Cost to Mount Diamonds

[starbrite]

I know a lot of you have first hand experience with my question. With previous custom work that I've had done, the cost of mounting stones was always included in the price of custom setting. It was not an extra charge. Obviously, that is not true of all jewelers. My question is what is a fair price in 2020 for having diamonds mounted in a custom setting done by the same jeweler who made the setting? I know the exact price will vary depending on who is doing the work. But what is a general ball park estimate you've experienced with your own custom designed work?

 

[Bron357]

Hmmm, I would have thought that when commissioning a custom piece the quotation was “all inclusive” ie covering the Design and manufacture of the setting, the gemstones and the setting of the gemstones.
I’ve paid to have gemstones set when I’ve provided both the setting and the gemstone. I’ve paid between $35 and $200 per gemstone depending if the claws need work too.
When I have provided a setting and the jeweller has sourced the gemstone and set it for me as well I’ve been given a “total cost” price.

 

[MamaBee]

I‘ve had two separate jewelers make quite a few settings for me. The diamond setting was always included in the price.

 

[Crazie4Cuts]

I had both a custom setting ring done by one jeweler and also purchased a preloved semi-mount that another jeweler set my gemstone (neither stones were a diamond.). The custom setting included the cost of setting my gemstone and the other was a fee of $150. But where I live has a very high cost of living, so if you live elsewhere may be different/lower. It was more important to have a really good jeweler to set my stones and familiar/experienced in handling my gems.
-C4C

 

[caf]

Hmmm, I would have thought that when commissioning a custom piece the quotation was “all inclusive” ie covering the Design and manufacture of the setting, the gemstones and the setting of the gemstones.
I’ve paid to have gemstones set when I’ve provided both the setting and the gemstone. I’ve paid between $35 and $200 per gemstone depending if the claws need work too.
When I have provided a setting and the jeweller has sourced the gemstone and set it for me as well I’ve been given a “total cost” price.

^ This. My bench in Denver has never been more than $100. Normally $30-60. And he polishes and cleans the setting when setting a stone. I’ve never had a problem with any stone he’s set. Oh and custom design rings always included the setting of the stone.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I have never heard of a custom setting not including setting the center stone! Did you know this at the outset?

 

[Gussie]

What is the total cost of the ring including stones, casting, and setting? I haven't heard of setting being a separate charge. Who would ever commission a custom casting without setting the stones? Maybe she is breaking down the cost of the entire ring? That's still a bit strange though.

I know that you feel obligated to this jeweler but it just seems this has been way too hard. David just made another ring like mine that I showed you in the previous thread. With just a few changes, it could have all the design elements you want. His prices are very competitive as well. I really urge you to move on.

 

[LIGemzGal]

I've posted on another thread that Im having my e-ring remade. The person who is making the ring for me is only setting the melee stones, which I've also purchased myself and shipped to them to set. Once complete they'll then ship that setting back to me and I'll have the larger stones set here in NY. The setter that I'm using in NY is charging me $150 to set the 3 larger stones. That may not be the traditional way that most people do it and it may not make sense to others, but for me and my peace of mind Im doing it that way. I think you have to do what you think best.

 

[MillieLou]

Is it like a sort of "corkage charge" because you are bringing in your own stones, so they are charging extra to cover for risk during setting or (being less generous) because they won't get the mark-up on the diamonds they were going to supply you?

Either way, it's really weird and not at all normal practice. The quote should be all inclusive. It would make more sense to give you a price for the piece with diamonds they source, and a price for making the ring with customer-supplied stones.

 

[oldminer]

Maybe you meant to ask what a custom made ring mounting ranged in price from high to low? Instead, it looks like folks are thinking what a jeweler would charge to set a diamond into an existing ring or if there was a fee for setting a diamond into a custom, made for you, mounting. Most mountings made for you will include the setting fee in their price. If you order a regular production ring mounting from a catalog or from a jewelers ready made inventory, then the setting fee will be the normal charge a jeweler makes for that sort of limited work.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Okay, I had to look back at your other thread. If you are not buying the 5 stones from her, then maybe that is why she is charging a setting fee. But I have provided the main stones for basically all my custom projects and there has been no extra setting fee. There is one charge total.

What is she charging for the setting, shank stones, and setting the 5 stones in the bezels? And are you providing the 5 bezel diamonds?

 

[starbrite]

Maybe you meant to ask what a custom made ring mounting ranged in price from high to low? Instead, it looks like folks are thinking what a jeweler would charge to set a diamond into an existing ring or if there was a fee for setting a diamond into a custom, made for you, mounting. Most mountings made for you will include the setting fee in their price. If you order a regular production ring mounting from a catalog or from a jewelers ready made inventory, then the setting fee will be the normal charge a jeweler makes for that sort of limited work.

I was asking about being charged an additional x-$ EXTRA to mount the stones by the same jeweler; on top of her x-dollars quote to make a custom setting that she has designed.

This same jeweler would also be supplying the stones. All work would be done "in house" with nothing being sent out.

