CvB

[xxxxxx]

Hi everybody,

I’m very unsure hoe to proceed. Caysie has been holding a lot of diamonds for me (30 diamonds ranging from 0.3ct-1.5 ct) for a tennis bracelet. I asked her four weeks ago after paying 800 USD up front for a layout of the diamonds, how they would appear on my wrist. She said she would get back to me the week after. Then I reached out to her again after not hearing from her. She said oh I’m not at home because of thanksgiving the next two weeks. And now she is just not answering me. I feel so stupid. Should I ask her to send me the diamonds, should I be more patient? What would you guys do?

 

[Rfisher]

Should I ask her to send me the diamonds, should I be more patient? What would you guys do?

Is the 800 you paid, has she said that sets you up in her que?
If she’s given you x weeks of estimation production timeline - does that include downtime due to shutdowns this time of year, and upcoming early next year, or no? If it’s a brand new design vs existing - is that timeline included?

If you feel you cannot ‘roll’ with a vendor that has a history of some PS’ers having the same experience you have detailed, consistently & inconsistently on projects,
Then I think you should consider looking elsewhere.
Some people can, some people can’t.
Knowing up front is important, I think, to make that decision for oneself.
I can think of multiple vendors that are loved on PS, who seem to say ‘I’ll do X on __date’ often and don’t follow though. I don’t think it’s unique to her.

There’s a thread in the testimonials section, if you haven’t already seen it. Others are scattered around.

Best wishes.

 

[tyty333]

Just curious how long she has had to give you a layout. How long has she had your stones? I don't know if you read some of her
reviews here on PS but I don't think speed or communication are her strong points. IMO, come the middle of November the
holiday season starts and I won't/don't start any new projects until after the new year (because jewelers are busy with the Xmas
season).

Edit: I just saw @Rfisher mention some of these things, but I will post anyway!

Edit...I do have to say I love her aesthetics.

 

[MamaBear]

I’d just like to add my experience. I have only engaged in one project with Caysie. She was absolutely wonderful to work with. It was a design she’d already created. Her communication was always prompt. The project was a week late, but I was kept informed. I absolutely love my ring and look forward to working with her in the future!!

 

[yssie]

This year's end has been especially busy for her with family needs which I'm sure are taking up even more of her time than usual.

Your stones are safe with her though, not to worry. In an ideal world she'd respond promptly to all inquiries, I certainly don't disagree! But that's not always the reality of working with her. Communication style mismatch is a very valid reason to choose another vendor, if that's what you prefer to do - but please don't worry that your stones or money are gone. Not to worry!

I've had several stones with her for over a year. They're just sitting in her safe somewhere - I don't have a plan for them, but I know that I adore her work, so there they stay. If you decide to stay with her on your project, I do agree with prior posters that very likely nothing will happen until next year.

 

[newdiamondworld]

There’s a thread in the testimonial section of this forum discussing CvB that shares many similar experiences. Personally, I’ve worked with Caysie before and truly admire her work. However, her communication style, frequent flakiness, and tendency to disappear unexpectedly have been major blockers for me. Unfortunately, this isn’t a new thing—she’s known for it, which is a shame.

 

[HS4S_2]

I adore all of my rings from Caysie. In my experience it has definitely been well worth the wait for completion. This time of year is crazy busy. I imagine for most vendors. Add in family obligations and holidays....it gets crazy. I have multiple stones in her safe right now. I know they are safe until we are ready to go. Still deciding how I want to set them. I usually always have something in the works with Caysie. She is currently designing my daughters engagement ring project. I know it's going to be amazing. She currently has worked with all of my kids on projects and I am sure there will be many more. I try to give sufficient time because I know that she is busy with work and also with family.

I do think that everyone has a communication style they are comfortable with and sometimes it's better to go with someone who is a better match. That is very valid concern when doing bespoke. If it doesn't feel like you will be happy with the wait or with the communication style....it is probably better to find a better fit. I have some of the popular vendors that I struggle to communicate my vision/wants to and with Caysie she understands my vision and she comes back with something amazing. I feel she knows me and my family very well and gets the aesthetic we want. I only use a handful of people but most of my stuff is CVB. I hope that you end up with the perfect project no matter who creates it.

 

[Karl_K]

I think this is the PS curse for beloved craftsperson popular here.
We love small shops and single person shops.
There is something special about "talking" with the person(s) doing the actual work and not sales people.
They get popular and very busy and life happens and there is not 5 other people to get the work out the door.
They miss a day or 2 because of life and there are 200 emails in the inbox needing answers.
Lets say on average each takes 5 min(some much longer some 1 min) that is 1000min or over 16 hours just on emails.
Then there are 4 projects on the bench that need to ship.
What to do? Yikes.
Take 5 deep breathes give the projects priority then respond to emails until your eyes cross.
Tumble into bed and do the same tomorrow hoping you can get caught up before another life happens event throws another curve ball.
That's the life of a PS beloved craftsperson.

 

[MMtwo]

I don't have anything to say that has not been said before on this thread, but I understand your point of view, and can also sympathize with hers. It must be a delight and a pain in the tush to be that good and in demand.

Good luck! I hope this works out quickly for you.

 

[newdiamondworld]

I think this is the PS curse for beloved craftsperson popular here.
We love small shops and single person shops.
There is something special about "talking" with the person(s) doing the actual work and not sales people.
They get popular and very busy and life happens and there is not 5 other people to get the work out the door.
They miss a day or 2 because of life and there are 200 emails in the inbox needing answers.
Lets say on average each takes 5 min(some much longer some 1 min) that is 1000min or over 16 hours just on emails.
Then there are 4 projects on the bench that need to ship.
What to do? Yikes.
Take 5 deep breathes give the projects priority then respond to emails until your eyes cross.
Tumble into bed and do the same tomorrow hoping you can get caught up before another life happens event throws another curve ball.
That's the life of a PS beloved craftsperson.

I don't fully agree here. Because when you accept money from people, you have a responsibility to deliver a service, regardless of your desires, your proficiency or circumstances. Many small vendors, despite being extremely busy respect their customers, and ensure timely communication about project updates and timelines. In stark contrast, CvB’s unresponsiveness and poor communication create a dynamic where you’re left feeling like a nag or a nuisance simply for following up on what should be basic expectations.

 

[ecf8503]

I have worked with Caysie on many projects, currently have 2 with her! She is incredibly busy this time of year, not to mention some family situations that need her attention. I've come to accept that things will take longer with her, and I'm ok with that because I know the end result is totally worth it!

 

[xxxxxx]

I got an answer from Caysie and it seems
Her answers were not getting through to me. I can add I had two very beautiful projects already with her. I was just freaking out, because I was not used to the unresponsiveness and it took me 6 months to collect the diamonds so now I finally want the project to start

Thank you everybody for chiming in!

 

[Dreamer_D]

I had issues with email when we were working together too. Text may be better.

 

[jjca]

YAY! I hope you share the finished product with us!