need help with making spessartite garnet stud earrings

[amber_312]

Hi PSers!

I need your help. I have been to a few retailers in L.A. looking for a generic prong stud to set my spessartite garnet hearts with that are .50 tcw.
(https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/mandarin-spessartite-garnets.97782/)

I don''t need anything custom, just something pre-made. Seems like the common quote I am getting is around $200 for a 14k yellow gold. This seems kind of high to me considering the price I am seeing for gemstone stud earrings around the same size that are retailing in these stores. The scale of the spessartite garnets don''t seem too funky to where they couldn''t fit in a pre-made setting, imo.

Is $200 a normal price to expect for setting your own stud earrings?

If any of you can recommend someone to me, I would totally appreciate it. I am willing to ship the gems to someone reputable.

 

[PrecisionGem]

$200 does sound very high. I use a local jeweler from time to time to mount stones, and typically for small studs, he would charge me about $50.
I know that the actual findings for these are very inexpensive, maybe $20 or so. You should be able get these into a 4 prong mounting.

Look for a privately owned store, not a chain, since most chains will send them out to someone else.

 

[neatfreak]

Yeah, that''s really expensive. I just had a bezel pendant made in WG and even with all that work AND the chain it was less than $200.

 

[amber_312]

Date: 11/16/2008 7:33:09 PM
Author: PrecisionGem
$200 does sound very high. I use a local jeweler from time to time to mount stones, and typically for small studs, he would charge me about $50.

I know that the actual findings for these are very inexpensive, maybe $20 or so. You should be able get these into a 4 prong mounting.


Look for a privately owned store, not a chain, since most chains will send them out to someone else.

honestly, that''s about what i budgeting after looking at wholesale prices via a link another PS friend provided. i think that''s my problem, i''ve been going to larger chains thinking it would be cheaper, when in fact, it''s the opposite. i was utterly shocked with my last 3 quotes.

thank you for your input!

 

[amber_312]

looks like i am going to the wrong places. think i need to shop around in l.a. and see who will do it for around $50.

thank you!

 

[marcy]

I think that is high. The mountings in 14K should be about $60 and they should charge about $20 to $25 to set each stone. I would shop around some more.

 

[amber_312]

Date: 11/16/2008 10:31:30 PM
Author: marcyc
I think that is high. The mountings in 14K should be about $60 and they should charge about $20 to $25 to set each stone. I would shop around some more.

agreed. thank you for your input! hopefully i can find a jeweler in l.a. who can do it for around that pricepoint.

 

[marcy]

I love your spessartites - they are lovely.

 

[amber_312]

Date: 11/17/2008 12:41:00 AM
Author: marcyc
I love your spessartites - they are lovely.

aw, thank you, marcyc! i''m so excited. they are my first loose gemstone purchase!!!

 

[Fly Girl]

Date: 11/17/2008 12:08:53 AM
Author: amber_312

Date: 11/16/2008 10:31:30 PM
Author: marcyc
I think that is high. The mountings in 14K should be about $60 and they should charge about $20 to $25 to set each stone. I would shop around some more.

agreed. thank you for your input! hopefully i can find a jeweler in l.a. who can do it for around that pricepoint.

Ditto. It''s about the overhead. At the big chains you pay for the location, the shop clerks, the advertising, the sending out to another shop where the benchmen actually work, which may have a secretary to organize the work/answer the phone, etc. etc. You want a small shop where the jeweler may be quietly working in the back when you come in. I know of a couple of husband/wife shops where one is the artist and the other runs the business. No additional layers of overhead for you to pay for helps with their costs and the price they need to charge you.

 

[amber_312]

Date: 11/17/2008 11:55:51 AM
Author: Fly Girl

Date: 11/17/2008 12:08:53 AM

Author: amber_312

Date: 11/16/2008 10:31:30 PM

Author: marcyc

I think that is high. The mountings in 14K should be about $60 and they should charge about $20 to $25 to set each stone. I would shop around some more.

agreed. thank you for your input! hopefully i can find a jeweler in l.a. who can do it for around that pricepoint.

Ditto. It''s about the overhead. At the big chains you pay for the location, the shop clerks, the advertising, the sending out to another shop where the benchmen actually work, which may have a secretary to organize the work/answer the phone, etc. etc. You want a small shop where the jeweler may be quietly working in the back when you come in. I know of a couple of husband/wife shops where one is the artist and the other runs the business. No additional layers of overhead for you to pay for helps with their costs and the price they need to charge you.

flygirl, do you know of any shops in l.a.? if not, no big deal. i just feel better taking these to a place that will do a good job.

 

[Elmorton]

Amber, I might also suggest using the words "looking for stock settings" and ask if they have a stuller catalog. When I was setting a loose stone, I got really high quotes until I realized that the jeweler or associate was thinking I wanted something designed/custom made.

 

[amber_312]

Date: 11/17/2008 3:24:41 PM
Author: Elmorton
Amber, I might also suggest using the words ''looking for stock settings'' and ask if they have a stuller catalog. When I was setting a loose stone, I got really high quotes until I realized that the jeweler or associate was thinking I wanted something designed/custom made.

good call. i did this at the larger chains, but i will remember to use that exact verbiage with the jeweler so they know exactly what i am looking for. hopefully they will have a good selection in the catalog!