The Idiots Sapphire Engagement Ring - The Final Frontier

[gasdark]

Hello again everyone. Sorry for the big gap in posts but there have been major changes on my search. Namely, I got my, well fiancee now ( ) involved. I just figured given all that I'd learned about cost and taste and the longevity of the decision making, it was better for her to be sure she got something she really enjoyed rather than something I thought she would really enjoy. Luckily she was very happy with the stone! So, that left finding the setting. And, lo and behold, she found something she really liked at a local jewelry store. Here is the slideshow - pardon the picture quality - it's difficult to take good photos generally, but especially with an ipad.

So, needless to say, lucky I got her involved! Turns out she wanted something even bolder than I would have anticipated. Black diamonds on white metal shanks leading into 6 prongs with (what is that a half bezel with a little filligree?).

The store she was at only had this one ring and it was very small on her so it would need to be recasted anyway. They wanted upwards of $2200 to cast it in white gold and 14k, which I think is WAY too much considering ERD quoted me 1600 on the swirling twin shank platinum ring already.

So now we're looking to have this made. I contacted Daniel M immediately upon her picking the setting, but I'm sorry to say he has not responded via etsy. Does anyone know if he is still active there? Or does anyone have any other contact information for him?

I've also reached back out to ERD with this. But I'm open to other fabricators and wonder if anyone has suggestions.

Lastly, I would like to make it platinum and 14 or 18 karat gold. However, I read online that there are in fact non-plated white golds out there that are supposedly quite hardy and very very white. Does anyone know of any? More importantly, does anyone know anyone of quality who works with them.

You all have been such a help. My fiancee was really excited by the whole idea of getting help from a huge network of enthusiastic strangers and I appreciate it all.

Many thanks!

 

[FrekeChild]

What a beautiful ring choice!

I'm not surprised to hear that you have not heard back from Daniel M. They are still active on etsy, but right now they are going through a health crisis. I would suggest going with another vendor or being ok with waiting for an extended time for a ring to be made. I would probably lean towards another vendor at this time, because it is an engagement ring, and I'm assuming that you want to get it on her finger ASAP!

Since you are already familiar with ERD, I'd reach out to them or perhaps to David Klass. I think his contact information is in the pinned thread of preferred vendors at the top of the colored stones forum.

Congratulations!

 

[movie zombie]

congrats on your engagement!
I wish more men would do what you did: get her involved!
unusual and striking setting.....everything I look for in a ring!
nothing to add to help in getting it custom made but she isn't as conservative re jewelry as you led me to believe!
again, congrats!
please tell her I love her choice of setting.

 

[digdeep]

Just to back up what Freke said......I would not recommend Daniel M currently, there is a thread here that outlines why. Where are you located? I suggest a company in California called goldnwax. You'd have to contact them with the specific's of what you want created...but they have been very reasonable when I've dealt with them. They also have standardized mountings, but do custom work as well.....in white, yellow and rose gold. http://www.goldnwax.com/ Wishing you good luck on this final pursuit!

 

[velouriaL]

Awesome! Maybe also do a search on PS for Qwest. I've heard good things about SN Queens in LA as well.

I agree that the price you were quoted is too high. But maybe you could find something with less pave, as some of the cost is associated with the labor of setting all those tiny stones, not the diamonds themselves.

 

[sfilly]

Love it! That ring looks really similar to my dream engagement ring: Anna Sheffield's Hazeline http://www.annasheffield.com/products/hazeline-2

 

[gasdark]

So, more news!

Given what everyone had said about Daniel, I put that as a foregone conclusion that he would not be able to work, so I contacted David Klass and I've started an email correspondence with him.

He has not yet provided a quote, but literally ten minutes after I got off the phone with him, I received a reply from Daniel saying he would love to make the ring and quoting me an excellent price for it in platinum and 18k, with the paving.

The question now is, which is the better choice as between the two?

 

[chrono]

If going with David Klass, be prepared to revise the CAD several times before final approval.
Daniel M is experiencing serious personal health issues at the moment, so communication could be very spotty and the wait time will be very long since he has a long backlist order to complete. From what I read in the other thread, you could be 6 months out.

