Beginner project - question about semi mount/stone size

[Supers]

So I've decide to embark on a beginner's project to get a pear shaped spess to set into semi mount as sold by lan.bo4.

If my stone is 7.15x5.76x3.3, am I better off getting a setting for a 7x5 or 8x6? Or neither?

I'm after a cheap(ish) setting for a cheap stone, so I know it won't be a perfect ring.

 

[chrono]

Ideally, it should be a 7x6 mm setting. I’m not familiar enough with Lanbo to know if their setting tends to run a little big or small.

 

[Lee Little]

Hi Supers,
That does not sound like a beginner's project as that size is far from calibrated and will most likely be a difficult gem to set in any calibrated setting. A calibrated stone would be more satisfying for a beginner. Best regards, Lee

 

[LaurenThePartier]

So I've decide to embark on a beginner's project to get a pear shaped spess to set into semi mount as sold by lan.bo4.

If my stone is 7.15x5.76x3.3, am I better off getting a setting for a 7x5 or 8x6? Or neither?

I'm after a cheap(ish) setting for a cheap stone, so I know it won't be a perfect ring.

I believe Lan.bo4's customization charge is $30, so I might suggest emailing to find out what the cost to change to exact measurements would be.

 

[Michael_E]

Pear shapes are a special case as even calibrated stones can be a poor fit with settings that should accept them. This is because pears can have profiles in which the width is measured at a place isn't where the maker expected that width to be. Since most pear shapes are located by the two prongs closest to the rounded end of the stone, the location and width of those two prongs and the width of the stone in that area are critical measurements. This is not so tough to fit if the setting has significant taper since you can set the stone higher or lower to fit.

You also need to be concerned about what the pointed end prong is shaped like. Pears, like all pointed stones, are very fragile at that point and a single round prong at the point of a colored stone can lead to fairly easy breakage of that stone in the future. In answer to your question, I would go with a 7 x 5 setting and avoid any pear shaped setting which uses a round prong at it's tip. Since your stone width is wider that the setting calls for you may need to accept that either the front prong will be bent forward or the two rear prongs will be bent out ward to accommodate your stone.

 

[LD]

I would also go with a 7x5 (and I've had a ton of non-calibrated pears set into standard mounts). My reasoning is that the 5.7mm width is only one part of the pear and so at its widest, your central stone will hang over the side (and over the diamonds if you're going for a halo) about .35m each side. It's not a lot but will be noticeable. The prongs MAY have to be lengthened a bit if your stone sits a little high in the setting. Actually that's a consideration ...... if you want it to sit very low then the 7x5 option may end up being a bit too high but it's impossible to say until you have stone/setting in hand. EDIT: Just noticed that your pear is actually very shallow so probably won't be an issue BUT check for a bowtie because the dimensions suggest that there may be one (although again, only a guess).

If you go for the 8x6 you will possibly have an airline all around the stone AND you may even glimpse the basket underneath (especially where there will be a gap of almost .5mm at the top and bottom.

One other consideration is that pears come in fat, skinny, rounded, pointed and many other variations which can be a factor! Do you have a picture? The more standard shape it is, the less problematic it will be to set.

In terms of customisation, I'm not sure I would. Lan.bo doesn't have a good reputation on here where he's undertaken custom work. His standard settings (and I have about 5 of them) are superb but the language barrier I think creates issues where you need something special doing. One good thing is that he does have a good returns policy!

 

[LaurenThePartier]

I would also go with a 7x5 (and I've had a ton of non-calibrated pears set into standard mounts). My reasoning is that the 5.7mm width is only one part of the pear and so at its widest, your central stone will hang over the side (and over the diamonds if you're going for a halo) about .35m each side. It's not a lot but will be noticeable. The prongs MAY have to be lengthened a bit if your stone sits a little high in the setting. Actually that's a consideration ...... if you want it to sit very low then the 7x5 option may end up being a bit too high but it's impossible to say until you have stone/setting in hand. EDIT: Just noticed that your pear is actually very shallow so probably won't be an issue BUT check for a bowtie because the dimensions suggest that there may be one (although again, only a guess).

