Adding gemstones and CZs to your jewelry takes it to a new and sparkling level. Learn more about the different ways you can add stones to your jewelry using pre-made settings as well as how to make custom bezel settings.
Using Premade Settings
If you're just getting started with stone setting or are looking for ways to speed up production, try using pre-made stone settings. Our selection includes tube settings, prong settings, and settings for cabochon stones.
Our tube settings have carefully-made seats to make it easy to set your calibrated stones. They're available in sterling silver, gold-filled and 14kt gold. Tube settings are unfinished, so you'll need to solder yours to a ring shank or other foundation before setting any stones. We recommend plating gold-filled after soldering and before stone setting. Learn more about how to set stones using tube bezels in this demo video from Sylvie.
Prong settings have small tines that extend upward from a base. The prongs can be bent downward to hold a stone in place. The SEC series is specially made for cabochons, with low-walled sides that show off as much of the stone as possible. The SEF series has notches to hold the stone's girdle in place and deep baskets for maximum light refraction. Learn all about using pre-made prong settings in this blog: How To Prong Set Stones.
Our stone set ring making kit offers a great option for beginners learning how to set stones for the first time. We also offer a tube bezel setting kit with CZs and a soldering kit so you can easily get started practicing adding stones to your jewelry.
Making Custom Settings For Cabochon Stones
Bezel strip wire and gallery wire are available in different widths that you choose based on how much you want it to extend over the top of your stone. You'll need to decide if you want a plain or decorative look.
Bezel wire and gallery wire are sold by the inch. Basic styles are also sold by the troy ounce for volume users. The easiest way to determine how much you'll need is to wrap a string around your stone. Overlap the ends by 2-3mm and mark it. Then, place your string against a ruler to determine the length you'll need.
To make a custom bezel setting, solder the ends of the bezel strip wire or gallery wire together. Pickle and quench. Place your stone through the wire a few times to make sure it's going to fit. Then, solder the wire to the back plate. Pickle and quench. Use a saw or shears to cut the back plate around the base of the bezeling wire – or you can leave extra metal as a design element. File as necessary. Solder a bail, ring shank or other jewelry finding to your bezel. Pickle, quench and polish. Finally, place the stone inside your bezel setting. Use a bezel roller and/or burnishing tool to press-in the sides evenly around the stone. Check this tutorial guide for a step by step breakdown of how set a cabochon stone.
Precious metal materials on the wholesale market are priced each day based on commodity market benchmarks. Most people understand the system best when you compare it to the price of gasoline at the pump. The exact price each day fluctuates based on supply and demand for the commodity. Gold and silver derivatives work the same way. Read more about how we establish market-based pricing each day.
Check out these articles about stone setting techniques and supplies.
5 Tips To Start Stone Setting
Check out this starter guide if you're new to adding stones to your jewelry pieces.
Types of Jewelry Settings
Learn more about the pre-made jewelry settings Halstead sells.
Adding Diamonds To Your Silver Jewelry Collection
Diamonds might just be the perfect final touch for your jewelry. Learn more about using diamonds with silver jewelry.
