Stone to Setting cost ratio

[royalstarrynight]

What is the lowest stone to setting cost ratio you all would be comfortable with?

I've noticed a trend of people setting stones with silver for cheaper stones but sometimes people blinging cheaper stones with tons of fun settings.

What's your ratio in terms of percentage?

I'm wondering if it's silly to 200% more for the setting than the stone itself or is this mostly based on aesthetics.

 

[cm366]

Hey rsn,

One of the most gorgeous rings I've ever seen featured a breathtaking ~10ct amethyst set in platinum with diamond side stones. The stone was absolutely amazing, the finest colored amethyst I've ever seen in person, but it wouldn't have cost 1/40th of the setting for materials alone, let alone the design and retailer's premium. Meanwhile, there are posters here with $10,000 stones in $300 settings, because they care deeply about the stone itself and not very much about its holder. It's all a matter of taste....

Me, I don't wear most of my collection, so it's not very personally relevant, but my lovely wife's jewelry is generally around 1:1, maybe 2:1 stone vs setting. If she's bought it for herself, the setting's likely to be worth more than the stone. If I've bought it, the other way around. And now that I've typed that out, I realize that I might be doing it wrong.

HIH!

 

[chrono]

There's no right or wrong answer to your question. For some, it is about the entire package so they spend more on the setting. For others, they don't want to pay more for a piece of metal placeholder. And then there's another sub-group that VL mentioned - sometimes the stone is beautiful but not expensive, leaving the owner not much choice, getting a setting more expensive that the stone.

For me, it is a package deal. I am particular about the design and workmanship but at the same time, cost conscious so I cannot spend more on the setting than the stone.

 

[royalstarrynight]

I'm not asking for what's right or wrong but merely trends of what people look for. So many fun designs and so many pretty stones.

So hard to choose!!

 

[chrono]

Most of my settings cost a fraction of the stone's price but some stones are still priced very low to the point there's no way the setting can possibly cost less than the stone. A good example is my chrysoberyl; tt's big and well coloured yet only $600. I don't see how I can go custom for less than $600 with metal prices today. This is also why I have quite a few unset fun stones. They are very pretty but I cannot justify spending $$$ on stones that cost under $500 until metal prices drop significantly. While I love silver, it's just not right for me as a ring setting.

 

[Kismet]

It's really going to depend on how much you pay for the stones. Most of my stones cost way less than the setting. Only my demantoid cost more than the Leon setting.

 

[JewelFreak]

For me it depends on how much I love the stone. I have a coppery/peach tourmaline cushion that is incredibly glowy -- put it in the dark & it lights your way. I snagged a bargain & a half, paid about $300 IIRC. It makes me breathe hard, so I 'm willing to put it in an expensive setting. The spinel in my avatar was definitely not cheap & I also love it to pieces; the setting cost the same as the spinel did. I have others that are lovely -- tourms, chrysos, blue zircons, that I'll set more economically.

Like Chrono, I love silver but it isn't for me in jewelry & with gold prices as high as they are, I can't see doing much at all in the near future. So I keep accumulating stones!

 

[minousbijoux]

It really depends on a bunch of different factors. I admittedly have not set nearly as many stones as others here have. But for me, its how much I love the stone, what the stone needs in terms of shape, protection, letting light in, finger coverage or fit, and how blingy I want to be or how well-suited the stone is to surrounding detail and pave. It also depends on the quality and cost of the stone. My most expensive setting (I believe anyway) is platinum with pave and holds a very expensive, very large sapphire. Due to the high cost of the sapphire, I would say that its somewhere around 4:1, maybe? I have others where the settings are $1,000+, and sometimes the stone is less expensive and sometimes its more. Finally, I have one LOGR setting where even though it was inexpensive as settings go, it cost more than the stone with which I set it.

 

[FrekeChild]

I am all over the map. I don't have really expensive stones like some who have posted, but I'll set anything in silver ($550 stone, $60 setting). I have a couple really cheap stones in really expensive settings ($100 stone, $2,500 setting). It just depends on what catches my eye and works with the stone the best.

Unfortunately I seem to have developed a growing fascination with platinum. I sense fewer setting projects in my future...

 

[minousbijoux]

I am all over the map. I don't have really expensive stones like some who have posted, but I'll set anything in silver ($550 stone, $60 setting). I have a couple really cheap stones in really expensive settings ($100 stone, $2,500 setting). It just depends on what catches my eye and works with the stone the best.

Unfortunately I seem to have developed a growing fascination with platinum. I sense fewer setting projects in my future...

Sorry about the platinum fascination, but at the rate of gold these days, won't it soon be cheaper than gold?

Also, are we in the birthday window yet? Notice how I include myself in that like I'm invited?!! Is she a Thanksgiving baby this year?