If you go for the 8x6 you will possibly have an airline all around the stone AND you may even glimpse the basket underneath (especially where there will be a gap of almost .5mm at the top and bottom.

One other consideration is that pears come in fat, skinny, rounded, pointed and many other variations which can be a factor! Do you have a picture? The more standard shape it is, the less problematic it will be to set.

In terms of customisation, I'm not sure I would. Lan.bo doesn't have a good reputation on here where he's undertaken custom work. His standard settings (and I have about 5 of them) are superb but the language barrier I think creates issues where you need something special doing. One good thing is that he does have a good returns policy!

LD, I haven't been posting as much around here as much lately, but I now have figured out how to get customizations through Jewelryhoo/Lan.bo4 with fairly reliable results. I send a word doc or spreadsheet with the exact dimensions, a pic of the stone in an enlarged version, and a pic of the stone that would be more representative of real life. If I'm mixing metals, I'll also add text over their pic of the setting.

I've done this with customization for a fat pear tanzanite, a clipped corner radiant tsavorite, an asscher topaz, and a squatty oval tourmaline and have had great results so far. Originally, I was not happy with lan.bo4 for making a princess setting for an asscher, but after that debaucle, I started sending detailed instructions and it's worked every time. I'm about to do it with another oval and I haven't figured out which stone I'll set in the other setting yet, but I have worked with him enough on stock and customized settings that I felt it warranted a comment since the last anyone had heard from me, I was not a fan.

 

[LD]

I would also go with a 7x5 (and I've had a ton of non-calibrated pears set into standard mounts). My reasoning is that the 5.7mm width is only one part of the pear and so at its widest, your central stone will hang over the side (and over the diamonds if you're going for a halo) about .35m each side. It's not a lot but will be noticeable. The prongs MAY have to be lengthened a bit if your stone sits a little high in the setting. Actually that's a consideration ...... if you want it to sit very low then the 7x5 option may end up being a bit too high but it's impossible to say until you have stone/setting in hand. EDIT: Just noticed that your pear is actually very shallow so probably won't be an issue BUT check for a bowtie because the dimensions suggest that there may be one (although again, only a guess).

If you go for the 8x6 you will possibly have an airline all around the stone AND you may even glimpse the basket underneath (especially where there will be a gap of almost .5mm at the top and bottom.

One other consideration is that pears come in fat, skinny, rounded, pointed and many other variations which can be a factor! Do you have a picture? The more standard shape it is, the less problematic it will be to set.

In terms of customisation, I'm not sure I would. Lan.bo doesn't have a good reputation on here where he's undertaken custom work. His standard settings (and I have about 5 of them) are superb but the language barrier I think creates issues where you need something special doing. One good thing is that he does have a good returns policy!

LD, I haven't been posting as much around here as much lately, but I now have figured out how to get customizations through Jewelryhoo/Lan.bo4 with fairly reliable results. I send a word doc or spreadsheet with the exact dimensions, a pic of the stone in an enlarged version, and a pic of the stone that would be more representative of real life. If I'm mixing metals, I'll also add text over their pic of the setting.

I've done this with customization for a fat pear tanzanite, a clipped corner radiant tsavorite, an asscher topaz, and a squatty oval tourmaline and have had great results so far. Originally, I was not happy with lan.bo4 for making a princess setting for an asscher, but after that debaucle, I started sending detailed instructions and it's worked every time. I'm about to do it with another oval and I haven't figured out which stone I'll set in the other setting yet, but I have worked with him enough on stock and customized settings that I felt it warranted a comment since the last anyone had heard from me, I was not a fan.

LTP brilliant news - thanks so much for the update! Glad all your pieces have turned out well.