are "bead" settings safe?

[KittyTiger]

Hi, I''m interesting in this setting. Can anyone please tell me if the "bead" setting is safe for all the little stone on the side. I think it''s 8 brilliants of 0.14 ctw.

Is anyone familiar with the setting and how safe it is from falling out? And would I still be able to use a ultrasonic cleaner on it?

Thanks!

 

[Mara]

Bead settings are essentially like pave....old style settings have 'bead' stones. Basically small beads of metal are what hold the diamonds in place. If there are just a few, it's definitely safe, but I wouldn't do bead setting all the way around the ring, etc. Pretty setting, looks antique. Not too into the square looking head thing though.

 

[valeria101]

Mara is right: bead setting has something in common with the pave. The bead settind essentially puts more metal over the girdle of the small stones: this makes the method safer than the pave and suitable for larger stones. Bead setting is less often used and if done well, quite stunning. Creating pave with bead set diamonds is not common and when done leaves alot of metal among the stones comparative to the mainstream pave.
No safetyy issues though...

 

[glitterata]

Pretty setting! Unlike Mara, I love that square head.

My grandmother's platinum engagement ring has lots of little beadset stones around the central diamond. It's lasted 74 years so far.

 

[oldminer]

Pave' setting and bead setting are essentially one and the same. Pave' meaning "paved" in French. Other pave' setting can mean hammer set, which appears smooth and flush with the surface and with no bead work. These jobs are basically the same except for how the final steps are accomplished. Bead setting looks busy while hammer setting looks plain. Any extra beads raised that don't even touch the stone are called "ornaments". In fine bead work a setter will make ornaments just to finish and fill the open metal. It is a little showing off of skills and adds glitter to the item without the cost of another small diamond.

There are fewer really good bead setting specialists today that there were some years ago. Bead setting requires a lot of the skills of an engraver. Since we have so little apprenticeship in the USA, a lot of this work is now done overseas and in a mass environment where the bead setting is actually done in the wax before the gold or platinum is cast. While it looks similar, it is far from the same result.

Pave' work, when done properly, is very durable. When poorly done, stones can fall out easily. Workmanship and metal quality dictate how secure the stones will be.

 

[KittyTiger]

Thanks guys for taking the time to reply to my question.

Soooo... now I'm having second thought on this setting.

Good settings that you really "feel" for are so hard to find! >"<

 

[jamies]

----------------
On 12/22/2003 5:11:51 PM oldminer wrote:

Pave' setting and bead setting are essentially one and the same. Pave' meaning 'paved' in French. Other pave' setting can mean hammer set, which appears smooth and flush with the surface and with no bead work. These jobs are basically the same except for how the final steps are accomplished. Bead setting looks busy while hammer setting looks plain. Any extra beads raised that don't even touch the stone are called 'ornaments'. In fine bead work a setter will make ornaments just to finish and fill the open metal. It is a little showing off of skills and adds glitter to the item without the cost of another small diamond.


There are fewer really good bead setting specialists today that there were some years ago. Bead setting requires a lot of the skills of an engraver. Since we have so little apprenticeship in the USA, a lot of this work is now done overseas and in a mass environment where the bead setting is actually done in the wax before the gold or platinum is cast. While it looks similar, it is far from the same result.


Pave' work, when done properly, is very durable. When poorly done, stones can fall out easily. Workmanship and metal quality dictate how secure the stones will be.----------------

Does anyone by any chance have a picture of a bead setting like the one talked about here?

 

[pyramid]

http://www.professionaljeweler.com/archives/articles/2002/may02/0502pb1.html


http://www.professionaljeweler.com/archives/articles/2000/jul00/0700fys1.html


http://www.professionaljeweler.com/archives/articles/2003/oct03/1003pb1.html


http://www.professionaljeweler.com/archives/articles/2002/oct02/1002pb3.html


http://www.professionaljeweler.com/archives/articles/2000/feb00/0200fys1.html


http://www.professionaljeweler.com/archives/articles/2002/nov02/1102pb3.html


http://www.professionaljeweler.com/archives/articles/2002/aug02/0802pb4.html


The above are some web pages about bead setting.

 

[bacon]

Dave hit the nail on the head. Quality workmanship and quality materials will make bead, thread, pave one of the most durable setting. I still work 80 year old rings (worn with respect) where the beads are still better than the ones in your pic.
With our culture's hellbent for cheap attitude, it is true that quality craftsman are hard to find. Mass produced bead setting will be questionable at best.
The beads in the pic you posted look flat. Not good. A bead should look lake a ... well a bead, a little sphere over a tiny bit of the gem.
Get a 10X loupe and inspect EACH bead before you buy.
Expect to pay more for quality and less for less quality.

Let's all give up the hellbent for cheap and go hellbent for best value for your dollar. It will save you money in the not so long run.
Respectfully,
Joe