Blue gemstone necklace project

[TheElms]

I'm planning a special present for 3 of my closest friends (and one for me!) (We are all turning 30 soon! Eek!!!) I'd like to make us each DBTY necklaces with blue to blue-purple gemstones. I'm thinking I'd like the necklaces to be quite long, perhaps 36 inches. I'm open to sapphires, spinels and probably blue topaz as the gemstone. I'm also flexible as to the shape of the stones. I've seen one sapphire DBTY necklace Daniel M made for a fellow PSer (http://www.etsy.com/transaction/85059899) and it was gorgeous so I will likely ask him to make the necklaces. Because I'm making 4 of these necklaces I'd like to keep the cost reasonable - no more than $100 a piece.

But I have lots of questions about how to accomplish this--

1) Is this plan feasible?

2) Are there any other stones I should consider? (I like the color of tanzanite but worry it might be too soft, is it?)

3) How many stones per necklace do I need? What is the typical spacing between stones?

4) Is 36 inches a good length for this type of necklace?

5) Most importantly, any suggestions as to where I should look to purchase the stones would be much appreciated!

 

[VapidLapid]

I would want a stone every 2.5 inches, so fifteen per necklace would be a total of 60 stones. The only choice you mentioned that is remotely possible in your budget is the blue topaz.
These would cost you about $75., just for the stones, probably another 15 with shipping and you should get a few extra in case some break in setting:
http://www.multicolour.com/detail/?/details/calibrated/topaz/yto140aa/&302686978
now with $300 left for the chain and settings and the actual labor of stone setting you may have to be creative or able to do the work yoursel(f)ves.

 

[VapidLapid]

you might get by with ultra tiny sapphires that are heated, likely diffused as well:
http://www.multicolour.com/detail/?/details/calibrated/sapphire/ysa544aa/&-911529999
but still have to solve the setting problem, and if you are going DIY those tiny stones are easy to lose.

 

[TheElms]

VapidLapid -- thanks for all the valuable info. I think I will think about shortening the length of the necklace as a cost saving measure.

 

[chrono]

Depending on the size of the stones, the distance between each one will vary. The larger the stone, the bigger the distance. The smaller the stone, the lesser the distance. You probably don't want stones that are too small either. Even if you shorten the chain, the stones alone will eat up all your budget, supposing you are using blue topaz or diffused sapphires. Labour to bezel each stone is fairly high (more than prong set). I recall seeing some ready made ones here in CS many years ago for a very reasonable price. Perhaps it was a PSer's local jeweller but a ready made DBTY will be your least expensive option.

 

[TheElms]

I figured I was probably being unrealistic budget-wise, so thanks for confirming that. I don't really want to do a bracelet but that would only require 3 or 4 stones per bracelet cutting down both on the cost of the stones and the labor. Or maybe a necklace like this



Would one of those ideas work budget-wise?

In a completely different direction, is it possible to bezel set cabs to be used as a pendant? I've seen some great cabs with neat inclusions that I think might make great necklaces.

 

[distracts]

I'd ask DanielM about sourcing the stones - I don't know if he could get better prices but it's worth checking. I'd also get stones that fit into calibrated settings so he can buy the settings pre-made and pop them in - that would take out a lot of the labor costs.

I think finding a premade necklace you like is a better option though.

http://www.google.com/shopping/offerdetails?spons=1&q=blue+by+the+yard+necklace&docid=15556981690006693500&ved=0CAcQxhA&ei=k4esUOj9LIqSwAXtSQ

http://www.sendmyjewelry.com/sterling-silver-blue-topaz-necklace-p-3047.html?utm_campaign=export_feed&utm_medium=cse&utm_source=googlebase&m1track=googlebase

 

[chrono]

You can definitely bezel set cabochons although the bezel is generally quite thin (as opposed to a wide or thick lipped bezel).