Daniel M for settings with diamond center stone?

[Kim N]

I often see Daniel M mentioned for setting CS or simulant center stones. Has anyone used him for setting a diamond center stone, or settings with diamond melee or more intricate work? Also, how is his craftsmanship compared to someone like David Klass or Whiteflash? Photos are most certainly welcome!

 

[Cerulean]

I often see Daniel M mentioned for setting CS or simulant center stones. Has anyone used him for setting a diamond center stone, or settings with diamond melee or more intricate work? Also, how is his craftsmanship compared to someone like David Klass or Whiteflash? Photos are welcome!

Having had both DK and Daniel, the craftsmanship for my DK piece is definitely superior. Granted, I have only had one ring from DK (a 2nd in the works), two necklaces and a ring from Daniel...but I want to be very honest.

I have liked my pieces from Daniel very much, but for more intricate work or pieces I feel precious about I will go to DK. Others may disagree, just my opinion.

 

[Kim N]

Having had both DK and Daniel, the craftsmanship for my DK piece is definitely superior. Granted, I have only had one ring from DK (a 2nd in the works), two necklaces and a ring from Daniel...but I want to be very honest.

I have liked my pieces from Daniel very much, but for more intricate work or pieces I feel precious about I will go to DK. Others may disagree, just my opinion.

Thank you, Cerulean, that's very helpful! Regarding the craftsmanship, would you say it's more about the prong work or the finish or something else that makes DK's piece superior?

 

[Cerulean]

Thank you, Cerulean, that's very helpful! Regarding the craftsmanship, would you say it's more about the prong work or the finish or something else that makes DK's piece superior?

The attention to/execution of detail was the biggest difference. My M.O. is to mimic existing designs I see online, like antiques or things I see on the forum. (That may not jive with everyone). But it is perfect for DK. I hate prongs so tend to focus on bezels in portfolios, but they are hard to do well.

My experience working with DK - his attention to details, from CADs to finish, is excellent. The current ring I have...the bezels are perfect. He translated very specific instructions about tapering the bezels and showing a little "side boob" (lol) flawlessly in the design. He also rendered a pretty intricate design (my 2nd in the works project) in one fell swoop with super minor tweaks. Here is a thread on the design I am talking about. I also think his portfolio of engraving, milgrain, bezels etc. is really impressive and very different from Daniel's whose designs are pretty, but just a lot simpler. DK's is just...tighter. It's hard to explain. Comparable (maybe next level in some instances) execution / engraving I see is from Sako, and CVB. But from what I know Sako has been the bench at some juncture for CVB and DK so maybe that's why.

There are even teensy tiny things with my ring from DK that could make it uber perfect - but I don't want to pay for his uber bench (maybe it's Sako? I have no idea), and I don't usually look at my engagement ring under a loupe.

It might be an unfair comparison because I have never sent a design like the one to Daniel to execute, but I also don't see anything remotely like it in his portfolio which is usually a good place to start.

With the projects I have worked on w/ Daniel - there have also been noticeable discrepancies with details from the inspiration images I sent, vs. what I got. Was I unhappy with what I got? Not at all. But my expectations were different. If I wanted something executed perfectly he just wouldn't be my guy. If I want the most economical and something I know I will be happy with, done deal.

I have also heard excellent things about the Whiteflash bench, just have no experience.

 

[Cerulean]

And I do not mean to be disparaging of Daniel at all...I have recommended him multiple times. You know you best!

**edit last thing I will add - Daniel has filled a really important part of the market. It is hard to find a decent bench at a great value. It is important to recognize that and give credit where it is due which is why I will continue to use him for certain projects. I have seen absolute garbage sold for far more and I am so glad Daniel is filling that gap and doing exactly what he is doing. I don't think Daniel should go out and try to be more like DK.

 

[lulu_ma]

Hi @Kim N . I just had Daniel M set a White Zircon with diamonds on the shank. I think Daniel M did a very nice job with the French set diamonds. Daniel did bench work for 20+ years for a well-known Boston area jeweler.

That said, I haven't worked with the top benches that are often mentioned on PS.

I would check out his Insta feed and see if he has done a setting similar to what you are looking for. I don't see a lot of halos in portfolio, if this is what you are looking to do.

Are you looking for an intricate setting?

 

[marymm]

Personally I would not entrust a diamond or any stone of value (monetary and/or intrinsic) to Daniel M, nor would I ever recommend him as a vendor.

OP, have you read this thread?

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/whats-going-on-with-danielm.203426/

Starting in mid 2014 through sometime in 2016, quite a few PSers had extreme trouble contacting him, getting their stones and jewelry back, getting what they paid for or a full refund ... he closed his etsy store without warning, and at some point in 2019, re-opened it ... there was never an announcement, a notice, an explanation as what had occurred.



There are people using Daniel M again, but personally I would never take the risk. YMMV.

 

[Kim N]

@Cerulean thank you so much for going into detail! It's incredibly helpful, and I understand what you mean. Your sapphire setting is going to be gorgeous. I love the intricacy in the design, and really love that DK sent you both waxes to compare. The NS version looks amazing on you. You're right about DK's portfolio compared to Daniel's in terms of complexity of design. Since this will be for my e-ring, I think I'm going to go with DK. I want the extra attention to detail. (I wonder if it's a feedback loop, though, where people don't send Daniel more complex designs because it's not already in his portfolio.)

@lulu_ma your ring is so beautiful! I especially love the double prongs.

@marymm whoa, no, I didn't see that thread before. Thanks for bringing it to my attention--I'll go take a look now.

 

[Cerulean]

Personally I would not entrust a diamond or any stone of value (monetary and/or intrinsic) to Daniel M, nor would I ever recommend him as a vendor.

OP, have you read this thread?

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/whats-going-on-with-danielm.203426/

Starting in mid 2014 through sometime in 2016, quite a few PSers had extreme trouble contacting him, getting their stones and jewelry back, getting what they paid for or a full refund ... he closed his etsy store without warning, and at some point in 2019, re-opened it ... there was never an announcement, a notice, an explanation as what had occurred.



There are people using Daniel M again, but personally I would never take the risk. YMMV.

Omg I had no idea about this.

Thanks for sharing this thread - I will check it out. I have had good luck with him, but it is good to know the pros / cons of every vendor.

 

[Cerulean]

@Cerulean thank you so much for going into detail! It's incredibly helpful, and I understand what you mean. Your sapphire setting is going to be gorgeous. I love the intricacy in the design, and really love that DK sent you both waxes to compare. The NS version looks amazing on you. You're right about DK's portfolio compared to Daniel's in terms of complexity of design. Since this will be for my e-ring, I think I'm going to go with DK. I want the extra attention to detail. (I wonder if it's a feedback loop, though, where people don't send Daniel more complex designs because it's not already in his portfolio.)

@lulu_ma your ring is so beautiful! I especially love the double prongs.

@marymm whoa, no, I didn't see that thread before. Thanks for bringing it to my attention--I'll go take a look now.

Hope it was helpful - sorry to have written a novel haha but I figured you could skim if you wanted!

 

[Kim N]

Hope it was helpful - sorry to have written a novel haha but I figured you could skim if you wanted!

Yes, definitely helpful! I will probably do what you do--use DK for more important pieces and Daniel for fun pieces.