For those of us with setting commitment issues...

[Mara]

cehra it's different now at wf because there are so many more people they have now, for my w-ring many moons ago, i think i worked with brian and lesley. for my toe rings i was able to talk with leon on the phone about what i wanted...i think he was kind of new then. however since then so many more people have started working there i am not sure what the process is. here's the thing...you can be as anal as you want with your stuff. wf is not going to ship the setting until you are satisfied....just like any jeweler! i wouldn't be afraid of working with anyone really as long as they have the reputation to *make things right* should something go wrong. for me that is uber important. great customer service and follow-through and standing behind their product. plus you never know until you actually TRY. and i'd love to work with a jeweler who would keep me involved through the entire process..aka pictures of the wax, etc. find out who will do that for you and then figure out what your comfort level is. you know what your 'hangups' are so find someone you can be entirely up front with and who will not hesitate to work with you.

oh one more thing...i don't think that people realize that they can still make minor changes to a ring when it's been cast...aka it's too wide here or the prongs need to be more curvy there etc. they can typically make those small changes to the ring after the fact...it doesn't ALL have to be done in the design process. and even if the ring is entirely done...it doesn't mean that you still can't make more minor changes. unless it's a HUGE difference in the structure of the ring, they can continue to shave out small areas here and there and everywhere etc until you get it how you want.

 

[Cehrabehra]

Date: 2/2/2007 9:29:07 PM
Author: Mara
cehra it''s different now at wf because there are so many more people they have now, for my w-ring many moons ago, i think i worked with brian and lesley. for my toe rings i was able to talk with leon on the phone about what i wanted...i think he was kind of new then. however since then so many more people have started working there i am not sure what the process is. here''s the thing...you can be as anal as you want with your stuff. wf is not going to ship the setting until you are satisfied....just like any jeweler! i wouldn''t be afraid of working with anyone really as long as they have the reputation to *make things right* should something go wrong. for me that is uber important. great customer service and follow-through and standing behind their product. plus you never know until you actually TRY. and i''d love to work with a jeweler who would keep me involved through the entire process..aka pictures of the wax, etc. find out who will do that for you and then figure out what your comfort level is. you know what your ''hangups'' are so find someone you can be entirely up front with and who will not hesitate to work with you.

oh one more thing...i don''t think that people realize that they can still make minor changes to a ring when it''s been cast...aka it''s too wide here or the prongs need to be more curvy there etc. they can typically make those small changes to the ring after the fact...it doesn''t ALL have to be done in the design process. and even if the ring is entirely done...it doesn''t mean that you still can''t make more minor changes. unless it''s a HUGE difference in the structure of the ring, they can continue to shave out small areas here and there and everywhere etc until you get it how you want.

Thanks mara WF''s dedication to customer satisfaction is really in a class itself. I do trust them... I admit that thread on RT got to me despite my better judgment - bad timing. UGH! I dunno if my design is too far out of their box, but I suppose it doesn''t hurt to ask.

I know this is going to sound total weenie and I already know the answer lol - but it IS okay to send out your ring design info to more than one jeweler to get quotes and feedback, right? I feel disloyal doing so but I also think it''s silly to be anything but proactive on my own behalf....

 

[kcoursolle]

Date: 2/2/2007 10:51:52 PM
Author: Cehrabehra

Thanks mara WF''s dedication to customer satisfaction is really in a class itself. I do trust them... I admit that thread on RT got to me despite my better judgment - bad timing. UGH! I dunno if my design is too far out of their box, but I suppose it doesn''t hurt to ask.

I know this is going to sound total weenie and I already know the answer lol - but it IS okay to send out your ring design info to more than one jeweler to get quotes and feedback, right? I feel disloyal doing so but I also think it''s silly to be anything but proactive on my own behalf....

It''s totally normal to get quotes from multiple sources. I almost always get 2 when I''m working on an important project. Just recently for fi''s wedding band I contacted three vendors...totally normal, at least I think.

