Am I too picky? - Stud Settings by DK

[xxxxxx]

Hi everybody,

I opened a thread a few weeks ago about what kind of stud settings I should opt for. Thank you too everybody who chimed in with their advice!

I asked David Klass to make a me settings that were a combination of the the ones I had posted. He sent me a video yesterday of the final project. On the one had I love them, but when I zoom in closer I do feel they aren't as delicate as other stud settings he has made. I don't want to be nitpicky annoying customer and maybe I'm imagining it.

Do you guys see the difference between the two settings? Mine are Picture A - Picture B are stud settings that DK made a year or two ago with very similiar sized stones. I find the basket (especially the part that end in the prongs) to be far bulkier in Picture A than in picture B. Would this be something you would comment on or even ask to be refined? Or is this owed to the somewhat different design?

In Picture A (my earrings) it also bugs me that the bottom of the basket is so uneven, where the element between the prongs is going into the basket. But maybe I'm just expecting too much.

TI'm looking forward to hear your opinion!

Picture A



Picture B

 

[Mjay]

Hi everybody,

I opened a thread a few weeks ago about what kind of stud settings I should opt for. Thank you too everybody who chimed in with their advice!

I asked David Klass to make a me settings that were a combination of the the ones I had posted. He sent me a video yesterday of the final project. On the one had I love them, but when I zoom in closer I do feel they aren't as delicate as other stud settings he has made. I don't want to be nitpicky annoying customer and maybe I'm imagining it.

Do you guys see the difference between the two settings? Mine are Picture A - Picture B are stud settings that DK made a year or two ago with very similiar sized stones. I find the basket (especially the part that end in the prongs) to be far bulkier in Picture A than in picture B. Would this be something you would comment on or even ask to be refined? Or is this owed to the somewhat different design?

In Picture A (my earrings) it also bugs me that the bottom of the basket is so uneven, where the element between the prongs is going into the basket. But maybe I'm just expecting too much.

TI'm looking forward to hear your opinion!

Picture A



Picture B

Definitely voice your concerns to him ASAP. He did a ring for me last year and I didn’t like the way the prongs turned out. They were way thicker than the inspiration that I had sent him. I voiced my concern as soon as he sent me a video of the ring and he immediately had them fixed them to perfection.

 

[dmack]

Ask him about it. Is there a bar going across the back of the basket that the post attaches to? If so I wonder if you’re just seeing where that attaches to the bottom of the basket. You could ask if it’s possible to polish that smoother. As far as one looking more delicate than the other, I don’t quite see it. I’ll say that I’m always shocked when I see the tiny finished piece - the macro videos tend to play tricks on your mind.

 

[chere]

It looks really sloppy to me. I thought it would turn out something like @megeve studs. I would ask for a redo.

5.20 tcw BGD Studs set by Leon

Now that PS 2.0 is up and I have a little break from my travelling schedules, I finally got around to take some pics of my upgraded studs from BGD/Leon. :wink2: Some background story, a week after I received my first BGD studs early last year, the dreaded DSS set in immediately as I was used...

www.pricescope.com

 

[tyty333]

Are you comparing leon mege settings with DK settings @chere ? I guess I may not be understanding why you linked that
thread?

They can probably file down that bottom part that connects to the basket. Other than that, I'm not seeing a reason to complain.
I think seeing big pictures tend to blow things out of proportion. In reality, in person, I think they will look fine (as in good).

 

[Lookinagain]

what I see is that A has a flat bottom and B doesn't. A is more like a basket type setting and B is more like a type of martini where the bottom is a rounded "V" shape. Which did you ask for? Without seeing the face on view of the prongs on B I can't tell if they are bulkier.

 

[GliderPoss]

They do look different but I don't know if it would bother me IRL as they are so tiny and you don't have to look at it in the same way you would a ring or pendant.... You could ask him to replicate the original ones?

 

[chere]

Are you comparing leon mege settings with DK settings @chere ? I guess I may not be understanding why you linked that
thread?

@xxxxxx posted the CAD few weeks ago. I thought it would turn out like the Leon Mege studs but with a V shaped rail.

