Would love suggestions on how to stop 0.45 cw stones on a bezel set station necklace from flipping

[Lynn Sterner]

I love my new necklace (1.23 ct center stone) and six side stones (0.45 ct each). I was concerned the side stones would flip but the jeweler thought the large size would keep them right side up, but no such luck. The side stones flip constantly! Since they are so big, it's really noticeable when they turn onto their back side and the cutlet is sticking straight up, with much less sparkle. Any suggestions would be really appreciated since I spent a lot on this custom necklace and want to love it while wearing it. THANKS!!!!

 

[Niel]

Ask to have this moved to rocky talky. You’ll get more responses

 

[headlight]

I’m afraid this is the nature of these types of station necklaces. The stations are on a curve as they sit on your neck and not in a straight line and you are always moving so they move along with you. I am in disagreement with your jeweler because I feel, if anything, the “torque” provided by the larger stone would only serve to perpetuate the “flipping”. I’m really sorry about this situation. Perhaps you work with your jeweler to create a different piece and the jeweler give you a good price on the remake. I’m just not sure you will be happy with this and, if not, it will make you more and more unhappy with each wearing. I’ve had 2 necklaces previously with this type of setting and suffice it to say I no longer have them.

 

[Lookinagain]

I'm also inclined to also think that the larger center stone contributes to the flipping, but these necklaces, by their nature, do tend to flip. I'm not sure if it is worse with larger stones in each station that it would be with smaller stones along the chain, but I'm guessing that would be the case. Or maybe with smaller stones it just wouldn't be as noticeable. I'm not sure what the solution for you would be. You don't mention the length of the necklace but I wonder if it were shorter if it would help with the flipping? Maybe others can help with that question.

 

[headlight]

I’m obviously in agreement with the input by @Lookinagain and while I think *perhaps* (surmising) the fact your stones that go around are much larger than the usual size in these types of necklaces which would make me think their weight would hold them “down” better (keep more from flipping), I think @Lookinagain is spot on in that in versions of these with small stones they flip but it just isn’t as noticeable both in the fact that their culets are tiny but also they aren’t putting off the sparkle your stones do so it just isn’t as noticeable altogether when you have these noticeable vs not noticeable (all related to size and quality) coming into play.
When did you receive this completed piece? If very recent, perhaps you need to wear more to see if you can get used to it. If you are willing to do that, I think you first need to go to the jeweler and make clear (almost “put on notice” in a way that this is not acceptable as you are extremely upset and you had expressed this concern back in the design process. You are not the jeweler… your jeweler is and, as such, it would be incumbent upon your jeweler to advise you of this issue and perhaps make other suggestions for a custom piece. You may, after a little time, decide you still love the piece enough to live with it but I suspect not given your feelings straight out of the gate and the way your concerns are very specific. Again, I am so sorry this has happened. No consolation but most of us on here have had an experience (or many!) where a project didn’t come out as we thought it should for a multitude of reasons (sometimes flipping) and have had to either accept it, hope the jeweler is amenable to making it right on some level, or we just suck it up and spend the money to fix the situation which usually means remake. So while a total bummer, you are not alone!

 

[Lynn Sterner]

I'm also inclined to also think that the larger center stone contributes to the flipping, but these necklaces, by their nature, do tend to flip. I'm not sure if it is worse with larger stones in each station that it would be with smaller stones along the chain, but I'm guessing that would be the case. Or maybe with smaller stones it just wouldn't be as noticeable. I'm not sure what the solution for you would be. You don't mention the length of the necklace but I wonder if it were shorter if it would help with the flipping? Maybe others can help with that question.

Length options are 16, 17, or 18 inches. I have the same problem with flipping no matter which length. Two different lengths have a side stone hit my clavicle, which definitely leads to flipping. The other stones tend to flip too, no matter which length.
I wouldn't care that stones flip as long as people can't notice the difference between front-facing and backwards stones as much as I fear they can. The center stone doesn't flip, which is key, but I don't want the side stones back-facing to ruin the look of the necklace.
This should be my worst problem, but it is still a bummer, for sure!

