Leon Mege Diamond Sourcing

[Bliew]

Hello all! About to kick off a search for an engagement ring for my SO and so far, Leon's designs have been the most attractive. Would really like to source the ring and setting from the same place so was wondering if anyone had recent news on Leon's diamond sourcing and the expected premium I can expect to pay over another place? Have looked through a good amount of historical threads and saw Perry left a few years ago but nothing on diamonds more recently.

Will be a three stone, 2 carat round for those who are curious!

Thank you in advanced and appreciate all the content here.

 

[dk168]

Welcome to PS!

PLEASE do a search first with regard to Leon Mege and read as many feedback and reviews as you can before going further.

DK

 

[Bliew]

Thanks DK! Sorry I should've mentioned but I've done a fair amount of reading on the board regard Leon and understand his attitude / mannerism and don't mind that as much. Moreso worried about how much of a premium he would charge on a diamond sourced from him

 

[headlight]

I would seek other avenues to create your ring. Most people have had a nightmare experience. Don’t ignore that.
I also would source your stone through a diamond vendor, preferably Brian Gavin, Whiteflash, or High Performance Diamonds. All three of these vendors can also do high quality custom work.

 

[Bliew]

I’ve heard great things about BG so will definitely reach out to him considering he’s local.

Really unfortunate to hear about Leon, we had great rapport when interacting earlier this year and have seen positive (as well as negative) views here on the board. Are things really that bad?

 

[headlight]

I’ve heard great things about BG so will definitely reach out to him considering he’s local.

Really unfortunate to hear about Leon, we had great rapport when interacting earlier this year and have seen positive (as well as negative) views here on the board. Are things really that bad?

Well, I can only speak from what I’ve witnessed over the years. I’ve been a PS member since 2003. Back then he was very popular here... well, his designs were. Also extremely expensive. And huge attitude, very offensive.
Over the years other vendors emerged that could make the detailed designs that were less $ and no bad attitude.
So we don’t hear much about him anymore short of when someone comes on about a bad experience, how he made a lot of promises and then the work wasn’t as good and then he reneged on the agreement. He practically held someone’s ring hostage here a few months back.
I really hate to bash someone but I was so turned off by his attitude from the get-go and I guess everyone else did given he was so popular here years ago and now you rarely have someone come along here that works with him.
Also, PS is very supportive of the HCA and LM had a huge nasty rant on his website blasting Mr. Holloway, as I recall.
There are other PS recommend vendors that may not be in total agreement with some of the HCA calculations yet they do not blast him. Just very unprofessional and a total turnoff. Just makes one wonder how it would be to work with him if everything didn’t go his way in a transaction which is exactly what we have heard posted here.

 

[yssie]

I have a project in the works with him. I have been working with him for two years now and I have found him to be friendly, fair, easygoing, communicative, and willing to discuss ideas.

 

[headlight]

@yssie I am very happy to hear a positive review and that it is going well for you. I look forward to seeing your new piece. Thank you for this info.

 

[Bliew]

Appreciate all the color here; really helpful given how much there is out there.

@yssie Did Leon source any of your stones? If so did they seem in line with market?

I'll definitely be putting out feelers to BG and a few more local guys, thanks for the suggestions

 

[yssie]

@yssie Did Leon source any of your stones? If so did they seem in line with market?

He has.

Higher than DIY market. Possibly in line with “concierge” services, possibly a bit higher. But combined with discounted setting costs - on settings that I wouldn’t want to go anywhere else for - for me it’s an easy choice.

Leon is not right for everyone. Frankly, no vendor is, but some vendors are more polarizing than others. I have a reputation for being difficult to work with - I am “detail oriented”, which translates into “nitpicky” and “pedantic”. I do, however, value my jewellers’ artistry and trust their educated opinions on my opinions. Sometimes I’ll take their recommendations, sometimes I won’t, either way they're enabling me to make informed choices. I don’t sweat timelines at all. If something ends under budget great, if something goes over estimation a bit that’s fine - I’m even at “fair cost” at the end. My jewellers are my friends - I wouldn’t want to work with someone with whom I don’t have a personal relationship.

I can see someone who lives and dies by HCA, or wants a piece complete in three weeks, or unilaterally demands platinum “because it’s stronger than gold” faring poorly with Leon.

 

[Bliew]

He has.

Higher than DIY market. Possibly in line with “concierge” services, possibly a bit higher. But combined with discounted setting costs - on settings that I wouldn’t want to go anywhere else for - for me it’s an easy choice.

Leon is not right for everyone. Frankly, no vendor is, but some vendors are more polarizing than others. I have a reputation for being difficult to work with - I am “detail oriented”, which translates into “nitpicky” and “pedantic”. I do, however, value my jewellers’ artistry and trust their educated opinions on my opinions. Sometimes I’ll take their recommendations, sometimes I won’t, either way they're enabling me to make informed choices. I don’t sweat timelines at all. If something ends under budget great, if something goes over estimation a bit that’s fine - I’m even at “fair cost” at the end. My jewellers are my friends - I wouldn’t want to work with someone with whom I don’t have a personal relationship.

I can see someone who lives and dies by HCA, or wants a piece complete in three weeks, or unilaterally demands platinum “because it’s stronger than gold” faring poorly with Leon.

I can definitely see that and don't mind paying a slight premium since it seems like he'll be diligent in the diamond sourcing process. Understand that he has a strong view on HCA and ASAT so just wanted to make sure that the diamonds he sourced are still quality (no doubt that they are) and that his proprietary version of HCA is reliable since it's not a standard industry benchmark.

Definitely good to hear your perspective. I actually appreciate his candidness and have had no issues with his personality in the several times I interacted with him. I'm the same way as you, @yssie , when it comes to details and getting things right (as is the SO!!) with no hard timelines as well as the work is good.

Thank you again for sharing your experience, the diamond sourcing was really my only concern

 

[denverappraiser]

Have you asked him? It's easy enough to use the PS database to see what similar stones will cost from a variety of competitive dealers. He's not a participant in the database but he should be able to tell you exactly what he'll sell you and what it will cost. Do bear in mind that the setting charges may change if you source elsewhere. That doesn't mean don't do it, but it's part of the math.

 

[95viper]

Leon made us a stunning 3.5 carat with a traditional setting. We did have to encourage him to make the ring a tiny bit wider. He sourced the diamond and was very reasonable on the diamond itself.

My sister saw It and had him make her a 3 carat oval with a yellow gold ring. It is beautiful.

We met him in his NY office a year or so later. He spent 30min showing us special pieces and the working areas of the custom forged making process.

I think we are well past the Leon bashing days from 10 years ago.

 

[95viper]

 

[Treasurehunter84]

I can definitely see that and don't mind paying a slight premium since it seems like he'll be diligent in the diamond sourcing process. Understand that he has a strong view on HCA and ASAT so just wanted to make sure that the diamonds he sourced are still quality (no doubt that they are) and that his proprietary version of HCA is reliable since it's not a standard industry benchmark.

Definitely good to hear your perspective. I actually appreciate his candidness and have had no issues with his personality in the several times I interacted with him. I'm the same way as you, @yssie , when it comes to details and getting things right (as is the SO!!) with no hard timelines as well as the work is good.

Thank you again for sharing your experience, the diamond sourcing was really my only concern

Reading with interest this thread as I too wanted a LM ring made, however he did not have a diamond that was right for me unfortunately (not the right shape) and wasn’t willing to source any external diamonds or let me bring one for him to use. So that put pay to that idea! This was a month ago and also last week- when I tried again!