FAQ

Yes, you can provide it to the jeweler you bought it from. As a matter of policy, we accept new commissions for client-supplied stones only when they qualify as verified generational heirlooms. To see if you qualify, please review our detailed criteria. They outline the steps required for provenance verification.
If timing permits, we would be happy to source another stone on your behalf. In addition to our extensive inventory, we can often acquire competitors’ stone at a lower price. Clients who choose us as their stone supplier enjoy preferential labor pricing, expedited completion, and complimentary shipping.

No, we will not. Except for occasionally incorporating an heirloom stone, we supply all diamonds and gemstones. This leaves you with two options:

1. Have the jeweler who sold you the stone mount it. They have already invested their time in helping you, and they probably need the business more than we do.
2. You can return the stone and, with our help, start from scratch. After all, our superior work is a privilege, not an option. At the very least, we’d appreciate a fair chance to be your jeweler, and we are confident we can offer superior stones at a better price. And to prove it, we offer the best price-matching policy in the business.

Absolutely NOT: Leon Megé doesn’t manufacture prefabricated mountings or semi-mounts, and we don’t sell unfinished jewelry. As a high-end bespoke atelier, we precision-forge every custom piece from scratch to exact dimensions, down to fractions of a millimeter, to best complement a specific stone’s optical properties. While you can provide an heirloom or client-supplied stone to be worked on, the piece must be fully set and completed by Leon Megé before leaving our studio. We do not supply empty settings for outside bench jewelers to complete.

We supply all diamond cuts: Round, Asscher, Emerald, Cushion (modern and antique), Radiant, Oval, Pear, Marquise, Heart-shaped, French cut, and others. Our exclusive inventory includes True Antique cushions, matching pairs, and eternity layouts. We also supply lab-grown diamonds of all sizes and shapes.

We only sell GIA-certified stones. Every natural diamond we sell comes with its original grading report from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), the world’s leading authority in diamond grading. 

Five Things To Know About Diamond Certificates

In the diamond trade, a grading report is only as credible as the laboratory that issues it. At Leon Mege, we only trust the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), whose grading standards have become the industry benchmark for natural diamonds. When it comes to natural diamond certificates, certificates from any lab other than GIA are not worth the paper they’re printed on.

We work with lab-grown diamonds because our role is to create exceptional jewelry, not dictate how a client spends their money. Lab-grown diamonds offer the same fundamental optical, chemical, and physical properties as natural diamonds, at a bargain-basement price. For clients who prioritize size, visual appearance, or budget, they can be a practical alternative. However, we recognize that natural diamonds possess a distinct geological history, rarity, and enduring appeal that factory production cannot replicate. We approach both options with professional expertise and transparency, helping each client make an informed decision based on their priorities. Regardless of origin, our commitment remains unchanged: exceptional craftsmanship, uncompromising standards, and a finished piece worthy of being treasured for generations. We buy lab-grown diamonds directly from overseas producers, with no middlemen, and offer our clients opportunistic pricing.

You’re not alone. For most people, buying an engagement ring is a first-time experience. You’ll feel more confident with each engagement that follows.😃

A quick primer on how we work: The Rules of Engagement
Please take a few minutes to read our brief, no-nonsense guides on how to:

• buy a diamond
• choose an engagement ring

You can also download a detailed manual in PDF format:

Comprehensive guide to ordering a custom ring 
Simplified Chinese edition 
Russian language edition 

To get started, book a phone consultation, and we’ll guide you through the process.

