Falling in Love With a Ring Beyond Your Means- Support Group

[Kaleigh]

Re: Falling in Love With a Ring Beyond Your Means- Support G

petrock ohhh that setting is beyond words,. no wonder you love it so....

 

[Imdanny]

Re: Falling in Love With a Ring Beyond Your Means- Support G

Ouch. That is heartbreakingly beautiful.

 

[SparklyOEC]

Re: Falling in Love With a Ring Beyond Your Means- Support G

Really gorgeous dream setting petrock. I can see why you love it. Surely, there is someone who can make a similar ring for you.

 

[marcy]

Re: Falling in Love With a Ring Beyond Your Means- Support G

Petrock that ring is gorgeous. Maybe work on it in pieces - save up to get the ring and have a gemstone put in it then save more money to get your diamond.

 

[petrock<3]

Re: Falling in Love With a Ring Beyond Your Means- Support G

Well, I couldn't find any great pictures of my Van Craeynest dream setting, but here are a couple! The first picture is an e-ring posted here on PS and the second is the setting with a round stone just sitting in the prongs.

Diamondseeker that is gorgeous! So intricate

 

[petrock<3]

Re: Falling in Love With a Ring Beyond Your Means- Support G

What about this setting by Jewels By Erica Grace? I dunno, but I doubt it's anywhere near $8500.
*hugs*




Oh my gosh that is very similar! I will have to ask them about it. Thanks!

 

[missydebby]

Re: Falling in Love With a Ring Beyond Your Means- Support G

What about this setting by Jewels By Erica Grace? I dunno, but I doubt it's anywhere near $8500.
*hugs*




Oh my gosh that is very similar! I will have to ask them about it. Thanks!

glad to be of help!!!!!

 

[risingsun]

Re: Falling in Love With a Ring Beyond Your Means- Support G

Petrock~that setting is gorgeous! I also must compliment the other settings on this thread. Can anyone recommend a book that has great photos of fabulous jewelry pieces?

 

[luv2sparkle]

Re: Falling in Love With a Ring Beyond Your Means- Support G

It's beautiful Petrock! I would just keep the photos of that setting, you never know what could happen. It is wonderful. Sometimes,
life can give us beautiful surprises, you never know! Lots of dust for this dream of yours coming true!

The Leon is beautiful, and he does do amazing work. Maybe you could have something made by him. I wouldn't tell him or show
him a picture of it, but tell him what you would like, and see what he comes up with. Looking at it, it is beautifully simple, I think
he could make a beautiful version. But if you have your heart set on that particular setting, I would wait and get the real thing.

It's lovely, you have beautiful taste.

 

[petrock<3]

Re: Falling in Love With a Ring Beyond Your Means- Support G

Petrock~that setting is gorgeous! I also must compliment the other settings on this thread. Can anyone recommend a book that has great photos of fabulous jewelry pieces?

Ha! I think PS'rs could compile an amazing one

 

[arjunajane]

Re: Falling in Love With a Ring Beyond Your Means- Support G

petrock, I'm sorry to hear of your disappointment. Do you mind to post a photo or at least a more detailed description? From what you've mentioned of it, I cant imagine why it should be so exceedingly expensive-would you consider having another custom jeweller of high standards produce something similar for you? (or is it highly expensive because its a 'name'?)
I can certainly relate to desiring gems or diamonds that are simply out of budget, but as far as settings I tend to know/keep in mind my limitations, so I havent experienced this exact thing-yet!

Thanks Arjunajane, I don't know if it is their name, or the fact that it is all handmade. He said it takes 8-10 weeks to make. Their workmanship is exquisite.

Hi Petrock, that ring is gorgeous and so unique, I can completely understand why you love it so much. In this scenario I do believe you would be paying a bit extra for name as I'm pretty confident the concept could be hand produced by a different quality goldsmith. (of course, you would need to be content to adjust the design slightly). May I ask do you already own the diamond that you want to set?
Also I will need to adjust my previous post to agree with DS - some of the more elaborate Van C designs I love are in my dream/lotto category for sure, although I do believe what they do is worth the prices

 

[MAC-W]

Re: Falling in Love With a Ring Beyond Your Means- Support G

Oh yes I know that feeling well. It's very very hard.

I have 2 rings that I desperately want, and maybe if I save all my bonuses for the next 20 years I might be able to get one of them. Other than that I need a lotto win.

Care to share??

Petrock,
I have to say that Mc2 setting is absolutely amazing. I can totally see why you are in love.

But I tend to agree with the others, in that if you could live with just a little tweak to the design and it not being Mc2, you could easily get one of the amazing designers mentioned here in Pricescope to do something very similar for a lot less money. I definately think you should get this one rather than the Leon, which is also very nice but not O.M.G like the Mc2 one.

