My DIY project success and failure

[voce]

Since I heard how @peacechick set her own stones in prenotched silver settings, I've wanted to try it myself. I wasn't able to set the pink tourmaline roval for my future MIL myself, because the basket was deep and I didn't have the tools to hold the gem when setting it, so I had a local jweeler set it.

I did see a unique "butterfly" 3-stone setting when I was buying the setting for my MIL's gift, and it turned out that the 5mm blue-green tourmaline I bought from @Rare gem lover fit perfectly into the center prongs. I then needed 3mm side stones, so I bought some 3mm fire opals from Yvonne Raley. These were harder to set due to the smaller size.



I then tried my hand at setting 5 2mm Merelani mint garnets into this silver v-shaped setting, and learned my limitations.

At such a small size I couldn't tell if it was that either the melee stones or the prongs weren't exactly calibrated to 2mm, or if I just couldn't line them up properly so that the gem would fit inside the notches. After 10 minutes of trying to set the center gem, I just gave up.

 

[natasha-cupcake]

I give you huge credit for trying! I want to learn how to set stones. I'm planning on signing up for a class, but I'm just too busy right now. I'm too afraid to try on my own. I love the one that worked, by the way. Great job!

 

[Mrs_Strizzle]

Congrats on your success, I love the color combo! I too have attempted with mixed results. The one I wear most is my 12 ct heliodore i set myself in a sterling pendant. The smaller earrings I attempted were more frustrating and I gave up.

 

[Shijitake]

Nice. Too bad about the other ring. Certainly not a fail though

 

[bludiva]

congrats, love the color combo!

 

[ShinyPink]

That ring is fun and I love the color combo!

 

[stracci2000]

Pre -notched settings are OK, but the problem is that a lot of gems are too deep, or the girdles are too thick. They just won't fit, no matter what you do.
If your stone happens to fit OK, you need very small needle nosed pliers and some needle files to modify the settings to fit your stone.
It just takes some practice. Good luck!

 

[Rare gem lover]

Since I heard how @peacechick set her own stones in prenotched silver settings, I've wanted to try it myself. I wasn't able to set the pink tourmaline roval for my future MIL myself, because the basket was deep and I didn't have the tools to hold the gem when setting it, so I had a local jweeler set it.

I did see a unique "butterfly" 3-stone setting when I was buying the setting for my MIL's gift, and it turned out that the 5mm blue-green tourmaline I bought from @Rare gem lover fit perfectly into the center prongs. I then needed 3mm side stones, so I bought some 3mm fire opals from Yvonne Raley. These were harder to set due to the smaller size.



I then tried my hand at setting 5 2mm Merelani mint garnets into this silver v-shaped setting, and learned my limitations.

At such a small size I couldn't tell if it was that either the melee stones or the prongs weren't exactly calibrated to 2mm, or if I just couldn't line them up properly so that the gem would fit inside the notches. After 10 minutes of trying to set the center gem, I just gave up.

I’d call this a great success !! Did you have many mint garnets to try it? When I ask, my jeweller says that some will fit some will break, so helps having at least fifty percent more than what you have.

 

[peacechick]

I love this ring you made and the color combination! It’s not something you can just buy off Etsy! Yep, I stay away from tiny stones. Smaller than 5 mm is too small for me, and I have also failed with an apatite that had a fat girdle and didn’t fit into the basket. It’s so satisfying when it works though! I just set a yellow tourmaline and love it.

 

[voce]

So, for the 2mm ring I suspect it's the quality of the prongs that are at fault. I finally snapped in a 2mm purple garnet, into one of the side "sockets", but it looked so lopsided, and that's when I realize that the outer prongs are shorter than the inner prongs. The mint garnets did have a slightly thicker girdle than the purple garnets, but neither were what I would call a thick girdle.