I see one of the issues now that I look at the CAD. The basket on the CAD is 1.05mm thick. The basket in picture B looks smaller than the post. The Protektor post on my studs are 0.86mm thick...

Stud Setting - which would you choose and why?

Dear PS Members, I'm looking for a stud setting for 7.1mm diameter diamonds. I want them to be as low set and elegant as possible. I also would have the jeweller (David Klass) have them modified to three prongs (instead of four). Of these three Options which would you choose considering I'm...

www.pricescope.com

 

[Rfisher]

I asked David Klass to make a me settings that were a combination of the the ones I had posted. He sent me a video yesterday of the final project. On the one had I love them, but when I zoom in closer I do feel they aren't as delicate as other stud settings he has made. I don't want to be nitpicky annoying customer and maybe I'm imagining it.

As it was said earlier - these are magnified photos and IRL will be ‘different’ - that’s true, but people vary.

I don’t think there is anything wrong with comparing the same vendor macro photos to each other and expecting the same from ‘like’ projects.

I think it’s worth asking. Whether it’s not possible due to the basket difference - or due to the construction difference - or due to the bench itself -
It’s worth (IMO) asking them so you know the ‘why’.
You’ll know in your mind the reason and stop wondering. And you’ll either accept it as is, or not and ask for something different.

If, after you type it out, you still feel like your words might sound worse than you intend them to - call them. Tone goes a long way in perception.

 

[tyty333]

what I see is that A has a flat bottom and B doesn't. A is more like a basket type setting and B is more like a type of martini where the bottom is a rounded "V" shape. Which did you ask for? Without seeing the face on view of the prongs on B I can't tell if they are bulkier.

She said she asked for a combination of a couple (but only posted one picture). I'm assuming she wanted the "basket" vs the
more martini style of the others.

The actual prongs over the girdle of the stone look quite petite to me. I think the issue (correct me if I'm wrong @xxxxxx ) is they
are not as "delicate" as the picture she provided (which were also made by DK). The CAD does say 1.05mm on the prongs which
in reality may not be as petite as expected. That being said, DK usually wants his customers to be happy so if you want thinner
bring it up. My* priorities lean more toward sturdy so I* would be happy with these but if you're not...bring it up. I would wait to
see them in person first though (make sure the connection points are buffed flat before being sent out).

 

[xxxxxx]

Thank you all for your opinions! I think I said goodbye to the delicate look (which I love about my ring setting which is from EW) because 1. I won't look at the settings all day and 2. I will be cleaning the studs probably a lot so more metal probably makes sense.
I did ask DK too flatten the parts that are uneven so the bottom of the basket lays flat againt an earlobe.

 

[distracts]

My opinion here... and I don't mean to sound dismissive... is that you're literally never going to see the parts you're worrying about. Never. They're going to be on your ears. So I would not worry about it. I truly don't mean to sound dismissive, I just think I wouldn't have even thought about the appearance of the earring settings much beyond how much diamond was exposed from the top and whether they had a flat back.

It also looks exactly like I'd expect based on the CAD.

 

[xxxxxx]

My opinion here... and I don't mean to sound dismissive... is that you're literally never going to see the parts you're worrying about. Never. They're going to be on your ears. So I would not worry about it. I truly don't mean to sound dismissive, I just think I wouldn't have even thought about the appearance of the earring settings much beyond how much diamond was exposed from the top and whether they had a flat back.

It also looks exactly like I'd expect based on the CAD.

I agree on the one hand. On the other hand I see my jewelry as little pieces of art. But I think then I really have to go with a designer like cvb, erika winters or victor canera to receive the perfect finish that I'm looking for.

I still think DK is great especially for what he delivers with his prices. He's definitley a fair jeweler! And I will enjoy my earrings

 

[StarshineSweet]

I agree on the one hand. On the other hand I see my jewelry as little pieces of art. But I think then I really have to go with a designer like cvb, erika winters or victor canera to receive the perfect finish that I'm looking for.

I still think DK is great especially for what he delivers with his prices. He's definitley a fair jeweler! And I will enjoy my earrings

The flat bottom basket is going to sit better on the ear than the one that's shaped more V.

 

[xxxxxx]

The flat bottom basket is going to sit better on the ear than the one that's shaped more V.

