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#38010 - 08/21/04 12:49 PM
Semi-Custom Design, Good and BETTER
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Wink
The Black Orlov
Registered: 08/20/04
Posts: 4589
Loc: Boise, Idaho
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I am going to post a picture here to show the minor differences between good and BETTER. These are subtle things to show why some rings cost more than others.
PLEASE REMEMBER THAT THE CAMERA CAN BE BRUTAL, SOME OF THESE THINGS YOU WILL NOT SEE WITH JUST THE EYE UNDER NORMAL OBSERVATION!
We made and are proud to have made both of these items, but I think you will see why we are more proud of the BETTER item than of the good item.
I could go to hundreds of places on the net and pull pictures of other peoples rings to make my good look like the better, and I could also go to Mark Morrell's or Leon Mege's sites and make my better look like the good.
Cost is relative. If you are willing to pay for a Mark Morrell piece, then you are well served to go to Mark Morrell for it, he is a true Master of his craft and not inexpensive. Yet when you put one of his pieces next to another very nice piece, you will be able to pick out tiny things that make the ring both better and worth the extra expense.
What I am attempting to do with this post is to show you some of the little things to look for. Both of the rings in the picture below are exquisite to the eye and both are being worn proudly, AS THEY SHOULD BE!
Wink
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#38011 - 08/21/04 12:51 PM
Re: Semi-Custom Design, Good and BETTER
[Re: Wink]
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Wink
The Black Orlov
Registered: 08/20/04
Posts: 4589
Loc: Boise, Idaho
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Oops. Forgot the picture... 
A tale of two rings. On the left is a very nice ring, semi custom as head sizes have been changed to fit the stones and the split prongs have been put on to the center stone. On the right is a hand assembled ring, not truly custom, but not stock by any means. Assuming both rings to be 14kt white gold the one on the right is about $150-$200 more expensive. Why you ask?
There are several small reasons.
Where the orange circles are you will see that the prongs on the left hand ring come out a little far on the center stone, and there is a slight irregularity on the V-cap on the left hand trillion. On the right hand ring the prongs do not obscure the center stone at all, but still hold it securely. These shorter prongs will not snag as much as the longer prongs on the left hand ring. (We made both rings and are proud of them, this is to show you the difference between nice and superb!)
Where the yellow circles are you will see a gap between the triangle heads and the main head. It looks a little brutal in the photo, but to the eye it does not, still, if you look for it you can see it. On the right hand ring there is no gap until the prong separates at the top, One half going to hold the trillion, one half going to become the split in the split prong head for the center stone.
Where the blue circles are, the split in the ring is sharper and without any irregularity.
Where the red lines are, look how much nicer the sweeping line is on the ring on the right. We sent the enclosed picture of the ring on the left to our relatively new benchman and asked him to make a ring similar for the stones in the ring on the right. When he called with the quote I swallowed my tongue, it was more than I normally deliver the ring on the left for. He patiently explained why, I talked with my client and she agreed to the price. (This ring on the right is in platinum by the way, but a quote was given in gold as well.)
Now that we have the finished piece on the hand of our client, I think it is easy to see why I now deliver three stone rings in this type of design in the $450-$550 range rather than in the $300 - $350 range. One ring is very nice, the other is exquisite. Like Less, I continually strive to improve the quality of my product. I can and will deliver the ring on the left if you insist, but I will always be recommending the ring on the right. You are spending hundreds of dollars on your beautiful Ashas, that last $200 is NOT the right place to skimp!
By the way, the center stone in the ring on the right is a 7.5mm Asha, version 4 with genuine sapphires.
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#38012 - 08/21/04 12:59 PM
Re: Semi-Custom Design, Good and BETTER
[Re: Wink]
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Wink
The Black Orlov
Registered: 08/20/04
Posts: 4589
Loc: Boise, Idaho
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Okay, now that I have shown you some nit picky things wrong with the ring on the left, what are some of the major things right with both rings?
Your turn! I will be back later to tell you what I think...
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#38013 - 08/21/04 01:01 PM
Re: Semi-Custom Design, Good and BETTER
[Re: Wink]
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starstruck
BTD Crown Jewel
Registered: 08/31/03
Posts: 10928
Loc: State of Confusion
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Quote:
One ring is very nice, the other is exquisite. Like Less, I continually strive to improve the quality of my product. I can and will deliver the ring on the left if you insist, but I will always be recommending the ring on the right. You are spending hundreds of dollars on your beautiful Ashas, that last $200 is NOT the right place to skimp!
Couldn't have said it better myself and thanks so much for the pictures and detailing of what you did! Great read and you are helping to increase customer knowledge already... 
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#38014 - 08/21/04 01:12 PM
Re: Semi-Custom Design, Good and BETTER
[Re: Wink]
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MrsE
BTD Crown Jewel
Registered: 01/24/04
Posts: 10305
Loc: The GREATEST Country of ALL!
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Quote:
Okay, now that I have shown you some nit picky things wrong with the ring on the left, what are some of the major things right with both rings?
Your turn! I will be back later to tell you what I think...
uhhhhhhhh...they both look superb to me and I wouldn't complain if I received EITHER of them???????? 
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#38015 - 08/21/04 01:19 PM
Re: Semi-Custom Design, Good and BETTER
[Re: MrsE]
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Wink
The Black Orlov
Registered: 08/20/04
Posts: 4589
Loc: Boise, Idaho
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Quote:
Quote:
Okay, now that I have shown you some nit picky things wrong with the ring on the left, what are some of the major things right with both rings?
Your turn! I will be back later to tell you what I think...
uhhhhhhhh...they both look superb to me and I wouldn't complain if I received EITHER of them????????
I agree, but what is it about them that makes you feel that way? This is a quiz, pop type, one each as we used to say in the Marine Corps.
(Use nasty hollywood fake German Accent here) You vill gif me ansvers! Ve haf vays of making yu talk!
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#38016 - 08/21/04 01:44 PM
Re: Semi-Custom Design, Good and BETTER
[Re: Wink]
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diamondangel
BTD Crown Jewel
Registered: 04/08/02
Posts: 16050
Loc: Northwestern NJ
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#38017 - 08/21/04 01:47 PM
Re: Semi-Custom Design, Good and BETTER
[Re: Wink]
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starstruck
BTD Crown Jewel
Registered: 08/31/03
Posts: 10928
Loc: State of Confusion
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Hmmmm....they aren't mine?  I've been looking and looking and I just don't know!
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