which setting would you use (budget is $250)

[Kitten35]

Hi,
If I have a budget of about $250 or less (preferably less) for a setting for a stone....

I have found a few good options in that range but am not sure which would be the best quality. I would prefer 10 or 14K YG but that seems to be quite a lot right now. I am considering putting a little more towards it but my preference is to keep it around 250.

Which would you go with:

A rope shank solitaire from Stuller with a silver shank and a gold (Tiffany style) head. This runs about $125 and is the cheapest. I could get all 10K YG for $266, which is a little higher than I wanted to go.

One of the 10K or 14K YG settings posted from Tripps.com a few days ago in the "under 200" thread someone posted or the AmcorDesign cathedral setting one. Why are the prices on these so much lower? Does anyone have any experience with buying from them? Any pics of either setting?

A lotus ring from Heart of Water in solid sterling? I got a quote for that for under $200. I also considered it with a gold head but it was quite a bit more. Is that sturdy enough to wear every day with such a thin shank, even if it is made to be 1.6 mm?

A Daniel M ring--the one with the dainty double prongs, with a silver shank and gold head.

Or, a secondhand setting I would also consider but I don't want any diamond side stones (though I would consider side stones CSs). I really like a plain solitaire, though. Does anyone know what's out there? I have checked ebay but if anyone could help me find anything else, great.

So if you were looking for stylish solitaire style and quality, in that range, what would you go with? I'd also like to get it engraved if possible which would leave out the HOW ring as she said the shank is round but I really liked them so may consider it anyway.

Opinions? Thanks.

 

[GemFever]

You should post pics, it would make it much easier to give suggestions.

Personally, I'm a fan of a silver shank with a gold head, but for bezels. I'm not sure how that would work with prongs. Also, if you can get a custom-made ring (HOW or DanielM)... my guess is that it will look nicer than a stock setting. But again, please post pics of the several options!

Oh, and what's your stone? If you could post a pic of it, that would be nice too

Good luck in your search!

 

[chrono]

Gem Fever is correct; seeing pictures of the settings you have in mind, or even a link to the setting picture will go a long way in helping us give as accurate an advise as we can.

 

[vintagelover229]

I would either get this art carved setting for 250.00 which is graceful and beautiful
http://www.diamondbistro.com/category/196/Rings/listings/26334/Elegant-Art-Carved-Solitaire-Setting-18K.html

Or get a new head on this ring since it's under budget at 150.00 (she might take an offer too-I bought my engagement ring from this seller) and it's adorable!

http://www.diamondbistro.com/category/196/Rings/listings/26344/Vintage-Single-cut-Diamond-Setting-for-Repair.html

 

[Kitten35]

Hey,
Thanks for the help! HEre are some pics:

http://www.stuller.com/products/sh304/?groupId=105263 This is the Stuller one, I would get it with a Tiffany style six or four prong head. Perhaps two toned.

This DAniel M ring, but with two prongs (if possible--Im' pretty sure I've seen that on his site);
http://www.etsy.com/transaction/48650635?favorite_user_id=7153041&show_panel=true

The Lotus in Sterling by Sally at HOW which many have on here.
http://www.etsy.com/listing/60762371/sparkly-blue-lotus-ring-in-sterling

I also really like her NUR setting with the braided shank (but it's not resizeable, which I'm not wild about). And this one looks new to me (and I haven't gotten a quote to have her do it with my stone and in 14K maybe? or sterling? ) but I like this too: http://www.etsy.com/listing/27172755/christie-ring-in-18k-gold-with-natural
(I would think the last one would be less in 14K or sterling with a gold head but I could be wrong)



Here are my favorite two from Tripps:

http://tripps.com/index.php?p=catalog&parent=896&pg=1
http://tripps.com/index.php?p=product&id=37748

All of these are around the same price range. I also thought of this one in sterling, but think it would look better in cushion cut:
http://www.stuller.com/products/71537/?groupId=110116
It's for an 8 mm stone minimum but my jeweler said it could be modified. So of these, what is the best buy pertaining to quality, style, and the stone I am putting into it? I am kind of leaning towards the sterling lotus or the christine, but not sure.

Thoughts? I MAY hold out and save up for an all gold setting, but I am researching this first.

The stone I don't have yet actually but I'm doing some preliminary work. I am currently paying on it and will pay it off this month so I should have it soon. It's a 6 mm RB yellow sapphire but it is going to be very pale--not your "typical" super yellow type.

 

[kt]

I love that $150 one that vintage lover listed - I actually asked about it and it holds a 6mm stone, but you would have to get that head repaired/replaced. But it looks like such a pretty setting!

