Having second thoughts about my three stone oval ring

[Ice_newbie]

Hi everyone -
After lots of deliberations and searching, I just received my three stone oval ring from James Allen.

The center stone is 1.42 E color, VVS2 Clarity with a depth of 63.1% and a Table of 62%; the sidestones are .50 and .51, both are E color and VVS2. All of the stones are GIA certified. The setting is extremely simple - a very thin, plain platinum band - and the setting is a low profile basket. The JA gemologist reported that the center stone has "great fire, brilliance, and scintillation," and that the bowtie "blends well."

When I first saw the ring, I really loved it (although I knew immediately that I wanted to make some modifications to the band). Over the past few days of wearing it, I have become worried about the bow tie effect. In most light, I don't even see it on the center stone. But in some light - for example, the incandescent lighting of my living room - it is very obvious to me. I am trying to figure out whether my center stone is as good as an oval gets, or whether a different oval might solve my problem.

I am also starting to have a nagging feeling that, because of this bowtie issue, I might prefer round brilliants to ovals for my three stone ring. I know that my budget won't allow for RBs that are the same size/color/clarity of my ovals, and so I am trying to figure out how to compare the two options.

Apologies for the hand shot below - it's the best one I have. The image is the JA ASET image of the center stone.

Any help from you ladies would be much appreciated. And Happy New Year!

 

[04diamond<3]

Well, I think it's gorgeous!!! The finger coverage is fantastic!!!! But you are right - you will get more brilliance from a RB. What would your budget be for a whole new ring? That would have to consider all three stones. Or would you go to a different style ring to get a bigger center?

 

[diamondseeker2006]

It looks very pretty on your hand, but it sounds like to me that you might be happier with rounds. There probably aren't a lot of ovals with absolutely no bow tie at all. That one has a lot more green than red in the ASET, and when you compare that to an ideal cut round,the ideal cut round is going to mostly be red meaning better light performance, sparkle, etc. You definitely could go lower than E VVS with rounds.

 

[Ice_newbie]

Thanks! I think I want to stick with a three stone style because I don't want it to look like an E Ring. The budget for the whole ring is $15k.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Fortunately you can make a very nice round three stone with a 1.3 center and .50 sides. You should be able to do it with your budget but you will likely be looking at G-H color.

You can get a 1.3 H VS2 for around $9300-9500 which leaves you over $5000 for the two sides.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS2-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1544963.asp

 

[m-2-b]

I agree w/ DS about a MRB 3 stone ER b/c I have one myself. I think you'll be happier w/ the amount of sparkle coming from a MRB diamond, especially when there are 3 in a row!

 

[04diamond<3]

That's a great budget! Here's a 1.50 ct it's a smidge deep, but it's gorgeous and 7400!

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1545487.asp

sidestones:

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/matching-pairs/view.asp?item1=1513889&item2=1542697

that would bring the total to just under 10k. With probably an additional 2k for the setting, that's still 3k under budget!!

 

[Niel]

thats a lot of diamond for 15K!

I think its lovely, but I know how you feel. I have a pear I bought and unfortunately its not doing it fore me either for a few reasons... And i know once you get that nagging feeling, it doesnt go away. And I cant tell you if you are ok with the bowtie or not. Only you can know that

You dont have to go rounds, but you could go to different shapes with the same faceting all over, and avoid ovals, marquise, pears.

But unfortunately those are the once that face up larger than rounds.

I agree with DS first thing is you really could go lower than an E with such high clarity. That would be one way to stretch your budget.
you could get a nice at least 1.3 h round with pear sides that would be very lovely and unique.


or you could look for cushions. those have a similar shape that you like but dont have that mixed faceting

 

[04diamond<3]

or from BGD:

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/1.522-j-si1-round-diamond-ags-bl-104062571030

and sidestones:

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamond_pair_comparisions/compared_diamond_details/AGS-104055878095/AGS-104061541015

in:

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/engagement-rings/three-stone/crossed-trellis-18k-white-gold-5460w18

Would still come under budget at $14,450!!! This would be a stunning ring!

 

[Rosebloom]

I think your ring is gorgeous!

