Intimidated by LM..Please assist with price estimate before I contact him. Thank you!

[epicure]

Hello,

After reading about Leon Mege''s customer service and his responses to requests for more information/price quotes on his rings, I am frightened to contact the man!

I was hoping those of you who have had work done with him can assist me with a rough price quote for a 3 stone setting with pear side stones like styles r779, r1028, r011. I have attached a picture of r779.

Ring size: 5
Center diamond: ~2 carats. My bf agrees ~2 carat looks good on my finger, we have not purchased a diamond yet but are actively shopping.
Pears: I''m thinking .5 on each side? I will go with whatever LM recommends (if we can afford him) but I''m going to guess it''ll be around .5..

Thank you!

 

[Lorelei]

Hi Epicure

I would bite the bullet and ask him, KristyDarling had that setting a few years ago, if she is around she might be able to give you some idea but the pricing would probably be a fair bit higher now. Its a beautiful setting.

Here is Kristy's ring,

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/kristydarlings-3-stone-by-leon-mege.44363/

 

[Asscherhalo_lover]

I wouldn''t ask him until you have your center stone. From what I understand he is hesitant about giving quote without the exact measurements for the stone.

 

[epicure]

Thank you, lorelei and asscherhalo_lover.

the thing is, I''m set on the setting and I want to go as large as I can for the center stone within budget. So if the setting will cost ~5k I will know how much money I can use towards the center stone.

I will shoot LM an email as you suggested lorelei. Thanks again.

 

[CasaBlanca]

That ring you are showing just may be the 2.33 carat center...which is closer in scale to your stone you are hunting for. (than the lovely Kristy Darlings...) I have noticed that the pears he matches up are fatter or more plumper...where they meet the round shape. So I just may depend on the proportions of the stones available?

I asked another poster just recently to contact him and find out what carat weight those stones in your image were, as she too was asking the same as you.

This stone size layout PDF (below) may help you to narrow down the field better. You can print the page, cut out the diamond shapes and marry them in a mock up in relation to what he has done in the example you provided.

I too would want to know a ballpark figure before I received an estimate...or made contact...and then coupled with the contact issues of his personalty...I understand why you are hesitant...and hope your board inquiry may help you ahead of time. I just hate that the threads have you so balled up with fright! He really is nice..and has been most accommodating when I called.

If you are in deed going to source your own center stone, I would wait to contact him until I acquired that. I think he is more accommodating and appreciative when contacts are ready, willing and able to engage as apposed to just talking about doing something. (like I was...eekkk! fifty lashes for me!) Or you can put on your big girl pants and contact him for a brief consult and inquire about the price. I would preface my initial contact as preliminary...and respect his time with a degree of respectful brevity.

stone chart printout

Also, I would not hesitate to contact BGD now...as they can source your stone, and are more than skilled to provide you with a setting you will love to call your own. You just may find a great match working with Leslie. Just another alternative idea.

PS...on a size 5 that carat weight will be just perfect. Excited for you! Reeelly!

Actually a smidgen jealous...of the size of your finger...and your prospective project!

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 2/19/2010 2:39:48 PM
Author: CasaBlanca
That ring you are showing just may be the 2.33 carat center...which is closer in scale to your stone you are hunting for. (than the lovely Kristy Darlings...) I have noticed that the pears he matches up are fatter or more plumper...where they meet the round shape. So I just may depend on the proportions of the stones available?

I seem to recall Kristy was contemplating different pear sizes for this ring, so that preference might make a difference too. I am sure I do remember her mulling over a few pear sets....

Just checked, she was considering different pear sizes, see below

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/need-your-help-picking-sidestones-please.42512/

 

[Amethyste]

Date: 2/19/2010 2:36:40 PM
Author: epicure
Thank you, lorelei and asscherhalo_lover.


the thing is, I'm set on the setting and I want to go as large as I can for the center stone within budget. So if the setting will cost ~5k I will know how much money I can use towards the center stone.


I will shoot LM an email as you suggested lorelei. Thanks again.

Ok.. I am going to share with you something... I did get a quote from Leon a litle while back to reset my 5+CT pear center stone. I wanted it set with side Trillions of 1.50CTTW ( .75 E/Side )... The quote he gave me was close to 6K for the setting and the side stones.... BUT he told me it "would probably be more" depending of what stones he could get. I requested G-H color Side stones in the SI Clarity range... He really didn't want to do trillions as it was "passe" and I should go with VS stones in the E-F color... Right off the bat, I felt that what he gave me for a quote would have been WAY blown out of proportions if I decided to give the green light on the 3 stone project. Right now.... I am just waiting as I have decided to not go with Leon and explore other options.

I know that a lot of people here trust the guy and I know he's really good at what he does, but to tell me that my choice was "passe" is just not a very kind thing to say, especially when I am paying for it. I like to be involved in the design of the ring myself and it seems that with him, it's just complicated altogether to do just that, I don't want to give total creative freedom to someone somehow, especially for that amount of money. Right from the first conversation, we just didn't mesh on certain things. That is just my own experience...

Good luck!

 

[swingirl]

You will need to know the approximate size of the stone you want because Leon will need to figure in appropriate sized side pears. He seems to be the most touchy about people buying cushion cuts from certain vendors. I had him make my setting and had my stone sourced elsewhere but I didn't tell him where as it never came up. Whether your stone is being reset, new, heirloom or purchased new it shouldn't matter as long as you don't dwell on it.

Leon is now sourcing cushions but has said in the past that he is not in the business to sell diamonds and does it more as a favor to his clients. But it looks like you are going for a round. He does a beautiful job of sourcing side stones.

So definitely give him a call or email a quote request. But don't expect a warm and fuzzy handling kind of guy. But I have seen KristyDarlinbg's ring in person and it is a stunner.

 

[epicure]

Thank you for the chart, CasaBlanca! My bf and I have contacted Lesley from BGD but we haven''t given her the parameters yet. My bf and I will be window shopping this month and next month to see how color sensitive I am. Less color sensitive I am, the bigger my diamond will be! As gorgeous as BGD designs are, I am in love with LM''s delicate prongs and the overall fluidity of his designs! Not to say BGD designs aren''t, but..LM just calls to me.

Lorelei, thank you for all the links! KristyDarling''s ring is just..

Amethyste, thank you for writing about your experience with LM. Your center stone sounds gorgeous and personally, I think trillions sound great with a pear!

 

[epicure]

swingirl, thank you for your post.

I love cushions!! My bf is fully aware of this as well. Maybe as an upgrade? What''s wrong with me that I''m not even engaged yet and I''m thinking of upgrades...

I''m just trying to get some initial information for my bf (narrowing the type of settings i like, parameters for diamond) and have him deal with the selection of the actual diamond, dealing with vendors, etc..

Thank you all!!!