Do I use "brownish" but sentimenal diamond in three-stone sapphire/diamond setting?

[threestone]

Hi, all,

I have a bit of a dilemma, but a good one, I suppose. My boyfriend, about to be fiance, gave me a 1/2-carat diamond about 6 months into our dating relationship, intended to be a symbol of his committment to me, and possibly to be used later in an engagement ring. Now we''ve been dating a year and entering into the ring arena.

I''d really like a sapphire engagement ring, and this diamond could easily fit into that plan. I know very little about diamonds, but when I went to a jeweler (different from the one he purchased the diamond from), the jeweler mentioned that the diamond was brown, and asked what he paid for it ($1,500, gulp).

The long and short is that he probably overpaid substantially, and apparently the diamond has a brown tint. When I look at it on a piece of white paper, I can see it, I guess. Again, I don''t know diamonds.

So, I have a couple options. I get rid of this diamond, which to my mushy sentimental heart is kind of sad. And financially, we''d take a hit. We can''t do a heck of a lot about the fact that we''re stuck with a diamond that might be worth half (can we?) Or, I use it in the three-stone ring.

If I use it in the ring, would I be better off getting 1) two fantastic, brilliant sapphires on the side and putting the diamond in the center (hoping that I can focus on my lovely blue sapphires), or do I get another so-so matched diamond and use a fantastic sapphire in the center?

The diamond is .42 carats (about 5 mm) round.

 

[chrono]

I don''t recommend selling the diamond because even on the very best ones, you will not get more than 40% of what you paid for it. 50% tops if you are very patient and sell directly to a public buyer.

Option 1: Diamond center and 2 blue sapphire sides
Very possible choice. Blue sapphires will help the stone look a touch whiter. To get a feel of how this will look, drop by a good jewellery store (not a chain type in the mall) and place a blue stone next to it to see the effect of how the colour plays out. If the stone isn''t that great, even 2 top notch sapphires can''t help it look better though.

Option 2: Get another so-so matched diamond and use a fantastic sapphire in the center
Also a good consideration. The thing is can you or your jeweller find something that matches? I am also concerned that having
two brownish diamonds might take away from a fantastic sapphire center. A great centerstone should not be "dragged down" by not so pretty sidestones. It''s like dressing up to the nines for a formal dinner but wearing slippers.

Option 3: Wear the diamond as a pendant and get a great sapphire
With a pendant, you still get to keep the stone as a sentimental item and you don''t see it too closely on your neck versus right on your finger where you oogle it 100 times a day at close range. You will also be able to get your dream sapphire as your e-ring. How''s that? Getting 2 birds with one stone.

 

[partgypsy]

I don''t know what the jeweler meant by "brown". I know some stones have a brown tint, others having a yellow tint (which then shade in the extreme to champagne diamonds or yellow diamonds). Did he give you idea of how brown as (i.e. L, M, O?)
Personally, brown doesn''t seem like it would go with blue sapphire, so I would be inclined not to try to find a matching "brown" diamond to make a set you might not like together. If it is sentimental I would set the stone in a separate piece such as a pendant (yellow gold maybe?

)

However I have often heard stories of jewelers downgrading other people''s stones to make a sale. It sounds like a pretty stone. In that case you might want to double check, get another opinion such as an appraisal, or ask another jeweler if he was going to match that stone what kind of specs would you be looking for. It would be up to you what you feel would be an acceptable lowest color to go with the blue sapphire.
Anyone''s opinionwhat''s the lowest she should go in color to match a blue sapphire?

 

[movie zombie]

since it has sentimental value, use it in another way: perhaps solitary to hang on a chain or if its too small for that add another stone to it. that way you still have the original diamond and are wearing/using it but are free to start from scratch with the e-ring.

movie zombie

ps if it really is a brown diamond and if it is of the champagne type, i''d be thrilled to have it. but i wouldn''t use it in the ring you''re describing.

 

[threestone]

"Two birds with one stone..."

Really, more like, "Two birds with four stones..." if I save it for a pendant

I should have clarified that 1) I have always wanted a three-stone ring (so it would be the ring I''ve been hoping for) and 2) we''re on a budget (well, our course, who isn''t?).

