Why Would a Platinum Solitaire Setting Price Vary so Much?

[moe]

I'm interested in a platinum solitaire setting. I've been seeing the price vary from between $300 - $2000 for what looks to be identical settings. I realize thickness is a factor, but what else should I be paying attention to when looking at these settings?

Many Thanks!

 

[Asscherhalo_lover]

Re: Why Would a Platinum Solitaire Setting Price Vary so Muc

The weight of the setting of course as you mentioned but the main cost is the method of manufacture. There are cheaply made low quality cast settings with minimal finishing and polishing all the way to completely hand forged settings crafted from extruded platinum wire and completely hand polished.

 

[WinkHPD]

Re: Why Would a Platinum Solitaire Setting Price Vary so Muc

The weight of the setting of course as you mentioned but the main cost is the method of manufacture. There are cheaply made low quality cast settings with minimal finishing and polishing all the way to completely hand forged settings crafted from extruded platinum wire and completely hand polished.

Well said.

I would suggest skipping any consideration of the $300 platinum mounting. It will be very lightweight at that price and will not likely last very long

Wink

 

[denverappraiser]

Re: Why Would a Platinum Solitaire Setting Price Vary so Muc

Platinum costs about $1200/oz. right now. That's about $35/gram. A typical sort of solitaire setting is in the range of 3-6 grams so your metal cost is somewhere between $100 - $200. The rest has to do with craftsmanship, branding, distribution, labor and similar things. That is to say, metal cost is usually NOT the biggest portion of your deal. All of those other things vary wildly, and the cheapest craftsman is usually not the best. Price is not, by itself, a particularly good metric for quality but it's a good sign that the seller is trying to 'add value'. Ask. What makes theirs better than their competitors? It's the same reason that some restaurants cost more than others for superficially similar things. I'm reminded of a jeweler friend who explained that he'll start selling his work by the gram as soon as people start selling race horses by the pound.