Suggestions for setting inexpensive stones?

[hobbitfancier55]

Hi all! What route do y'all normally go when setting an inexpensive stone? Say just a simple solitaire setting when one wants to not spend too much. Is there a specific metal material or vendor you go with? Or just take it and have it set locally? Just bought this Jeff Davies spinel for fun and am wondering what the best route is.

.51ct
4.40 x 3.21 mm

 

[chatoyancy]

That is a beautiful spinel! I have a pair of umbalites from Jeff Davies in that same cut. I'm not sure if this cut fits into a stock setting or not. If it can, that would be the least expensive route. Your spinel would look great in a simple pendant.

 

[hobbitfancier55]

That was my other thought! Putting it in a simple necklace for daily wear. Just something simple and dainty.

 

[lilmosun]

Beautful stone!

I often look for preloved settings....either LT, DB or my jeweler's scrap pile.

 

[digdeep]

I recently ordered a 14k gold pendant setting from pmlinx on Ebay. Don't do this much, but did feel it was decent.

 

[crescentgems]

I often look for preloved settings....either LT, DB or my jeweler's scrap pile.

good idea , I highly recommend looking on LT

 

[elle_71125]

Great question. I'm always wondering the same thing.
I don't want to spend money on custom projects for very inexpensive gems either. I do watch LT and diamondbistro but I find it difficult to find matches. Could just be me though, since I'm no expert.

 

[theredspinel]

Great question. I'm always wondering the same thing.
I don't want to spend money on custom projects for very inexpensive gems either. I do watch LT and diamondbistro but I find it difficult to find matches. Could just be me though, since I'm no expert.

Same.

And then I have the gems sitting around for so long I start dreaming up fancy custom ideas for them, then I get latched onto that idea lol. So it ends with me sitting there with the gems for ages, slowly saving up for the custom route.

Doh

 

[lafolk]

I am a newbie. Are there some good sites that have older settings for sale? I myself am looking for a really nice (i.e., big) diamond ballerina setting.

I love to "recycle" old settings with new stones. Count me in.

 

[Lisa Loves Shiny]

FYI- There is a pendant setting on LT that should fit your stone and the listing states the vendor will set the stone.

 

[Arkteia]

Jeff set the stone I bought from him.

 

[T L]

Silver settings are an option if you can find a jeweler to set it. White zircon melee instead of diamonds as side stones also keep price down. That is if you're on a budget, but if not, there's nothing wrong with setting an inexpensive stone in an expensive setting. it depends on what you love and your budget.

 

[Seaglow]

I would probably set it in 14 carat gold, and with a setting on thinner band design. I would use white sapphire or colored stone melees such as small spinels or colored sapphires or garnets which aren't expensive in small sizes of 2mm-2.5mm. Depending on the color of the center stone, a small top color sapphire, tsavorite, or spinel would make the ring look like fine jewelry.

 

[MollyMalone]

When I don't want to spend bigger bucks, Stuller is my go-to for new, eBay for second-hand.
Like Kelli,
https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/stackers-are-done.198246/
I have several stones set in the rope solitaire mountings from Stuller: available in a number of metals, ranging from silver, 10K gold alloys up through 18K golds and platinum; offered with heads for quite a few different shapes and sizes of stones (an especially nice range of sizes for round stones):
https://www.stuller.com/products/build/71626/9766792/?groupId=119547#/mounting-options

Here are some classic, solitaire mountings from Stuller
https://www.stuller.com/products/build/122969/12582859/?groupId=194062#/mounting-options
https://www.stuller.com/products/build/122089/10315469/?groupId=120319#/mounting-options
https://www.stuller.com/products/build/122047/5267925/?groupId=117213#/mounting-options

And Stuller #122004
https://www.stuller.com/products/build/122004/3637696/?groupId=113775#/mounting-options
has been an understandably popular choice here on PS. E.g.,
https://www.pricescope.com/communit...an-antique-finger-warmer.187205/#post-3416807

We consumers cannot order from Stuller directly; Stuller is wholesale only. But just about every local store should be able to place a Stuller order for you. Stuller does have a Locale a Jeweler search feature on its web site
https://www.stuller.com/locateajeweler/
but I think jewelers pay to be listed in that database because I know of some places that will handle Stuller orders (and will set your stone), but their names aren't among the Locate a Jeweler search results.

And hopefully, your local jewelry stores will have Stuller's paper catalogues at hand. It's much easier and quicker to flip through Stuller catalogues than to navigate around their huge and rather cumbersome web site. The prices you'll see in the paper catalogs are the suggested retail price, which is several times higher than the cost to the jeweler. So it pays to shop around, if you can, because some jewelers will charge you the full "sticker price," whereas others will charge you appreciably less.

Developing connection with a local jeweler with an experienced "bench" person you can talk to is invaluable, whether you're looking to buy a new, standard setting (Stuller also offers customizing service but, no surprise, that bumps the price up) or a second-hand setting. Colored gems are often not "stock sizes"; frequently are cut deeper -- and/or wonkier -- than diamonds of the same face-up size. A savvy and good bench can advise you if they can make the setting you're eyeballing (or have already purchased) "work" with your stone, and if not, what the charge would be to make the necessary modification(s).

