Help - Need reasonable, honest, but great quality ring maker recommendations!

[Nolebella]

Hi PriceScope Members - I'm new to this site, so I hope this post is allowed and not breaking any forum rules...

My husband & I designed my hex engagement ring (yeah, I was given a temporary one) & we are new to this ring shopping, especially custom made.

We would love for any RECOMMENDATIONS on a reasonable, honest, but not taking away from quality, especially for a 1ct lab grown step hex diamond, custom ring maker.

Also, if anyone wants to also chime in on how much a ring like this would cost, would be very helpful with our search/shopping too. White gold and platinum pricing estimate would be super helpful.

See our ring design below.

Thanks in advance for your advice!

 

[0515vision]

Have you heard of David Klass in LA? PSers love their bench. I’ve never had work done there, but his fans will surely chime in!

Victor Canera might. Maybe Diamonds By Lauren? @Rockdiamond, is this something you/DBL does?

Good luck!

 

[Rfisher]

Hi PriceScope Members - I'm new to this site, so I hope this post is allowed and not breaking any forum rules...

My husband & I designed my hex engagement ring (yeah, I was given a temporary one) & we are new to this ring shopping, especially custom made.

We would love for any RECOMMENDATIONS on a reasonable, honest, but not taking away from quality, especially for a 1ct lab grown step hex diamond, custom ring maker.

Also, if anyone wants to also chime in on how much a ring like this would cost, would be very helpful with our search/shopping too. White gold and platinum pricing estimate would be super helpful.

See our ring design below.

Thanks in advance for your advice!

Have you already been given a quote that wasn’t reasonable? If so - help us help you with suggesting vendor recommendations and let us know ballpark of what that unreasonable to you cost was.

 

[Nolebella]

Have you heard of David Klass in LA? PSers love their bench. I’ve never had work done there, but his fans will surely chime in!

Victor Canera might. Maybe Diamonds By Lauren? @Rockdiamond, is this something you/DBL does?

Good luck!

Yes, one of the 1st recommendations was David Klass, which we did reach out and we are waiting for a quote.

I researched the others you recommended and have also emailed them for a quote.

Thank you so much!

 

[Nolebella]

Have you already been given a quote that wasn’t reasonable? If so - help us help you with suggesting vendor recommendations and let us know ballpark of what that unreasonable to you cost was.

We received a few quotes and waiting on a few more, but any other recommendations that are not on my list would be greatly appreciated:

Taylor and Hart
Diamondrensu
Victor Canera
David Klass
B2C Jewels
Diamonds by Lauren

Does anyone have any reviews with Diamondrensu, it seems they are in India, but don't know their reputation.

There hasn't been any unreasonable quotes so far.

 

[maryjane04]

DK made my ring which is similar but a bit more complex than yours. So I'll guess it's probably around ~$2500-3000 for platinum and a bit less for white gold.

 

[Inked]

I have never used them but if you go to reddit/labdiamonds I know many people have used starsgem and fiorese for the competitive pricing. I have never used them so you would definitely have to do your research on reddit.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Your list includes people who offer a wide range of quality/fabrication methods. It is not apples to apples, and not all of them will be able to or want to create the ring you designed. For example, VC doesn't do that type of metal work, and hand fabricates his pieces. Others use casting methods with hand assembling and very fine finishing, like DK. Still others use casting methods with mid- or entry-level finishing (which I would not suggest for this design). Quotes will range from probably $1500 for the lease labour intensive/commercial finish up to $5000 for hand forged. You should decide in advance where you want to fall in that range. I would choose cast and hand assembled/finished for that design.

 

[Nolebella]

I have never used them but if you go to reddit/labdiamonds I know many people have used starsgem and fiorese for the competitive pricing. I have never used them so you would definitely have to do your research on reddit.

Ok, thank you!

 

[Nolebella]

DK made my ring which is similar but a bit more complex than yours. So I'll guess it's probably around ~$2500-3000 for platinum and a bit less for white gold.

Ok, thank you!

 

[Nolebella]

Your list includes people who offer a wide range of quality/fabrication methods. It is not apples to apples, and not all of them will be able to or want to create the ring you designed. For example, VC doesn't do that type of metal work, and hand fabricates his pieces. Others use casting methods with hand assembling and very fine finishing, like DK. Still others use casting methods with mid- or entry-level finishing (which I would not suggest for this design). Quotes will range from probably $1500 for the lease labour intensive/commercial finish up to $5000 for hand forged. You should decide in advance where you want to fall in that range. I would choose cast and hand assembled/finished for that design.

Oh, didn't know this, so any others on my list or not on my list, besides DK that does cast & hand finished?

 

[Dreamer_D]

Oh, didn't know this, so any others on my list or not on my list, besides DK that does cast & hand finished?

You'd have to ask the vendors. There are also different levels of finish even with the same fabrication, and you pay for that skill. But the best proof is in the pudding -- looks for pictures, videos, and reviews that have the level of detail and finish you want. Also look for vendors who have successfully executed a design like yours.