Yes that's why I ordered a flat basket.

 

[headlight]

No offense to anyone on what I’m going to say but OP asked for input. First off, I think the martinis will sit better than the baskets. I don’t think you can make a comparison between the 2 photos as the other looks more delicate because it’s a more delicate setting. Your setting design is chunkier - that’s due to your design, not with the jeweler. With regard to the workmanship, I agree that it’s really shoddy work and after all the overwhelming praises for this jeweler I’m so unimpressed. Honestly, I think you should scratch this design idea. I think it is overkill for these studs. I don’t know about anyone else, but I would think you would want people to look at your ears and think “nice studs” and not focus on the mountings. I think you, understandably, were really excited about the diamonds and approached the mountings as one would for an engagement ring. Here’s the other thing: please absolutely do not accept these as is because you don’t want to be an annoying customer as you mentioned. You are the customer. With that said, this is the risk one takes when going custom… you don’t know exactly what it will look like and there is often disappointment which leads to the jeweler getting burned out on the customer because he/she feels they cannot do anything to please. And every re-make and adjustment just eats away at their profit margin. From the way you are feeling at this point I can guarantee you will never be 100% happy and will always feel you settled and it will be on your future jewelry list to do a reset. I want you to love them and I think you should either get them to look like photo B or get ready-made mountings for now, wear them and enjoy the compliments you receive and the thrill you will feel every time you pass by a mirror. And then after some time you can make the change but I don’t think you will. As for the ready made mountings, I strongly say go martini as they do sit better and it really emphasizes the roundness of the stones which I personally think works best with the shape of the ear lobe, and it is as if they are magically attached to your ears. I think baskets detract. But your call. If you go with photo B which are very beautiful and still understated to feature the diamonds, have them made by the jeweler that made those, even if it’s not who you are working with now or they will never be as shown. Good luck - I say all this in the spirit of wanting you to be overjoyed and based on decades of owning more than a few pair of studs throughout the past 3 decades in various mounting styles.

 

[xxxxxx]

No offense to anyone on what I’m going to say but OP asked for input. First off, I think the martinis will sit better than the baskets. I don’t think you can make a comparison between the 2 photos as the other looks more delicate because it’s a more delicate setting. Your setting design is chunkier - that’s due to your design, not with the jeweler. With regard to the workmanship, I agree that it’s really shoddy work and after all the overwhelming praises for this jeweler I’m so unimpressed. Honestly, I think you should scratch this design idea. I think it is overkill for these studs. I don’t know about anyone else, but I would think you would want people to look at your ears and think “nice studs” and not focus on the mountings. I think you, understandably, were really excited about the diamonds and approached the mountings as one would for an engagement ring. Here’s the other thing: please absolutely do not accept these as is because you don’t want to be an annoying customer as you mentioned. You are the customer. With that said, this is the risk one takes when going custom… you don’t know exactly what it will look like and there is often disappointment which leads to the jeweler getting burned out on the customer because he/she feels they cannot do anything to please. And every re-make and adjustment just eats away at their profit margin. From the way you are feeling at this point I can guarantee you will never be 100% happy and will always feel you settled and it will be on your future jewelry list to do a reset. I want you to love them and I think you should either get them to look like photo B or get ready-made mountings for now, wear them and enjoy the compliments you receive and the thrill you will feel every time you pass by a mirror. And then after some time you can make the change but I don’t think you will. As for the ready made mountings, I strongly say go martini as they do sit better and it really emphasizes the roundness of the stones which I personally think works best with the shape of the ear lobe, and it is as if they are magically attached to your ears. I think baskets detract. But your call. If you go with photo B which are very beautiful and still understated to feature the diamonds, have them made by the jeweler that made those, even if it’s not who you are working with now or they will never be as shown. Good luck - I say all this in the spirit of wanting you to be overjoyed and based on decades of owning more than a few pair of studs throughout the past 3 decades in various mounting styles.

I have already approved the setttings and they were sent out on friday. But thank you for taking a different standpoint. I will see the settings only in 2 months when my sister will bring them to me when she visits from the US. I'm excited to see them and compare them to my (almost) impeccable ring setting. And then maybe I will have them reset or I will pick a more costly jeweler in the future with loupe clean finishes. But I have even seen customers unhappy with their handforged 4000+ dollar settings.