HAVE FUN

 

[wordie89]

All but one of my colored stones are set in pre loved semi mounts from local jewelers and one from LT. the latter is my lovely Afghan toumaline. Even though I measured asscher l x W I neglected depth so I had to have a new head. The $270 setting cost another $105 for properly sized head. I love how it turned out and now I know you need ALL measurements Enjoy the hunt!

 

[hobbitfancier55]

Beautful stone!

I often look for preloved settings....either LT, DB or my jeweler's scrap pile.

Good idea!

 

[hobbitfancier55]

I recently ordered a 14k gold pendant setting from pmlinx on Ebay. Don't do this much, but did feel it was decent.

Thanks for the suggestion. I'll give them a look.

 

[hobbitfancier55]

FYI- There is a pendant setting on LT that should fit your stone and the listing states the vendor will set the stone.

I did see that one and was wondering about it.

 

[hobbitfancier55]

When I don't want to spend bigger bucks, Stuller is my go-to for new, eBay for second-hand.
Like Kelli,
https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/stackers-are-done.198246/
I have several stones set in the rope solitaire mountings from Stuller: available in a number of metals, ranging from silver, 10K gold alloys up through 18K golds and platinum; offered with heads for quite a few different shapes and sizes of stones (an especially nice range of sizes for round stones):
https://www.stuller.com/products/build/71626/9766792/?groupId=119547#/mounting-options

Here are some classic, solitaire mountings from Stuller
https://www.stuller.com/products/build/122969/12582859/?groupId=194062#/mounting-options
https://www.stuller.com/products/build/122089/10315469/?groupId=120319#/mounting-options
https://www.stuller.com/products/build/122047/5267925/?groupId=117213#/mounting-options

And Stuller #122004
https://www.stuller.com/products/build/122004/3637696/?groupId=113775#/mounting-options
has been an understandably popular choice here on PS. E.g.,
https://www.pricescope.com/communit...an-antique-finger-warmer.187205/#post-3416807

We consumers cannot order from Stuller directly; Stuller is wholesale only. But just about every local store should be able to place a Stuller order for you. Stuller does have a Locale a Jeweler search feature on its web site
https://www.stuller.com/locateajeweler/
but I think jewelers pay to be listed in that database because I know of some places that will handle Stuller orders (and will set your stone), but their names aren't among the Locate a Jeweler search results.

And hopefully, your local jewelry stores will have Stuller's paper catalogues at hand. It's much easier and quicker to flip through Stuller catalogues than to navigate around their huge and rather cumbersome web site. The prices you'll see in the paper catalogs are the suggested retail price, which is several times higher than the cost to the jeweler. So it pays to shop around, if you can, because some jewelers will charge you the full "sticker price," whereas others will charge you appreciably less.

Developing connection with a local jeweler with an experienced "bench" person you can talk to is invaluable, whether you're looking to buy a new, standard setting (Stuller also offers customizing service but, no surprise, that bumps the price up) or a second-hand setting. Colored gems are often not "stock sizes"; frequently are cut deeper -- and/or wonkier -- than diamonds of the same face-up size. A savvy and good bench can advise you if they can make the setting you're eyeballing (or have already purchased) "work" with your stone, and if not, what the charge would be to make the necessary modification(s).

HAVE FUN

Thank you That is A LOT of helpful info to look into.

 

[hobbitfancier55]

All but one of my colored stones are set in pre loved semi mounts from local jewelers and one from LT. the latter is my lovely Afghan toumaline. Even though I measured asscher l x W I neglected depth so I had to have a new head. The $270 setting cost another $105 for properly sized head. I love how it turned out and now I know you need ALL measurements Enjoy the hunt!

LOVE those I definitely may look at some local jewelers.

 

[tand*m]

Silver settings are an option if you can find a jeweler to set it. .

If a jeweler does say they can reset stones in silver, what other kind of questions should you be asking? Will they be offended if you ask to see examples of some of their work?

I want to be polite and not pushy, but also want to make sure I'm not overlooking something totally elementary.

My cousin has offered a few old platinum-plated silver settings that would fit me, some with melee, so I thought I'd bring them in with some colored stones as a trial run for working with a local jeweler. But seeing as others have been quoted $200-300 as a setting fee alone, and a quote I got online was the same for the ring plus setting fee, I'm wondering if it's even worth going down the path of "supply your own stone and setting". I understand jewelers need to have margin somewhere, so if not on the ring, then it's the setting fee. But that just seems fairly steep to me. Advice?

 

[lilmosun]

From my experience, $200-$300 to set a stone does not sound right unless the piece needs to be reworked significantly for the stone to fit. I usually pay $10-$20 to set a stone in a gold setting if the prongs do not need work. I would expect a typical retail jeweler might charge more, especially if you are not a regular customer, but not 10x.

 

[tand*m]

That helps a lot, thank you!