So, I could consider the idea of keeping it as a pendant, although it worries me that then I''d be faced with purchasing another diamond for my three-stone ring. Not that this isn''t an option!

I''d like a three-stone with all the stones to be about the same size. (My mother has an antique three-stone with an oval sapphire center and two diamonds, both 1/2 carat, which I love).

So, a 1/2-carat round diamond is probably exactly the size and shape I''d be looking for if it were the center stone, which is just what he gave me. How exactly would I tell me excited fiance, "Thanks for the diamond, but I need to get another one that''s exactly the same size and shape, but better, for my engagement ring, so I''ll hang the sweet one around my neck instead."

He''s a nice guy and wouldn''t flip his lid, but, gosh oh golly. Hmmm. I just need to think about a tactful approach.

If I do keep it, perhaps I should go for the two sapphires on the side. I plan on having them be the same size as the diamond. I haven''t looked at enough three-stone rings to figure out how much of a role the center stone plays when three are involved (if that makes any kinda sense).

 

[Catmom]

threestone, is it possible for you to post pictures of your diamond? I know the color won''t be true but at least we could get an idea of the tint.

 

[threestone]

partgypsy: Thanks for the insight about one jeweler possibly slamming another just to get you to purchase. I''m slowly realizing that going into a jewelry store can be akin to going into a car dealership!

moviezombie: So, champagne brown diamonds are desirable? Well, perhaps I should simply think of my diamond as "champagne!" Seriously, though, you made the point that if it''s actually brownish, it might look less than lovely next to a blue stone. And I''m not sure why it didn''t occur to me to do just that--look at it next to a blue stone!

catmom: That would be a tremendous help. I notice that posters on this sight can identify a lot simply through a couple of photos. I am at work (ahem!) and don''t have my camera on me, but when I get home, I''ll take some. I''ve never tried to photograph a diamond. Is it best to take it with a white background?

 

[MustangGal]

Do you have any paperwork that goes with the stone? It might say what color it is. If it is on the brownish side (I love chanpagne diamonds!), you might be able to put yellow sapphires next to it instead of the blue.

You said you can see a little tint onm whote paper, can you see the color in other lights? If you don''t really notice it, then it probably wouldn''t bother you when mounted.

 

[leggs]

I would look here for a second side diamond and go for an awesome sapphire center.This place has lots of brown diamonds and unbelievable prices.


http://www.alphaimports.com/brown-diamonds-c-11_54.html

 

[ulualoha]

I am a sentimental sap...so I would be struggling like you too. Maybe you could wear the diamond on your right hand until you decide what you want to do? If you are going to chose a "traditional" sapphire (blue), having a warm colored diamond next to a cool colored stone might do an injustice to your sapphire because of the contrast. I would continue to wear the commitment ring on your right hand and focus on finding a great sapphire engagement ring. If you opt for a warmer colored sapphire, you might be able to integrate the diamond into the design but finding another diamond that matches exactly I think might be tough so it might have to be a custom designed two stone ring. In either case, I would highly recommend The Natural Sapphire Company. They carry all colors of sapphires- blue, pink, yellow, green, purple, etc. I just bought a yellow and pink sapphire from them and was beyond impressed with my experience with them. Here''s their website:

www.thenaturalsapphirecompany.com

Here is the yellow stone I bought from them:

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/yummy-new-yellow-sapphire-ring.74463/

I hope you find what you are looking for! I think it''s awesome you and your FI have such a great relationship you can talk so freely about everything! Congrats to you!!!

ulualoha

 

[dtnyc]

Date: 12/13/2007 11:36:42 AM
Author: threestone

So, I could consider the idea of keeping it as a pendant, although it worries me that then I'd be faced with purchasing another diamond for my three-stone ring. Not that this isn't an option!


I'd like a three-stone with all the stones to be about the same size. (My mother has an antique three-stone with an oval sapphire center and two diamonds, both 1/2 carat, which I love).