 

[Fly Girl]

I would not hesitate to put a $20,000 diamond into a $500 solitaire setting. There it is all about the stone, and I just need something to secure it to my finger.

I love gorgeous jasper and quartz, but I really hesitate to put a $75 stone into a $4,000 designer setting. But, in the right setting, the result can be stunning. See these examples from T Lee.

 

[jstarfireb]

I am all over the map. I don't have really expensive stones like some who have posted, but I'll set anything in silver ($550 stone, $60 setting). I have a couple really cheap stones in really expensive settings ($100 stone, $2,500 setting). It just depends on what catches my eye and works with the stone the best.

I'm a bit similar to Freke in that I'll set anything in silver. It's a great money saver. I love two-tone with rose, yellow, or even green gold, so I'll often commission a piece with a silver shank and gold head depending on what complements the stone best. I too don't like paying more for the setting than the stone on principle, but I have done so since I spend so little on my stones ("little" being a relative term; it's not little to me!). My most expensive stone is half the price of Chrono's "inexpensive" $600 chrysoberyl, to put things into perspective.

A typical setting price for me is $100-$200 for silver or two-tone, with my most expensive being $375 for a custom JKT setting. My best stone to setting price ratio was a $150 zircon in a $5 Snap-Tite pendant setting, which in fact I just set myself today. This cost-consciousness has allowed me to expand my collection to a great variety of stones, something I could never do if I hadn't set strict caps on what I can spend on each piece.

 

[FrekeChild]

I am all over the map. I don't have really expensive stones like some who have posted, but I'll set anything in silver ($550 stone, $60 setting). I have a couple really cheap stones in really expensive settings ($100 stone, $2,500 setting). It just depends on what catches my eye and works with the stone the best.

Unfortunately I seem to have developed a growing fascination with platinum. I sense fewer setting projects in my future...

Sorry about the platinum fascination, but at the rate of gold these days, won't it soon be cheaper than gold?

Also, are we in the birthday window yet? Notice how I include myself in that like I'm invited?!! Is she a Thanksgiving baby this year?

Platinum is $1,500 per ounce, and gold is $1,700 per ounce. Insane, isn't it?

Nope! Not a Thanksgiving baby this year. This year she's a Black Friday baby. Guess that means I should go shopping on her birthday? Hah!

I just remembered my most expensive project - 1.51ct princess (+/- $10k) in a secondhand platinum solitaire setting ($300). Tee hee!

 

[royalstarrynight]

Do those that set in silver ever have an issue of it tarnishing with lack of wearing??

I've heard good things about argentinum silver

FlyGirl: What unique and pretty settings!

 

[FrekeChild]

Do those that set in silver ever have an issue of it tarnishing with lack of wearing??

I've heard good things about argentinum silver

FlyGirl: What unique and pretty settings!

So far I've only had Tiffany silver pieces tarnish. Lol.

 

[jstarfireb]

I've noticed some tarnish on all of my silver pieces including argentium, and it doesn't see to matter how much I wear them. It buffs off pretty easily with a polishing cloth, but I have to admit it's annoying.

 

[missy]

I've noticed some tarnish on all of my silver pieces including argentium, and it doesn't see to matter how much I wear them. It buffs off pretty easily with a polishing cloth, but I have to admit it's annoying.

I agree. That's why I don't care for silver and I also wouldn't set any expensive stones in silver. My preference is platinum first and 18K gold second. Silver is for inexpensive fun jewelry (for me) and I find I never wear any of my silver pieces anymore. When my dh and I were dating he bought me some very lovely Lisa Jenks pieces and I really do love them but because they tarnish so easily I rarely take them out. Though it really takes no time to polish them. I'm lazy.

 

[innerkitten]

These days it feels like a nice stone is generally less expensive than a nice setting. I like gold but I happen to like silver too. I would be happy to wear even a diamond in silver if I liked the design. But I don't want every single piece I own to look exactly the same either. I like variety. So I wouldn't be happy if they were ALL in a basic silver stick settings. I also have a lot of unset stones right now. Way more than I'll ever get around to setting.

 

[innerkitten]

I would not hesitate to put a $20,000 diamond into a $500 solitaire setting. There it is all about the stone, and I just need something to secure it to my finger.

I love gorgeous jasper and quartz, but I really hesitate to put a $75 stone into a $4,000 designer setting. But, in the right setting, the result can be stunning. See these examples from T Lee.

It does look great. I think when gold was less expensive it was easier for more jewelers to play around with it and create interesting pieces like that.

P.S. I'm a big fan of gold with stones like turquoise, sugilite (not cheap if gem quality).

 

[innerkitten]

I've noticed some tarnish on all of my silver pieces including argentium, and it doesn't see to matter how much I wear them. It buffs off pretty easily with a polishing cloth, but I have to admit it's annoying.

