Thoughts on this quote?

[barbie86]

Hi all, mentioned on another sub forum a while ago about getting a custom necklace made. Got a quote back today, for £1500.

Can anyone comment on whether that's reasonable for the following?

18 inch delicate cable chain in 18ct gold, with 5 3-prong settings dangling off it, with the following stones:

2 natural green emeralds
2 white sapphires
1 pearl

(All around 0.25ct/3.8mm)

Thoughts?

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

Let me bump this for you

 

[barbie86]

Thanks!

I tried to look for stones separately, and the emeralds alone were coming in at around £600-800; problem is I know nothing about gem stones, I just don't think I want them treated in any way? Or does that matter?

Should I move this thread to gem stones if there is a form for that?

Man I am such a noob!

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

Thanks!

I tried to look for stones separately, and the emeralds alone were coming in at around £600-800; problem is I know nothing about gem stones, I just don't think I want them treated in any way? Or does that matter?

Should I move this thread to gem stones if there is a form for that?

Man I am such a noob!

There is a coloured gemstone subforum
Just report your own post and ask it to be moved if necessary
Im sorry i have no great knowledge to help you -i just like looking at the pictures
Good luck, ill be following along

 

[Karl_K]

3.8mm round emeralds can be had for just a few dollars each.
Far less when buying by multi-ct lots.
3.8mm white sapphire again very low cost.
1 pearl depending on size type and quality can be very cheap or very expensive.
All the gemstones could be gathered for say 50-60 bucks.
That leaves the rest for the chain and findings.
Sounds high to me at $1940 usd.

 

[Snowdrop13]

Custom jewellery of any kind seems to be very expensive here in the U.K., certainly very marked up in price from actual value. You will find it hard to get untreated emerald, I expect, pretty much all emerald is treated in some way. The pearl could range from a very cheap freshwater to a top level Akoya, the price of the former would be in single pounds, the latter a lot more. I think you need to be able to specify exactly what you want. (An example- my mum replaced a broken opal in a ring with a ruby sourced by a local U.K. jeweller. It cost a few hundred and looks ok but she has no idea of origin, or treatments. In my view, it’s pretty worthless) If I were you I’d do a lot more research and maybe look at some of the vendors in the US, Cecile Raley on Etsy comes to mind as a possibility for this sort of project). Good luck!

 

[barbie86]

Thanks both!

So thoughts are it is very high? Any other suggestions for US vendors?

Also, can anyone help re what I should be looking for in terms of the gem stones? I literally have NO clue about gem stones at all.

For the white sapphires I basically just want clear, white, and shiny.

Pearl I would ideally like a natural pearl, or Akoya (if they come that tiny!)

Emeralds, deep green, clear, shiny. I have seen so many that look kind of dull? Or very dark green or very light.

I sound like such a noob, but if someone could point me in the right direction, so I can start looking, it would be massively appreciated!

 

[voce]

3.8mm round emeralds can be had for just a few dollars each.
Far less when buying by multi-ct lots.
3.8mm white sapphire again very low cost.
1 pearl depending on size type and quality can be very cheap or very expensive.
All the gemstones could be gathered for say 50-60 bucks.
That leaves the rest for the chain and findings.
Sounds high to me at $1940 usd.

It depends on the quality of the emeralds, to be honest. Heavily included and treated emeralds may be a few dollars a pop in the 3.8mm range. I've been sold untreated fine emerald in the $4000/ct range for melee emeralds sizes, and they're very different in terms of care required and durability as well as color from the cheap emeralds.

But, all considered, unless the jeweler is quoting for untreated emeralds of Russian or Afghani origin, @barbie86 the jeweler is probably factoring £500 for materials, £200-£300 for labor, and the rest for design.

Only you can decide if you want to pay the premium for the design work. Somebody like Leon Mege can command 4-5 figures added for the design alone.

 

[Karl_K]

Design?
Order a chain, open up their favorite finding site and order what they think looks good that meets the clients request for each stone and solder it together and set the stones.

I can't recomend vendors being in the trade per board rules but anyone with a decent bench can do this one.