 

[Bella_mezzo]

I'm in the market for the same thing, a setting for a gem stone for $250 or less (but my stone is a cushion).

I really want 14k yellow gold (actually, I really want 18k yellow gold, but that's not going to happen

I LOVE that antique one for $150 on diamond bistro.

I had pretty much decided on the last stuller setting that you posted, the fleur de lis, but with a scroll head b/c the fleur de lis doesn't come small enough to fit my stone I think the fleur de lis is I wanted an engraved shank that was a little more substantial than the fleur de lis shank, but I think I will deal if I can find that setting close to my budget...

I have to wait a month for cash flow purposes, so hopefully by then I'll have made a definite decision

 

[Kitten35]

Thanks for the help!

The antique ring is nice, but I wanted to stay away from sidestones; I think for this ring I am just going to go with a plain solitaire, as I like to showcase the stone and don't want too many distractions. I like the ArtCarved one too.

Bella, I do believe you can get that Stuller head actually in smaller mm sizes. You just have to do it separately (ie, shank and head) so it woldn't be the exact same ring but it would be close. If you look in the heads and shanks, instead of the premades, you should find it. I thought about doing that as well. EDIT: I am wrong, the smallest it comes in it looks like is 8 mm. Sorry! I really thought I had seen it smaller on there a few weeks ago. Must have been a different setting.

I think I am probably leaning towards something from Heart of Water, as I just think her work is stunning and unique, even though it can't be engraved, . For a faceted gem, would you choose the "Christine" , the "Lotus," or the "Nur?" If I do lotus, I will probably do sterling, quoted at about $185 plus $20 or so to ship the stone to her. If I did the Christine, I may do YG (pending a quote. The 18K is listed at $315, so I was hoping that the 14K might be lower, maybe in my range). Would a light yellow stone look okay in silver? I'd really like to have some of it be YG, but I'd rather have a really nice sterling setting than a so-so gold one, if that makes any sense. Does anyone have the Christine? Pics? Are the shanks on those rings practical for every day wear?

 

[Enerchi]

I'd go Lotus, hands down. It seems to be a CS/PS favourite because it has such lovely lines and it is clean and timeless. Good luck!

 

[jstarfireb]

I think I am probably leaning towards something from Heart of Water, as I just think her work is stunning and unique, even though it can't be engraved, . For a faceted gem, would you choose the "Christine" , the "Lotus," or the "Nur?" If I do lotus, I will probably do sterling, quoted at about $185 plus $20 or so to ship the stone to her. If I did the Christine, I may do YG (pending a quote. The 18K is listed at $315, so I was hoping that the 14K might be lower, maybe in my range). Would a light yellow stone look okay in silver? I'd really like to have some of it be YG, but I'd rather have a really nice sterling setting than a so-so gold one, if that makes any sense. Does anyone have the Christine? Pics? Are the shanks on those rings practical for every day wear?

Of these designs, I very much prefer the lotus. It's simple, classic, and pretty. I've always thought the Christie ring looks a little bulky and the prongs look kind of like bug legs. The Nur is just OK for me, but not on par with the beauty of the lotus.

Would you consider a sterling shank and a 14k YG head? Here are a few examples of that style in a lotus:

The alexandrite (mine) and tsavorite (not mine) lotus rings in this stack are 2-tone:


My 2-tone alexandrite lotus:

 

[Enerchi]

I think I am probably leaning towards something from Heart of Water, as I just think her work is stunning and unique, even though it can't be engraved, . For a faceted gem, would you choose the "Christine" , the "Lotus," or the "Nur?" If I do lotus, I will probably do sterling, quoted at about $185 plus $20 or so to ship the stone to her. If I did the Christine, I may do YG (pending a quote. The 18K is listed at $315, so I was hoping that the 14K might be lower, maybe in my range). Would a light yellow stone look okay in silver? I'd really like to have some of it be YG, but I'd rather have a really nice sterling setting than a so-so gold one, if that makes any sense. Does anyone have the Christine? Pics? Are the shanks on those rings practical for every day wear?

Of these designs, I very much prefer the lotus. It's simple, classic, and pretty. I've always thought the Christie ring looks a little bulky and the prongs look kind of like bug legs. The Nur is just OK for me, but not on par with the beauty of the lotus.

Would you consider a sterling shank and a 14k YG head? Here are a few examples of that style in a lotus:

The alexandrite (mine) and tsavorite (not mine) lotus rings in this stack are 2-tone:


My 2-tone alexandrite lotus:

THIS!!!! In a HEARTBEAT!!!!

