McCutchen Jewelers in Maryland

[pregcurious]

Has anyone worked with McCutchen Jewelers in Rockville, MD? I am trying to find a jeweler close to me to do setting of stones and repairs, and possible shopping? (As Starzin pointed out in the yellow halo thread, I have an empty setting now waiting for something.)

 

[endless_summer]

I don't know them, but the folks at Market Street Diamonds are great & do beautiful work, if a location in the District (Georgetown neighborhood) isn't too far for you

 

[chrono]

I'm sorry I have no idea. I feel bad that 4 people checked out your thread, yet none responded.

 

[pregcurious]

Thanks endless_summer. I will have to check them out. I currently go to Quest, but they are all the down in Leesburg, VA.

Chrono, that is so sweet of you. BTW, I posted the yellow halo ring that you helped me with over in SMTB. Your suggestion of articulating the leaf for the gallery made all the difference. Thank you.

 

[carmen1]

I haven't used them but they are close to where I work so it would be great if someone has a recommendation! I have contacted jewelers in Montgomery & Howard County (home) and most charge $150-$200 to set a stone... I finally found a place that charges $80, but they get a little snotty if you tell them something was purchased off the internet. So I just use them to set stones because I can't find anywhere that will do it for less, but it would be nice to find a decent local jeweler that also had reasonable prices!

I've heard good things about Liljenquist & Beckstead in Montgomery Mall, but I think they were in the $200ish range when I called about setting a sapphire...

 

[pregcurious]

Carmen, could you tell us who you found to set a stone for $80? I live in the area and would love to find an affordable jeweler for repairs.

 

[blingbunny10]

I also contacted a bunch of jewelers when I lived in Maryland. Lowest price was $60 at a well respected shop in Bethesda, but had such a bad experience that I cannot recommend them. I still get angry thinking about it and am actually thinking of selling the ring because of it.

Town Square jewelers in Rockville quoted me $50-80 and communication was great, but haven't tried them out. Everywhere else in DC and VA seems to charge $100 minimum.

Related question: Anyone have experience ordering Stuller or other inexpensive stock settings in the area?

 

[pregcurious]

Blingbunny, can you share who did a poor job? I want to avoid them.

 

[T L]

http://www.yelp.com/biz/mccutchen-jewelers-rockville-2

 

[blingbunny10]

Blingbunny, can you share who did a poor job? I want to avoid them.

pregcurious, it was on Norfolk Ave. I'd rather not say the shop name here....

 

[minousbijoux]

I really question the accuracy/veracity of Yelp reviews these days. It seems like it has its share of shills.

 

[carmen1]

Carmen, could you tell us who you found to set a stone for $80? I live in the area and would love to find an affordable jeweler for repairs.

It may be too far out for you - Berman's Jewelers in Ellicott City. I have only had them set loose stones into settings I provided, but I do know 2 people who highly recommended them for custom work. If you go there ask for Sam - he was actually sweet when I gave him my stones he asked if he could copy the AGL / AIGS gem briefs because they were unheated sapphires and so rare. He also offered to fix the prongs on my engagement ring which had gotten out of whack while I was there - the jeweler where the ring was purchased was going to charge me to do the same - it took Sam 5 minutes and he didn't charge a penny.

 

[T L]

I really question the accuracy/veracity of Yelp reviews these days. It seems like it has its share of shills.

I always make sure I look at the poster's review count. It they have a lot, they are probably not a shill.

 

[pregcurious]

Thanks, TL, minou, and blingbunny.

Carmen, I'll have to check that place out, but it is a little far from where I live.

If I go to McCutchen, I'll report back.

 

[endless_summer]

Thanks endless_summer. I will have to check them out. I currently go to Quest, but they are all the down in Leesburg, VA.

Chrono, that is so sweet of you. BTW, I posted the yellow halo ring that you helped me with over in SMTB. Your suggestion of articulating the leaf for the gallery made all the difference. Thank you.

Absolutely! You definitely should check them out - everything I have ever brought to them always, without fail, exceeds my expectations.

 

[deskjockey]

If you do end up in ellicott city, st. john's jewelers seem pretty good. That said I've only had minor stuff done there. They fixed a prong on my mother's old engagement ring, and replaced a garnet on a bracelet I had. I will say the garnet they found was much better quality than all the other garnets in the bracelet (they're just the muddy, darl, poorly cut kind, I got it at a street fair), you can pick out the new one from across the room. I don't remember the exact pricing, iirc getting the two things fixed + cleaned, with the new garnet, totalled me just under $200.

Can't speak to anything in your neck of the woods, moved out of there before I realized I actually liked jewelry. :p

 

[pregcurious]

Thanks, deskjockey. I have some friends who live up there. I hope you've been to the Korean BBQ place there. Yum.

 

[minousbijoux]

Thanks, deskjockey. I have some friends who live up there. I hope you've been to the Korean BBQ place there. Yum.

Torture! You had to go mention that, didn't you, Preg?!

 

[pregcurious]

Minou, do you near there?

 

[minousbijoux]

No, but just the words "Korean" and "BBQ" have me salivating.

 

[jbkhere]

Thanks, deskjockey. I have some friends who live up there. I hope you've been to the Korean BBQ place there. Yum.

OOOH! My in-laws live here. Do tell the name of this restaurant please? I see a yummy dinner in our future!

 

[carmen1]

Thanks, deskjockey. I have some friends who live up there. I hope you've been to the Korean BBQ place there. Yum.

OOOH! My in-laws live here. Do tell the name of this restaurant please? I see a yummy dinner in our future!

Shin Chon Garden has the best Korean BBQ in Ellicott City, Andrew Zimmern was there for an episode of Bizzare Foods and proclaimed it one of the top 10 in America. There's also a Honey Pig, but it is always packed and Shin Chon is better. We're chowing on Bon Chon Korean fried chicken while watching the game tonight, which I also recommend (a chain, but still good), and I think is still BYOB until they get their liquor license.

 

[deskjockey]

ooh, we will have to try that place. We've been to Honey Pig but it was packed and difficult to maneuver with kiddo.

 

[aviastar]

Thanks endless_summer. I will have to check them out. I currently go to Quest, but they are all the down in Leesburg, VA.

Chrono, that is so sweet of you. BTW, I posted the yellow halo ring that you helped me with over in SMTB. Your suggestion of articulating the leaf for the gallery made all the difference. Thank you.

Just a note for clarity, Quest is on Lee Highway, but it's in Fairfax, not Leesburg. Leesburg is even farther west by over an hour ( with traffic )

The Lillenquist benches will vary by location; their bench at Tysons is decent, although not amazing, but the one in Fair Oaks, not so much. The MD one is a bit far afield for me in opposite direction from you, so I can't speak to their skill.

Bling bunny, I think any of these places will have Stuller accounts and most will be happier setting your stone if they can provide the setting. The Stuller site has a Locate a Jeweler function.

 

[chrono]

I've been so incredibly busy with work and haven't much time to check in regularly or visit other sections of the forums. Thank you for the heads up because I didn't know your ring is already done. Gorgeous!

 

[pregcurious]

Hey Chrono, you can find the thread for the yellow halo reset in SMTB here:
[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/fancy-yellow-diamond-halo-from-erd.197757/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/fancy-yellow-diamond-halo-from-erd.197757/[/URL]

Aviastar, thanks for the correction on the location for Quest. I love the work they did for me and and wish they were closer.

Carmen1, thanks for the recommendation for Korean BBQ! I'll have to try it.