When you think about starting a custom project, which vendor is the first that comes to mind?

[musey]

Just curious!

I know that it depends on the style of the project, etc., but I''m just wondering about the first company/designer that pops into your head.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Right at this moment, Brian Gavin Diamonds. I have been working with Lesley and she is so wonderful, I never had the chance to work with her at WF! I am also supremely impressed with the work coming out of their new company, especially Gypsy's pendant!

 

[purrfectpear]

Budget conscious = Leon Mege ( much less expensive than you think) and Winfields

Middle of the road = Whiteflash

Only if cost is no object = Singlestone (highest every "single" time I''ve quoted them), 23rd Street, Maytal Hanah.

 

[musey]

Date: 5/7/2009 2:45:56 PM
Author: dreamer_dachsie
Right at this moment, Brian Gavin Diamonds. I have been working with Lesley and she is so wonderful, I never had the chance to work with her at WF! I am also supremely impressed with the work coming out of their new company, especially Gypsy''s pendant!

I am loving hearing about this company! It seems like people are loving them right away.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 5/7/2009 2:46:20 PM
Author: purrfectpear
Budget conscious = Leon Mege ( much less expensive than you think) and Winfields

Middle of the road = Whiteflash

Only if cost is no object = Singlestone (highest every ''single'' time I''ve quoted them), 23rd Street, Maytal Hanah.

PP I bet Leon would love being labelled "budget conscious" ! LOL! Priceless...

But I know what you mean, I have been surprised at his prices given the apparent quality as well.

 

[Circe]

I''d love to work with Quest one of these days: every single project that I''ve seen coming out of their workshop has been TDF. I also really like the stuff that Erica and Grace are putting out: it wouldn''t take *too* much to tempt me to have them source some lovely OMC''s for a pair of their gorgeous bezeled earrings ....

 

[Ellen]

Now it would be Brian and Lesley. (BGD)

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 5/7/2009 2:48:05 PM
Author: musey

Date: 5/7/2009 2:45:56 PM
Author: dreamer_dachsie
Right at this moment, Brian Gavin Diamonds. I have been working with Lesley and she is so wonderful, I never had the chance to work with her at WF! I am also supremely impressed with the work coming out of their new company, especially Gypsy''s pendant!

I am loving hearing about this company! It seems like people are loving them right away.

I ended up working with them on my ring project initially because their prices were simply lower, what can I say, I am cheap!

But there have been some other advantages as well that I wouldn''t have anticipated: There is no middle man, so to speak, because at the moment Lesley handles all the customer service, so you are really getting answers and quotes and information straight from the horse''s mouth. So it speeds things up in the whole process. That lady knows her stuff! She is also very honest and seems to have the clients interests at heart. If that is just a sales tactic, it is *very* well done, but I don''t get the impression that it is. I hope the company stays relatively small so that clients can continue to deal with them directly. The finish on their work is on par with Mark Morrell from what I have seen, so I am very keen to see my own ring completed!

Here is something funny I learned today: Their new offices are in the same building as WF! Can you saw awkward?

Lesley basically said, "We''ve been here 25 years, we weren''t leaving!" I was dieing to ask her why they parted with WF, but really it is none of my business.

 

[Kismet]

I don''t think I have a single ''go to'' person for custom work. I have some benitonites and tsavorites that are destined for Leon Mege; some moonstones that are destined for either James or Caleb Meyer; a mali garnet and a moonstone destined for Peter Lees (2 different projects) and a whole bunch of other stones that I haven''t decided on yet.

In the past I''ve used: Michael E., Bostonion, Peter Lees, Leon Mege, TC Jewelers (local to me) and I currently have a project with Brian Gavin Diamonds. The local jewelers have been my only repeat business so far.

 

[geckodani]

Well. For custom - prolly BGD at this point, based on all the rave reviews. I also wouldn''t hesitate to go to WF.

I have this desire to do something with Wink too, because he seems like a class act and someone that would be a joy to work with.

 

[D&T]

BGD (so personable

feel like I know their whole life in a nutshell), WF, Mark Morrell (if my budget allows....one day!) and like Geckodani--- WINK, I also wish I can find a local jeweler

so my pieces dont stay in transit longer than it has been on my finger

 

[mrssalvo]

not sure why but Leon Mege was the first to come to mind when I read the thread title..

 

[bebe]

Leon Mege

Mark (ERD)

Brian Gavin

I''ve worked with all three and developed a trust with them.

 

[Gypsy]

Depends on the project.

But for anything I have in my mind right now? BGD and Wink.

But if I was looking for a classic three stone in platinum ... I might go with Leon. But honestly, personality and customer service count so much with me... that probably not. Anything more complicated, I doubt I'd go with him, he's too much of an artiste for me.

I'd work with VanCraynest.

And in the event I win the lottery? 23rd Street. But I have a feeling that wouldn't be custom. I'd probably just walk in and want to buy everything in sight.

This is going to sound crazy but... if I had to have a Leon piece, I'd probably call Lesley and Brian and see if they would be the middleman with Leon (since Leon works with other jewelers), and pay a fee for their services. That's how much I just do not like Leon or want to deal with him in the event of ANY QC issue.

 

[Maisie]

I would have said Leon Mege too. But seeing the quality of the ring I received from BGD I can honestly say I wouldn''t work with Leon now. No need. My ring is perfect. There isn''t a single thing that I am disappointed about. Its got that fluid feel that you seem to get with a Leon.