 

[Kim N]

Date: 2/3/2007 12:49:02 AM
Author: kcoursolle

Date: 2/2/2007 10:51:52 PM
Author: Cehrabehra


Thanks mara WF''s dedication to customer satisfaction is really in a class itself. I do trust them... I admit that thread on RT got to me despite my better judgment - bad timing. UGH! I dunno if my design is too far out of their box, but I suppose it doesn''t hurt to ask.

I know this is going to sound total weenie and I already know the answer lol - but it IS okay to send out your ring design info to more than one jeweler to get quotes and feedback, right? I feel disloyal doing so but I also think it''s silly to be anything but proactive on my own behalf....

It''s totally normal to get quotes from multiple sources. I almost always get 2 when I''m working on an important project. Just recently for fi''s wedding band I contacted three vendors...totally normal, at least I think.

Agree, totally normal. I always get at least two as well, and for my e-ring I got four or five. It was a little complicated because I had so many "requirements" with it (I had a 14-page document with a bunch of photos and notes!), so I wanted to be sure the jeweler I ended up choosing understood what I was looking for and had a reasonable price.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Cehra, I really had a great talk with Mark Morrell. I do not see his prices as high at all. Just to give you an idea, the price of a wedding band in platinum like Jades, which I think has nine 10 point diamonds in platinum, was about $3000. I hate to say this, but we paid $2400 for .75 cts. in 18k for a similar Memoire band (which is more than a lot of shared prong bands, but it would be top quality mass produced, and I went with the higher quality diamonds). I think the more unique the design (meaning more of his time making the design) plus the intricacy of the design, plus the extra diamonds, will determine the cost. But I found Mark''s prices very fair for custom platinum work. He uses the CAD thing, too.

I think rapport will mean a lot for whoever you work with. I think Mark''s site says he is currently taking well-defined custom projects. I think you''d need to pay him for any design work if you decided to stop working with him during the process.

My personal dilemma is that I now have a fair amount of money in the current settings, and do I want to pay another $5000 for new settings that will look to most people exactly like what I have now? I will know the difference as I will see the beautiful work on the MWM settings, but that is a lot of money for sure. I just love that head on Jade''s e-ring and the sides of that wedding band. I just wish these had been available when I first started looking!!!

I forgot what you said, though, about what metal you are using...I think Mark only used platinum. He does use the platinum I prefer as it is harder and more durable than the typical platinum.

 

[Cehrabehra]

Date: 2/3/2007 9:25:12 AM
Author: diamondseeker2006
Cehra, I really had a great talk with Mark Morrell. I do not see his prices as high at all. Just to give you an idea, the price of a wedding band in platinum like Jades, which I think has nine 10 point diamonds in platinum, was about $3000. I hate to say this, but we paid $2400 for .75 cts. in 18k for a similar Memoire band (which is more than a lot of shared prong bands, but it would be top quality mass produced, and I went with the higher quality diamonds). I think the more unique the design (meaning more of his time making the design) plus the intricacy of the design, plus the extra diamonds, will determine the cost. But I found Mark''s prices very fair for custom platinum work. He uses the CAD thing, too.

I think rapport will mean a lot for whoever you work with. I think Mark''s site says he is currently taking well-defined custom projects. I think you''d need to pay him for any design work if you decided to stop working with him during the process.

My personal dilemma is that I now have a fair amount of money in the current settings, and do I want to pay another $5000 for new settings that will look to most people exactly like what I have now? I will know the difference as I will see the beautiful work on the MWM settings, but that is a lot of money for sure. I just love that head on Jade''s e-ring and the sides of that wedding band. I just wish these had been available when I first started looking!!!

I forgot what you said, though, about what metal you are using...I think Mark only used platinum. He does use the platinum I prefer as it is harder and more durable than the typical platinum.

yeah if I went with him it''d be plat but ITA on the 900 plat vs 950. Even still I really would prefer gold for the color. Maytal wrote me back and so both of those designers seem to have enough to give me a quote... and neither seem to be scared off at first glance LOL But now I''m like ooh crap I didn''t put a bunch of things in there - maybe I should have???? I was trying to be general, and only have about 3 or 4 pages of stuff including pics... maybe I should have put the whole shabam in there off the bat? I didn''t want to overwhelm anyone with prong tip shapes YET though LOL I think MM would end up being more than I want to pay and the time would probably pass my next anniversary in june LOL I think he could make a lovely head for me but I don''t think he''s THE ONE.