A hand-forged, custom-made ring may cost less than you think. To keep costs down, consider:

• A smaller stone
• Lower color or clarity grades
• A fancy shape instead of a round diamond
• A lab-grown diamond
• A “flat” stone, which weighs less than a conventional stone of the same dimensions
• Skipping the pavé and accent stones

Don’t try to bargain with us. This will cause a very negative response that you most likely will not like: Price negotiation explained

Most commissions start with a phone consultation and a preliminary estimate. What comes next depends on your project. It could be one of the following steps:

• Paying the retainer
• Requesting a Purchase Order and making payment
• Having your heirloom stone delivered to us

Please consult our manual for a simple step-by-step explanation of the process:

English edition
Simplified Chinese edition 
Russian edition 

We love meeting our clients in person, but we meet by appointment only, so please don’t drop in. We need to be prepared for your visit so we can give you our full attention. A retainer is also required before we can book your visit. The pandemic gave us all a good reason to keep a little distance, and we’ve found that most things can be handled easily by phone or email. But whenever a face-to-face conversation would help, we’ll gladly set one up so you have our complete, undivided attention.

When you’re ready to schedule your first visit, use our online scheduler to book a time.

Leon Megé jewelry is available through select fine-jewelry retailers worldwide, but you can order our custom work only directly from us.

• Bespoke pieces: Our individually crafted-to-order signature jewelry is available only directly from us. Overview of the bespoke process: Ordering individually crafted bespoke pieces directly from us.
• Signature one-of-a-kind pieces: Available for in-person purchase. Select pieces from our PDF catalog or search our website for “stock” pieces.
• Limited-edition collections: Available through select fine-jewelry retailers worldwide. Contact us, and we’ll help you find the nearest one.

When you factor in the fabrication method, forging versus casting, the cost structure flips entirely. While white gold is traditionally seen as a lower-cost option, choosing it over platinum won’t save you money and can often cost even more to produce. There are many reasons for that:

Gold price: Gold spot price currently trades at a multiple of platinum. Although platinum is 95% pure vs. 75% pure 18K gold, the metal price will be remarkably close to, and in some cases even exceed, the cost of the same piece made in platinum. A 95-5% platinum/ruthenium alloy is naturally white, dense, highly durable, low-maintenance, and, more importantly, more appealing.  

White gold hand fabrication is labor-intensive: Unlike yellow alloys, white gold is much harder to draw, roll, or hammer. It is prone to stress fractures and internal cracking. Hand-fabricating multi-part 18K white gold pieces requires exceptional bench skills, precise temperature control to prevent solder burnout, metal cracking, and surface reticulation. Fabricating a ring in 18K white gold takes significantly more hours and requires painstaking, skilled labor; a precision-forged 18K white gold piece will ultimately cost more than the same piece in platinum. Platinum, by contrast, is dense yet remarkably ductile and forgiving under the hammer, making it ideal for precision forging and bench work.

White gold requires periodic coating: Because white gold has a naturally warm tint, it needs periodic rhodium plating (dipping) to maintain its artificially bright finish.

Why commercial production favors gold over platinum: For mass production with minimal hand assembly, standard casting makes white gold much easier and cheaper to process. Gold melts at a much lower temperature (~950°C) than platinum, easily fills the molds, and requires lower skill to process.

For high-jewelry and heirloom bespoke designs, platinum remains the superior and more cost-effective choice in the long run.

Yes, you can, but we strongly recommend keeping the rings as far apart as possible to minimize the damaging friction with every movement of your hand. Over time, this friction can wear down the metal, dull the finish, loosen or chip stones, and in some cases cause the prongs or settings to weaken. Because both rings are worn daily, even small amounts of friction add up. If you’d insist on wearing both engagement and wedding rings together regularly, we recommend reading this: What hand should you wear the wedding band on?

If you can’t visit us in person for a finger measurement, we recommend visiting a local Tiffany’s branch to have your finger size measured there. If there is no Tiffany’s nearby, you might want to consider moving elsewhere. Otherwise, where do you get your breakfast?

Our Sizing Manual walks you through measuring your finger at home.

Getting the correct size is very important for custom work, so if you are confused or unsure, contact us, and we will help you make an educated guess.