You've received great advice if you decide to make a change. But if you decide you like the sparkle of your ovals, the proportion and size is really stunning.

 

[Ice_newbie]

Thanks for the great advice, everyone! Question - to those of you who say I will get more brilliance/sparkle from RBs than ovals, I know that is true, all things being equal, but I am specifically wondering how you think RBs in the H-J color range will compare to my E colored VVS2 ovals.

 

[m-2-b]

I have a G-H-G 3 stone which looks very white in the majority of settings. I also have other diamonds that are D and F colors which are icy white. But I have learned through personal experience that I don't want to pay a premium for that high a color. Make sure you buy from a vendor that has generous upgrade policies if you are ever unhappy w/ your initial color choice.

 

[Niel]

Thanks for the great advice, everyone! Question - to those of you who say I will get more brilliance/sparkle from RBs than ovals, I know that is true, all things being equal, but I am specifically wondering how you think RBs in the H-J color range will compare to my E colored VVS2 ovals.

with e you arent going to see any color in an oval. Ovals hold more color than rounds. A round in an H is going to be very colorless. for me, I cant see color in an I either. Some people can though. Most people can see it in a J though. Not that thats a bad thing, and if you dont mind seeing a color, a J is fine. And VVS2 high clarity. As long as its eye clean, you dont have to pay for such high clarity. You could get an SI1 (or VS2 if SI makes you uncomfortable) that is eye clean and then you get the advantage of not paying as much for clarity. A good PS vendor will tell you of a stone is eye clean at 6inches (from the top and side). For me personally I would be very comfortable with a H-I eye clean VS2- SI1. A h-i color and clarity (as long as its not heavily included) is not going to effect the light return for you. And a round will have better light return than an oval

 

[Alexiszoe]

Your ring looks absolutely gorgeous! However, if the bowtie is going to bother you, maybe it might be better to switch to a RB instead as others have suggested.

Based on your choice of E VVS2, I assume that high color and clarity is important to you. Personally having seen ideal cuts E and H rounds (about 1.2 to 1.3 carats) side by side, there is a definite color difference, although the color difference is slight. If color is that important to you, I suggest staying with E color but going down on clarity - eye clean SI1 or SI2 if you wish to maximize your budget, or going down to VS2 if you prefer slightly higher clarity while still maximizing your budget.

 

[Niel]

To piggy back on the pp did you try for those specs or did they end up picking you? I know when picking fancies like that you want to stay h or above because they show more color, and really being that you have to kind of pick which one looks best to you in the clarity / color range you're comfortable with. is that how you found your ovals or did you really try for those specific specs? Well have to modify your search depending

 

[Doc_1]

It is totally different optics of the oval when compared to the RB, you get the multi pin points, with occasional splintery firing in the belly from the red there.
so if you are for that looks then the Oval is it. now if the bow tie is obvious (i do see though a bright belly in the pic you posted) then it will be a good idea to look personally at different ovals to compare it to your stone then you might find that yours is GORGEOUS as it seems to my eyes from the picture.
If you think that you want to go for the splintery brilliance of the round then that is a different story, but the pinpoint sparkles from top to bottom on the oval with the occasional splintery firing from the belly has its merits too.

 

[JulieN]

are you going to be happy seeing arrows in rounds in certain lighting?

 

[woofmama]

I think your ring is stunning & agree with Doc_1. Personally I would keep your ovals. It's a very different look than MRB's.

 

[yennyfire]

I would suggest going to a local jewelry store and seeing if they have any 3 stone rings with all rounds or a round center and pear sides to try on. See what you think about it before you start sending your ring back and trading stones, etc. Look at rounds in different colors to see what your tolerance is.....try to look at all GIA 3X stones (since I assume that is what you'd be getting) so that you're comparing apples to apples.

I do think that you could easily go lower in clarity (a VS2 maybe?) and to a G color (in an oval) without seeing any body color.

I'm partial to both ovals and 3 stones, so I love your ring (though I would have preferred a lower color/clarity combo). It is unique, but classic....in the end you're the only one who can decide what you will be the happiest with....good luck!

