, but I do want a level of quality I can look at and be happy to wear and not feel like I could have done better for the price.


I'm wondering if I should try getting quotes from some other vendors who do custom? ERD maybe? I'm assuming SingleStone would be way beyond our budget?

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I would think Singlestone would be higher. I haven't seen that much work by ERD in this style of ring to say how they'd do. Most people here have used them for halos and not antique style rings. I am not sure how their pricing would fall.

 

[tuqoa]

DS Thank you for shedding some more light on this issue! I was writing my response to Niel before your comment was posted haha, and I think you and I are of the same mind here.

Absolutely am not expecting the level of craftsmanship as Van Craeynest, my goodness they are using a dying art to create miniature works of art at VC. It is really just the design/style of the setting I fell for, before even knowing it is of VC origin.


ETA: Yeah I was a bit concerned about ERD too because I've never seen them do this style before. They're just the only other vendor with affordable custom jobs that I can think of. XD

For kicks and giggles maybe I will send an inquiry to SingleStone and see what they say. I'm going to guess they will be about 1k more than DK, at least!

 

[Niel]

I agree with DS here.

You've seen his work. Theres a lot out there on the internet. You clearly have invested time and looked into his work. I think he does really nice work for the price. Ive seen more expensive rings that were comparable. But also, inquire about the return policy. Thats important for really any vendor. You should know what youre getting into.

I do this ERD would be out of budget, BUT, no harm in shooting an email, right?

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Emails are free, so it might be interesting to see what the other quotes would be! I have only gotten one or two quotes from SS in the past, but they were a little more complex in style (milgrain halo) and platinum, so I can't judge how much a more simple ring style would cost. If they'd do it for $1500, I might consider them.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Do you like this one at all? I think it would be a sweet setting for your AVC:

http://singlestone.com/index.php?page=collections&catID=3&pID=1654&startRow=3

I was just thinking you could ask for more than one quote.

 

[tuqoa]

Come to think of it, for my 30th birthday hubby and I went down to SingleStone and bought a pair of .3cttw oecs to be set as earrings. At the time I'd been planning on having BGD bezel them, but SS gave us a quote since we were there anyway. Long story short, 3 days before my 30th my dad finally lost his battle with Alzheimer's, and those oecs became associated with that rather disastrous birthday, so they are still sitting in a drawer waiting for the association to wear off. In any case, I got a quote from BGD a year after buying them, and SingleStone's quote had actually been pretty close to BGD's.

So maybe SingleStone won't be as outrageously priced as I'm assuming. Probably still out of our budget, but now I'm curious!


DS I do like marquis shapes! There's an eternity ring I'm hoping to get one day that is similar to that setting, with marquis and round alternating. Do you think that's mixing too many shapes though? Square AVC, plus the marquis and round shapes in the setting. The setting we've been talking about custom making is still my favorite, but I'd be curious to see the price on this one.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Ha, I love the alternating marquise and round eternity, too! I have looked at the Beverley K version for ages!

I think any shape antique cut stone can go in the setting with the marquise and round sides. However, if you are ever contemplating getting that eternity ring, I would not do the e-ring setting like that. I feel like the cost might be roughly comparable to the one you want to have made, though. But it could be less since they already make that style.

(Sorry about your dad. My dad died with Alzheimer's as well, but he was probably older than your father. It is a horrible disease.)

 

[tuqoa]

DS you have excellent taste.

Who knows when an eternity ring will be in my future, but I love this one too, with the yellow sapphires! http://www.beverleyk.com/r140-sm-d-ys.html

(I'm sorry to hear about your dad too It really is a terrible disease. Although, your dad may have been closer to my dad's age than you think, haha. My parents had a 25 year age difference and he was 65 when I was born. He was 94 when he passed, so there is the consolation that he'd been able to have a long and full life before he was diagnosed. I read about people being diagnosed in their 50's and 60's and that just breaks my heart for them and their families.)


ETA: Niel I'll be sure to inquire about DK's return policy in my next email!

 

[packrat]

Single Stone made my three stone and it's impeccable. It was costly, but worth it. I went w/Single Stone b/c they made the inspiration ring, and I was too chicken to have a different vendor do it, even to save some money.

However, DK finished a ring for me a few weeks ago, and while I haven't seen it in person as I'm still slooowly paying on it, it's lovely in pictures! He does have a great return policy-if I don't like it, I send it back for a refund, no questions asked.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Single Stone made my three stone and it's impeccable. It was costly, but worth it. I went w/Single Stone b/c they made the inspiration ring, and I was too chicken to have a different vendor do it, even to save some money.

