Setting strip (NPY 009)

[Julian]

I a thinking this is something that might be really use full, but how is setting strip used, and what for?

Best of all are the any example / tutorials out the, all I coul find was bezel strip

Julian

[Kwant]

I too have been tempted by the sterling version of that strip, but like you I am unsure exactly how it is used. I am guessing that you cut however many of the settings you want from the strip, notch the prongs set your stone and push over the prongs, but having never been sure if that is the case I have not as yet tried.

[Dennis]

A Well Kept Secret?
The proud possessors of the CookBook have a little more insight into these, because they are more fully illustrated in the settings section. They all have bearers for round faceted stones and claws to retain them.

In the absence of any comment from Cookson, I hope they will forgive me for quoting their ‘Extra Info’:

These strips can be used to make up full and half eternity rings, hoop earrings or small sections can be inserted & set to decorate necklets & bracelets. Supplied in approximately 60mm lengths.
Dennis.

[Julian]

Thanks Denis, trust me not to read the small print!

That said, lots of people, incluing the US, sell them, but I can find no referancees or examples. Secret indeed

Julian

[Wallace]

I made a half hoop ring in preparation for the course I went on. I used the silver version due to costs and mistakes that oft come with learning. Alas, I never got around to setting this one, but learned on a larger version. More input on is will have to wait for the required assay bits before I can do much more. I think I will be in trouble enough with the stones I have set in some of the pieces I have made that are going in the latest batch. Ooops!

[Kwant]

Having been prompted by this discussion I ordered some of the silver setting strip, which arrived today and I am impressed. Although the photos on the Cookson website are accurate, the fact that they are macro gives the impression the setting strip is a bit gauche. It is not, it is really very nice. I bought the one suitable for 3.5mm stones and ordered some appropriate czs to have a go, they have not arrived yet but I am looking forward to using this strip.

[LittleGem]

A Well Kept Secret?
The proud possessors of the CookBook have a little more insight into these, because they are more fully illustrated in the settings section. They all have bearers for round faceted stones and claws to retain them.

In the absence of any comment from Cookson, I hope they will forgive me for quoting their ‘Extra Info’:

These strips can be used to make up full and half eternity rings, hoop earrings or small sections can be inserted & set to decorate necklets & bracelets. Supplied in approximately 60mm lengths.
Dennis.

Thanks for that Dennis- quicker than me!

Apologies Julian there isn't as much info on the website, I am going to copy the extra info onto the online products to help.

[Kwant]

I have some news on the setting strip and sadly it is not good news.

I had a friend visiting for a week, a week or so back and I gave her one of the stones I bought to go into the setting strip, which she took to Cookson in London as she works a couple of streets away. Well having been presented with the stone, and trying it on the setting strip they admitted that it did not fit. Their suggestion was to prise open the prongs ( which I have in fact done and frankly it needs some fair bit of prising and removal of material to get the stone anywhere near fitting and even then it does not and distorts the strip to the point of being ugly) and fit it that way. They measured the setting strip and it was coming up as 2.7mm, which in these terms is a far cry from the 3.5mm stone it was supposed to accommodate. The stones I have are coming out around 3.46mm.

I am left with a length of setting strip that of course can be used if one knows the correct size of stone to buy to fit it, it certainly is not the 3.5mm round stone that it was intended for. I suppose the only thing I can do is order some stones in and around the measured dimensions of the setting strip and see what size actually will fit.

[Wallace]

I have some news on the setting strip and sadly it is not good news.

I had a friend visiting for a week, a week or so back and I gave her one of the stones I bought to go into the setting strip, which she took to Cookson in London as she works a couple of streets away. Well having been presented with the stone, and trying it on the setting strip they admitted that it did not fit. Their suggestion was to prise open the prongs ( which I have in fact done and frankly it needs some fair bit of prising and removal of material to get the stone anywhere near fitting and even then it does not and distorts the strip to the point of being ugly) and fit it that way. They measured the setting strip and it was coming up as 2.7mm, which in these terms is a far cry from the 3.5mm stone it was supposed to accommodate. The stones I have are coming out around 3.46mm.

I am left with a length of setting strip that of course can be used if one knows the correct size of stone to buy to fit it, it certainly is not the 3.5mm round stone that it was intended for. I suppose the only thing I can do is order some stones in and around the measured dimensions of the setting strip and see what size actually will fit.

you so know you want to order some more stones, not encouraging you at all.

I have managed to set some 1.7mm emeralds into the silver setting strip I purchased for my course (but never got around to as I got carried away with the other settings) May get the camera out tomorrow if the weather is nice and show if you like?