Abstract: A method and setting for mounting ornamental beads and gems which avoids the use of claws. The setting is comprised of a flat planar sheet metal support with an aperture therein and a rectilinear strip that extends diametrically across the aperture. The strip has two ends, both of which are initially in one piece with the support. In keeping with the method of this invention, one of said ends of the strip is sheared from the support adjacent a side of the aperture. The strip is then deformable about its non-sheared end from a position coplanar with the aperture thereby enabling the threading of an ornamental bead or gem with a straight-through opening therein onto said strip. Subsequent to threading of the ornament on the strip, the strip is positioned in the plane of the aperture and is held in this position by frictional wedging of the sheared end of the strip against the portion of the support from which that end has been sheared.