Where to buy loose sidestones?

[nellen]

Are there any online vendors that sell loose sidestones in various cuts? I tried searching the forum but did not find any information about online vendors willing to sell just loose sidestones to a customer. I''m searching for, for example, baquettes, very small emerald, marquise and triangular stones, maybe even shields.

 

[stone-cold11]

Easiest just to get the jeweler you are getting the setting from to source for you.

 

[Lorelei]

Hi Nellen

By far the best way is to get the vendor you are working with to find some for you assuming these are for a ring you are having made, they have various contacts that can supply these types of stones on request. If you want them to work with yourself for a project then I would suggest contacting some of the vendors and asking them if they would supply you with some loose stones.

 

[nellen]

Thanks for the tips and help, Stone-cold11 and Lorelei. I''m indeed having a ring made but I was wondering if I could get the sidestones in a more affordable price from the internet than directly from the jeweler. Also, I don''t know if the jeweler can source the more unique sidestones at all. Well, if the jeweler can''t source the sidestones I like, I''ll ask from some of the online vendors if they can source me the stones.

 

[stone-cold11]

Good luck.

 

[denverappraiser]

With most designs, the labor to build the piece is more costly than the stones themselves and picking the right stones is a significant part of the job, especially with baguettes. You’re likely to find that supplying your own stones won’t save you any money and may actually increase the cost and it opens up the problem of fingerpointing if something goes badly. “Sorry it looks funny, that’s because the stones don’t fit properly and this is the best I can do.” This loses all it’s teeth if the jeweler supplied the stones as well as set them.

In answer to your question though, pawn shops and the like often have a stash of small diamonds that they’ve recovered from salvage pieces that they’ll be willing to sell cheaply.

Neil Beaty
GG(GIA) ICGA(AGS) NAJA
Professional Appraisals in Denver

 

[ct-appr]

I agree with Neil. Additionally, nice melee enhances the beauty of the jewelry without adding a huge cost. If you use poorly or mismatched stones it will really detract from the overall beauty.

 

[serenitydiamonds]

Date: 10/20/2009 6:03:14 PM
Author: ct-appr
I agree with Neil. Additionally, nice melee enhances the beauty of the jewelry without adding a huge cost. If you use poorly or mismatched stones it will really detract from the overall beauty.

I agree too your jeweler will probably be the best source of something that will match and fit properly. They should be an expert at picking the exact stones that will work. Also agreeing with Neil, the labor cost of melee is significantly higher than the melee.

--Joshua

 

[cmaha33]

Hi. Jason at www.original-diamonds.com went above and beyond trying to find a pair of matching sidestones for me. The stones I wanted (and Jason eventually located) were practically non-existent: 0.35 carat, pear brilliants, D, IF, med-thick girdle, no fluorescence, 1.49 ratio, with GIA certs/laser inscriptions. It took him a few weeks, and I did pay a premium for those stones, but he was able to find those particular diamonds when other dealers said they wouldn''t be able to.