Yes. We’re happy to repair, restore, or service Leon Mege pieces, whether you bought them recently or 50 years ago. We can handle common needs such as resizing, tightening prongs, replacing stones, fixing clasps and chains, repairing broken settings, and polishing or refinishing.
To get started, please contact us by phone or email. You can also send us photos and a description of the issue via WhatsApp. Once we receive the piece, we will examine it, explain to you the recommended course of action, and provide a repair estimate before any work begins. Timelines and costs depend on the repair type and the piece’s condition, and we’ll share both up front.
For the best results, avoid attempting repairs yourself or taking the piece to a general repair shop, since fine and handcrafted jewelry often requires specialized care. If repair does not qualify our Lifetime warranty we will perform the repair for a fee, please consult our Repair policy   for terms and conditions.

We will reach out shortly before the completion to give you enough time to settle the balance and prepare for the delivery. We will confirm the delivery date with you before shipping. Shipping is fun, read about it here.

Every item we create is handmade and unique, and we know how important it is to see a piece clearly before deciding. So we do our best to showcase our products with high-quality photographs that highlight their key features, finish, and overall design.
That said, photographing each piece from every possible angle isn’t feasible because we rely exclusively on real-life photography rather than AI rendering. Capturing every conceivable angle for every custom piece is simply impractical. We show only the images that best represent the piece’s design: real photographs of actual creations, produced by our in-house photographers.
Professional photography and high-end post-production are expensive, and unless a client wants to subsidize a custom photoshoot, we don’t produce extra views on demand. In truth, requests for multi-angle photography almost always come from shoppers seeking blueprints to have our original designs copied elsewhere.
If you require clarity on a specific structural detail or hidden angle, we are happy to describe it verbally. For everything else, we invite you to rely on common sense and the proven consistency of our portfolio.

Yes, we guarantee complete confidentiality and we are willing to lie if asked.

An engagement ring should showcase the stone with as little distraction as possible. Adding decorative elements just to make the ring “different” draws attention to the setting at the expense of the diamond. Go too far, and you risk turning your ring into a Christmas tree ornament, something you may regret for the rest of your first marriage. Keep the design clean and stay true to the classic look. A “secret stone” or a hand-engraved inscription, however, is a perfectly lovely touch.

Cleanliness is Right Next to Godliness. Or something.

Your ring goes everywhere you go, collecting lotion, soap, dead skin cells, and everyday dust. This buildup quickly dulls even the most brilliant stone. The good news is that maintenance is easy when cleaning is done regularly, ideally once every two weeks. We recommend gently brushing your ring with a soft toothbrush in a lukewarm solution of dishwashing liquid and a drop of household ammonia. Pay special attention to the underside of the stone and the areas around the setting, where grime tends to collect. Rinse thoroughly and pat dry with a lint-free cloth. A few minutes of care goes a long way toward keeping your diamond clean. We also invite you to stop by for a complimentary cleaning and checkup. Bring your ring in at least once a year so we can inspect it and catch small issues before they become costly repairs. Please note that an appointment is required.

Detailed cleaning instructions

You bet. Upon request, Leon Mege Inc. will provide a complimentary in-house appraisal after completing custom work by Leon Mege or when an in-stock item is purchased. Read detailed explanation of our appraisal policy by following this link

It is pronounced “Meh-zhée”with the same ending as Fabergé (fab-er-ZHAY). Soft “zh” in the middle, stress on the last syllable, and the first syllable is a short “meh.”

All custom-made and custom-ordered jewelry is final sale and cannot be returned or exchanged. Changing your mind is perfectly human, but not when it comes to buying custom-made jewelry. Custom work is made to a unique set of specifications, making it nearly impossible to resell to someone with different taste, budget, or requirements.
To date, no one has ever rejected a Leon Megé ring, no matter how repulsed they were by the suitor’s appearance. However, should your proposal fizzle, regroup and try again, or consult the latest issue of “Russian Mail-order Brides Gone Wild”.

At Leon Megé, we don’t use prefabricated settings or generic mounting components. We design and craft every ring around its center stone to ensure precise proportions, a secure fit, and seamless integration that our exceptional jewelry demands.
Whether we supply the stone or it is an heirloom, we will design a setting specifically for it. The stone’s dimensions, shape, and individual characteristics determine the ring’s internal structure. The result is a bespoke ring in which the setting fits the stone perfectly like a glove.