Setting a stone (ring/other jewelery)

So I've got a few loose gems, nothing big or fancy or worth much (single carat midnight sapphire, topaz etc).

I'm looking to set them so they can be wearable. What's the cheapest way of doing this without looking tacky? I don't need gold or fake gold. I heard there is titanium rings and stuff nowadays? Can I just get a steel band? Aluminum even?

Approx cost of doing this?

Originally Posted by KevC

So I've got a few loose gems, nothing big or fancy or worth much (single carat midnight sapphire, topaz etc).

I'm looking to set them so they can be wearable. What's the cheapest way of doing this without looking tacky? I don't need gold or fake gold. I heard there is titanium rings and stuff nowadays? Can I just get a steel band? Aluminum even?

Approx cost of doing this?

just use white gold...no point in going titanium or platinum for regular gems.

white gold at 10karat will prob run you around only a few hundred depending on ring size...however gold prices have gone up in the last yr...so it might be more expensive.

Titanium or platinum will run you in the thousands

Cost depend on the setting. There's no way to predict because setting size, quality, shape, material and labour varies. Just go to your local jeweler and ask.

If you want a good deal and aren't in too much of a rush- wait until the Gem shows in Toronto. There are a couple every year and alot of small jewelers who make stuff in their houses or as a small business from home can make items for you fairly cheaply compared to going to a store in the mall.

or try calling your local mineral club in Toronto and they might be able to recomend someone who is resonable.
I had a lady in Montreal make a few items for me and I think she was charging $100 and up for rings in silver.

or if you want to be really cheap, you can buy already made settings where you just have the jeweler put the stone in with pliers or whatever.
Alot of jewelery supply websites sell settings starting at $15 and up, mainly American sites!

These stones aren't anything special, so there's no way I'm spending thousands on setting them. Not even hundreds, if possible. <$100? I'll look around for jewelers. Are there any on RFD?

Originally Posted by KevC

These stones aren't anything special, so there's no way I'm spending thousands on setting them. Not even hundreds, if possible. <$100? I'll look around for jewelers. Are there any on RFD?

The cheapest I've seen for someone making a fairly plain band was an aquaintance who made a ring out of silver for me 4 years ago.
I had bought 2 amethysts and just the work cost $150....

So, if you go to a retail shop...good luck getting anything cheap!

as soon as you get anything not mass produced you are paying more for the labout than materials- so doesn't matter as much is its silver or gold.

I don't really know anyone who makes jewelery in Toronto, so can't help too much.