Cost of thin bezel settings for studs

[MichelleCarmen]

How much should I be expecting to pay for the thin bezel settings available for diamond stud earrings? The stones I''m considering resetting are small .50 tcw and won''t be my primary set of earrings, so I don''t want to spend very much.

I see that the WF handmade ones are $450, which is too much for me. I want the ultra thin, like the DBTY style and am wondering if it''s realistic to find that setting for $200 (in WG).

Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[stone-cold11]

Blue Nile is $240. Not sure if it is thin enough for you though.

 

[D&T]

MC would you try an etsy person? like http://www.juliakaytaylor.com/ has been doing some bezeling work as thats her specialty.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Date: 7/10/2009 6:51:04 PM
Author: D&T
MC would you try an etsy person? like http://www.juliakaytaylor.com/ has been doing some bezeling work as thats her specialty.

Yes, I would consider an etsy person. Thanks for the recommendation. It would be interesting to set the stones in silver. . hmmm. . . lol

This will be a project I''ll begin in a few months, so there is time to research. I just do not want the thick style bezels that do not sit flush with the ear.

 

[chrono]

I''ve not had good luck with silver rings; they all tarnished on me very quickly unlike my bangles and necklaces.

 

[D&T]

not sure if you seen this already in the color forum side, but both Making the Grade project and Gypsy (hope the girls don''t mind me posthing their pictures up) are working with Julia Taylor and I am also bezeling my pendant with her. you can see the bezel looks pretty thin but of course your bezelling studs hopefully she can make it thin for you too. Do white gold. I bet she is very reasonable. I am having her do a double bezel in white gold and yellow gold, and it was less much less than what your thinking. Good luck. I''m excited to see who you go with and what you come up with. Definitely shoot her an email if you are interested as she is a bit backed up, my pendant is going on four weeks now. hoping it will be completed next week

MTG''s project

Gypsy''s project

 

[chrono]

D&T,
Do you have any examples of Etsy''s open bezels? All I''ve seen are the closed type bezels. While nice, I''m not fond of those. I prefer something with an airline or collet set.

 

[D&T]

Date: 7/10/2009 9:20:05 PM
Author: Chrono
D&T,
Do you have any examples of Etsy's open bezels? All I've seen are the closed type bezels. While nice, I'm not fond of those. I prefer something with an airline or collet set.

do you mean something like this? this is a faux bezel like back set piece. It looks like a complete bezel but you just pop the gems in the back and held essentially by prongs. Actually a more cost effective way to go than a completely hand made bezels.

I see that Sally has been doing bezels with these filigrees pendant, and I bet she can do earrings as well.

 

[chrono]

No, it''s a true bezel but the side isn''t completely closed. There''s a gap in the side of the metal to allow light in and also for cleaning.

 

[D&T]

and here is the airline piece... This is another casting company though .

 

[D&T]

another thought? have you thought about bezel leverbacks? not sure if you wanted other ideas or not, just throwing it out there, like this?

 

[Lady_Disdain]

If you don''t mind closed sides, you could ask an etsy person to do a tube set for you. This is the simplest possible bezel for a round stone: even I can set a stone in one in less than 5 minutes. This should be really inexpensive but it still looks great (and the bezel can be very thin as well).

 

[MichelleCarmen]

I''m thinking a thin bezel from the side view like the DBTY necklace. I''m not sure what that bezel style is called. (more like these WF ones but thinner from the front view) : http://www.whiteflash.com/Fine-jewelry/Diamond_Studs/Handmade-Full-Bezel-Diamond-Earrings--SETTINGS-ONLY_1138.htm#

D&T - yes, I have thought of lever backs. Not sure about that. I''ll have to think about if I''d wear those.

Another issue is that diamonds do not have the exact same dimentions & color (lol!). I bought them about six months before I found PS (if only I had found PS first, I could have scored on some small, yet amazing diamonds). I''ve got to find a way to set them without the size difference being obvious. Right now, they''re in platinum basket screw back settings.

 

[chrono]

Those are collet set, meaning only the girdle is bezeled.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Here''s the stones. . .size difference not so obvious, but if someone studies them, it''s more apparent. . .

They''re not cleaned here so forgive me for them looking a bit gunky. . .

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Here the one diamond shows a bit of body color. In person, the diamond looks nearly colorless from the top, but shows some from the side.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

oops, that was a bit small. . .hopefully this one shows up bigger. . .

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Date: 7/11/2009 1:11:40 PM
Author: Chrono
Those are collet set, meaning only the girdle is bezeled.

Thanks for providing terminology!

 

[Lynn B]

Have you investigated options at Quest? I''ll bet they could put your diamonds in a perfect bezel for a very reasonable cost.