Many of us here on the Orchid site work with very expensive center
stones that are in many cases worth more than our homes. If I set a
diamond worth $200,000.00 in a ring, I am liable for the loss of
that stone. Therefore I tend to be very conservative about how I
set a really expensive stone. It's about covering our ass...ets.
Thanks Jo!
Thank you for the kind words from someone who sets stones that I
will never lay my hands on. If someone asked me to set a $200,000
stone (which, yes, is approx the value of my home in Australian
dollars) I’d probably run a mile. I knew I was stepping into unknown
territory by putting in my two-bobs worth there but, what the heck,
can’t help myself.
I do learn a lot from this forum and get a lot of joy from comments
such as yours, from a high-end jewelery maker to a backyard
silversmith.
Thankyou
Renate
If I set a diamond worth $200,000.00 in a ring, I am liable for the
loss of that stone. Therefore I tend to be very conservative about
how I set a really expensive stone.
And if you go to Jo and Timothy’s site, which is posted in the
message, you’ll see a nicely set 10 carat diamond. There are many
hills that goldsmiths need to climb, and one that can only be gained
through experience is the relationship with value and money. I get
visitors who I’ll show some big rock and they’ll ask how much it’s
worth. “I couldn’t tell you - I don’t know, I don’t care” is the
usual answer. I made and soldered a lug on a Patek-Philippe watch a
while back. That’s a $20K eggshell of 18 kt. gold, and most people’s
hands start shaking… Meaning once again, “What do you mean by
large?” Myself, I think of large as thumbnail sized and bigger (this
being faceted stones). I think of physical size, not value. The
difference between setting a 6.5 mm blue topaz and a 6.5 mm
D/flawless diamond is all in your mind - they are both 1 carat
stones, and good setting is good setting. I’m not saying there’s NO
difference, just that overbuilding a setting because of the monetary
value is what salesmen do, not jewelry designers. Making a beautiful
setting that is also strong and also shows off the stone is what
separates the wheat from the chaff. Check out the 10 carat on Jo’s
site (custom rings, as I recall). Well set, not buried under metal,
nice job…Care, not paranoia.