What is an Invisible Setting and Where Does It Come From?
A centuries-old, originally French technique, invisible set gemstone jewelry (aka the Invisible Setting), is one of the most beautiful setting types available. It involves the process of setting stones side-by-side, hiding the metalwork underneath, which can give the appearance of a larger stone. This technique creates an uninterrupted flow in the gemstones, thus producing the coveted “Invisible Setting”.
The most commonly shaped gemstones used in an invisible setting are the square and princess cuts. This is a very difficult setting type to create and work on since it requires the skill of a highly trained master jeweler. Also, this setting typically demands much more labor than what is necessary for other types of jewelry settings.
What makes an Invisible Setting different than other setting types?
Rare:
The invisible setting is not commonly used in jewelry design because it is an intricate and difficult setting type. Only the most experienced jewelers can properly set gemstones with this method. Additionally, the cost of labor and the time spent in making invisibly set jewelry adds to the value of your item.
Expensive and Highly Skilled Labor:
This setting is more expensive than other jewelry settings, and it requires special preparation of the gemstones. It also demands an experienced and skilled stone setter. For this reason, the invisible setting is more expensive than others due to the extra labor costs needed to create this beautiful design.
For more information regarding our pricing, please check out our Pricing page.
What You Need to Know about Invisible Settings
Look Out for the Glue Method:
We are proud of the service we offer as we know other jewelers without the capabilities have to resort to using a gluing method to keep the stones in place. Unfortunately, when stones are simply glued to each other, it creates a setting that is weaker and most likely will begin to loosen over time; that is why gluing is a practice that we don’t subscribe to.
Avoid Heavy-Duty Activity:
If you are someone who is into heavy-duty activities on a regular basis, then this may not be the setting for you. Heavy activity or a direct hit on small gemstones can loosen their grip. This creates a high susceptibility for gemstones to fall out.
Requires Additional Maintenance:
This setting has many places for dirt to hide and gather, which can lessen the sparkle of gemstones. Therefore, this type of setting needs routine professional cleaning to maintain the fire, sparkle, and brilliance of the gemstones. Also, routine professional inspections are required to make sure that the gemstones remain secure. This extra maintenance is good for you to consider before purchasing jewelry with an invisible setting.
The Good News:
We have your back! Here at My Jewelry Repair, we employ Master Jewelers that know how to properly work with this intricate and difficult setting. The best way to secure invisibly set stones is to hand-cut grooves into the girdle of the gemstones. This method is time-consuming, and therefore it is more expensive. However, cutting the individual stones creates pressure between them, which keeps them secured within the metal framework so they are protected.
For more information on the Invisible Setting services we provide, feel free to check out our Invisible Setting Services page.
Are You in Need of an Invisible Setting Repair?
You’re in luck! We have a team of Master Jewelers that just so happen to be Invisible Setting Specialists.
Ready to Restore a Memory and Your Invisible Setting?
