David Klass help

[Josh_loveofjewels]

Hey everyone,
Ive been working with David Klass on an emerald and diamond pendant. Anyone have any advice on how many cads he normally does? he's already done 3 cads for me and I don't want want to go over board. He told me I can make as many changes as I want, I just don't want to offend him. Could anyone share how many cads they David provide them with cads?

 

[dmack]

He’ll do as many as it takes to get it right. I think I did about a half dozen. Many here have done much more! Feel free to share your process here. This forum is amazing and can help refine ideas to get you closer to what you want faster!

 

[gregchang35]

i second @dmack suggestion. the forum is great helping out.
I have worked wtih DK, and most of my stuff are standard stuff, so no CADs DK are great to wrok with. they stand by their work.

edit: I had one project involving cads, that i was working on prior to the pandemic and then things closed... sadly, i did not go thru with the project

 

[prs]

The ringdant in my avatar took about 30 CADs, but it was a very complex design both aesthetically and structurally. The basic ringdant design didn't work for a stone this big. To my relief Amy told me I still didn't break the record.

If you put more than two changes together in the same paragraph, I found some of them will likely get overlooked. It works best if you number each change you want in a separate paragraph, and with a detailed explanation. Also put that same number on the CAD next to the item you want to change, again with a brief explanation as space permits.

Microsoft Paint came free on my computer so I use it to edit the CADS, add the numbers, and add text as needed.

These days I tend to send a maximum three changes at a time, and tackle the most complex ones first. Usually we are done by the fourth or fifth CAD.

 

[Josh_loveofjewels]

Thank you everyone! Im going to post pictures of my 4th cad when I get it back tomorrow

 

[Josh_loveofjewels]

The ringdant in my avatar took about 30 CADs, but it was a very complex design both aesthetically and structurally. The basic ringdant design didn't work for a stone this big. To my relief Amy told me I still didn't break the record.

If you put more than two changes together in the same paragraph, I found some of them will likely get overlooked. It works best if you number each change you want in a separate paragraph, and with a detailed explanation. Also put that same number on the CAD next to the item you want to change, again with a brief explanation as space permits.

Microsoft Paint came free on my computer so I use it to edit the CADS, add the numbers, and add text as needed.

These days I tend to send a maximum three changes at a time, and tackle the most complex ones first. Usually we are done by the fourth or fifth CAD.

your ring is so beautiful!

 

[Josh_loveofjewels]

do you guys ever work on more than one project at once with David?

 

[Niel]

God I’m trying to think what’s my average and what’s my max. Always more than three though.

 

[Josh_loveofjewels]

God I’m trying to think what’s my average and what’s my max. Always more than three though.

hehe. Im just relieved that Im not over doing it.

 

[mrs-b]

@Josh_loveofjewels -

Do you work in the jewelry trade? I see it has you listed as 'trade' on your profile.

 

[Josh_loveofjewels]

@Josh_loveofjewels -

Do you work in the jewelry trade? I see it has you listed as 'trade' on your profile.

Oh no. I didn't realize that I listed trade. Ill fix it.

 

[elle_71125]

I usually do about 6 CADs but my last project took so, so many. Had to have been at least a dozen. DK & Amy never make me feel bad for asking for more changes. They’re always committed to making it what you want.

To answer your second question, yes, I have worked on two projects at once. The cads for each always came separately. It’s doable but it can be more challenging when you are trying to nail down details on multiple projects.

 

[Josh_loveofjewels]

I usually do about 6 CADs but my last project took so, so many. Had to have been at least a dozen. DK & Amy never make me feel bad for asking for more changes. They’re always committed to making it what you want.

To answer your second question, yes, I have worked on two projects at once. The cads for each always came separately. It’s doable but it can be more challenging when you are trying to nail down details on multiple project thanks fo

Thanks for the response! Ive seen your ring on his instagram! Did you request a scalloped bezel that thin or did he just do it? I love how refined it looks. I really don't like bulky bezels.

 

[elle_71125]

Thanks for the response! Ive seen your ring on his instagram! Did you request a scalloped bezel that thin or did he just do it? I love how refined it looks. I really don't like bulky bezels.

Do you mean the one in my avatar? The center stone is a semi cup with prongs. The outer halo (for the emeralds) is a bezel and, yes, I asked for it to be as unobtrusive as possible. I wanted it to feel delicate and feminine.

 

[yssie]

When I work with my preferred vendors I run through one or two CADs at most.

Changes are minimal because the designer has spoken with me, has requested information about my inspirations, has developed a clear idea of what I like and what I don’t like, and has the art/design/manufacturing background necessary to execute on that information. The vendors I choose to work with never make me - an end consumer with no background in jewellery design - responsible for design minutia. I explain, in my pedestrian terms, what I want, the aesthetic I’m looking for, and my designer puts the pieces together to create a fluid, cohesive jewel that incorporates my asks and extends my ideas.

