A few months ago I began the process of piecing together an engagement ring. I had studied up on diamond qualities and had a design picked out, but didn't really know how to start the process. An SF friend told me that user institches worked in the jewelry business and so I decided to ask him for some advice.
He was very accommodating and listened to what I wanted, and then explained to me how I could better achieve the desired effect within my budget by focusing more on qualities other than the ones I had chosen. I was a bit skeptical, because the ring was a little unusual, but he convinced me that he understood the sort of classic-modern look I was going for. He was very patient and easy to get a hold of when I had questions, and never once made me feel pressured to buy from him. I had planned on only buying the stone at first, but he assured me that one of the jewelers he worked with could craft the ring I wanted and that I would be able to receive the completed piece instead.
The result was amazing. It honestly came out better than the ring that it was based on and when I gave it to my [now] fiancé she was floored. She gets compliments all the time and can't stop looking at it. The stone looks alive. It had to be sent back for a resizing, but institches had his company cover all of the shipping costs and returned it to us in a couple of days. He didn't try to get me to exceed my budget, and in fact a local jeweler who I showed it to was blown away when I told him what I'd paid.
He hasn't asked me to say anything about it, but I felt like I should. Because we are 3000 miles apart, I purchased the stone and the ring sight-unseen and had to put a lot of trust in his ability to deliver what I wanted. He exceeded my expectations and I would highly recommend that anyone thinking about buying a stone or having a piece crafted talk to him.
The photos don't do it justice, but this is the ring:
He was very accommodating and listened to what I wanted, and then explained to me how I could better achieve the desired effect within my budget by focusing more on qualities other than the ones I had chosen. I was a bit skeptical, because the ring was a little unusual, but he convinced me that he understood the sort of classic-modern look I was going for. He was very patient and easy to get a hold of when I had questions, and never once made me feel pressured to buy from him. I had planned on only buying the stone at first, but he assured me that one of the jewelers he worked with could craft the ring I wanted and that I would be able to receive the completed piece instead.
The result was amazing. It honestly came out better than the ring that it was based on and when I gave it to my [now] fiancé she was floored. She gets compliments all the time and can't stop looking at it. The stone looks alive. It had to be sent back for a resizing, but institches had his company cover all of the shipping costs and returned it to us in a couple of days. He didn't try to get me to exceed my budget, and in fact a local jeweler who I showed it to was blown away when I told him what I'd paid.
He hasn't asked me to say anything about it, but I felt like I should. Because we are 3000 miles apart, I purchased the stone and the ring sight-unseen and had to put a lot of trust in his ability to deliver what I wanted. He exceeded my expectations and I would highly recommend that anyone thinking about buying a stone or having a piece crafted talk to him.
The photos don't do it justice, but this is the ring:
![spam[1].gif](http://files.styleforum.net/images/smilies/spam%5B1%5D.gif)
