sending stones for ebay vendors to set...

[OTL]

What if they chip the stone? Is there any insurance applied here? I'm basically an unsecure person, and this will be the first time I set a ring....

 

[chrono]

You are basically responsible for the stone unless you have your own insurance which covers the setting process.

 

[OTL]

You are basically responsible for the stone unless you have your own insurance which covers the setting process.

Ok so basically all I can do is trust the vendor and hope it will not happen
Any accident you have seen so far?

 

[chrono]

None that I know of - personally, I would not send a stone that I value highly to them to set. My concerns lie more with the stone getting lost in transit, getting lost while in their care and / or getting lost on the way back to me.

 

[stargurl78]

None that I know of - personally, I would not send a stone that I value highly to them to set. My concerns lie more with the stone getting lost in transit, getting lost while in their care and / or getting lost on the way back to me.

Ditto. I would just have the setting sent to me and pay the fee for a local jeweler to set the stone.

 

[OTL]

None that I know of - personally, I would not send a stone that I value highly to them to set. My concerns lie more with the stone getting lost in transit, getting lost while in their care and / or getting lost on the way back to me.

Ditto. I would just have the setting sent to me and pay the fee for a local jeweler to set the stone.

Problem is I couldn't find any. The local jeweler stores are not that professional. They don't do setting, their rubies are mostly glass-filled....

 

[chrono]

Do you live out in the boonies like me? Sometimes, I find that the mom & pop style stores do a decent job.

 

[bluegirl123]

i totally understand....

OTL, it sounds as though your from BC as well? I live in the lower mainland and only had 2 stone set locally -- one resulted in scratches (tourmaline) but the other turned out fine (spinel).

Edit: forgot to mention, that sending to ebay vendor is definetely one thing i'm considering as well!!! Please post back if you go for it how it went..

 

[Jeweljunke]

I have sent several stones to the eBay setting vendor I use. I've sent an emerald, a ruby, a spinel, a tsavorite, and one or two more that I can't remember right now. Not one scratch, not one chip. I always send by international express mail, with signature receipt. They get it in three or four days, and I usually get it back a week later. So far no problems, but there is always the possibility, either domestically or internationally of something getting lost. As they say, S**t happens. I have also had many a ring sized and/or stone set here in California where the bench scratched the stone or set it crookedly. I have been much more satisfied sending it to the setting manufacturer plus they can make any changes or adjustments in the setting to fit the stone better. If you do decide to send it to you setting vendor just make sure you are explicit in what you want, i.e., the color and karat weight of your gold or platinum.

 

[OTL]

Do you live out in the boonies like me? Sometimes, I find that the mom & pop style stores do a decent job.

Not quite a boonie...But the retail jewellery stores are like that...

 

[OTL]

I have sent several stones to the eBay setting vendor I use. I've sent an emerald, a ruby, a spinel, a tsavorite, and one or two more that I can't remember right now. Not one scratch, not one chip. I always send by international express mail, with signature receipt. They get it in three or four days, and I usually get it back a week later. So far no problems, but there is always the possibility, either domestically or internationally of something getting lost. As they say, S**t happens. I have also had many a ring sized and/or stone set here in California where the bench scratched the stone or set it crookedly. I have been much more satisfied sending it to the setting manufacturer plus they can make any changes or adjustments in the setting to fit the stone better. If you do decide to send it to you setting vendor just make sure you are explicit in what you want, i.e., the color and karat weight of your gold or platinum.

I know, and I am using that vendor who did most of your rings...But still, express shipping+custom duty probably enough to get a local jeweller to set it, if I can find one.

 

[OTL]

i totally understand....

OTL, it sounds as though your from BC as well? I live in the lower mainland and only had 2 stone set locally -- one resulted in scratches (tourmaline) but the other turned out fine (spinel).

Edit: forgot to mention, that sending to ebay vendor is definetely one thing i'm considering as well!!! Please post back if you go for it how it went..

You are right

I am still debating whether to go ahead and do this...

 

[OTL]

I am so paranoid right now...How do you even know it is real gold? Not plated gold?

 

[stargurl78]

I don't particularly love any of my local jewelers and I'm sure that the eBay vendors could do just as good of a job setting the stone. I think the main reason I don't send my stones for the eBay vendors to set is that I want to see the setting before I have the stone set in it. What if I end up not liking it with my stone in person? What if I'm not happy with the diamond quality of the melee and decide to pay for the upgraded stones? What if the setting just doesn't look like it did in the pics?

 

[bluegirl123]

I have sent several stones to the eBay setting vendor I use. I've sent an emerald, a ruby, a spinel, a tsavorite, and one or two more that I can't remember right now. Not one scratch, not one chip. I always send by international express mail, with signature receipt. They get it in three or four days, and I usually get it back a week later. So far no problems, but there is always the possibility, either domestically or internationally of something getting lost. As they say, S**t happens. I have also had many a ring sized and/or stone set here in California where the bench scratched the stone or set it crookedly. I have been much more satisfied sending it to the setting manufacturer plus they can make any changes or adjustments in the setting to fit the stone better. If you do decide to send it to you setting vendor just make sure you are explicit in what you want, i.e., the color and karat weight of your gold or platinum.

I know, and I am using that vendor who did most of your rings...But still, express shipping+custom duty probably enough to get a local jeweller to set it, if I can find one.

well... I know you probably don't live in the same area as me, but if this helps for costs for setting, i got quoted from $60-150 - higher cost is maul places, lower is mom&pop places.

Don't you have to pay customs on the setting anyways? I would think the express shipping is the only extra (??).