 

[headlight]

I think you have a really great attitude and they quite possibly may please you very much. I think it’s great you went back to the jeweler to bring up your concerns and hopefully it will have made all the difference. When you finally receive them I hope you will post!

 

[bling_dream19]

Hi there, chiming in as the owner of photo B. First, I'm really flattered! I still have these studs and wear them regularly and love them! They feel light on the ear and truly look like they are floating. I've often wondered which is better, flat back or martini. So far I'm very pleased with the martini. You'll have to let us know how the flat back is. I love a personalized approach to studs. I hope you love your new gorgeous studs. And if not, you have a super nice jeweler who will remake for you. Keep us posted and congratulations!

 

[xxxxxx]

Update: So I received the earrings a few days ago and I’m pretty disappointed.

The good: the claw prongs from looking at the top are beautiful.

The bad: I do see a few irregularities in the metal of the basket. And the post seems to be mounted in a crooked manner.


The really bad: one diamond is loose and turns completely in the setting. I have no idea what I should do now?

The country I live in just really doesn’t have nice jewelers, where I could get it fixed.

I find it pretty frustrating that DK didn’t check my earring settings more closely, especially when he knew it was an international order, which would be pretty hard to send back if something got loose etc..

 

[Rfisher]

I understand your frustration and am sorry for it.
Lifted prongs after a final polish that doesn’t get caught in inspection before shipping isn’t unusual, unfortunately. That doesn’t help you, though.

Who did you end up using for your lifted prong on your EW solitaire?

 

[xxxxxx]

I understand your frustration and am sorry for it.
Lifted prongs after a final polish that doesn’t get caught in inspection before shipping isn’t unusual, unfortunately. That doesn’t help you, though.

Who did you end up using for your lifted prong on your EW solitaire?

I don’t see any prong directly lifted (like with my EW setting). But a prong or must be lifted in order for the diamond to be loose right?

I never had the prong on my ring pushed down. But I’m happy to report that two years later - the prong hasn’t lifted any further. And on my ring setting the metalwork really is impeccable. I wish I had at least gone with CvB for my studs (I feel like her work is a bit more consistent).

 

[mrs-b]

@xxxxxx -

Rotating diamonds is a big NO for me. I believe DKJ will pay for you to ship them back, but whether you want to or not is a decision you'll need to make.

As for the differing design elements - these are totally different earrings, and if you want option 2, I think they'll need to be remade.

Something DKJ can probably do for you is remake them as per option 2 and send them to you unset. Then you can get someone near you to remove your diamonds and set them in the new setting. At that point, DKJ will tell you what they'd like you to do with the old setting. This means they can start the new setting without you needing to return the original one and you can still wear them in the meantime.
Personally, I'd get them remade. The prongs might be nice, but there was a communication breakdown somewhere here.

 

[headlight]

I am so sorry this happened. When you say there are no jewelers near you it makes me think:
1. Perhaps give someone a shot as clearly sending them across the world to someone who’s supposed to be so fantastic hasn’t panned out (twice now);
and
2. If no one immediately near you, perhaps a jeweler via long car ride or short plane flight?
I think you need to be working with someone in person at this point. But, honestly, I think you need to scratch this idea altogether. I still feel as I did in my prior post that you will never be happy with the outcome (unfortunately).
Additionally, I think you are putting too much into mountings for studs. No one sees it and you have had to go through hell over something you should be thoroughly enjoying straight out of the box.
Both you and the jeweler are now at max fatigue with regard to this project. I can only imagine your frustration and disappointment as I’ve been there with other custom work. Like it just shouldn’t be this hard!
You have to do something because you cannot be going around with a stone that spins. Did you say you have another ring with a stone that spins around? If so please get that fixed right away!
I would be sick over this but unless you are willing to walk from the money you’ve put into it (which sometimes honestly is the least of evils at this point) you will need to send back yet again BUT I strongly suggest you ask they just be set in basic basket or martini mountings and be done with it and actually get to wear and enjoy your diamonds.