The purpose of this paper is to give the manufacturing jeweler a series of quality checks for judging stone settings. Procedures will be offered that address the structural integrity of settings while respecting the aesthetic appeal of jewelry pieces. Subjects touched upon include the security of stones in prong, bezel, channel and pavé settings. For example, stones that appear tight in a prong setting at the end of the manufacturing process can become loose when worn due to unnoticed gaps. How much gap is too much? Is any gap acceptable? How can you find the gap? What makes a bezel secure? What are the main characteristics of durable and beautiful pavé? Loose and lost stones hurt your favorable brand name recognition, both with retail jewelers and the jewelry consumer. Developing observational procedures for the quality control process can help prevent these credibility-threatening situations.

Authors: Arthur Skuratowicz & Julie Nash