Letting Leon be Leon within a set budget?

[velouriaL]

I have begun to save my pennies for a AoP piece. My plan is to send him my stone and tell him to do whatever he wants. The only thing is, this will be a special ring (probably to commemorate finishing my PhD), not an e-ring or "dream ring" and thus my budget is small, probably in the one-to-two star range. I know this really limits the extent to which he can go to town. I want something a *little* bit more than a classic $1600ish solitaire. I know my setting will very simple, but I'd like *some* pave, maybe just on the shoulders or in the gallery or basket. To me, those prongs and that pave part of the point of having a Leon. I want to leave how and what that up to him once he's seen my stone.

I wonder if anyone has any tips for letting Leon be Leon but also within a budget? Should I just set my budget and let him work with it? Or get quotes for what he would do at various price points? I want to avoid going back and forth with him as much as possible.

I am not yet ready to contact him as I do not even have the stone finalized nor enough in my, ahem, checking account to even begin the process. I am mostly asking now because thinking about the ring itself is a motivator for getting the school work done!

Please, let us not turn this into another big Leon controversy thread. I have decided, both despite and because of years of being a well-informed PS member, that I want an AoP piece. I want to take him for what he is and get the most of it.

Heheh... Maybe I should post more to try and get that PS gift to pad my budget. Are they still doing that?

 

[CharmyPoo]

Leon is not nearly as scary as it seems. Are you saying your budget is $1600? I can tell you that will not get you a Leon with any pave at all.

I worked with Leon on several designs but never discussed my budget. The designs I loved turned out to be much more than I was planning to spend. I told him the max I wanted to spend and Leon made it work for me - suggested another design and off we went. Leon was very pleasant and accomdating. My ring is ready now but I haven't picked it up yet but I am sure it will be beautiful.

 

[velouriaL]

I guess my budget will be "more than $1600 but hopefully not way way way more." I'm not really sure how much higher I'd have to go to give him something to work with.

Should I tell him I want a "1.5 star ring" with some pave (within reason for my budget) and ask him to give me a few options? Or figure out my set price and tell him to do whatever he wants within that?

It seems like there is sometimes a big jump for value, like going up just little bit can get you a lot more for your money. For example, in LA right now, it's almost impossible to find an 1 bedroom/studio for $900 that's not a dump, but if you go up to $1100, there are a ton of options, some of which are quite nice. I'd like to find the lowest LM pave sweet spot to let him have creative license AND not have to quibble about dollars with him.

 

[LD]

I have never worked with Leon so can't comment however, when I was reading your post something occurred to me. Do you have strong feelings when you look at jewellery and have definite likes/dislikes? I know I do, so handing over the reins to somebody else and hoping they come up with a design I like is fraught with danger for me! However one of my best friends is happy to give me the smallest of briefs and send me off to buy jewellery for her! Luckily I know her well so haven't picked a lemon (yet) but Leon wouldn't have the advantage of knowing you. You've probably thought this all through and I apologise if I'm stating the obvious!

ETA: we were posting at the same time! I've just read your last post and your last paragraph sums everything up in such a lovely positive way that I would be tempted to be open with Leon about your budget. At least that way, if he can't achieve anything in your price range that you'd like then he'll be able to let you know up front.

 

[CharmyPoo]

It is best that you show him some pictures of designs you like. Tell him these are the designs you like but not sure if it will work within budget. Ask him what can you get with around $x that is similar to Y. What would it take to get me to Y?

 

[calibali]

Based on my *limited* experience with Leon, I really think you just need to speak with him. He honestly isn't that difficult and was actually quite accommodating during my conversation with him (even about wedding bands, surprise). However, similar to LovingDiamond's point, he did try to push me towards changes that definitely did not fit my style. So I guess you could still be open to him, but if there is something you definitely would not like, make sure your opinion is heard loud and clear.

 

[CharmyPoo]

However, similar to LovingDiamond's point, he did try to push me towards changes that definitely did not fit my style.

Leon did try to get me to go with French Cuts. I just told him .. they are beautiful but not for this project. He didn't bring it up ever again.

 

[calibali]

I agree Charmypoo, as long as you make it clear that the idea isn't right, I don't think he'll pursue it (he dropped it with me as well).

Also, I think the pictures are a great idea to ensure you don't get something completely out of left field. As you can tell, I may love Leon's work but I definitely think your input is necessary for satisfaction

 

[Harriet]

The others have given good advice. I'd just like to congratulate you on the (almost) PhD!

 

[bgray]

i know you werent asking for design advice but i think you could get leon for 1600 and a little bling if you asked him for diamond set prongs (which is a cool way to glam something up, add texture but keep it simple)--other than that let him come up with something

 

[velouriaL]

Just clicked on a link by accident and lost my whole post!

These are good tips for the approach. I guess it's not a game and I can be pretty upfront with him.

