Could someone please help me?

I have a stone (aquamarine faceted stone in emerald cut 10x8) and the client would like it set into a sterling silver or pure silver solid rub over collet for a ring (he doesn't want prongs for his girlfriends suprise) - I can't buy that over in the UK and the one I can get is 9ct white gold and I don't wish to dabble with gold due to the expense.

What can I do?  I don't feel confident enough to make a setting for a stone, I'm okay at making bezels for cabs but this one makes me nervous!!!

Also my plan was to solder the setting to a sterling silver band rather than using a ring shank (the client's other half likes chunky pieces rather than delicate hence the size of the stone!!).

I really appreciate any help/suggestion

Thanks in advance.

I will recommend a very good book to you by Jinks McGrath, Rings. In this book as well as her Encyclopedia of Jewelry she lays out the basics for making the setting for big chunky stones out of silver. I have been using this of late to set some large square cut stones and have had good success. I hope that this helps. By the way Jinks McGrath is in the UK.

Thanks for that I am now off to 'google' Jinks McGrath, I have heard of this lady but now I have a reason to carry on and find out more.

Much appreciated.

Romilly

I find you are going to decide if it is going to have four , six ,or what ever prongs the setting is going to have, and start to file them out, to saw them takes a very steady hand and the file is more forgiving I usually make the collett and then start to file them, slow but you have control of what you are doing all the time.

Other alternative is to make a wire setting, they are fine for larger stones and look fine,.A good ideea is to make a trial one larger than you need , so you have an idea of any problems you are going to encounter. Keep it for reference.Rubovers are fine if the stone doesnt need the extra light from the sides as in a faceted stone.Good Luck!!