 

[chrono]

Rounds and ovals have different sparkle type, not just the shape and bowtie/arrows. Ovals also provide that little bit of extra height coverage, elongating the finger. I'd say look around a bit in stores and try on a few 3 stone round combos to see if that suits you first before deciding about returns, colour/clarity combo and etc.

 

[Ice_newbie]

Thanks for all the thoughtful advice. Nielseel, in response to your question - I would say that the specs of my ovals (E/VVS2) "chose me," in that I was warned to go with a higher color grade because ovals "show color," and it just turned out that the stones with higher clarity ratings performed better, according to the JA gemologists. I do not have my heart set on any particular color/clarity ratings - I just want the best light performance and the most beautiful possible stones.

 

[04diamond<3]

Thanks for all the thoughtful advice. Nielseel, in response to your question - I would say that the specs of my ovals (E/VVS2) "chose me," in that I was warned to go with a higher color grade because ovals "show color," and it just turned out that the stones with higher clarity ratings performed better, according to the JA gemologists. I do not have my heart set on any particular color/clarity ratings - I just want the best light performance and the most beautiful possible stones.

As with all shapes, the best light performance is solely dependent on the cut! That's why we've been showing you ideal + cuts because that's what will sparkle the best! There are different cuts for rounds that look equally spectacular. I'd check out Good Old Gold to see all of them.

www.goodoldgold.com

EX: http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/9775/ (if you got 3 of these on a ring you'd be blinding people!)

 

[JaneSmith]

Hi everyone -
After lots of deliberations and searching, I just received my three stone oval ring from James Allen.

The center stone is 1.42 E color, VVS2 Clarity with a depth of 63.1% and a Table of 62%; the sidestones are .50 and .51, both are E color and VVS2. All of the stones are GIA certified. The setting is extremely simple - a very thin, plain platinum band - and the setting is a low profile basket. The JA gemologist reported that the center stone has "great fire, brilliance, and scintillation," and that the bowtie "blends well."

When I first saw the ring, I really loved it (although I knew immediately that I wanted to make some modifications to the band). Over the past few days of wearing it, I have become worried about the bow tie effect. In most light, I don't even see it on the center stone. But in some light - for example, the incandescent lighting of my living room - it is very obvious to me. I am trying to figure out whether my center stone is as good as an oval gets, or whether a different oval might solve my problem.

I am also starting to have a nagging feeling that, because of this bowtie issue, I might prefer round brilliants to ovals for my three stone ring. I know that my budget won't allow for RBs that are the same size/color/clarity of my ovals, and so I am trying to figure out how to compare the two options.

Apologies for the hand shot below - it's the best one I have. The image is the JA ASET image of the center stone.

Any help from you ladies would be much appreciated. And Happy New Year!

Let me just say that I love your ring. LOVE!

I have a three stone oval, and I got it pre-PS. I lucked out because it is bright and fiery. I didn't even know what a bow tie was until PS. For a little while, it bothered me because I thought it was some ugly flaw of the cut and I felt ripped off. The bow tie is always cast in such a negative light.
Then I realised that I only see it in certain lighting, and it is such a small part of the overall effect, and the lighting that shows the bow tie is also the lighting that brings out the most extraordinary fire. This is probably why I never even noticed the bowtie pre-PS, because I was always mesmerized by the light show my beautiful ring was producing.
I love the shape of ovals. No one else I know has ovals, they all have rounds. The ovals look way bigger than their carat weight on my finger.
So, my advice would be to wear your beautiful ring to some jewelry shops, and try on three stone rounds. See which one you like better, then go from there. There is a vast difference between a three stone oval and a three stone round. You may or may not find dropping a colour grade or four to your liking, but unless you enjoy knowing you have a high clarity stone dropping a clarity grade or three wont be much trouble at all.

Please post more pictures of your ring.

 

[Shibalover]

Have you made any decisions about the ring? I just received an oval ring for my engagement and have had second thoughts as well-the JA gemologist said it had great light performance and it was very bright, with a bow tie that blended well. All of that is very true however in certain lighting, the bow tie is more prominent but there is a lot of brightness across the belly as well. I think just reading about how bow ties are bad makes you second guess things (basically makes you think if you really got the best performing oval) but in the end it's going to come down to if it will continue to bother you or not.