 

[Lynn Sterner]

I’m obviously in agreement with the input by @Lookinagain and while I think *perhaps* (surmising) the fact your stones that go around are much larger than the usual size in these types of necklaces which would make me think their weight would hold them “down” better (keep more from flipping), I think @Lookinagain is spot on in that in versions of these with small stones they flip but it just isn’t as noticeable both in the fact that their culets are tiny but also they aren’t putting off the sparkle your stones do so it just isn’t as noticeable altogether when you have these noticeable vs not noticeable (all related to size and quality) coming into play.
When did you receive this completed piece? If very recent, perhaps you need to wear more to see if you can get used to it. If you are willing to do that, I think you first need to go to the jeweler and make clear (almost “put on notice” in a way that this is not acceptable as you are extremely upset and you had expressed this concern back in the design process. You are not the jeweler… your jeweler is and, as such, it would be incumbent upon your jeweler to advise you of this issue and perhaps make other suggestions for a custom piece. You may, after a little time, decide you still love the piece enough to live with it but I suspect not given your feelings straight out of the gate and the way your concerns are very specific. Again, I am so sorry this has happened. No consolation but most of us on here have had an experience (or many!) where a project didn’t come out as we thought it should for a multitude of reasons (sometimes flipping) and have had to either accept it, hope the jeweler is amenable to making it right on some level, or we just suck it up and spend the money to fix the situation which usually means remake. So while a total bummer, you are not alone!

Thanks for your thoughts and suggestions. It's quite new so I can definitely speak to the jeweler...if I have to...but I don't want to be a bother if it's not actually that bad. I'll try to wear it and ask a friend or two if it's noticeable. (If my friends didn't notice before I ask them, they'll inevitably get bothered by the newly-noticeable flipping once I do. LOL)
In a picture with me wearing the necklace, all side stones appeared sparkly, whether they were front-facing or flipped backwards. However, it's not likely the eyes of a person close-by would be so forgiving.
I was so excited about this project. So frustrating, disappointing, and expensive!

 

[Lookinagain]

Two different lengths have a side stone hit my clavicle, which definitely leads to flipping. The other stones tend to flip too, no matter which length.

When you say they hit your clavicle do you mean along the green line? Does the largest stone hit in the center where I have circled? I would hope that if the largest sat in the indentation in the circled area, that would help keep it stable and not flip as much. (sorry, i have no idea what that area is called-----).

 

[Lynn Sterner]

Here are 2 lengths 16" and 17", so you can actually see how the stones sit.
Do the flipped stones bother your eye?

 

[AllAboardTheBlingTrain]

While DBTY necklaces do tend to flip, the best way to minimise this is to have them set with a flat back, instead of an open culet (so they’re bezel set from the front but there is also a basket and back to it). That provides better stability.

 

[Lynn Sterner]

While DBTY necklaces do tend to flip, the best way to minimise this is to have them set with a flat back, instead of an open culet (so they’re bezel set from the front but there is also a basket and back to it). That provides better stability.

I tried that first and when a stone flipped it was even more noticeable since there was so much metal on the back side as compared to the front-facing bezel set stones. I had the side stones reset with a simple ring so the front and back wouldn't appear so different. (The center has a basket). Unfortunately, the side stone cutlet is more apparent on a larger stone so it still looks different to the eye (even without the huge metal difference now). Faulty thinking on my part, I guess. Any other suggestions?
Does it look bad to the eye as-is?

 

[AllAboardTheBlingTrain]

I tried that first and when a stone flipped it was even more noticeable since there was so much metal on the back side as compared to the front-facing bezel set stones. I had the side stones reset with a simple ring so the front and back wouldn't appear so different. (The center has a basket). Unfortunately, the side stone cutlet is more apparent on a larger stone so it still looks different to the eye (even without the huge metal difference now). Faulty thinking on my part, I guess. Any other suggestions?
Does it look bad to the eye as-is?

Oh damn, I’d hoped that would fix it. Tbh I didn’t find it super noticeable so I would leave it the way it is. You’re right that a flipped stone with a flat back would be much more apparent.

 

[Lynn Sterner]

Oh damn, I’d hoped that would fix it. Tbh I didn’t find it super noticeable so I would leave it the way it is. You’re right that a flipped stone with a flat back would be much more apparent.

Thanks for your ideas and suggestion. I wore the necklace today and asked a friend if it was noticeable. They said they hadn't noticed and that it wasn't a bit deal. I'll leave it the way it is for now and, hopefully, it won't phase me. I did learn two things with this project: 1) custom projects are never as simple as they seem and 2) Next time, I'll wait until I find something I like that's already in stock! Haha