 

[digdeep]

More troubling with Daniel M is that it is reported that he corresponds at the onset, but after sending deposits and/or gems they are not hearing from him again. I'm surprised he again responded so quickly to you, but others on this forum are hearing nothing from him despite emails and attempts to contact him....he has deposit's, gems, and money from them but is MIA. It's your choice.........

 

[gasdark]

Chrono,

Is revising the CAD a problem or a benefit? I tended to think it was the latter, but I sense from your comment that it might not be.

 

[gasdark]

Leaving aside the current troubles Daniel is experiencing, in terms of craftmanship, does anyone have an opinion as to the better choice?

Also, David has offered to make the shanks in unplated white gold, a gold palladium alloy, which I am very interested in. Any input as to the nature and qualities of that sort of alloy?

 

[chrono]

Palladium white gold is a great option; you may not need replating at all. With regards to CAD revisions, some people think of it as a chore, others love the opportunity to tweak it to their idea of perfection. I haven't seen any CADs from DK (at least those posted on PS) that did not require tweaking.

 

[FrekeChild]

I have many projects completed by Daniel M, but have only worked with David once, and I'm waiting to see the finished product on that. Maybe someone else who has experience with both will chime in?

 

[VirginiaZee]

I've had a few projects completed by Daniel M and have been very pleased with all of them. I've had one project done by DK, it was to engrave a plain band (no stone setting or CADs), but I was very happy with the detailed work that he did.

 

[gasdark]

OK, I've started a second post asking for David Klass experiences. The palladium gold mix and his very fast response is certainly a boon. Truth is, although he's been responsive today, Daniel took about 2 weeks to respond to my initial inquiry. But he was also very upfront when I asked him about what was going on and he assure me is can be done in 3 weeks.

I'm just not sure given the huffaballo recently - so I'm going to wait and see if people enjoyed David's work.

 

[gasdark]

Does anyone know whether the palladium/gold mix will:

1) Tarnish or start to look old very quickly?
2) Will be difficult to resize like normal palladium?

 

[velouriaL]

I can't really tell what's going on with the setting from your pictures, but it looks me like a fairly simple design: black and white pave diamonds on the shank leading up to a decorative, filigree almost tulip-like or crown-like 6 pronged head. I'm not seeing the half-bezel? What are you referring to?

What exactly does she like about the ring? If it's a simple bank with black diamonds plus a decorative six prong head, you might not have to replicate the whole thing exactly.

If you find something similar that's regularly made, the jeweler should be able to custom make it with black diamonds pretty easily. Many stock settings are cast then the jeweler sets them with stones. If you were to find a stock or anyway pre-existing design ring that she likes, that might be more cost-effective. Maybe look through Gabriel's designs?

For example, with black diamonds, would she like this?
https://bridal.gabrielny.com/product/ER6687W44JJ#sthash.QyfjLWoK.dpbs
or this:
https://bridal.gabrielny.com/product/ER9302W44JJ#sthash.X5AxXQd0.dpbs

Now, I don't know for sure if Gabriel designs can be ordered with black diamonds, but it's worth a shot. You can also walk around the jewelery district looking for settings you like and ask if they can be modified with black diamonds.

Even if you decide to go custom, knowing which elements attracted her to this setting will help. For example, many people went with Daniel M because his claw prongs and bezels are awesome (and very reasonably priced). Not everyone cares about claw prongs or bezels, however. Knowing what she likes will help us recommend vendors.

 

[velouriaL]

I'm pretty sure palladium white gold is fine to resize, but ask the jewelers. I really don't think you need to worry about any white gold tarnishing quickly. ALL metal jewelery will wear down over decades and decades and decades of heavy use. My grandmother's platinum rings lost most of the details of its engraving by the time it got to me. White gold will be fine for decades and most people don't notice the different between wg and platinum, and don't remember to get white gold replated. Platinum is great if you can afford to spend a little more on it. White gold is perfectly fine, too.