Here is an example: similar design, different levels of finish (not sure if the Barbone is a true antique or a reproduction they made, but illustrates my point either way; antiques with immaculate finish/design exist too)

CVB Inspired Design


Andria Barbone, maybe true antique or a reproduction, can't recall


Also, jewelry design isn't as simple as drawing what you like on paper. There are structural and metallurgical factors involved that affect what is possible and how a design can be made. This is why its important to work with someone who knows these things and can advise you. And not to get too married to every design element you envision. There is always collaboration in these things. I would only work with a company that specializes in custom design, not a company that sells mostly castings from mass producers and says they can do custom on the side (the website and their catalogue should make this clear).

 

[Nolebella]

You'd have to ask the vendors. There are also different levels of finish even with the same fabrication, and you pay for that skill. But the best proof is in the pudding -- looks for pictures, videos, and reviews that have the level of detail and finish you want. Also look for vendors who have successfully executed a design like yours.

Here is an example: similar design, different levels of finish (not sure if the Barbone is a true antique or a reproduction they made, but illustrates my point either way; antiques with immaculate finish/design exist too)

CVB Inspired Design


Andria Barbone, maybe true antique or a reproduction, can't recall


Also, jewelry design isn't as simple as drawing what you like on paper. There are structural and metallurgical factors involved that affect what is possible and how a design can be made. This is why its important to work with someone who knows these things and can advise you. And not to get too married to every design element you envision. There is always collaboration in these things. I would only work with a company that specializes in custom design, not a company that sells mostly castings from mass producers and says they can do custom on the side (the website and their catalogue should make this clear).

Learning so much from everyone's responses, thank you so much for yours!

It sounds like you are saying, I should ask the jeweler if they hand craft custom designs from the start, not applied after a cast, right?

Polished finish, I think will look best with this custom design, but I will ask for different renderings in the CAD step to make sure. Also, I think you are right, I will ask for example pics/vids of those finishes from them.

Thanks!

 

[Dreamer_D]

Learning so much from everyone's responses, thank you so much for yours!

It sounds like you are saying, I should ask the jeweler if they hand craft custom designs from the start, not applied after a cast, right?

I think you are misunderstanding my posts and may have a little more to learn before you dive into things.

Rings can be made a few different ways. They can be fully hand forged and fabricated, where someone literally carves your ring out of little pieces of metal with their hands. Victor Canera and Gary Roe (see his IG) do this. It is very expensive bc it is labour intensive.

Rings can be cast from a wax model the jeweler has designed. This is when liquid metal is pored into a mold created from a wax model. The wax model can be carved by hand. Cheyenne Weil uses this method (see her IG). The wax can also be machine made based on a CAD. David Klass and CVB design do this, or rather, their bench people do this. In this method, sometimes parts of the ring are cast separately and hand assembled.

All of the above methods will work very well for a custom design. However, many vendors buy settings that are produced by huge casting companies. Stuller is one such mass producer that provides casts to most online retailers. B2C Jewels and Blue Nile and others offer many rings like this from casting companies. These jewelers do not specialize in custom design -- where the ring is designed in house by their people. Many jewlery retailers offer so-called custom design where they are actually farming things out to a company like Stuller to make it. You don't want this because it makes communication a nightmare and you have a complex design already in mind. Your want a fully custom ring design so you must choose a jeweler that specializes in making custom designs and has a long track record of that.

Polished finish, I think will look best with this custom design, but I will ask for different renderings in the CAD step to make sure. Also, I think you are right, I will ask for example pics/vids of those finishes from them.

Thanks!

I am not talking about a shiny finish when I say "polishing". I am referring to a key element in the finishing of a ring after it is cast or forged. Polishing shapes the metal, and polishing around the swoops of the basket in your design will determine how well the swoops differentiate or look like blobs. And there are differences in how well this polishing/finishing is done resulting in smooth delicate lines or blobby uneven, undifferentiated lines.

In addition, in any of the casting methods I described earlier, some finish details like milgrain and prongs for pave can be included on the wax and cast on the metal or they can be hand applied after casting. Hand application is more delicate and costs more, again because of labour.

Polish is not in the CAD. Different designers have different types of CAD varying in detail. It costs money to make a CAD so there isn't much room to explore options there.

To be frank, custom design is difficult. You have to choose the right vendor, have the right expectations, and learn how to communicate design clearly (it isn't as simple as showing a picture in my experience). When someone shows up here with a sentimental design and no previous custom design experience I am often concerned about how things will go. What is your budget for this project and how set are you on getting exactly that design? Have you searched PS for threads about people's experiences with custom design?

 

[0515vision]

Sako is another jeweler ppl really respect. I think he hand forges, too, but not 100% sure.

 

[tyty333]

Maytal Hannah? This is less in her wheel house than, say, DKJ. It would also help to know your budget. We might be able to
eliminate some of these jewelers, depending on your budget.

Products - Unique Jewelry Designs by Maytal Hannah

Maytal focuses on are creating heirloom pieces designed with maximum quality and superior stones that will be treasured forever.

maytalhannah.com

Thread on her...plus you can search the SMTB forum and see more of her work.

Thread 'The Maytal Hannah thread'

Jun 14, 2017

Over the years, designer Maytal Hannah has made besutiful creations for PSers. I do not have one, but I like her work.

Please post your Maytal Hannah creations here and share your experiences.

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• Forum: Show Me the Bling! (Rings, Earrings, Jewelry)

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