The stones (that the jeweler charging the mounting fee for her custom setting) are of course an additional cost beyond the setting and the quoted “additional” cost to mount those stones. That is expected, but the mounting fee was not.

I am wondering if it's normal for a jeweler - taking a custom designed ring from start to finish - should be charging extra to mount stones they sourced in a custom setting they made. And if so, what an estimate of that charge might be.

In the past, the only times that I’ve paid for labor on setting a stone was during “repair” work; not on a custom project. Not even when I had a custom setting made for stones sourced elsewhere…

Another option would be getting the stones from another source and having the individual making the custom setting mount them. Would the cost of mounting stones, sourced elsewhere, be extra on top of having a custom setting made by the jeweler designing & then making a custom mounting? If so, what would a guesstimate in general cost be?

 

[starbrite]

Okay, I had to look back at your other thread. If you are not buying the 5 stones from her, then maybe that is why she is charging a setting fee. But I have provided the main stones for basically all my custom projects and there has been no extra setting fee. There is one charge total.

What is she charging for the setting, shank stones, and setting the 5 stones in the bezels? And are you providing the 5 bezel diamonds?

The proposal is that the jeweler, making the custom setting, would also be supplying all the diamonds. She said that - since her business specializes in diamonds - she doesn't normally work with stones sourced elsewhere... So that possibility hasn't been discussed.

 

[MillieLou]

I guess she just wants to break it down in that way, maybe to be transparent about how she costs a project. While unusual, it doesn't really matter - the bottom line is the total cost. Eg she may charge x for making the setting and y for mounting, but if that's in line with the x+y total cost quoted upfront by another jeweller, it's the same thing.

Yes, it would usually cost more for a jeweller to set stones bought elsewhere for the reasons in my post above (risk and loss of one source of profit), but only she could tell you how much more.

 

[lissyflo]

I guess she just wants to break it down in that way, maybe to be transparent about how she costs a project. While unusual, it doesn't really matter - the bottom line is the total cost. Eg she may charge x for making the setting and y for mounting, but if that's in line with the x+y total cost quoted upfront by another jeweller, it's the same thing.

Yes, it would usually cost more for a jeweller to set stones bought elsewhere for the reasons in my post above (risk and loss of one source of profit), but only she could tell you how much more.

I agree with this - it’s the overall cost comparing like with like that matters.

I’d just add though that having lots of mini quotes within the quote could increase the risk of unexpected add-ons as you near the end of the project. One quote going from the start to having the ring on your finger clearly encompasses everything. If your jeweller is already adding on ‘extras’ for tasks that are fundamental parts of the job you’ve asked them to do (as you say the jeweller is sourcing the stones and creating the setting), be careful that you don’t get landed with further unexpected bills for tasks towards the end of the process too. On the basis of your experience so far, maybe they’ll add on extra for polishing or finishing the prongs?! I think it potentially sets a bad precedent for you and blurs clarity right from the start.

 

[Rfisher]

@starbrite
Would you be willing to indulge us by stating what the quote is for everything but the 5 diamonds?

I agree with millielou. You had no quote at all until now. It doesn’t really matter if the quote is all encompassing or broken down ? The total is what really matters?

And yes - lissyflo makes a point about future addons. That’s not unheard of either..... Ask if there’s anything that’s NOT included in the quote.

 

[Karl_K]

If I'm understanding this correctly....

That is nuts spelling out setting fees on a ring they make and supply the diamonds.
They charge for it sure enough but its rolled into the job total not a line item.
That is just weird.
The bottom line number would be the same either way but spelling it out as a separate fee makes one look bad and leads to needless questions.
Nuts...

 

[Kh0117]

If I'm understanding this correctly....

That is nuts spelling out setting fees on a ring they make and supply the diamonds.
They charge for it sure enough but its rolled into the job total not a line item.
That is just weird.
The bottom line number would be the same either way but spelling it out as a separate fee makes one look bad and leads to needless questions.
Nuts...

It takes the literal meaning of nickel and diming.

I’ve asked for quotes on a setting where I provide the stones and was always given an all inclusive price.

 

[stonehunter20]

the price should include both labor and material. if not, the jeweler should make it very clear upfront to set expectations right. at the end of day it's really up to you if you think it's a good value or not, regardless of paying both together or separately.

 

[Karl_K]

It takes the literal meaning of nickel and diming.

I’ve asked for quotes on a setting where I provide the stones and was always given an all inclusive price.

I gives that look but not necessarily.
The price is probably the same either way because the # of stones set if a factor in the price its just not usually displayed like that.
Line items go something like this:
CAD charge per hour or fixed depending on policy.
Wax charge cnc/printed fixed charge otherwise per hour.
Wax cleanup (if it is a printed\cnc wax) per hour
material cost for cast weight
casting charge
finishing charge per hour
Stone(s) cost... usually the main stone is priced seperate.
Stone setting charges, likely some different categories with different prices x the number of stones.
final finish per hour
inspection
box charge.
profit
sales commission(optional depending on how they pay sales people)
..............
customer just given total

Like I said its just nuts to do it any other way than one total price.