However, DK finished a ring for me a few weeks ago, and while I haven't seen it in person as I'm still slooowly paying on it, it's lovely in pictures! He does have a great return policy-if I don't like it, I send it back for a refund, no questions asked.

Ohhh, can we see pictures???!!!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

DS you have excellent taste.

Who knows when an eternity ring will be in my future, but I love this one too, with the yellow sapphires! http://www.beverleyk.com/r140-sm-d-ys.html

(I'm sorry to hear about your dad too It really is a terrible disease. Although, your dad may have been closer to my dad's age than you think, haha. My parents had a 25 year age difference and he was 65 when I was born. He was 94 when he passed, so there is the consolation that he'd been able to have a long and full life before he was diagnosed. I read about people being diagnosed in their 50's and 60's and that just breaks my heart for them and their families.)


ETA: Niel I'll be sure to inquire about DK's return policy in my next email!

Love the BK yellow sapphire band, too! I'd have 20 of those bands if I won the lottery or something!

I was just looking through my saved ring pictures and I found a larger version of the marquise round setting with a cushion, just to show you people put cushions in them! I might consider that setting myself. (Pic attached...it belongs to OUpeargirl and it was actually made by Leon M)

(Ahhh, your parents did have quite an age difference! My father died 5 years ago and he was 84.)

 

[Niel]

Single Stone made my three stone and it's impeccable. It was costly, but worth it. I went w/Single Stone b/c they made the inspiration ring, and I was too chicken to have a different vendor do it, even to save some money.

However, DK finished a ring for me a few weeks ago, and while I haven't seen it in person as I'm still slooowly paying on it, it's lovely in pictures! He does have a great return policy-if I don't like it, I send it back for a refund, no questions asked.

Ohhh, can we see pictures???!!!

i was wondering the same. Its not on his Facebook is it?? Theres a CS halo on there that looks great

 

[packrat]

Single Stone made my three stone and it's impeccable. It was costly, but worth it. I went w/Single Stone b/c they made the inspiration ring, and I was too chicken to have a different vendor do it, even to save some money.

However, DK finished a ring for me a few weeks ago, and while I haven't seen it in person as I'm still slooowly paying on it, it's lovely in pictures! He does have a great return policy-if I don't like it, I send it back for a refund, no questions asked.

Ohhh, can we see pictures???!!!

Soon as I get it, I'll post, promise!

 

[tuqoa]

Single Stone made my three stone and it's impeccable. It was costly, but worth it. I went w/Single Stone b/c they made the inspiration ring, and I was too chicken to have a different vendor do it, even to save some money.

However, DK finished a ring for me a few weeks ago, and while I haven't seen it in person as I'm still slooowly paying on it, it's lovely in pictures! He does have a great return policy-if I don't like it, I send it back for a refund, no questions asked.

Ohhh, can we see pictures???!!!

Soon as I get it, I'll post, promise!

Can't wait to see!! I was just looking at your past posts and adore that tourmaline bezel

DS I'm surprised at how well that cushion works with the marquis/round! I was having a hard time visualizing the effect but it looks great!

 

[yssie]

My opinion on DK's work, biting my tongue on the debate:

Good workmanship for the price, and he sounds to have a happy and loyal customer-base (which indicates that he treats his clients well).

I do think many who request specific imitations of other vendors' original designs are either unaware of (or are determined to deny) the fact that his workmanship simply does not compare to that of the master craftsmen that created the originals - this is reflected in the prices he charges so it shouldn't come as a surprise. From a customer perspective the most successful custom pieces are, IMO, the ones wherein the design reflects a vendor's specialties and skills... something PS has taught me: any project that involves asking a vendor to create something that is not his specialty or above his bench's capabilities is pretty much doomed from the start!

I love the design you've chosen (this one right? http://antiqueengagementrings.com/shopping/shopexd.asp?id=4520) for your stone!! But I'm not at all impressed with the workmanship on the inspiration reproduction, especially at that price. I think any of the vendors mentioned in this thread could create an inspired-by that delineates those sorts of details much more cleanly and precisely - as they should be in a setting worthy of housing your AVC

 

[diamondseeker2006]

You know I agree with everything you said, Yssie. It is a dilemma when we know who could make something the absolute best, yet sometimes paying 2 to 3 times the cost is not practical or even possible. I'd have a lot more rings, probably, if settings weren't so terribly expensive and if I had never seen the workmanship differences between the ring makers!

