Price: Channel vs. Bead set

[Jake_Needs_Help]

Last week my fiance and I looked at a Simon G ring. It was bead set, but we asked for a price quote if we got it in channel set, which the jeweler informed us was just a different style number. This week she changed her mind (again) and decided that she liked the bead set better. So we asked for a quote on that. The bead set came out $600 more (in 18K).

Is this right? The price of gold has gone up just a few percent since last week. I was expecting channel set to be more expensive. I have been told that channel set requires more metal, but bead set requires more labor. Anyone have some insight on this? I''m just wondering if the jeweler thinks they have the sale in the bag since I''ve come back a couple times, and is not pricing competitively anymore. (Not that I would be too offended by this, but it would make a difference from a bargaining standpoint.)

Any thoughts?

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Yes, I think you should call someone else that sells Simon G (perhaps Pearlman''s?) and get another quote on the rings to compare.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Sorry, I don''t think Pearlman''s carries Simon G. You can try here:

http://www.firenzejewels.com/

 

[mrssalvo]

I agree with DS. Definitely call around a few places and check on pricing. Most of the time designer settings are consistant no matter the vendor with the possibility of a little wiggle room. By getting a couple more quotes you can see if you in the ball park. bead set pave rings are more labor intensive so that could very well be the price difference, however, it most channel setting i''ve seen, the stones are larger that the tiny melee used in pave rings it that could bring the price up there too. Always good to double check.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

When we did our quotes for my wedding ring a bead set RB e-band was I *think* around $500 less than a channel set PR e-band both in PLT. These aren''t designer but made sense since they use more stones in the channel set one (they touch).