3 Stone Reset: Pear side stones vs Rounds

[Niel]

What about a 5 stone?

 

[Gypsy]

What about a 5 stone?

Or adding pave on each side of the shank extending down 1/2 eternity. Which might be cheaper as it can be added to a stock setting.

 

[recordaras]

Alas, that is not in the budget at all - even a 3 stone with rounds would be really, really pushing it. Initially I was planning on spending no more than 1.5K on a new plat solitaire setting. *sigh*

 

[Niel]

Alas, that is not in the budget at all - even a 3 stone with rounds would be really, really pushing it. Initially I was planning on spending no more than 1.5K on a new plat solitaire setting. *sigh*

What is your budget? 2k?

 

[recordaras]

What is your budget? 2k?

Ideally 2K, but I could push to about $2400.

 

[Gypsy]

What is your budget? 2k?

Ideally 2K, but I could push to about $2400.

Okay so... http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/engagement-rings/three-stone/queen-dinah-3-stone-pave-18k-white-gold-5679w18 2,310

And it would look fantastic with your center. Here's another poster's ring in the same setting: [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/more-e-ring-pictures.177515/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/more-e-ring-pictures.177515/[/URL] and [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]

Only change I would ask is that the prongs on the sidestones be the same shape (claw) as the center.

 

[recordaras]

Okay so... http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/engagement-rings/three-stone/queen-dinah-3-stone-pave-18k-white-gold-5679w18 2,310

And it would look fantastic with your center. Here's another poster's ring in the same setting: [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/more-e-ring-pictures.177515/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/more-e-ring-pictures.177515/[/URL] and [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]

Only change I would ask is that the prongs on the sidestones be the same shape (claw) as the center.

Thanks so much - that is lovely!!! However, it's 2310 without the side stones, so still over budget.
Gypsy, and why do you think that rounds would be a better fit for the side stones? I'd love to hear your opinion, since you obviously have waaay more experience than I ever will, lol.

 

[Niel]

Okay so... http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/engagement-rings/three-stone/queen-dinah-3-stone-pave-18k-white-gold-5679w18 2,310

And it would look fantastic with your center. Here's another poster's ring in the same setting: [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/more-e-ring-pictures.177515/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/more-e-ring-pictures.177515/[/URL] and [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]

Only change I would ask is that the prongs on the sidestones be the same shape (claw) as the center.

Thanks so much - that is lovely!!! However, it's 2310 without the side stones, so still over budget.
Gypsy, and why do you think that rounds would be a better fit for the side stones? I'd love to hear your opinion, since you obviously have waaay more experience than I ever will, lol.

ask them about that. Im not 100% sure they arent just talking about the center stone.

For example. this setting makes it sound like the 20 pointers are included.

 

[recordaras]

ask them about that. Im not 100% sure they arent just talking about the center stone.

For example. this setting makes it sound like the 20 pointers are included.

This is from the Queen Dinah description: "It is designed to fit center stones from 0.50 - 2.0 carats with 0.40 – 0.50 ctw side stones (not included).", so I'm pretty sure you have to buy all three and just the melee in the shank is included in the price.

 

[Niel]

would you set it at WF?

Now i remember this guy said his quote was about 2500...but i think the center stone is a higher color, so you might save a few hundred there, plus i think the side stones are 25 pointers... so going down to 20 pointers would probably save you the setting cost. And maybe reduce the melee down to half the shank? I think they charge 100 bucks to set it... so truly its probably a stretch, but emails are free

[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/pics-are-in-whaddya-think.190575/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/pics-are-in-whaddya-think.190575/[/URL]

 

[Gypsy]

Okay so... http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/engagement-rings/three-stone/queen-dinah-3-stone-pave-18k-white-gold-5679w18 2,310

And it would look fantastic with your center. Here's another poster's ring in the same setting: [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/more-e-ring-pictures.177515/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/more-e-ring-pictures.177515/[/URL] and [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]

Only change I would ask is that the prongs on the sidestones be the same shape (claw) as the center.

Thanks so much - that is lovely!!! However, it's 2310 without the side stones, so still over budget.
Gypsy, and why do you think that rounds would be a better fit for the side stones? I'd love to hear your opinion, since you obviously have waaay more experience than I ever will, lol.

ask them about that. Im not 100% sure they arent just talking about the center stone.

For example. this setting makes it sound like the 20 pointers are included.

I thought the sidestones were included. If not I am very sorry.

Cuddling cats prevent more posting. Will answer rest later.

 

[Gypsy]

Why rounds? I think the performance is going to make a difference.

Don't get me wrong, I adore pears as sidestones and prefer them. But the better the edge to edge light performance, the larger a stone appears and you want bling. I think you will get more bling per mm from rounds than pears even if there is slightly more spread with the pears.

