Jewelry, Watches & Precision Luxury Goods worked example

Stone Setting Labor at 11% sorting and rework allowance: a worked example

This worked example runs the stone setting labor numbers for a tougher week than the baseline: 11% sorting and rework allowance instead of the typical 15%. Estimate the total bench labor hours required for stone setting work on a batch of jewelry pieces. Accounts for the number of stones to set, the average setting time per stone (which varies by setting type: prong, bezel, pave, channel, flush), and an allowance for setup, stone sorting, and minor rework.

The inputs for this scenario

  • Total stones to set: 120 stones (held at the documented default)
  • Setting throughput per setter: 3 stones / min (held at the documented default)
  • Sorting and rework allowance: 11 % (the input this scenario stresses; the baseline uses 15)

Working through the calculation

  • The calculation starts from the formula this tool documents: Base setting time = total stones to set ÷ setting rate (converted to hours).
  • Scheduled setting labor works out to 44.4 hr at these inputs, and this is the headline figure for the scenario.
  • Base setting time works out to 40 hr at these inputs.
  • Sorting and rework allowance applied works out to 11 % at these inputs.
  • Setting rate works out to 3 pieces / min at these inputs.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where sorting and rework allowance sits at 15% and the headline result is 46 hr, this scenario comes in 3.48% below the baseline at 44.4 hr.
  • Use it when quoting a pavé or melee-heavy piece, loading a setter's weekly schedule, or pricing outsourced setting work. A result at this level usually justifies acting on the stressed input before touching anything else, because every other figure in the table is downstream of it.

Results at a glance

  • Scheduled setting labor: 44.4 hr (headline result)
  • Base setting time: 40 hr
  • Sorting and rework allowance applied: 11 %
  • Setting rate: 3 pieces / min

Run it with your numbers

  • To rerun this with your own numbers, open the live Stone Setting Labor calculator, set sorting and rework allowance to your actual value, and adjust the remaining inputs to match your operation.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.