Stuller diamond mellee prices

The most recent problem was that their size consistency went out
the window and we could no longer expect diamond mellee to come in
at sizes we required 

That’s intolerable. Pricing? eh you pay, the customer pays, I don’t
have much problem there. But getting the wrong size is a major pain.
And it only gets worse the smaller the stones. When you need 1.3mm,
1.4 just won’t do.

How much price differential are we talking about?

I’ve found you have to tell Stuller over and over that the diamonds
will be all on the top and they MUST match. BTW, Namano
http://www.namanodiamonds.com (Southeastern Findings) doesn’t have
this problem. Their diamonds always match.

I recently ordered a 3mm colored stone and got a 3.33mm. Had an
employee call to inquire why we got that size. Reply was that you
have to request exact size or they send what is within their
tolerance specs. Had I been the one on the phone I would have pointed
out that they sell 3mm and 3.5mm and since 3.33 is over 1/2 the
difference, their tolerance is not specific enough for a stone that
size, not to mention that a 3.33 will not be easy to set in a 3mm
tube setting. They sent a different 3mm colored gem in the same order
that was 3.05mm.

I have had incredible service over the years and great customer
service, so some issues are easily excusable. From now on it is not
difficult to be more specific.

Having a picture of a wedding band on a page and placing an order
only to find out that what is sent is the engagement ring not
pictured or referred to, you have to use the button on the box to
scroll down and select engagement ring was irritating.

I use Stuller to quote from, if time is an issue and price is not, I
order from Stuller. If customers budget is slim and time is not an
issue, I use alternate sources for colored gems and diamonds. If
customer is okay with a triple key quote and I can use another source
to save money, sometimes I give a better price but still more in my
favor. Evens out the resistance the public has to higher labor prices
that I feel my skill should deserve.

Richard Hart G.G.
Denver, Co.

I have noticed this too. I love Stuller and their convenience but
the increase in dia prices has forced me to plan better and use other
suppliers. In July GH/SI1 melee was 585/ct. new price in Sept
620/ct.

For just $35.00 difference you’re going to change suppliers? I
suggest that you didn’t build in the ever rising increase of supplies
into your “labour of costing”. If this was me, I’d charge myself at
least $650.00+ carat and absorb any rate increase. This way you
wouldn’t be scrounging around looking for new diamond suppliers.

At $35.00/ carat really how much increase is it for every small
stone you need ?

If you look at the crazy price of gold, that alone is more than the
$35.00 carat increase.

Gerry Lewy

Hi Gerry;

At $35.00/ carat really how much increase is it for every small
stone you need ? 

Let me put a little better perspective on this:

Stuller -.02 carat rounds - SI1-G - $620 per carat - tolerance -
1.56-1.80 millimeter Joseph Diamonds -.02 carat rounds - SI1-G - $475
per carat - tolerance _ Russian Cut 1.7 millimeter EXACTLY/every
single stone!

See what I mean? On a finished article set with 1 carat of goods,
this comes out to $362.50 more on the retail price. Even with just a
single.02 carat diamond, it’s almost $3 more per stone, which is not
$35 more per carat, it’s $145 more per carat and you can’t count on
the stones being the right size. You want to be sorting stones and
swapping burs all the time for your bright cutting when you can buy
Russian makes that cut a third of your setting time?

David L. Huffman

I don’t care so much about how much melle cost, however I DO care
that they must be exactly the size I ordered. When channel setting,
it is a must that the stones be all the same size and make. It makes
me crazy when a diamond broker sends me what he has and not what I
need.

Have fun and make lots of jewelry.
Jo Haemer
www.timothywgreen.com

Stuller -.02 carat rounds - SI1-G - $620 per carat - tolerance -
1.56-1.80 millimeter Joseph Diamonds -.02 carat rounds - SI1-G -
$475 per carat - tolerance _ Russian Cut 1.7 millimeter
EXACTLY/every single stone! 

Two points.

First, assumption that clarity and color grading are comparable bet=
ween Stuller and Joseph Diamonds.

Second, from what I understand you can request exact matching of
exact size diamonds from Stuller. I have a hard time believing that
there would be as great a difference in price between Stuller and
Joseph Diamonds for the same color and clarity. About 30% and that
is a huge difference. My experience is when price difference is that
great, quality is not the same. I will investigate further to satisfy
my own curiosity, and I would be quite pleased to find a new source
for diamond melee. I have a company that I have used for melee that I
was pleased with and I will compare their prices also.

Richard Hart G.G.
Denver, Co.

Can you please give the contact info for Joseph Diamonds.

Paul Brackna
PBJewelryDesigns.com