If the 2 tone is affordable for you, Kitten, this would be AMAZING!! I'm even drooling over the thought of it... hmmm.... Any ideas on pricing for this in 2 tone, jstarfireb??? Beautiful alexandrite!

 

[Kitten35]

Hi!
Thanks everyone! I did get a quote for the two tone, it was close to $350 plus shipping so it'd be pretty close to $400. I'd like to keep it under that, as there are several other things I would like to put that money towards. I have CONSIDERED dumping more money into it, but I am not sure I want to yet.

That said, it is a yellow sapphire, so it might look really stunning in the two tone. I have decided not to go with the Nur since it's not resizeable. I'm still trying to decide between the Christie, and the Lotus.

Does anyone have any hand shots of the Christie? It's hard to tell what it would look like on hand from the online photos.

If I went with the lotus, do you think it would diminish the stone to have no YG on it? OR would it still look okay in sterling? FWIW, I think the stone is going to be a very slight yellow, like the sun, not bright so I do think the yellow would enhance it but I'm not sure I want to go that high in prices. Would silver look bad in terms of color contrast with the stone or wash it out?

 

[jstarfireb]

Hi!
Thanks everyone! I did get a quote for the two tone, it was close to $350 plus shipping so it'd be pretty close to $400. I'd like to keep it under that, as there are several other things I would like to put that money towards. I have CONSIDERED dumping more money into it, but I am not sure I want to yet.

That said, it is a yellow sapphire, so it might look really stunning in the two tone. I have decided not to go with the Nur since it's not resizeable. I'm still trying to decide between the Christie, and the Lotus.

Does anyone have any hand shots of the Christie? It's hard to tell what it would look like on hand from the online photos.

If I went with the lotus, do you think it would diminish the stone to have no YG on it? OR would it still look okay in sterling? FWIW, I think the stone is going to be a very slight yellow, like the sun, not bright so I do think the yellow would enhance it but I'm not sure I want to go that high in prices. Would silver look bad in terms of color contrast with the stone or wash it out?

That's too bad about the pricing. I use two-tone a lot when I think the center stone would look better in yellow than white. In general I don't like wearing yellow gold, so two-tone gives me that added oomph for the center stone while still feeling like I'm wearing a white metal.

Some stones just look better in yellow (or rose) gold, and you'll have to see the stone in person to know for sure. Others look perfect in white metals, which are still my favorite to wear.

And Enerchi, thanks - that's so sweet! If I remember correctly, the entire ring was between $450 and $500 when I bought it (all 14k gold, white and yellow, and including the 4mm natural alex). But that was before gold prices skyrocketed. I wouldn't be surprised if the metal work alone was that price (or more) in 14k. My most recent two-tone piece from Sally with a silver shank and gold bezel and rope detailing was about $280 last year. She may have given me a discount since I'm a repeat customer, though.

 

[jstarfireb]

One more thing - I have a light lemon-yellow citrine that may or may not be similar to the color of your sapphire, and I set it in white gold. I wonder if yellow gold might have enhanced it or might have overpowered the delicate color...hard to say! Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures of it right now.

 

[Enerchi]

And Enerchi, thanks - that's so sweet! If I remember correctly, the entire ring was between $450 and $500 when I bought it (all 14k gold, white and yellow, and including the 4mm natural alex). But that was before gold prices skyrocketed. I wouldn't be surprised if the metal work alone was that price (or more) in 14k. My most recent two-tone piece from Sally with a silver shank and gold bezel and rope detailing was about $280 last year. She may have given me a discount since I'm a repeat customer, though.

Thanks for the information above. You really have a beautiful ring there! I love the lotus setting and the combo is perfect for that stone. Thanks again

 

[Kitten35]

Okay, I have it down now to two settings. There has been a change in plans, this is for a red spinel now, not a yellow sapphire (don't have the stone yet so no pics) aprox 7.3 mm by 6.8 mm roundish oval.

I am either going to get:

The Nur (Heart of Water) in sterling silver (I know I said above I didn't want this, but it is so pretty so I am reconsidering)

or

The Lotus (Heart of Water) in sterling silver.

I really would prefer gold but the prices are just too high right now and I think Sally's silver work looks like white gold anyway, it's so shiney. I like the two tone as well, but a bit pricy (believe it or not, there was only a $90 difference between two tone and full on gold). After seeing more pics of the Christie I decided not to go with that one, just too much like a bezel, which I really don't care for.

These two are the same price ($185), plus I will probably need to pay for setting because I don't think I am going to send the stone, so it will be $30 for setting at my local jeweler as well, so total about $225 for the setting for this stone, which is right within my range of $250.

