Need IDEAS for setting 4 Morganite stones!!

[sunshine0808]

Hello fellow pricescopers! Long time lurker, first time posting (very exciting day)!

I have had these four beautiful pale PINK (not peach- although I think the peachy ones are beautiful too!!) morganite stones in my jewelry box for a few years. I hate that they are just sitting there. They are too beautiful and they need to be worn!

So, as you can see from the picture, there are two small matching ovals, a trillion cut and a larger emerald cut. The picture doesn't do them justice. They are very beautiful, lively and well matched color-wise. The trillion has the most sparkle however. I would like to make them into a set that includes earrings, a ring and a pendant.

SoOooOooOoooOoo...! I would love to hear some ideas on HOW they should be set and WHO should do the job! Pictures would be helpful too!

Thanks in advance!

 

[chrono]

It depends on your budget which will dictate the design, metal choice and who is the best vendor to do so.

 

[sunshine0808]

lol fair enough! I knew I was forgetting some critical info.

I don't have a firm budget for the project. I think I'd like to come up with a cheaper option and a more expensive option and go from there.

Regardless, I am thinking I would like to have the stones set in 14k rose gold. The two ovals as earrings, the emerald cut as a pendant and the trillion as a right hand ring.

For the cheaper option - no additional stones. Just the 4 morganites from the picture set in plain metal. Maybe bezel set?

For the more expensive option - I am thinking maybe a ring with a diamond pave split shank. The earrings with small dainty diamond halos. And I'm not sure on the pendant. Something that would tie in with the other pieces.

I like settings there a little unique and on the contemporary/modern end of things. However, most morganite/rose gold jewelry I see is very much vintage. Maybe it's possible to create a nice blend of the two styles?

As you can see, I'm very much in need of expert advice

 

[chrono]

I think even a budget range will be very useful. I've had some projects quoted as high as $4000 for a single plain metal ring due to the difficulty of the design. In looking at Etsy projects done in CS lately, it appears that even a "simple" 14k rose gold setting without much embellishment starts at around $1000 and upwards.

Are you fussy about the execution of the bezel where it must be able to look perfect under extreme scrutiny or from 12 inches away is good enough?
What about the diamond melees? Do you need them ideal cut or just white and sparkly is good enough?

 

[sunshine0808]

I'm having difficulty setting a budget because I'm not sure what a realistic price point would be. Partially because I don't know what I want and partially because the final price may impact how I go about the project. For example, if I could get the earrings, pendant and ring all set for $1500-2000 in such a way that I'd be happy with, fine. OR, if I settle on a design that is more costly (say, $3000ish), I may implement it in stages, possible over the course of a couple years, until the set was completed.

Answers to your questions:
Are you fussy about the execution of the bezel where it must be able to look perfect under extreme scrutiny or from 12 inches away is good enough? I don't think I am especially fussy about the execution. I think it should look even and I prefer a thinner bezel over a thick one. In my opinion, bezels that are too bulky tend to look more masculine. However, I'm not set on a bezel. I tend to think bezels look best on round, oval or cushion stones and not stones with corners (just a personal preference).


What about the diamond melees? Do you need them ideal cut or just white and sparkly is good enough? The diamond melee would not need to be engagement ring quality. White and sparkly is fine. Relatively eye-clean is preferable. They don't need to be perfect by any means.

 

[chrono]

Okay, let's approach this from a different avenue. There are many vendors at different price points:

Lowest cost (low hundreds)
Chinese made eBay settings are somewhat customize-able and the price is very good for the quality. Don't expect a sturdy, flawless or perfectly made setting that holds up under scrutiny though. Lanbo, Jewelryhoo, and the like.

Mid range (low hundreds to $1K thereabouts)
Stock Stuller, American-Set, etc setting which your local jeweller can order and set.
Most Etsy designers are around this range for a plain type setting (Heart of Water, Daniel M, Janish, etc).

Upper mid range (low thousands)
Customized cast pieces which can either be done locally or long distance. Done by vendors such as Whiteflash, Brian Gavin Diamonds, Engagement Rings Direct, ID Jewelry and etc.

Highest cost (high thousands)
Hand forged or hand crafted pieces. Superb quality with exceptional design and complexity. We are talking Leon Mege, ERD, Steven Kirsch, Victor Canera, and the like.

Does this help any? Take a look below to see price points versus quality and design.

Ebay Setting Vendors
American Set - http://myworld.ebay.com/americanset/?_trksid=p4340.l2559
Lan.bo4 - http://www.ebay.com/sch/lan.bo4/m.html
diamondmounts - http://myworld.ebay.com/diamondmounts/
jewe2004 - http://stores.ebay.com/jewe2004
LOGR (Lord of Gem Rings) - http://stores.ebay.com/Lord-of-Gem-Rings
leejewelry
beyondjewelry3

Etsy Setting Vendors
Daniel M (Dan) - http://www.etsy.com/people/danielmjewelry
Adzia - http://www.etsy.com/people/AdziasJewelryAtelier
Sally of Heart of Water - http://www.etsy.com/people/HeartofWaterJewels
Julia Taylor (JKT) - http://www.etsy.com/people/juliakaytaylor
Kyleanne - http://www.etsy.com/people/kyleannemetals
Maddie of OneGarnetGirl - http://www.etsy.com/people/onegarnetgirl
Jill of janishjewels - http://www.etsy.com/shop/JanishJewels?ref=ss_profile

Custom Setting Vendors
Brian Gavin Diamonds (BGD) - www.briangavindiamonds.coom
Victor Canera - www.victorcanera.com
Green Lake Jewelry - www.greenlakejewelry.com
Steven Kirsch http://www.timelessluxury.net/
Quest Fine Jewelry http://questfinejewelers.com/
Hunt Country Jewelers http://huntcountry.com/
Peter Lees Jewelry http://peterlees.com/

 

[sunshine0808]

Wow! Thank you Chrono, this is very very helpful.

I recognize a few of these venders from previous threads. Like Daniel M. on etsy. I seem to recall others being please with his work.

I will examine a few of these venders and then post with more concrete ideas.

THANK YOU for your help (and patience)!