What type of metal is everyone setting their gems in?

[MoonWater]

I prefer silver colored metal most of the time and was planning to create a bunch of rings and pendants for myself over the course of a few years (er the rest of my life). But I don''t want to spend tons of money on platinum for gems that aren''t that expensive, and I''m a bit leary of white gold because it turns yellow quickly on me (and it can be costly). I kept thinking maybe silver was an option but didn''t see much covered here on PS. Then I started to think it would be too soft and my gem would fall out....

So what metal have you all been using and why did you decide on it?

Thanks!

 

[LaurenThePartier]

I''ve just been setting them in white gold.

I know loads of people use silver for their less expensive gemstones.

 

[Lady_Disdain]

I routinely set less expensive stones in silver. As you said, it doesn''t turn yellow and it is quite inexpensive (which means more money for stones!). I have never had a stone fall out of a silver setting but I do get mine made at by a good bench jeweler and take good care of them.

 

[Kismet]

I''ve set mine in yellow gold, white gold and platinum and so far only my demantoid was more expensive than the setting. The biggest discrepancy was my zircon which cost me around $100 and it''s setting cost around $800. Most of my other settings cost 2-3 times what the gem cost. These were all custom settings and not stock settings so I''m not sure how the price difference would settle out there.

 

[laurel25]

Most of my stuff is set in yellow gold because that''s what I wear the most often, but for my e-ring I''m going to use either white gold or palladium because I think that sapphires look best in white metals.

Palladium might be a good option for you - it wears like platinum, but has the weight and cost of white gold. So you wouldn''t have to deal with the yellowing, but it would be stronger that silver and wouldn''t tarnish.

 

[MoonWater]

Thanks for the info everyone. I guess the key now is to find a good bench jeweler! I would love to use WF for every thing but I don''t think they work in other metals besides gold and platinum. Not to mention I''d be shipping back and forth constantly.

 

[E B]

Date: 9/24/2008 1:22:18 PM
Author: MoonWater
Thanks for the info everyone. I guess the key now is to find a good bench jeweler! I would love to use WF for every thing but I don''t think they work in other metals besides gold and platinum. Not to mention I''d be shipping back and forth constantly.

Moon,

WF is making me a band in palladium as I type! I found it to be a great alternative to platinum, and it only costs a bit more than WG (or a bit less, depending on the vendor).

 

[MoonWater]

Hmm....innarestin''

Thanks for the info EBree!!