As for you.... I don''t know that I could spend 5k when I already had a beautiful setting - and really DS it IS beautiful. But ITKWYM about having that masterpiece.... are you certain that this is what you want for like at least 5 years? so far you haven''t even made it 5 months LOL!! I could say right here maybe you should have waited to set it like I''ve waited but darnit you''ve been able to WEAR your ring the last several months and I haven''t LOL!

 

[Cehrabehra]

Date: 2/3/2007 3:18:48 AM
Author: Kim N

Date: 2/3/2007 12:49:02 AM
Author: kcoursolle

It''s totally normal to get quotes from multiple sources. I almost always get 2 when I''m working on an important project. Just recently for fi''s wedding band I contacted three vendors...totally normal, at least I think.

Agree, totally normal. I always get at least two as well, and for my e-ring I got four or five. It was a little complicated because I had so many ''requirements'' with it (I had a 14-page document with a bunch of photos and notes!), so I wanted to be sure the jeweler I ended up choosing understood what I was looking for and had a reasonable price.

okay that''s good... maybe I''ll send it out to a couple more this weekend and then just MAKE A FREAKING CHOICE ALREADY ha!!

 

[Cehrabehra]

Date: 2/3/2007 1:14:52 PM
Author: Cehrabehra

Date: 2/3/2007 3:18:48 AM
Author: Kim N

Date: 2/3/2007 12:49:02 AM
Author: kcoursolle

It''s totally normal to get quotes from multiple sources. I almost always get 2 when I''m working on an important project. Just recently for fi''s wedding band I contacted three vendors...totally normal, at least I think.

Agree, totally normal. I always get at least two as well, and for my e-ring I got four or five. It was a little complicated because I had so many ''requirements'' with it (I had a 14-page document with a bunch of photos and notes!), so I wanted to be sure the jeweler I ended up choosing understood what I was looking for and had a reasonable price.

okay that''s good... maybe I''ll send it out to a couple more this weekend and then just MAKE A FREAKING CHOICE ALREADY ha!!

okay.... new anxiety LOL (and so quickly after the last one LOL)

How do you reject jewelers? What do you say? what DON''T you say? Do you tell them who you''re going with if they ask?

 

[Mara]

one comment about having a masterpiece...i''d be so much more afraid of dinging and nicking up a beautiful $5k setting or whatever than i am about my own set now...i know it''s not like mine was much cheaper but it just seems so much more ''durable'' in a way? so many of these beautiful fluid MM pieces or LM pieces are so stunning when they are fresh out of the ring box into your hot little paws but then with daily wear and tear often times i think .... is it really worth it to go through all that angst then worry about damaging or wearing your ring??? for me it''s not. another reason why i don''t even like to entertain thoughts of ''what ifs'' that much, because i am so hard on my hands that i''d ding up a beautiful fluid platium solitaire so fast it would make my head spin. then it would bug me. hehehe.

 

[Maisie]

Date: 2/3/2007 1:36:45 PM
Author: Mara
one comment about having a masterpiece...i''d be so much more afraid of dinging and nicking up a beautiful $5k setting or whatever than i am about my own set now...i know it''s not like mine was much cheaper but it just seems so much more ''durable'' in a way? so many of these beautiful fluid MM pieces or LM pieces are so stunning when they are fresh out of the ring box into your hot little paws but then with daily wear and tear often times i think .... is it really worth it to go through all that angst then worry about damaging or wearing your ring??? for me it''s not. another reason why i don''t even like to entertain thoughts of ''what ifs'' that much, because i am so hard on my hands that i''d ding up a beautiful fluid platium solitaire so fast it would make my head spin. then it would bug me. hehehe.

See Mara I love your rings but I think the opposite of what you said. I am really scared to get a ring like yours incase I end up popping the diamonds out of the band. I would love the lovely bling factor but I would be worried about damaging it.