So, a 1/2-carat round diamond is probably exactly the size and shape I'd be looking for if it were the center stone, which is just what he gave me. How exactly would I tell me excited fiance, 'Thanks for the diamond, but I need to get another one that's exactly the same size and shape, but better, for my engagement ring, so I'll hang the sweet one around my neck instead.'


He's a nice guy and wouldn't flip his lid, but, gosh oh golly. Hmmm. I just need to think about a tactful approach.


If I do keep it, perhaps I should go for the two sapphires on the side. I plan on having them be the same size as the diamond. I haven't looked at enough three-stone rings to figure out how much of a role the center stone plays when three are involved (if that makes any kinda sense).

If I were your BF I wouldn't want to give a ring that wasn't nice- hopefully this is a ring that you will wear for the rest of your life. My e-ring has a family stone in the center and it's an M color- I have to say that if my husband had consulted with me on this before having the ring made I probably would have suggested another option- most people don't notice, but I do and it doesn't have a "brownish" tint (more gray-green- if it did I think he probably wouldn't have used it. If the stone truly has a brownish tint then it probably won't look great w/ sapphre sides, or flanking a nice sapph. A champagne diamond is a different animal and probably wouldn't be incorporated into a 3 stone ring w/ sapphires either.
I would have the stone you already have looked at by an independent appraiser- get an honest opinion of what the color is.
If it's k-l-m-n (which could have a brownish tint) then come back & look up how much a stone of the same size but w/ better color would cost. You might be surprised.
Also do a search on sapphires too- lots of ppl have vendors that they recc'd for sapphires- and have bought matching stones for earrings, side stones of rings, etc.

ETA-
you can "pricescope" your diamond using the tool on the front page of this site. You can even do a search for matching pairs, so you could see how much it might cost to buy 2 more diamonds of the similar size. Also then you could figure things out using the pricescope discount, etc.

 

[dtnyc]

I did a quick search and found this stone- which looks very nice and is about the size of the one you have- and it''s under 1k (I don''t know what your budget is).
You can click on "matching stones" and see if whiteflash has any stones that could pair well with it.

 

[movie zombie]

and there are some that think that k/l/m/n color diamonds are just fine. i think though you''d have to be more careful as to which metal was used in the setting and i still wouldn''t put it next to a blue sapphire for fear of it looking drab....but there is blue sapphire and then there is blue sapphire......perhaps the lighter color would look good? perhaps the two side stones could be a bit smaller: sometimes things look better when we accentuate the difference rather than try and minimalize them....however, i''m still doubtful about your diamond with blue sapphire.

i think i''d lean towards keeping the current ring as is for sentimental reasons and wearing it as is on my right hand but i think i''d rather have it as a pendant and wear it 24/7. then get the sapphire e-ring you want.

movie zombie

 

[gailrmv]

If I could, I would make it into a pendant and start fresh with the e-ring. You might be able to find a setting for the center sapphire that has two good side diamonds included in the price, which could mean less explanation to your future FI. For example, this one is $1500 in white gold with side diamonds included at Whiteflash
http://www.whiteflash.com/Engagement-Rings/Styles/3Stone/-Trois-Brillant-_1031.htm
This one is $2400
http://www.whiteflash.com/golden-wardrobe/Gold_Details.aspx?ItemCode=WFR-3WRd-18kPl&CategID=14

I think there is also one that is a super deal at Pearlman''s Jewelers (in the great deals section) by Scott Kay unless they have sold it recently.

 

[gailrmv]

I happened to come across the other 3 stone setting I had mentioned on pearlmans closeouts (not scott kay as I had thought but jeff cooper!)
http://www.pearlmansjewelers.com/jewelry-specials/closeout-jewelry/rings/087CO1/96/http://memoire.com/catalog/collections.aspx?products=2107
Jeff cooper platinum, includes the sidestones (.5ctw) for $1400, which is a great bargain. Pop your sapphire in there and you are good to go!
Here is another one that might work for a little less $
http://www.pearlmansjewelers.com/jewelry-specials/closeout-jewelry/rings/084CO1/96/
Conveniently these are both my size - hey maybe I need a sapphire 3 stone ring