 

[yssie]

Hah, yeah, I can definitely sympathise - I think most of us can! Ignorance really is bliss sometimes! I've been pretty good about saving the past few months and now I can finally move on some of the projects I've been nursing and I'm having a beastly time balancing the Wants and Can Haves. It was easier when the bling bucket was empty - nothing to balance

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Hah, yeah, I can definitely sympathise - I think most of us can! Ignorance really is bliss sometimes! I've been pretty good about saving the past few months and now I can finally move on some of the projects I've been nursing and I'm having a beastly time balancing the Wants and Can Haves. It was easier when the bling bucket was empty - nothing to balance

Ohhh, can't wait to see what you do next! My bling wish list is always greater than the contents of the bling bucket, so I am always in conflict!

 

[yssie]

Hah, yeah, I can definitely sympathise - I think most of us can! Ignorance really is bliss sometimes! I've been pretty good about saving the past few months and now I can finally move on some of the projects I've been nursing and I'm having a beastly time balancing the Wants and Can Haves. It was easier when the bling bucket was empty - nothing to balance

Ohhh, can't wait to see what you do next! My bling wish list is always greater than the contents of the bling bucket, so I am always in conflict!

DH and I have this discussion every holiday and anniversary! I'm super easy to shop for because I always have a list of material wants. DH, though, he just doesn't want. When he does want he gets right away if it's at all feasible because it's so rare... and then the want is fulfilled there's no backlog at all, nothing of interest until the next want comes along! I truly fail to understand this One-At-A-Time-Want thing - how is it possible!?

 

[diamondseeker2006]

My husband is the exactly same way. His gifts probably totalled less than$200 because there just wasn't anything he wanted. Like you, I am easy as there is always something on the jewelry wishlist! It's just that mine will cost a LOT more!

 

[tuqoa]

Hi Yssie, Yes that's the inspiration ring! Thanks so much for your input and support In looking again at DK's portfolio, I can't really tell if anything he's done is in the same style as our inspiration ring...he's done antique styles but nothing quite like this. Is that a good enough indicator that he'd be a good match for our project?

My ball-park re the Singlestone quote was not far off lol! The quote was nearly double our maximum setting budget. Glad I knew better than to get my hopes up!

I did just ask her in my response if they carried anything she'd suggest for our stone in the 1k-1500 range, we'll see if that turns anything up as some back-up options. Haven't given up on our first pick (especially since it's both my and my husband's favorite setting), but I do like contingency plans.

 

[Niel]

Hi Yssie, Yes that's the inspiration ring! Thanks so much for your input and support In looking again at DK's portfolio, I can't really tell if anything he's done is in the same style as our inspiration ring...he's done antique styles but nothing quite like this. Is that a good enough indicator that he'd be a good match for our project?

My ball-park re the Singlestone quote was not far off lol! The quote was nearly double our maximum setting budget. Glad I knew better than to get my hopes up!

I did just ask her in my response if they carried anything she'd suggest for our stone in the 1k-1500 range, we'll see if that turns anything up as some back-up options. Haven't given up on our first pick (especially since it's both my and my husband's favorite setting), but I do like contingency plans.

It doesn't have to look just like the ring you want, but look for elements of it. I feel like I've seen his bead set pave and it looked good. Also will you have engraving?

 

[tuqoa]

Nope no engraving, I love looking at engraving on other folks' jewelry, but it's too busy for my own style.

 

[tuqoa]

Quick question -- Should I request a certain type of cut for the 4 melee diamonds? DK's quote included round brilliant H VS melee. According to the LJN site the total melee weight is .04ct so they will be really tiny. I think I remember reading about full cut vs single cut melee, will the cut have a visual difference in melee this small?

 

[diamondseeker2006]

The rb melee is fine in that size.

Wow, double your max for 14wg?! Yikes! DK is sounding better and better!

 

[yssie]

Ditto Niel, if you've looked at his work and you're happy with what he's done with similar elements on other pieces then you've done your homework!

And ditto DS, the RB melee quoted will be fine. The single vs. full-cut discussion is more for pedants who have specific reasons for preferring one or the other, definitely not something to be concerned about re. whether or not you'll like your piece

 

[tuqoa]

Love this place, you guys are a font of knowledge! <3

Niel and Yssie, Didn't have the chance yesterday to go further into this, but what exactly are the design elements I would be looking at for this ring? There won't be any engraving, and there are only 4 accent diamonds.

Here are a couple of DK's pieces that I particularly liked, but not sure if I'm looking at the right aspects or if I'm over-looking some flaws that would be obvious to a more experienced eye?




We got clarification on his policies and they seem fair (and pretty generous to me). No payment until we approve the photos of the finished product. After payment, due to it being custom, there are no full refunds. However if we are unhappy with it after payment, he will work with us on the design until it's fixed and we're happy. He will replace lost stones for free within 3 years. Since we live a few hours from LA we asked if we could come down and approve the finished product in person rather than via photos, and he said we could do that no problem.