OEC melee

[Watermeloncrawl]

Where can one source OEC melee? I want to have a ring made by my local jeweler, but wanted to include OECs.

Thanks for any help you all can provide!

 

[Mjay]

Where can one source OEC melee? I want to have a ring made by my local jeweler, but wanted to include OECs.

Thanks for any help you all can provide!

I don’t want to come across as condescending but your jeweler should be able to source OEC melee for you. You shouldn’t have to be asking this question.

 

[mustangchi]

Where can one source OEC melee? I want to have a ring made by my local jeweler, but wanted to include OECs.

Thanks for any help you all can provide!

If your jeweler can't source them I would try Ivy and Rose or Old World Diamonds, others may have better suggestions

 

[lulu_ma]

I don’t want to come across as condescending but your jeweler should be able to source OEC melee for you. You shouldn’t have to be asking this question.

Umm…you’d be surprised. I recently had a discussion with a service manager of a three chain New England jewelry store. She said that when clients come in to repair their antique pieces they have a hard time sourcing old cut melee for the repairs. This jewelry store sells both new and estate jewelry.

 

[Rfisher]

My local jewelers have a small smattering and that’s what they are there for. For repairs onesey twosey.
I asked a few of them in the late 90’s to find me a stone /a suite of stones and no one wanted to take that on, nor just sell me any of their ‘for repair’ stock. I understand that.
These days that might differ, and I’m sure it also depends on your locale.

You can trawl eBay / Etsy / various auction sites - but it’s pretty buyer beware. Try to find nice looking stones loose or in a piece that can be repurposed without feeling too guilty about it. It’s a gamble sometimes - plenty of unknowns. Leftovers. Hidden damage. Take into account all you have invested in the piece for the ones you want - plus additional labor to dismount. A bunch of tiny melee may not net you any farther ahead, if cost effectiveness is your goal.

Stores like Ivy&Rose, JewelsByGrace, OWD, might have (and have had) existing listings of suites. I think I’ve seen Diamonds by Lauren list suites in the past too?. And possibly will source for you. This is a service you pay for-for ease of mind with easy returns, and their vetting/creating of the suite.

CVB, DK, will source for you. There is multiple types. Newly boutique cut. Newly of a more generic cut (IMO). Antique Refurbished. Antique non refurbished…they are at different pricing levels on top of pricing to their basic stats…
It’s been a while - so I can’t speak to the current availability of those types from those two jewelers.
- but you are looking for melee to take to your jeweler. I don’t know if they’ll source for outright sale.

Ivy and rose periodically lists suites. Both new cut and genuine antiques. When they appear - I think it’s a great point of reference in their make/stats and price per carat of what I’m looking for in comparison melee to possibly dismantle an antique piece for.

Food for thought.
Setting OEC melee might be a bit too different to setting modern cut melee if your local jeweler’s bench isn’t experienced with it. Or if it takes the bench longer /more expertise labor skill and the job order’s quote to you doesn’t cover that aspect……I’d be wary of the resulting outcome.

 

[Mrsz1ppy]

My local jewelers have a small smattering and that’s what they are there for. For repairs onesey twosey.
I asked a few of them in the late 90’s to find me a stone /a suite of stones and no one wanted to take that on, nor just sell me any of their ‘for repair’ stock. I understand that.
These days that might differ, and I’m sure it also depends on your locale.

You can trawl eBay / Etsy / various auction sites - but it’s pretty buyer beware. Try to find nice looking stones loose or in a piece that can be repurposed without feeling too guilty about it. It’s a gamble sometimes - plenty of unknowns. Leftovers. Hidden damage. Take into account all you have invested in the piece for the ones you want - plus additional labor to dismount. A bunch of tiny melee may not net you any farther ahead, if cost effectiveness is your goal.

Stores like Ivy&Rose, JewelsByGrace, OWD, might have (and have had) existing listings of suites. I think I’ve seen Diamonds by Lauren list suites in the past too?. And possibly will source for you. This is a service you pay for-for ease of mind with easy returns, and their vetting/creating of the suite.

CVB, DK, will source for you. There is multiple types. Newly boutique cut. Newly of a more generic cut (IMO). Antique Refurbished. Antique non refurbished…they are at different pricing levels on top of pricing to their basic stats…
It’s been a while - so I can’t speak to the current availability of those types from those two jewelers.
- but you are looking for melee to take to your jeweler. I don’t know if they’ll source for outright sale.

Ivy and rose periodically lists suites. Both new cut and genuine antiques. When they appear - I think it’s a great point of reference in their make/stats and price per carat of what I’m looking for in comparison melee to possibly dismantle an antique piece for.

Food for thought.
Setting OEC melee might be a bit too different to setting modern cut melee if your local jeweler’s bench isn’t experienced with it. Or if it takes the bench longer /more expertise labor skill and the job order’s quote to you doesn’t cover that aspect……I’d be wary of the resulting outcome.

This is a very thorough and thoughtful reply. Thank you for sharing your experience. I am a risk taker and enjoy the hunt, so I watch for and buy oec mountings or loose stones when they come up on eBay, TRR etc. DK is currently making an OEC bracelet for me out of a collection of 11 stones.

 

[Mjay]

Umm…you’d be surprised. I recently had a discussion with a service manager of a three chain New England jewelry store. She said that when clients come in to repair their antique pieces they have a hard time sourcing old cut melee for the repairs. This jewelry store sells both new and estate jewelry.

Makes since. I suppose I was just assuming newly cut OEC melee.

 

[Watermeloncrawl]

My local jewelers have a small smattering and that’s what they are there for. For repairs onesey twosey.
I asked a few of them in the late 90’s to find me a stone /a suite of stones and no one wanted to take that on, nor just sell me any of their ‘for repair’ stock. I understand that.
These days that might differ, and I’m sure it also depends on your locale.

You can trawl eBay / Etsy / various auction sites - but it’s pretty buyer beware. Try to find nice looking stones loose or in a piece that can be repurposed without feeling too guilty about it. It’s a gamble sometimes - plenty of unknowns. Leftovers. Hidden damage. Take into account all you have invested in the piece for the ones you want - plus additional labor to dismount. A bunch of tiny melee may not net you any farther ahead, if cost effectiveness is your goal.

Stores like Ivy&Rose, JewelsByGrace, OWD, might have (and have had) existing listings of suites. I think I’ve seen Diamonds by Lauren list suites in the past too?. And possibly will source for you. This is a service you pay for-for ease of mind with easy returns, and their vetting/creating of the suite.

CVB, DK, will source for you. There is multiple types. Newly boutique cut. Newly of a more generic cut (IMO). Antique Refurbished. Antique non refurbished…they are at different pricing levels on top of pricing to their basic stats…
It’s been a while - so I can’t speak to the current availability of those types from those two jewelers.
- but you are looking for melee to take to your jeweler. I don’t know if they’ll source for outright sale.

Ivy and rose periodically lists suites. Both new cut and genuine antiques. When they appear - I think it’s a great point of reference in their make/stats and price per carat of what I’m looking for in comparison melee to possibly dismantle an antique piece for.

Food for thought.
Setting OEC melee might be a bit too different to setting modern cut melee if your local jeweler’s bench isn’t experienced with it. Or if it takes the bench longer /more expertise labor skill and the job order’s quote to you doesn’t cover that aspect……I’d be wary of the resulting outcome.

Thank you for this detailed reply! It was really helpful. I had spoken to my jeweler and they said it would be harder to get OECs. I decided to reach out to DK and I’m working with him now. Super excited!