I am having a nightmare deciding on a setting..... picked out a diamond but can''t choose a setting

 

[Cehrabehra]

Date: 2/3/2007 1:36:45 PM
Author: Mara
one comment about having a masterpiece...i''d be so much more afraid of dinging and nicking up a beautiful $5k setting or whatever than i am about my own set now...i know it''s not like mine was much cheaper but it just seems so much more ''durable'' in a way? so many of these beautiful fluid MM pieces or LM pieces are so stunning when they are fresh out of the ring box into your hot little paws but then with daily wear and tear often times i think .... is it really worth it to go through all that angst then worry about damaging or wearing your ring??? for me it''s not. another reason why i don''t even like to entertain thoughts of ''what ifs'' that much, because i am so hard on my hands that i''d ding up a beautiful fluid platium solitaire so fast it would make my head spin. then it would bug me. hehehe.

Way back early in our marriage my husband and I bought these mission style oak coffee and end tables. We''d been married about a year and I fell in love with them and brought my husband and sold him on them saying "they''re so sturdy they''d last a lifetime and if they get marred we can always sand them and refinish them since they are solid (no veneer) oak". So we got them. And they were beautiful for... about a month or two. Then I dropped a knife - point down - on it and it got its first nick. A part of me was disappointed and a part of me relieved that the first mar was there.

Flash forward 15 years and I still have that same coffee table and it is strong enough to support the weight of both the dh and I at once... it is sturdy and totally "distressed" over the years... if you look under it you''ll see where my daughter colored with crayon and we never knew until we were moving LOL It is just as sturdy as it ever was, but it has developed a family patina that makes it irreplacable DESPITE the fact that I wouldn''t choose mission furniture now, I''m no longer super fond of oak, and we could easily replace it with something else. More evidence that I am a sap LOL However, if it had even one mark on it when I bought it I wouldn''t have. KWIM?

I''m hard on my rings and hands as well... and I''m sure my masterpiece will be dinged up in no time... but as long as it is still holding true onto that stone and onto my finger, the blemishes don''t mean much. I know I could sand down my table and refinish it... heck, most of the finish is already gone anyway LOL but there''s a certain charm to it. AND there''s the comfort that another mar isn''t going to ruin its looks

 

[Sundial]

Date: 2/3/2007 9:25:12 AM
Author: diamondseeker2006
Cehra, I really had a great talk with Mark Morrell. I do not see his prices as high at all. Just to give you an idea, the price of a wedding band in platinum like Jades, which I think has nine 10 point diamonds in platinum, was about $3000. I hate to say this, but we paid $2400 for .75 cts. in 18k for a similar Memoire band (which is more than a lot of shared prong bands, but it would be top quality mass produced, and I went with the higher quality diamonds). I think the more unique the design (meaning more of his time making the design) plus the intricacy of the design, plus the extra diamonds, will determine the cost. But I found Mark's prices very fair for custom platinum work. He uses the CAD thing, too.

I think rapport will mean a lot for whoever you work with. I think Mark's site says he is currently taking well-defined custom projects. I think you'd need to pay him for any design work if you decided to stop working with him during the process.

My personal dilemma is that I now have a fair amount of money in the current settings, and do I want to pay another $5000 for new settings that will look to most people exactly like what I have now? I will know the difference as I will see the beautiful work on the MWM settings, but that is a lot of money for sure. I just love that head on Jade's e-ring and the sides of that wedding band. I just wish these had been available when I first started looking!!!

I forgot what you said, though, about what metal you are using...I think Mark only used platinum. He does use the platinum I prefer as it is harder and more durable than the typical platinum.

On one hand DS the rings that you have now are already very high quality and pretty and it is hard to see how you are going to get $5000 worth of happiness from a new set that looks almost the same except for some subtle details. On the other hand Mark Morrell's work IS exqusite and if you have already started conversing with him you probably won't be satisfied until you make the change. I just hope you can enjoy whatever setting you end up with and I hope you don't have so much stress and indecision when you start working on some of those sapphire right hand rings you are interested in!