 

[purrfectpear]

I''d be interesting in knowing if BGD is typically less expensive than WF?

The reason I ask is that Leon beat WF every time, 3 out of 3 quotes. It would be nice if BGD was budget friendly.

 

[musey]

Date: 5/7/2009 4:23:52 PM
Author: purrfectpear
I''d be interesting in knowing if BGD is typically less expensive than WF?

Me too. BGD is not a "pricescope vendor," is it? (Just out of curiosity)

 

[Gypsy]

I think you'd have to compare qoutes from both to tell which one is priced lower.

As for BGD being a 'pricescope vendor'... they don't currently purchase advertising on PS that I know of, so I guess it depends on your definition of PS vendor.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 5/7/2009 4:30:06 PM
Author: musey

Date: 5/7/2009 4:23:52 PM
Author: purrfectpear
I''d be interesting in knowing if BGD is typically less expensive than WF?

Me too. BGD is not a ''pricescope vendor,'' is it? (Just out of curiosity)

I can''t speak for typical, but I have asked for quotes on six distinct items (4 of which were different versions of a ring--different melee, eternity versus semi). On one lower cost item the quotes were equal, on the 4 mid-cost items BGD was 10% less, and on the higher item BGD was 20% less! All were under $2000 for a frame of reference. I suspect that these slightly lower prices may be because they are starting a new business, but I actually hope it is a reflection of lower overhead.

I don''t think they are a PS vendor right now as I don''t think their company is even running in full gear yet! Their website is not open yet and so they are operating on a referrals, PS folks, and repeat business from their WF days (is that all the same thing?). Lesley said they would open the website when things were completely ready to go, but they are being kept very busy as it is!

 

[musey]

Date: 5/7/2009 4:33:15 PM
Author: Gypsy
As for BGD being a ''pricescope vendor''... they don''t currently purchase advertising on PS that I know of, so I guess it depends on your definition of PS vendor.

I was just defining it as the ones on the vendor list, or the ones that pop up in the diamond search (pricescope recommended vendors - PS as a company, not a community).

 

[bee*]

My first thought was Leon Mege when I saw the title. I''d be really interested though in BGD after seeing the rave reviews recently.

 

[mrscushion]

Date: 5/7/2009 2:46:20 PM
Author: purrfectpear
Budget conscious = Leon Mege ( much less expensive than you think) and Winfields
Middle of the road = Whiteflash
Only if cost is no object = Singlestone (highest every ''single'' time I''ve quoted them), 23rd Street, Maytal Hanah.

This is good to know!

I would have said Whiteflash.

 

[Maisie]

Date: 5/7/2009 4:23:52 PM
Author: purrfectpear
I''d be interesting in knowing if BGD is typically less expensive than WF?

The reason I ask is that Leon beat WF every time, 3 out of 3 quotes. It would be nice if BGD was budget friendly.

I believe that BGD are less expensive than WF because they have lower overheads and are very efficient in their service. I really enjoyed the one on one attention that I got from Lesley. She was almost always available to speak to by telephone (apart from when she had to eat.. I guess thats allowed!).

 

[E B]

I''m surprised to read that Leon is so affordable. Too bad he intimidates the @*&$ out of me.

 

[D&T]

Date: 5/7/2009 5:19:03 PM
Author: EBree
I''m surprised to read that Leon is so affordable. Too bad he intimidates the @*&$ out of me.

lol....

i''ve read some post and have felt the same way... so I had never tried to contact him,

 

[decodelighted]

Date: 5/7/2009 2:21:16 PM
Author:musey
just wondering about the first company/designer that pops into your head.

Musey never asked which "PS Vendor" you''d think of ... in both the thread title & question inside the thread she just said "vendor" "company" and "designer".

After seeing Wallermama''s new beauty ... I''d have to say Singlestone! Ari sounds like a hoot too -- my kind of humor!

I wouldn''t hesitate to ask Pearlman''s to coordinate a custom order Tessa ring from Bev. K. -- if I had the fundage available.

And, next in line ... hmm ... the same dilemma TG is facing: James Meyer vs. Leon Mege. Edge ever so slightly to Leon ... as I''d really love one of those pink diamonds bands of his.

The types of things I''d be interested in aren''t the types of things one would automatically associate with the other vendors. **shrug**

 

[Gypsy]

Oooh, add James and Caleb Meyer to my list as well.

 

[E B]

Date: 5/7/2009 5:37:31 PM
Author: Gypsy
Oooh, add James and Caleb Meyer to my list as well.

To mine as well! I''ve actually spoken to James and he was both very nice and quite reasonable (price-wise!).

 

[LaurenThePartier]

Depends on the project. My local jeweler is doing a custom ring project for me right now, and his quoted price was ridiculously low. He has done amazing prongs on setting work for me lately, so I gave him fiorst crack at my Scap project.

My aqua is probably going to WF when I can send it off . . . but I''d be likely to also ask BGD and perhaps even Leon for a quote on a solitaire setting.

 

[Gypsy]

Date: 5/7/2009 5:37:31 PM
Author: Gypsy
Oooh, add James and Caleb Meyer to my list as well.

I don''t think James is a PS vendor either... at least not on the list of vendors... is he? Hmm.