Creating 3, 6, 12 CADs is, on the one hand, a sign of a customer-focused vendor. Please understand that 99.9…% of the time it is also the sign of a vendor who is dumping too much design responsibility on the client. (I am not aware of any PS projects with Klass that have been the exception(s) to this). A designer should be comfortable working through the nuances without you to create pleasing artwork that requires minimal input (although a good vendor will of course permit the client as much input as desired). When working with a good designer, a client should feel like he has the option to provide minimal input and still have confidence that he will wind up with a beautiful piece that checks all his boxes with no compromises.

There is a reason that PSers say “David Klass is a great choice if you know exactly what you want” - it’s because if you don’t know exactly what you want, he is not going to provide those missing details - you’ll be responsible for discovering them yourself via CAD iterations and PS threads.

My advice to you would be to decide whether or not you actually want to take full control over (and take full responsibility for) your design. Do you feel like you are the person who can bring the most beautiful incarnation of your vision to life? Or would you prefer to leverage a designer’s experience and expertise? I will say that I have done more custom jewellery projects than most, and I work only with designers because they always bring more to the table than I would have come up with on my own - despite my long and expansive history with custom design.

 

[Josh_loveofjewels]

Do you mean the one in my avatar? The center stone is a semi cup with prongs. The outer halo (for the emeralds) is a bezel and, yes, I asked for it to be as unobtrusive as possible. I wanted it to feel delicate and feminine.

It’s so pretty.

 

[marymm]

DK is my preferred vendor.

My designs are almost always based off of something DK already crafted. Sometimes I frankenstein components from a few pieces (i.e., shank from one design, basket from another). I'll send him a pic or Insta link to his design, and then a pic or description of the change/augment I would like, and he sends me a CAD. I admit my pieces are not complicated. I do always ask for DK's best (uber) bench to execute my stuff and am happy to pay for that level of craftsmanship.

95% of the time the 1st CAD is exactly on point, and I approve it.

The other 5% of the time I may need a 2nd CAD because (1) I failed to communicate a relevant design detail, (2) although the CAD was executed just as I asked, in looking at it I realized it needs tweaking, or (3) the CAD did not include everything I requested.

For me, custom projects are most successful when I work with a vendor who has basically already executed the design I want. I respect and value DK's talent and entire organization, and I feel heard and appreciated as a continuing customer.

 

[Rhea]

When I work with my preferred vendors I run through one or two CADs at most.

Changes are minimal because the designer has spoken with me, has requested information about my inspirations, has developed a clear idea of what I like and what I don’t like, and has the art/design/manufacturing background necessary to execute on that information. The vendors I choose to work with never make me - an end consumer with no background in jewellery design - responsible for design minutia. I explain, in my pedestrian terms, what I want, the aesthetic I’m looking for, and my designer puts the pieces together to create a fluid, cohesive jewel that incorporates my asks and extends my ideas.

Creating 3, 6, 12 CADs is, on the one hand, a sign of a customer-focused vendor. Please understand that 99.9…% of the time it is also the sign of a vendor who is dumping too much design responsibility on the client. (I am not aware of any PS projects with Klass that have been the exception(s) to this). A designer should be comfortable working through the nuances without you to create pleasing artwork that requires minimal input (although a good vendor will of course permit the client as much input as desired). When working with a good designer, a client should feel like he has the option to provide minimal input and still have confidence that he will wind up with a beautiful piece that checks all his boxes with no compromises.

There is a reason that PSers say “David Klass is a great choice if you know exactly what you want” - it’s because if you don’t know exactly what you want, he is not going to provide those missing details - you’ll be responsible for discovering them yourself via CAD iterations and PS threads.

My advice to you would be to decide whether or not you actually want to take full control over (and take full responsibility for) your design. Do you feel like you are the person who can bring the most beautiful incarnation of your vision to life? Or would you prefer to leverage a designer’s experience and expertise? I will say that I have done more custom jewellery projects than most, and I work only with designers because they always bring more to the table than I would have come up with on my own - despite my long and expansive history with custom design.

I agree with this. I worked with DK last year and my little ring is exactly as I pictured and as designed. There's a change I wish I'd made, but it's pretty slight.

I think of CAD's as valuable, but it's obv that DK doesn't and i think I had 3 or 4. If I ever had a question it was answered with a CAD, my original query was answered with a CAD even! That's nice, a picture is worth a thousand words and all, but he leaves everything up to you to design with no suggestions or input. No regrets at all, I'd do it again, but the exchanges were different than any previous (very limited) experience. I stated what I wanted, he did it, end of.

 

[oncrutchesrightnow]

Cripes I changed CADs with like one vendor. Although I did just ask for Cads on the same ring with 2 different sizes recently. Hope I made the right choice…