Copied from Rocky Talky - Bezel Setting Cast or Handmade?

[stargurl78]

I thought I would post this here too, since I know the colored stoners could probably be of some help:

[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/handmade-or-cast-for-bezel-ring-setting.154939/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/handmade-or-cast-for-bezel-ring-setting.154939/[/URL]

 

[iLander]

Re: Copied from Rocky Talky - Bezel Setting Cast or Handmade

" Colored Stoners"

I kind of like it!

 

[pixies]

Re: Copied from Rocky Talky - Bezel Setting Cast or Handmade

I think there are jewelers of differing calibers in hand made and cast. When I got a quote on an 18kt wg bezel ring from BGD it was in the $1600 range. I got quotes from Single Stone and Leon and they were in the mid 2k range for platinum (a few hundred less for wg @ SS).

I went with JbEG. There price were between BGD and Leon. My ring was CAD/CAST. It turned out perfect. I think it really depends on the designer. If someone has a style that speaks to you, I'd go with them as long as their pieces have fine finishing to them. Some cast rings may be clunky, some handmade rings may be unsymmetrical. Browse the portfolios and let the work speak for itself.

JKT does a lot of modern organic pieces. If you like something unique to her I'd pick her. I love the stacking rings she's produced and those leaf bezel rings are nice. I'd expect a more expensive setting from BGD/WF to have a finer finish. There are things I'd forgive a RHR that I wouldn't an ering especially at different price points. Some of the JKT rings seem to have space between the bezel and stone (not a perfect fit). Those are the only things I'd point out and that's just being nit-picky. I'd still purchase a piece from her. She works with silver which is a plus if you are trying to keep the price of a project down. Her designs are interesting. Many other pros. I just wouldn't expect the finish of a Leon or Single Stone even though all three designers are hand made... it's not comparing apples to apples. Same with BGD/WF and JKT. BGD/WF are high quality cad/cast with different styles (while JKT is hand made).

Are you wanting any shank or profile detail or just a double bezel and plain shank with an open gallery? If I had a better feel for what you want I could give recommendations then. Is it a piece you'll wear every day?

I saw this post in RT but didn't really know how to answer. I just think they do very different things and aren't really comparable. That probably doesn't help much

 

[Largosmom]

Re: Copied from Rocky Talky - Bezel Setting Cast or Handmade

If you like JKT's style, I would go with her. What others have said regarding CAD CAST settings is true, they have a different look, I think than a handmade piece which is made by rolling out the metal and hand-shaping it to the stone. I have one handmade ring from Julia and am very pleased with the workmanship of it. Julia works in a variety of metals. Others may only work in gold ( or not...you'll have to check).

Here are some of her bezel earring charms she made for me in silver.


She also made a bezeled blue zircon ring for me. On my pieces at least, the bezeling looks perfect. Keep in mind that setting the stone in the bezel is done by hand in a cast stone (I suppose unless the stone is set from underneath.

With either approach, the setting can be made to fit the stone. In my zircon ring, my stone was ever so slightly taller on one side than the other. It is not noticeable at all. It wasn't a precision cut stone.

Laura

 

[LtlFirecracker]

Re: Copied from Rocky Talky - Bezel Setting Cast or Handmade

If you like JKT's style, I would go with her. What others have said regarding CAD CAST settings is true, they have a different look, I think than a handmade piece which is made by rolling out the metal and hand-shaping it to the stone. I have one handmade ring from Julia and am very pleased with the workmanship of it. Julia works in a variety of metals. Others may only work in gold ( or not...you'll have to check).

Here are some of her bezel earring charms she made for me in silver.


She also made a bezeled blue zircon ring for me. On my pieces at least, the bezeling looks perfect. Keep in mind that setting the stone in the bezel is done by hand in a cast stone (I suppose unless the stone is set from underneath.

With either approach, the setting can be made to fit the stone. In my zircon ring, my stone was ever so slightly taller on one side than the other. It is not noticeable at all. It wasn't a precision cut stone.

Laura

Hey, I just referenced your zircon ring in my thread about making a Julia Kay Taylor ring. That is a beautiful ring!

 

[stargurl78]

Re: Copied from Rocky Talky - Bezel Setting Cast or Handmade

iLander -

Pixies - Thanks again!

Largosmom - those earrings are gorgeous I really do like JKT's bezels. While I know that I am picky about imperfections that may be inevitable in handmade jewelery, she really does beautiful work and I think I would be happy with one of her pieces. I'm torn!