The ones I'm dreaming of are a 5+ct fancy intense brown diamond in an "Oh my gosh" setting (possibly affordable if I live on beans and save like crazy for a few years). The other one is what my husband calls my survivor ring - an eternity ring with argyle fancy vivid pink diamonds about 20 points each. Even if we could afford the diamonds which we cant without the lotto win (they're about $10k each apparently ), finding enough of similar size and shape to actually make the ring is probably impossible, even alternating pink and white is probably impossible. Hubby has suggested I get a pink sapphire eternity once I'm three years clear, which actually will work well for me cos ruby is my birthstone and a pink sapphire is bascially a pale ruby. In the meantime I'll just keep dreaming of the diamonds, sigh.

I hope you get your dream ring one day (and sooner rather than later cos I want pictures of that puppy )

 

[bgray]

Re: Falling in Love With a Ring Beyond Your Means- Support G

The cost of the Mcteigue is really all in the labor. They have a workshop in Mass staffed with craftsman of the highest caliber. 8500 is a lot of money but in todays market not so crazy for a setting that is not only handmade but made to fit a specific stone. McTeigue & Mc while fabulous dont have much of a name beyond a small niche so I dont believe much of the cost has to do with the "brand." Leon does amazing work but his prices have become obscene in my opinion. There are plenty of people out there who can do similar work. The big issue is replicating designs successfully.

 

[Doc_1]

Re: Falling in Love With a Ring Beyond Your Means- Support G

Most of the cost in custom made goes into first time development, the time taken into the communication and the CAD....so forth, and if it is already done that should cut down significantly on the cost for subsequent requests of the same model, definitely not 8500$.

 

[bgray]

Re: Falling in Love With a Ring Beyond Your Means- Support G

Most of the cost in custom made goes into first time development, the time taken into the communication and the CAD....so forth, and if it is already done that should cut down significantly on the cost for subsequent requests of the same model, definitely not 8500$.

Perhaps--but in this case each time the basket is a different size which would affect the spacing of the rest of the mounting. In theory you are right but you simply dont see that cost reduction happening at any jeweler of note

 

[arjunajane]

Re: Falling in Love With a Ring Beyond Your Means- Support G

Most of the cost in custom made goes into first time development, the time taken into the communication and the CAD....so forth, and if it is already done that should cut down significantly on the cost for subsequent requests of the same model, definitely not 8500$.

Handmade more often than not equals no CAD. You will find that authentic goldsmiths who create everything by hand arent usually fond of CAD-where plans need to be made they will be sketched/drawn/painted. Actually, I can only see your statement applying in the CAD/cast process really-with custom handmade each time will be different depending on the gem, client, budget etc.

 

[petrock<3]

Re: Falling in Love With a Ring Beyond Your Means- Support G

Arjunajane- I do not own the diamond yet, I have a couple I am going to look at when I get back to the states. This will be an upgrade to my current ring. If none of the stones work out, I may just keep my stone and go with the Leon setting. I flip flop constantly. That is why when I saw the setting, I thought, that's it! Decision made! Now, not so much.

I agree Van C work is amazing.

Here is one of the stones

 

[petrock<3]

Re: Falling in Love With a Ring Beyond Your Means- Support G

The ones I'm dreaming of are a 5+ct fancy intense brown diamond in an "Oh my gosh" setting (possibly affordable if I live on beans and save like crazy for a few years). The other one is what my husband calls my survivor ring - an eternity ring with argyle fancy vivid pink diamonds about 20 points each.

That would be amazing!!


I hope you get your dream ring one day (and sooner rather than later cos I want pictures of that puppy )[/quote]

You too!

BGray- I feel bad even complaining about the price because I have alot of respect for their craftsmanship. They are amazing artists. I wish I could pay it because I think they deserve it for the work they do. Maybe one day.

*sigh* budgets are budgets!

I don't feel attached to the name as a brand, just the level of workmanship. So I would be happy having someone else make the setting, but I would kind of feel bad about using their flower concept (although tweaked) I feel like I'm plagerizing! Is that wrong, or does it happen all the time?

 

[petrock<3]

Re: Falling in Love With a Ring Beyond Your Means- Support G

It's beautiful Petrock! I would just keep the photos of that setting, you never know what could happen. It is wonderful. Sometimes,
life can give us beautiful surprises, you never know! Lots of dust for this dream of yours coming true!

The Leon is beautiful, and he does do amazing work. Maybe you could have something made by him. I wouldn't tell him or show
him a picture of it, but tell him what you would like, and see what he comes up with. Looking at it, it is beautifully simple, I think
he could make a beautiful version. But if you have your heart set on that particular setting, I would wait and get the real thing.

It's lovely, you have beautiful taste.

That is a good idea, just tell him the concept no visuals. I would feel less guilty about that.