BTW, sorry to go off topic, but can I ask how much, percentage wise, did you get dinged for duty from Tan? I've never bought gemstones shipped internationally, as I wasnt sure about the duty...

Thanks!

 

[Jeweljunke]

To speak to several issues:

I always upgrade to VVS diamonds in the mountings and I have always upgraded to 18k gold. This upgrade does not add too much more to the price of the setting.

It costs me $35 to send the stone to the vendor, and the vendor returns the setting when done via DHL express at their cost. I have not paid any import duties. I have marked the stone as instructed by the vendor to avoid that.

 

[bluegirl123]

To speak to several issues:

I always upgrade to VVS diamonds in the mountings and I have always upgraded to 18k gold. This upgrade does not add too much more to the price of the setting.

It costs me $35 to send the stone to the vendor, and the vendor returns the setting when done via DHL express at their cost. I have not paid any import duties. I have marked the stone as instructed by the vendor to avoid that.

'
Hey Jeweljunke, is based in USA or Canada?

Thanks!

 

[Jeweljunke]

California

 

[OTL]

I have sent several stones to the eBay setting vendor I use. I've sent an emerald, a ruby, a spinel, a tsavorite, and one or two more that I can't remember right now. Not one scratch, not one chip. I always send by international express mail, with signature receipt. They get it in three or four days, and I usually get it back a week later. So far no problems, but there is always the possibility, either domestically or internationally of something getting lost. As they say, S**t happens. I have also had many a ring sized and/or stone set here in California where the bench scratched the stone or set it crookedly. I have been much more satisfied sending it to the setting manufacturer plus they can make any changes or adjustments in the setting to fit the stone better. If you do decide to send it to you setting vendor just make sure you are explicit in what you want, i.e., the color and karat weight of your gold or platinum.

I know, and I am using that vendor who did most of your rings...But still, express shipping+custom duty probably enough to get a local jeweller to set it, if I can find one.

well... I know you probably don't live in the same area as me, but if this helps for costs for setting, i got quoted from $60-150 - higher cost is maul places, lower is mom&pop places.

Don't you have to pay customs on the setting anyways? I would think the express shipping is the only extra (??).

BTW, sorry to go off topic, but can I ask how much, percentage wise, did you get dinged for duty from Tan? I've never bought gemstones shipped internationally, as I wasnt sure about the duty...

Thanks!

I live in Vancouver
Express shipping is around $50-70.
If you buy loose stones(precious and half precious stones), there is no duty by the law
But if it is a jewellery, or just a setting, there will be duty applied, plus a handling fee.
So that adds up, probably enough to find one to get it done?
Can you let me know the local vendors you got quote from?

 

[OTL]

To speak to several issues:

I always upgrade to VVS diamonds in the mountings and I have always upgraded to 18k gold. This upgrade does not add too much more to the price of the setting.

It costs me $35 to send the stone to the vendor, and the vendor returns the setting when done via DHL express at their cost. I have not paid any import duties. I have marked the stone as instructed by the vendor to avoid that.

USPS beats Canada Post all the way!

 

[bluegirl123]

I have sent several stones to the eBay setting vendor I use. I've sent an emerald, a ruby, a spinel, a tsavorite, and one or two more that I can't remember right now. Not one scratch, not one chip. I always send by international express mail, with signature receipt. They get it in three or four days, and I usually get it back a week later. So far no problems, but there is always the possibility, either domestically or internationally of something getting lost. As they say, S**t happens. I have also had many a ring sized and/or stone set here in California where the bench scratched the stone or set it crookedly. I have been much more satisfied sending it to the setting manufacturer plus they can make any changes or adjustments in the setting to fit the stone better. If you do decide to send it to you setting vendor just make sure you are explicit in what you want, i.e., the color and karat weight of your gold or platinum.

I know, and I am using that vendor who did most of your rings...But still, express shipping+custom duty probably enough to get a local jeweller to set it, if I can find one.

well... I know you probably don't live in the same area as me, but if this helps for costs for setting, i got quoted from $60-150 - higher cost is maul places, lower is mom&pop places.

Don't you have to pay customs on the setting anyways? I would think the express shipping is the only extra (??).

BTW, sorry to go off topic, but can I ask how much, percentage wise, did you get dinged for duty from Tan? I've never bought gemstones shipped internationally, as I wasnt sure about the duty...

Thanks!

I live in Vancouver
Express shipping is around $50-70.
If you buy loose stones(precious and half precious stones), there is no duty by the law
But if it is a jewellery, or just a setting, there will be duty applied, plus a handling fee.
So that adds up, probably enough to find one to get it done?
Can you let me know the local vendors you got quote from?

I live in Surrey/Langley so it's from vendors around there. The place I got my spinel set is www.exceljewellers.com/... From what I recall, they quote me around the 70/80 range for pair of earrings about a year ago.. but I had the spinel done for "free" as I bought a setting from them. Their goldsmith does the setting.
GeoGems (www.geogem.com/) was the vendor that scratched up my tourmaline. They told me that they send the jobs out to someone.

Thanks! I didn't know that gems are duty free!!!


Edit: I believe I only paid around 35-40$ for GeoGem to set the tourmaline (guess I got what I paid!) , so I should revise my quote to be 35-150.

 

[lelser]

There are some wonderful setters in Vancouver! Most of them work only for the trade, but try working with some smaller goldsmiths (not jewellers) who will send your piece off to a proper setter and do the fine finishing for you. I can't recommend anyone according to the rules on this board, but believe me, lots of people in BC use my gems and the number of times something got chipped in setting I can count on one hand.

Lisa

www.lisaelser.com

 

[chrono]

Eh? You are in Vancouver? It's not in the boonies and you should be able to find someone to set your stones.