SHOULD I ADD ROUND SIDES TO MY SOLITAIRE?

[CharlotteYork]

I have decided to convert my solitaire into a three stone ring, and I have been trying to determine what shape I like best - Hearts and Pears are my first two choices, but I also want to consider Round. I absolutely love the Whiteflash 3 stone Butterfly setting originally designed by @yssie : https://www.whiteflash.com/engageme...rflies-diamond-engagement-ring-231.htm#size=6 so this is what I would choose. My solitaire with ACA diamond is from Whiteflash, and it would be nice to have ACAs for the sidestones! My diamond specs are:

3.10 carat
I color
SI
ACA
(Finger size 5 1/4)

To allow the center stone to remain the star, if using round sides I would want to keep them small. Think Megan Markle's engagement ring:


Megan's ring (of course mine would have a Round center)

Here is my current set:


My wedding band is approximately 3mm with 7 pointer diamonds. It is channel set and does not damage the engagement ring.

The Butterfly looks so pretty when paired with wedding bands!


@Siamese Kitty

Here are some other Pricescopers who have chosen the popular Butterfly setting...


The one who started it all!
@yssie https://www.pricescope.com/communit...s-here-2-7-three-stone-in-unplated-wg.144010/
2.7 center
0.43 sides (each)
Ring size 4


@Siamese Kitty https://www.pricescope.com/communit...erflies-setting-thoughts.249589/#post-4563234
2.26 center
.41 sides (each)
Ring size 6


@Lvoeshinythings https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/i-finally-have-butterflies.257812/page-2
Center 2.584
Sides 0.402 and 0.405


@soxfan https://www.pricescope.com/communit...rflies-with-cbi-and-acas.256793/#post-4741304
2.12 Center
.31 Sides (each)
Ring Size 4.75


@GamGam https://www.pricescope.com/communit...ing-whiteflash-butterfly.269594/#post-5044707
Center 2.24
0.53 Sides (each)

And before you say my center stone is too big to convert to a three stone... Here is @LLJsmom 's gorgeous 3 stone with a very similar setting:


Center 3 carat
1.2 and 1.1 carat sides
Ring Size 5


@MissGotRocks - Not a Butterfly setting, but I love the Center/Side ratio and how it pairs with her eternity band! Definitely an inspiration.

Six trades, seven stones later. . .

and here I am posting on PS! I have been a long time lurker and am now coming out of the closet. A big hello to all of you - I feel like I know so many of you although you don''t know me! I have been tuning in for a couple of years now and have finally taken some pictures to show. I tried this...

www.pricescope.com

2.22 Center
.33 Sides (each)

Isn't the profile of the Butterfly is sooooo lovely?!!


The Whiteflash Butterfly Setting

Questions:

1. What do you recommend as the smallest size I could go for round sides?

2. I think there is a "formula" somewhere to calculate the ratio??

3. Is there any way I could photoshop some options?

4. Please vote in the Poll: Do you prefer Hearts or Pears instead of Rounds? You can read my thoughts and the opinions on Hearts vs. Pears here... https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/help-round-center-and-heart-side-stones.271333/

Thank you!

 

[elle_chris]

I'm thinking of doing the exact same thing this year, turning my solitaire into a three stone. I want to add round sides.

This Victor Canera is my fave.
Watch the video, it's a gorgeous 3 stone with perfect proportions I think.

The center stone is 1.71ct and the sides are .70ct each.

 

[Lookinagain]

Op I thought you really wanted hearts? Have you changed your mind? I think round sides look best, but if you really wanted hearts, I wonder if you will still want them after getting the rounds?

 

[CharlotteYork]

I'm thinking of doing the exact same thing this year, turning my solitaire into a three stone. I want to add round sides.

This Victor Canera is my fave.
Watch the video, it's a gorgeous 3 stone with perfect proportions I think.

The center stone is 1.71ct and the sides are .70ct each.

Oh I love Victor's work, but I was told they do not work on outside stones not purchased through them.

 

[elle_chris]

Oh I love Victor's work, but I was told they do not work on outside stones not purchased through them.

Yeah, I dunno... but the proportions are what makes the ring for me.

 

[FL_runner]

The WF butterfly ring with ACA sides would really be a dream three stone. Personally I think round sides are so classic, and I like when the cuts match- in this case the pear or heart sides, even if really nicely cut, might look mushy or have different light return that doesn’t hold up to your stunning center stone. The hearts would be whimsical and sweet but i just love the look of rounds!

 

[yssie]

I feel like I shouldn’t vote but if I did, well, I’d vote for exactly what you’d think

I like round sides best. Pears are a very close second - rounds eke them out because RBs just sparkle more… And they do behave more similarly to a RB center, even with the size difference

 

[CharlotteYork]

Op I thought you really wanted hearts? Have you changed your mind? I think round sides look best, but if you really wanted hearts, I wonder if you will still want them after getting the rounds?