Thank you!

 

[arjunajane]

Re: Falling in Love With a Ring Beyond Your Means- Support G

Arjunajane- I do not own the diamond yet, I have a couple I am going to look at when I get back to the states. This will be an upgrade to my current ring. If none of the stones work out, I may just keep my stone and go with the Leon setting. I flip flop constantly. That is why when I saw the setting, I thought, that's it! Decision made! Now, not so much.

I agree Van C work is amazing.

Here is one of the stones

Hi petrock,

I can completely relate - there are too many options!
But I believe, if you've been flip flopping and you see something you reaalllly love - you should probably follow that - but I could not personally pay that kinda $$ for something that, although extremely beautiful, is actually quite a simple setting at the heart of it.
Have you considered asking around for other quotes to produce something 'inspired by'? I think this is right up JBeG's alley..(although, admittedly I believe they use CAD/cast).

I haven't looked into purchasing fancy diamonds before, but that one looks really pretty to me, at least in the photo provided.
I hope you move forward with your upgrade, it would be such an exciting project.
btw, I much prefer the McTeigue over the Leon.


ETA: just saw your post above. I understand your hesitation about asking someone else to reproduce the work of a designer you respect. However, any vendor who has their own pride and sense of aesthetics will not want to help you copy someone else's design..
Yes, it does happen all the time..both direct copies and 'inspired' pieces; there isn't much original in the world of jewellery that hasn't been done elsewhere or before, really.
I haven't personally seen that flower-like 'cup', except for something slightly similar in some vintage styles - but the 3-pronged split shank is certainly used elsewhere.

 

[Dancing Fire]

Re: Falling in Love With a Ring Beyond Your Means- Support G

Oh it is painful. I think I want it more now that I know I can most likely never have it. I thought maybe if I forgo any kind of gift for the next 5 or 10 years or so, I could make it happen. But it is so beyond the budget I don't even want to mention it to my husband.
Anyone feel my pain? Have you ever fallen hard for the unavailable stone, setting? I need a pint of Haagen Daz and some tissues.

then don't charge it on a CC then tell him...."thanks honey for that beautiful birthday gift"...

 

[petrock<3]

Re: Falling in Love With a Ring Beyond Your Means- Support G

Oh it is painful. I think I want it more now that I know I can most likely never have it. I thought maybe if I forgo any kind of gift for the next 5 or 10 years or so, I could make it happen. But it is so beyond the budget I don't even want to mention it to my husband.
Anyone feel my pain? Have you ever fallen hard for the unavailable stone, setting? I need a pint of Haagen Daz and some tissues.

then don't charge it on a CC then tell him...."thanks honey for that beautiful birthday gift"...

Hahaha I like the way you think!

Arjunajane- thank you for your input. I think you are right about jbEG, they have that setting that is so similar. I don't really mind if it is CAD and cast.

I'm glad to hear people's response that the flower design has that extra zing, even with less diamonds. It just has something special about it I think. It is a little iffy having it loosly replicated, when I know Leon is a sure thing (beauty wise). But it may be worth pursueing. Thanks everyone for your opinions- if anyone else wants to chime in let me know!

It is such a long wait before I get to look at stones, obsessing over the setting is keeping me going!

 

[ChunkyCushionLover]

Re: Falling in Love With a Ring Beyond Your Means- Support G

These designs are beautiful I have admired this MC2 Open Flora design since I saw it.

The question about inspired designs and to what degree another jeweler replicate closely the design is difficult to answer.
Leon could undoubtedly create his own handmade version of these designs but it may end up costing a significant fraction of the original cost.

CAD/CAM well that really depends on how many views and fine closeups you can get of the ring and how skilled the CAD designer is and then ultimately the abilities of the jeweler making the ring. Those fine flowing curves and the delicate balance between thicknesses of metal may not be easy to replicate using CAD/CAM, save for perhaps getting a wax mold of an original done and even then .

 

[MonkeysInk]

Re: Falling in Love With a Ring Beyond Your Means- Support G

It's totally gorgeous - I've not seen anything like it. I just looked at their website and everything there is lovely. I can see why you're in love with it!

 

[starryeyed]

Re: Falling in Love With a Ring Beyond Your Means- Support G

Ooo-la-la! It's like a little buttercup! Divine!

However, $8500 is a TON of money. I understand your conundrum completely!

 

[coati]

Re: Falling in Love With a Ring Beyond Your Means- Support G

Ouch. That is heartbreakingly beautiful.

It really is-I get a pang just looking at it.

I would shop around and look at the work of many different designers, and see if I found something else that was beautiful (albeit different) that I could afford. The idea of attempting to replicate McII's work by another designer just doesn't sit well. In any case, I need to join your support group, because I have affections for McII as well.