Which would you choose? The stone is not a perfect round so I am not sure how it would look in the lotus. When I set out to do this, originally, I was going to get a braided shank from Stuller similar to the Nur, or the Fleur De Lis similar to the Lotus. But now I'm leaning towards the lotus because of it's delicacy and beauty. Also, the Nur can't be resized, which is a big drawback to me. Though I don't often do the resizing, I like knowing that I can. But I do love the simple style of the Nur and think it would make the stone look bigger and really just show it off because there is nothing around the stone so all the light comes in. I really can't make up my mind. Does anyone own both or have experience with both?

Which would you go with?

 

[gsellis]

Personally, I use Tripps. They deal with low volume and will answer questions if I call. The picture of my wife's ring that Jason posted is a Tripps mount.

[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/purple-tourmaline-with-blue-and-green-tourmaline-side-stones.171753/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/purple-tourmaline-with-blue-and-green-tourmaline-side-stones.171753/[/URL]

And also consider their interchangable mounts if it is multiple stones or a project that can evolve into one. You can make a hanging pendant or even a bracelet. Considering how Pandora is making "cornucopia" popular, a mixed piece might be fun too. I think I am going to work on a 5 year project to make a bracelet.

Attached is an example in beryl (green beryl, aqua, morganite) bad pic. ok... drifting off topic. sorry.

 

[Kitten35]

Re: which setting would you use (budget is $250) UPDATED/PIC

Alright, I received my stone today from WildFish!
It is the red spinel located here: http://www.wildfishgems.com/inc/sdetail/8957

Help me pick a setting for it!

IRL (at least here--we have NO sunshine today) it is kind of between the two colors shown in the pics to my eye. Not quite as dark to my eyes as the dark pic, but depending on light, darker at times than the ones that appear more pink, but in other lights, particularly in my piano room, more red. I did try to capture it with my camera to post some of my own but alas, this is my first loose stone purchase and my photography needs some better skills I think. I couldn't seem to get it to match the real life color or capture the subdued red sparkles it has.

I was originally thinking the lotus, but it's a little darker than I thought it was going to be so now am leaning towards the Nur instead because it will let in the most light around the stone. Thoughts? How much darker will the Lotus than the Nur make my stone? I really like the clean lines of the Nur, I just don't like that I can't resize it if I ever need to. That is a MAJOR drawback. But all other things being equal, I really like the Nur I think.

And should I set it in YG or sterling? I have an old YG setting I took a stone out of, set the stone on top, and tried it on it and it looked good, but then I also held it up to sterling and liked that crisp more white look too and thought it might have showed the red a little stronger on the white metal--but I couldn't "try on" the white metal, just put it next to it, so I'm not quite sure. Thoughts from those more experienced than I? Thanks!

 

[minousbijoux]

[I know I should be working instead of being on PS, but I can't help myself]

My vote is for yellow gold. I love the richness (I don't mean the Beverly Hills kind; I mean the saturated purity sense of the word rich) that comes from the combination of red and gold. I think Sterling silver or white gold would do nothing for your red stone. OTOH, sometimes the yellow in gold can pull out certain colors you don't want. I'm sure an expert will be along to tell you if it will appear more orange in yellow gold (I don't see pink in the photos of your stone; I see and orange modifier) or not. I just can't remember whether putting it next to another color brings out the complementary color or the opposite more. The usual suspects who set a lot of stones will know.

Oh and good for you for making so much progress so quickly!

 

[Kitten35]

Thanks for the reply!

I took the stone tonight to Jared and put it into some semi mounts just to see what color I liked. Surprisingly, the general consensus was white metals. The yellow brought out the browns/oranges slightly more than the white, on which it looked more "red" and popped more.

Now onto a small rant. I know mall stores aren't generally recommended on here, but while I was there, checking out the mounts for colors, the salesguy pulls out this one setting. I don't typically do halos or sidestones or anything like that, I generally gravitate towards solitaire styles because I like to showcase the stone and I like not too much overpowering it. But this setting. was. stunning. It had half moon diamonds placed flush with the band--kinda more like built into it--almost not noticeable, but there. And the stone literally fit in the basket perfectly. It was platinum, and it was lovely. IT was like it was made for the stone. The diamonds were decent quality, though not colorless (but I like warm diamonds better than white ones) and perfect proportions. I've been searching now for the stock number to see if I could get it in gold instead, but it was preowned, and seems to be either out of production, or not even maybe a Jared's model (thinking maybe they just bought it from someone and resold).

It was however, not made for my pocketbook. haha. Such a bummer.