I agree. That's why I don't care for silver and I also wouldn't set any expensive stones in silver. My preference is platinum first and 18K gold second. Silver is for inexpensive fun jewelry (for me) and I find I never wear any of my silver pieces anymore. When my dh and I were dating he bought me some very lovely Lisa Jenks pieces and I really do love them but because they tarnish so easily I rarely take them out. Though it really takes no time to polish them. I'm lazy.

Argentium is a good option. Also you can keep your silver pieces in plastic sip bags with anti tarnish paper. Plus they stay shiny if you wear it often.

 

[innerkitten]

I've noticed some tarnish on all of my silver pieces including argentium, and it doesn't see to matter how much I wear them. It buffs off pretty easily with a polishing cloth, but I have to admit it's annoying.

Bummer. I have only one argentium piece and it has no tarnish. It's from Julia Kay Taylor.

 

[innerkitten]

I am all over the map. I don't have really expensive stones like some who have posted, but I'll set anything in silver ($550 stone, $60 setting). I have a couple really cheap stones in really expensive settings ($100 stone, $2,500 setting). It just depends on what catches my eye and works with the stone the best.

Unfortunately I seem to have developed a growing fascination with platinum. I sense fewer setting projects in my future...

Sorry about the platinum fascination, but at the rate of gold these days, won't it soon be cheaper than gold?

Also, are we in the birthday window yet? Notice how I include myself in that like I'm invited?!! Is she a Thanksgiving baby this year?

Platinum is $1,500 per ounce, and gold is $1,700 per ounce. Insane, isn't it?

Nope! Not a Thanksgiving baby this year. This year she's a Black Friday baby. Guess that means I should go shopping on her birthday? Hah!

I just remembered my most expensive project - 1.51ct princess (+/- $10k) in a secondhand platinum solitaire setting ($300). Tee hee!

Is she a scorpio? Or are we in Sag? happy birthday baby!

 

[marymm]

None of my Argentium rings have tarnished at all - some are from JKT and some were made by other jewelers - I know I should keep them in tiny plastic zip bags but so far I've left them in their original ring boxes.

Another less expensive option is rhodium-plated sterling silver... my rhodium-plated sterling silver rings from etsy vendor Heart of Water still look gorgeous and price-wise were very affordable.

I have a couple colored stones that (to me) require gold or platinum settings, so those are on hold for now, but I do have two rings in the works, one all sterling silver for a spinel and the other in Argentium with a 14kt rose gold bezel for a rose-cut diamond... it took me more than a year to be certain those two settings were just the right homes for those two stones and that I was okay with the metal choices - but yeah, if I had a money tree I'd be using platinum and gold for everything!

 

[FrekeChild]

I am all over the map. I don't have really expensive stones like some who have posted, but I'll set anything in silver ($550 stone, $60 setting). I have a couple really cheap stones in really expensive settings ($100 stone, $2,500 setting). It just depends on what catches my eye and works with the stone the best.

Unfortunately I seem to have developed a growing fascination with platinum. I sense fewer setting projects in my future...

Sorry about the platinum fascination, but at the rate of gold these days, won't it soon be cheaper than gold?

Also, are we in the birthday window yet? Notice how I include myself in that like I'm invited?!! Is she a Thanksgiving baby this year?

Platinum is $1,500 per ounce, and gold is $1,700 per ounce. Insane, isn't it?

Nope! Not a Thanksgiving baby this year. This year she's a Black Friday baby. Guess that means I should go shopping on her birthday? Hah!

I just remembered my most expensive project - 1.51ct princess (+/- $10k) in a secondhand platinum solitaire setting ($300). Tee hee!

Is she a scorpio? Or are we in Sag? happy birthday baby!

Sagittarius, but just barely! She's right on the cusp. Thanks IK and MB!

 

[jstarfireb]

I've noticed some tarnish on all of my silver pieces including argentium, and it doesn't see to matter how much I wear them. It buffs off pretty easily with a polishing cloth, but I have to admit it's annoying.

Bummer. I have only one argentium piece and it has no tarnish. It's from Julia Kay Taylor.

Yeah, it's odd...I have several JKT pieces and expected them not to tarnish, but in all honesty, they've tarnished just as easily as any other silver I have. She did say argentium is less brittle and easier to work with, allowing more intricate designs, so there are more advantages to it than just the tarnish resistance.

 

[Lady_Disdain]

Sorry about the platinum fascination, but at the rate of gold these days, won't it soon be cheaper than gold?

It will still take a while for a platinum piece to be less expensive than gold, since platinum is much denser than gold (21.5grams/cm3 vs 16.5 grams/cm3). It is also used purer (90% or 95%, vs 75% for 18k gold) and it is harder to work with (platinum requires special soldering techniques, for example).

 

[colorluvr]

I have both ways, but usually my stones cost more than the settings that they are in.