Also, does anybody know the scope of metals he works in (palladium perhaps)?
I know he at least works in all the golds, and platinum. I never inquired about palladium, so not sure.
And I've been going back and forth with him for a couple of months now on different things, mostly quotes and sourcing stones/designs info. While sometimes it has taken him a bit to get back to me - and I'm not really needing anything soon, which he knows - he has *always* answered. Even if it is a Sunday at 1030 PM, he's answered. I dislike chasing anyone as well, even if it's just for a simple three word answer or a one line quote, but out of all the vendors I've contacted, he's consistently been one of the most responsive even if his lag time is a bit more than some. I know he has quite the queue from here and I assume he has other work as well, so I do wish he'd sometimes have an assistant to help him out (actually, I thought he did? He seems to personally answer all of my emails, though) but sometimes I appreciate NOT having to go through an assistant and getting to speak to the bench directly, you know? Hopefully you hear back from him soon, OP, but if you've only sent one email and haven't, I'd probably send a second just to give the benefit of the doubt that maybe the first got overlooked or didn't arrive.