The hearts were so divisive in my last post, it has me second guessing them. Plus I'm having a difficult time locating a matching pair... I think they will need to be custom cut. I am having a talented lady on Etsy make me a silver and CZ ring with 3 carat center and .50 (each) heart sides so I can get a good feel for what it would look like. I will report back once it arrives! For now, I'm trying to weigh all my options, and I do love this Butterfly setting. I think its the prongs on the sidestones... makes them look almost like hearts!

 

[molecule]

If you go for rounds, I recommend you take a look at diameters of the center vs that of the side stones as opposed to the carat size. I like approximately half the center diameter for the side stones.

Would you be picking white gold or platinum?

 

[CharlotteYork]

I feel like I shouldn’t vote but if I did, well, I’d vote for exactly what you’d think

I like round sides best. Pears are a very close second - rounds eke them out because RBs just sparkle more… And they do behave more similarly to a RB center, even with the size difference

Well, you did an amazing job designing this setting, it's really what drew me to considering round sides. I would love your recommendation on a size for the sides... I love the ratio on yours!

 

[yssie]

I do love smaller sides I personally like an almost #SolitaireWithAccents look if you know what I mean? Smaller round sides also "pear out" more with the single end-prong, which I also like in this particular mount. Totally personal preference though!!

 

[molecule]

Can you describe what adjectives you want your ring to embody?
Romantic, unique, contemporary, vintage, classic?

 

[Mreader]

I also like rounds best but again you love what you love. I find that hearts tend to look like pears unless you are eyeing very closely or they have bezels or something to define their shape.

 

[CharlotteYork]

Can you describe what adjectives you want your ring to embody?
Romantic, unique, contemporary, vintage, classic?

Classic, elegant, romantic

 

[MissGotRocks]

@CharlotteYork - you had posted one iteration of my ring but thought I’d show you another. The one you found had a 2.22 center stone but the most recent has a 2.53 ACA with the same side stones - .33 each. Just gives you another size perspective. Sorry this shows up so large! I definitely vote for round sides as I feel they optimize sparkle of the overall ring. The channel set band gives the best protection of the engagement ring prongs which you have obviously already found.

 

[CharlotteYork]

I do love smaller sides I personally like an almost #SolitaireWithAccents look if you know what I mean? Smaller round sides also "pear out" more with the single end-prong, which I also like in this particular mount. Totally personal preference though!!

Yes, "solitaire with accents" is exactly what I'm going for! I'd like to get the smallest rounds possible without looking weird. Maybe somewhere in the .35 - .43 range like yours? I also love the way the sides "hug" your finger.

 

[molecule]

Classic, elegant, romantic

I would stick to rounds or pears then.

I could see a three stone with chubby small pears working very well with some Erika Winters inspired milgrain down the knife edge from the tip of the pear. Or a triwire (maybe two colors similar to the Tiffany rose and white gold band) from the tip.

 

[CharlotteYork]

@CharlotteYork - you had posted one iteration of my ring but thought I’d show you another. The one you found had a 2.22 center stone but the most recent has a 2.53 ACA with the same side stones - .33 each. Just gives you another size perspective. Sorry this shows up so large! I definitely vote for round sides as I feel they optimize sparkle of the overall ring.

Oh yes, this is lovely!! I feel like it still really allows the center to remain the star! Would you mind posting a picture of the side? I love the flush(?) fit with your eternity ring. And what was your thought process when selecting sizes for your center and sides?

 

[Niel]

I voted even though you know my opinion.
I see yssie mentioned a few of the things I said in the other thread including that single side prongs in the side stones can modify the look of the round slightly.

 

[Niel]

I’d probably do somewhere between .4-.5 ct per side stone. Definitely not above 50 pts.

 

[MissGotRocks]

Oh yes, this is lovely!! I feel like it still really allows the center to remain the star! Would you mind posting a picture of the side? I love the flush(?) fit with your eternity ring. And what was your thought process when selecting sizes for your center and sides?

Honestly, the side stones came a long time ago - several center stones ago I should say. This setting is from PrecisionSet and is a flush fit setting. WF was able to change the head to accommodate this larger center stone and the side stones were still small enough to satisfy the ‘accent’ stones that I wanted. I always want the center to be the star as you say so this setting just continued to work. The channel set band from Tiffany came later and worked because it was the same height as the bridge under the diamonds on the engagement ring. So this compilation was not by plan; it was rather pieced together and worked. I do much better with being able to see something on my hand than to try to convey what is in my head to a designer. Honestly though the rings are rather simple and could be duplicated by almost anyone.

 

[oncrutchesrightnow]

The hearts were so divisive in my last post, it has me second guessing them. Plus I'm having a difficult time locating a matching pair... I think they will need to be custom cut. I am having a talented lady on Etsy make me a silver and CZ ring with 3 carat center and .50 (each) heart sides so I can get a good feel for what it would look like. I will report back once it arrives! For now, I'm trying to weigh all my options, and I do love this Butterfly setting. I think its the prongs on the sidestones... makes them look almost like hearts!

IMHO round sides would look best, and you could incorporate the heart shape into the setting.

