Find your diamond
Find your jewelry
shape
carat
color
clarity

Deciding between rings and requesting advice

T

Takingtheplungeandcantwait

Rough_Rock
Joined
Dec 18, 2012
Messages
4
Hello! First off thank you everyone! This site has been very helpful!

So I am finally proposing this upcoming Jan and I need some help deciding. I have a pretty good idea of budget and specs, but I can't quite decide what is worth it/noticeable and what isn't. I know this isn't the highest price or specs, but it is currently all I can afford. Any advice/help/encouragement will be appreciated!

I really love the Tiffany setting. I am scheduled to see the H. Winston on Wednesday. Name brand would be great, but I am not set on it (she won't care that much) but I can't tell how much of a mark up there is. I really love the Tiffany setting and other jewelers I have seen don't seem to be as good. Are there ones I am missing? FYI I live in Ontario, CA and I am going to Costa Mesa tomorrow.

What I want:
Metal: Preferably Platinum, but I would consider White Gold if the setting was right.
Setting: Three stone (Large Center, smaller sides (about 1/2 the center size on each side is currently my favorite)
Size: Total (all three)=1.0+ Center: 0.5 carat Min preferably above 0.6 carat
Clarity of Center (only one ring I have found has specs for the sides): VS2+
Colour: DEF
Cut: Round, and as pretty as possible.
Budget: $10,000

What I have found so far:

Tiffany & Co.
Round Brillant Three Stone
Tag Price: $12,200.00
Size: 1.20 [Total]; 0.6

Colour: F(Side: F,F)
Clarity: VS1 (VS1 and VS2 for sides)
Cut: Round
Metal: Plantinum
Link (but smaller than the 2.3 in pic):
http://www.tiffany.com/Engagement/Item.aspx?GroupSKU=GRP10039#f+0/0/2002/0/0/2002

Harry Winston
Tag Price: $11,400.00
Size: 1.02 [Total]; 0.52

Colour: D
Clarity: VS1
Cut: Round
Metal: Platinum
Link: Don't have one

Costco:
Tag Price: $9499.99
Size: 1.7 [Total]; 0.7

Colour: D
Clarity: VS1
Cut: Round
Metal: Platinum
Link:
http://www.costco.com/1.70-ctw-Round-VS1-Clarity%2c-D-Color-Diamond-Three-Stone-Platinum-Ring.product.100025197.html

Costco: (For a sanity check/comparison. Seems like I would definitely notice the difference between this and the others)
Tag Price: $3399.99
Size: 0.96 [Total]; 0.5

Colour: I
Clarity: VS2
Cut: Round
Metal: Platinum
Link:
http://www.costco.com/Three-Stone-Round-Brilliant-Diamond-Ring-(0.96-ctw)-Platinum.product.11675396.html

USAA: Seems like a good price, but I cna't see it before I order it.
Tag Price: $6979.00
Size: 1.75 [Total]; 0.8 [Center; Doesn't specify]
Colour: H
Clarity: VS2
Cut: Round
Metal: Platinum
Link:
https://shopping.usaa.com/product/product_details/prd~304027P.jsp​
 
I would be more than slightly annoyed if my bf bought me something over $10,000 to only get a .5-.6 center

I actually don't like this style of 3 stone. I think they should be very small sides stones, or perhaps pear or tapering baguettes. It is a more flattering look.
 
JulieN|1355855319|3334763 said:
I would be more than slightly annoyed if my bf bought me something over $10,000 to only get a .5-.6 center

I actually don't like this style of 3 stone. I think they should be very small sides stones, or perhaps pear or tapering baguettes. It is a more flattering look.
Click to expand...

yeah, pretty much. I think you could build a really nice one to your own specs and have a lovely size center stone.

I would also make one observation. You are placing your most important spec as clarity, perhaps? VS2 is certainly going to be fine, but your very first order of importance needs to be that the stones are very well cut, that will make the diamond as pretty/sparkly as possible.
 
Thank you all for such quick responses.

I agree that much money seems way to much for such a small center, but I couldn't find anything that I thought would be better. I will check out White Flash. Any other recommendations?

On the item of Cut. I know that cut is the most important, but other than looks, how do you quantify this? For instances the above link for White Flash, how do I know that is better than Tiffanys?

Thank you again!
 
You can look at pictures and read the gushing in the Show Me the Bling forum. It pretty much speaks for itself.
 
