Bezels for stones that are irregular in shape? Help!

[pancake]

I've got some antique stones (OECs mostly) that I was thinking of mixing and matching to make some sort of multi-stone ring (3 or 5, not sure yet) with bezels. Thing is, a couple of the stones are slightly off-round (not grossly, but enough to be noticeable close-up). Can a bezel setting "compensate" for these slight irregularities or would they have to exactly follow the contour of the girdles?

(does that even make sense?)

 

[pancake]

Anyone? Jewellers? OEC/OMC owners?

 

[natascha]

I am also very intrested in this.
I can say that I have seen several antique pieces where they have made the bezek round hiding the irregulareties. So I would say it is possible, the question is if current jewelers have the skills to do it since they are accustomed to regular stones.

 

[Circe]

It depends on how out-of-sound the stones are, and how chunky you like your bezels. But, yeah, it can definitely be done - today's jewelers are more skilled, not less.

 

[D&T]

if it is handmade bezel then it might be noticeable, however, if you wanted to get a BACK set bezel from say Stuller, then I would think it will definitely fix the Off Roundness.

back set just has prongs on the back of the bezel, but gives it illusion of a front bezel, and the nice perks is that its not too time consuming and should be less costly as well, if stock items...

here is an example, but you can't see the back on these (I have a pendant with this type of back set bezel, no problem) the post placement though is something to consider, maybe can go a semi custom route, to remove the post and add a bridge across the middle of the back and solder the post to it so it becomes centered?

http://www.stuller.com/products/24873/?groupId=101600


This is a pendant from Katiedid and you can somewhat see the prongs on the back at 12/3/6/9 o'clock

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/introducing-my-new-bezel-pendant.127802/


ETA: Well Nevermind..... You are looking at putting it in a ring (I need to slow down when I'm reading). if so, I'm sure a good bench jeweler can get it to work nicely. I think if CAD and cast it may work better than handmade bezels ie: See PiXIEs ring

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/my-jbeg-three-stone-oec-bezel-ring-is-finished.152210/

 

[pixies]

Yes, they can definitely "fake" it some (within reason) -- JbEG did a great job.

 

[pancake]

Cheers guys - much appreciated!

I have a preliminary quote from DanielM, and they said that they would be able to correct for off-roundness to a varying degree depending on the individual stone. Their bezels are handmade, I believe - presumably a perfectly round bezel is easier to achieve with a cast ring, but I'm not too fussed - just as long as the stone looks evenly round from a normal viewing distance, that's fine by me

 

[sphenequeen]

I believe it is easier to do with a handmade bezel than a cast bezel - this way, the jeweler is able to manipulate the bezel to "correct" the shape of the stone.

 

[pancake]

Thanks, Sphenequeen.

I have a quote from DanielM, and I've just asked for one from Sally of HeartOfWater, so we'll see what comes of that.