 

[Dmndsr4evr11]

I have decided to convert my solitaire into a three stone ring, and I have been trying to determine what shape I like best - Hearts and Pears are my first two choices, but I also want to consider Round. I absolutely love the Whiteflash 3 stone Butterfly setting originally designed by @yssie : https://www.whiteflash.com/engageme...rflies-diamond-engagement-ring-231.htm#size=6 so this is what I would choose. My solitaire with ACA diamond is from Whiteflash, and it would be nice to have ACAs for the sidestones! My diamond specs are:

3.10 carat
I color
SI
ACA
(Finger size 5 1/4)

To allow the center stone to remain the star, if using round sides I would want to keep them small. Think Megan Markle's engagement ring:


Megan's ring (of course mine would have a Round center)

Here is my current set:


My wedding band is approximately 3mm with 7 pointer diamonds. It is channel set and does not damage the engagement ring.

The Butterfly looks so pretty when paired with wedding bands!


@Siamese Kitty

Here are some other Pricescopers who have chosen the popular Butterfly setting...


The one who started it all!
@yssie https://www.pricescope.com/communit...s-here-2-7-three-stone-in-unplated-wg.144010/
2.7 center
0.43 sides (each)
Ring size 4


@Siamese Kitty https://www.pricescope.com/communit...erflies-setting-thoughts.249589/#post-4563234
2.26 center
.41 sides (each)
Ring size 6


@Lvoeshinythings https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/i-finally-have-butterflies.257812/page-2
Center 2.584
Sides 0.402 and 0.405


@soxfan https://www.pricescope.com/communit...rflies-with-cbi-and-acas.256793/#post-4741304
2.12 Center
.31 Sides (each)
Ring Size 4.75


@GamGam https://www.pricescope.com/communit...ing-whiteflash-butterfly.269594/#post-5044707
Center 2.24
0.53 Sides (each)

And before you say my center stone is too big to convert to a three stone... Here is @LLJsmom 's gorgeous 3 stone with a very similar setting:


Center 3 carat
1.2 and 1.1 carat sides
Ring Size 5


@MissGotRocks - Not a Butterfly setting, but I love the Center/Side ratio and how it pairs with her eternity band! Definitely an inspiration.

Six trades, seven stones later. . .

and here I am posting on PS! I have been a long time lurker and am now coming out of the closet. A big hello to all of you - I feel like I know so many of you although you don''t know me! I have been tuning in for a couple of years now and have finally taken some pictures to show. I tried this...

www.pricescope.com

2.22 Center
.33 Sides (each)

Isn't the profile of the Butterfly is sooooo lovely?!!


The Whiteflash Butterfly Setting

Questions:

1. What do you recommend as the smallest size I could go for round sides?

2. I think there is a "formula" somewhere to calculate the ratio??

3. Is there any way I could photoshop some options?

4. Please vote in the Poll: Do you prefer Hearts or Pears instead of Rounds? You can read my thoughts and the opinions on Hearts vs. Pears here... https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/help-round-center-and-heart-side-stones.271333/

Thank you!

Voted for rounds too! I like to have the symmetry and sparkle galore you can have with all rounds. @LLJsmom can correct me but I believe her center stone is 2.47 not 3 carats.

 

[tyty333]

I love the butterfly and love the look of more "accent" stones vs a 3 stone. Please post your etsy ring when you get it so we can
have a look at the proportions.

 

[CharlotteYork]

Oh my goodness, I just found this set online and now I'm leaning towards Rounds! (Which seem to be the overwhelming favorite in the poll.) This is exactly the ratio I have in mind... The side stones are so subtle and do not take away from the center stone at all... And it is just so gorgeous with the eternity band! I wonder if .40s will give me this look?

 

[MissGotRocks]

Oh my goodness, I just found this set online and now I'm leaning towards Rounds! (Which seem to be the overwhelming favorite in the poll.) This is exactly the ratio I have in mind... The side stones are so subtle and do not take away from the center stone at all... And it is just so gorgeous with the eternity band! I wonder if .40s will give me this look?

@CharlotteYork Is this on a company website? Was there no info on stone size? It is beautiful!!

 

[dk168]

Personally, I prefer to pair a 3-stone ring with a plain wedding band.

If it is worn as part of a stack with a band with stones, then I would put a plain band in between the two.

I would not wear a band with stones next to a 3-stone ring as I believe the band would compete the 3-stone ring.

Personal preferences and all that.

DK

 

[dk168]

Hmmm, the poll does not match the title of the thread.

I voted for pears, as mentioned in the OP's other thread about using hearts as side stones.

DK

 

[CharlotteYork]

@CharlotteYork Is this on a company website? Was there no info on stone size? It is beautiful!!

I don't have any details! But I love this ratio!!

 

[CharlotteYork]

Hmmm, the poll does not match the title of the thread.

I voted for pears, as mentioned in the OP's other thread about using hearts as side stones.

DK

I'm trying to decide between hearts, pears, and rounds. My first choice was hearts, but it got such a mixed reaction I decided to explore rounds as well. So far, rounds have the vote at 46.8%. I'm having a hard time deciding, but I'll wear my channel set eternity with whatever I choose.