I guess I am looking at this a first serious piece, not the last, not an e-ring, and certainly not my One True Ring, so I'm a little more laid back about it. I love restaurants where the chef prepares one prix fixe menu for the night. So I guess that's something of an answer to your question, LD?

I feel like when I write it all out, there are some constraints. Can't afford a halo, can't afford bigger stones to do a three or five stone. I know I want claw prongs, but double or single is up to him based on the stone. I know I want some pave, probably mushroom, though again, I'm flexible. Does anyone know if he has something against pave just on the shoulders and not half or full eternity? I feel like I can only afford a quarter, if that! I love his classic solitaires, but I think I'd like some variation to give it a unique spin, structurally speaking, not just in terms of decor like pave or engraving.

Calibali - Just out of curiosity, what was he suggesting that was not your style? I guess I think that all of his designs have a distinct fingerprint, and that if one is your style, they all will be, more or less. I can't imagine anything being *too* left field, unless I somehow wound up with something like that giant ruby flower ring, which I think is a little outside my price range! But, yeah, maybe I'm not thinking through the possibilities full and I'm being unduly cavalier?

Charmypoo - Sorry to be so dense, but what are french cuts? I feel like the term is just on the tip of my brain...

Harriet- Thank you so much! I am not quite at the "almost" stage, but I am at the "saving for the reward" stage.

bgray - Reeeeeeally? Hmm. Well, good to know. I hope so!

 

[Harriet]

Yes, be direct with him. He can dish it out but he can take it.

 

[CharmyPoo]

I don't want to be a party pooper but I don't think he can do diamond prongs for $1600 but I guess I am not Leon.

Don't worry right now so much about what you can afford or not. Just show him what you really want and see how much he says it cost. Then, tell him that your budget is a fair bit lower - what can he do for your budget. Go from there.

I honestly feel that as soon as you add pave into the picture .. you are looking at 2000 +

 

[calibali]

Leon and I had a little debate over the width of the shank. He kept trying to push me towards a delicate, thin one (a la boston_jeff's ring on his website), but that just wasn't what I imagined for my ring. I still think he's going to make it thinner than I want, but at least I know it's not going to be as thin as HE wants. There were also little things about how high the stone should sit and I swear he wanted me to do double claw prongs. Every time he went over it, he kept saying double and I kept correcting him. It was kind of weird... Anyways, I'm just saying that I had certain preferences and they differed from his, so it was important that I spoke up.

Also, I again agree with Charmy that you need to focus less on what you can afford - just see what he can do for you based on what you like. You won't know til you discuss, so no point guessing. Good luck!

 

[CharmyPoo]

Leon and I had a little debate over the width of the shank. He kept trying to push me towards a delicate, thin one (a la boston_jeff's ring on his website), but that just wasn't what I imagined for my ring. I still think he's going to make it thinner than I want, but at least I know it's not going to be as thin as HE wants. There were also little things about how high the stone should sit and I swear he wanted me to do double claw prongs. Every time he went over it, he kept saying double and I kept correcting him. It was kind of weird... Anyways, I'm just saying that I had certain preferences and they differed from his, so it was important that I spoke up.

Also, I again agree with Charmy that you need to focus less on what you can afford - just see what he can do for you based on what you like. You won't know til you discuss, so no point guessing. Good luck!

Your experience brings back funny memories for me. Luckily, what I want is what Leon wants - I kept telling him I want thin and delicate and stone set as low as possible .. and he is like of course, you don't need to ask for it. I said I must have split claws and he was trying to get me away from it - I said no way. We just have to stand ground - it is our ring.

 

[arjunajane]

hi velourial, even though I dont have a Leon piece I have spoken to him about a few quotes so hope you dont mind me also commenting. I agree with the approach Charmy is suggesting for sure-and I wanted to add being flexible in different ways could help you get there in budget. The last quote I had was a bit much over budget-when I asked Leon what we could do, he replied if I were willing to wait another couple weeks on top of standard turnaround, he could knock off a couple hundred $ - I cant tell you where the connection is there, but I thought it was a fair compromise. Btw, sorry if I missed it but did you mention what the centre stone will be? Oh and congrats on nearing the finish line with your studies!

 

[calibali]

Your experience brings back funny memories for me. Luckily, what I want is what Leon wants - I kept telling him I want thin and delicate and stone set as low as possible .. and he is like of course, you don't need to ask for it. I said I must have split claws and he was trying to get me away from it - I said no way. We just have to stand ground - it is our ring.

I know, it's kind of odd that I'm paying someone who wants to change my ring but I just love his work. I had one idea of Leon from PS but dealing with him was not like I expected. Maybe he's had a personality change because most things I read about him from last year were less than glowing. When he came on the phone and kind of complimented my stone (I think it was a positive...), I was surprised. So velouriaL, don't read too much into old posts, seems like he's been nice and professional recently!

And Charmy, I hope your rings are everything you want them to be

 

[chrono]

From personal experience, even a fancy plain all metal solitaire from Leon will be around $2K. If you want some pave work, be prepared to pay at least $2.5K and upwards.