Takingtheplungeandcantwait|1355855934|3334773 said:
Thank you all for such quick responses.

I agree that much money seems way to much for such a small center, but I couldn't find anything that I thought would be better. I will check out White Flash. Any other recommendations?

On the item of Cut. I know that cut is the most important, but other than looks, how do you quantify this? For instances the above link for White Flash, how do I know that is better than Tiffanys?

Thank you again!
Click to expand...

There are parameters for well cut diamonds and this is certainly the place to learn about that. There's a cheat sheet somewhere around here with guidelines for diamond depth, table size, pavilion and crown angles for very well cut stones. There's also a tool here called the HCA where you can enter the measurements and it will give you some idea of how the diamonds proportions predict how well it may be as a performer. In the meantime here's a couple of thoughts:

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2803958.htm

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2763623.htm
 
I really don't like ANY of those options. CUT is the most important factor in making a diamond sparkle and a ring dazzle the wearer.

For 10K you can get a three stone with a one carat center in platinum for that. All with best possible cut.

Diamond choices:
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.004-h-si1-round-diamond-ags-bl-104062571003 One I'd pick
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.027-h-vs2-round-diamond-ags-bl-104061006007 Alternate option

Setting:
Since you stated a preference for Tiffany, these are the ones that you will probably favor:
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/engagement-rings/classic-three-stone-platinum-5377p
or
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/engagement-rings/open-gallery-accented-platinum-5448p

BUT this is the setting I'd recommend. WHY? It allows her to wear a flush wedding band with it, which the Tiffany style does NOT allow.
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/engagement-rings/three-stone/queen-dinah-3-stone-platinum-5678p That price includes the sidestones.

If you go with the first stone and the last setting your total cost is: $9595

And BGD is more than used to shipping their products overseas.
 
Thanks Gypsy. I was looking for the cheat sheet for this. It's at least a starting point when there's so much information coming at you.

OP- this is a basic guide. It's not to say there aren't nice diamonds outside these specs, but it's a start. The HCA can also help you, but really, with somewhere like Whiteflash or Brian Gavin Diamonds or Good Old Gold so much legwork has already been done for you. Those images with the red are ASETs and Idealscope, and they show you the light performance of the diamond.

depth - 60 - 62% - maybe allow up to 62.4%
table - 54- 57%
crown angle - 34- 35 degrees
pavilion angle - 40.6- 41 degrees
girdle - avoid extremes, look for thin to slightly thick, thin to medium etc
polish and symmetry - very good and above

note - with crown and pavilion angles at the shallower ends ( CA 34- PA 40.6) and steeper ( CA 35- PA 41) check to make sure these angles complement in that particular diamond - eyeballs, Idealscope, trusted vendor input - check as appropriate!
 
I agree you need to increase the center stone size. I think WhiteFlash and BDG have very lovely 3-stones and it will allow you to pick the stones you want instead of getting a pre-made ring.

Has your GF specified that she would like a 3-stone engagement ring? I only ask because I think that style is more known for anniversary rings. However, there are have been some lovely 3-stone e-rings posted on PS recently. I actualy used to have one but it wasn't my style and I had no say. If I had a say, I would not have picked that for my e-ring.

My favorite: [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/3-stone-hearts-and-arrows-ring-from-bgd.175227/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/3-stone-hearts-and-arrows-ring-from-bgd.175227/[/URL]

Larger center stone/smaller sidestones: [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/my-new-3-stone-e-ring.175830/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/my-new-3-stone-e-ring.175830/[/URL]

Something unique with Rose Gold: [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/my-bgd-rose-gold-trellis-three-stone-reset.181886/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/my-bgd-rose-gold-trellis-three-stone-reset.181886/[/URL]
 
You could do this setting with these diamonds:
http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/three-stone/3-stone-butterflies-diamond-engagement-ring-231.htm
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2813895.htm
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2673933.htm
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2673941.htm
They may have smaller diamonds available that would allow you to get a bigger center. They can line them all up and take pictures for you so you can see the proportions.

I personally would drop down to H VS2/Si1 and Expert Selection (still a beautiful diamond as you can see by the images) to get a 1 ct center, like this:
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2696779.htm
and see what they recommend for the sides to keep it in budget.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
GET 3 FREE HCA RESULTS JOIN THE FORUM. ASK FOR HELP
Jewelry Blog
PriceScope-Concierge-Ad
Find prime cuts.
Top