What I would do: http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/engagement-rings/open-gallery-accented-18k-white-gold-5448w18 The three prong arrangement on the sidestones will make the rounds appear slightly pearish.


20 point sides in I-J color.

And I'd ASK what the price would be if they added just 4 stones worth of pave on each side. Total of 8 stones.

 

[recordaras]

Niel and Gypsy, thank you SO much for helping me brainstorm this. I can't begin to tell you how helpful this discussion has been!

I thought I'd also give you a little more background to explain what I'm looking for in this reset. First of all, as much as I love my stone, I absolutely hate the setting. It's incredibly uncomfortable, the six prongs are just wrong, and it not only spins, it FLIPS UP AND DOWN . The setting was meant to be temporary, so now that I've started a new job I thought I'd do something nice for myself and get a reset.

My first line of thinking was a plat cathedral solitaire with a thicker comfort fit shank (I attribute a lot of the flipping up and down to how thin the current shank is - tapers to a little over 1mm at the bottom). But then I came to realize it would be a temporary solution - I'm very happy with the size of my stone right now when we are in our twenties and just starting out in our careers, but eventually (probably 5 years down the road or so) I will want a larger solitaire. Since we are both very much attached to my current stone, I would like to transfer it to the right hand and buy a new bigger one without trading in. And I'm not a fan of right hand solitaires, so basically if I reset it now into the solitaire that would be $1.5K+ down the drain in the future, and I'm not comfortable with that at all.

That's how I came to adjust the budget to $2-2.4K for something that will end up being a "forever" ring, and that is also why I would prefer for the setting to be in plat.

I've always loved 3 stones, and we actually went with a smaller stone than we were initially looking for with the agreement that we would upgrade to a 3 stone in the future. My style isn't really "super bling", so I think it's less about that and more about the balance of the setting and the comfort of having the twisting be less noticeable. So what I do love about the pears is the fact that they would fit those requirements perfectly - I'd have the full top of the finger covered and twisting would be minimal.
But at the same time Gypsy has it spot on when she mentions the sparkle per mm factor. This reset is going to be the single most expensive purchase I've ever made in my life, so I would definitely want to not have any regrets afterwards, and get the most "bang for my buck".

Speaking of which, Jamie quoted me $1200 for two 20 point I/J SI melee. I thought that was a little outrageous, considering they have J Signature stones in the .25 range with full certificates for around $400...
I love the stones in the shank idea (why hadn't I thought of it myself??), and I was certainly considering doing the three prong sides with "pearish" rounds. If the shank melee ends up being way over budget, what do you think of this setting, the crossed trellis? http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/engagement-rings/three-stone/crossed-trellis-platinum-5460p

 

[recordaras]

And one more consideration for me is that if I go the rounds route, I will have to wait till they have two matched smaller stones available. Right now they have one in my size that I'm almost inclined to buy before it gets away, but I'm concerned that if I do that I won't be able to find a pair to match later on... What do you guys think?

 

[Gypsy]

Speaking of which, Jamie quoted me $1200 for two 20 point I/J SI melee. I thought that was a little outrageous, considering they have J Signature stones in the .25 range with full certificates for around $400...[/url]

I would tell her this. Flat out.

Tell her to do better on the price.

 

[Tekate]

The three stone trellis ring is very very nice... when I first started reading Pricescope and saw some trellis rings I thought.. ugh those are weird.. but as I have been reading old threads and seeing pictures of the 3 and 5 stones I WANT ONE... it's very fluid.. very sophisticated and all around very cool looking.. I look forward to reading your final decisions and choice.. and congrats on your job btw! I just retired and it's great that people are starting new jobs..

 

[recordaras]

I would tell her this. Flat out.

Tell her to do better on the price.

Will do, thanks for the advice! Although in all honesty even if the prices were the same I'd still much rather have the Signature stones than the melee, so she'll have to try pretty hard to sell me on the melee.

 

[recordaras]

The three stone trellis ring is very very nice... when I first started reading Pricescope and saw some trellis rings I thought.. ugh those are weird.. but as I have been reading old threads and seeing pictures of the 3 and 5 stones I WANT ONE... it's very fluid.. very sophisticated and all around very cool looking.. I look forward to reading your final decisions and choice.. and congrats on your job btw! I just retired and it's great that people are starting new jobs..

Thank you, Tekate! I love love love the side profile of the trellis three stones, it was actually one of the first designs I fell in love with when I first started lurking on PS. The only thing I'm worried about is whether it's a design that you can get tired of over the years.

And thank you for the kind words! I'm super excited - I was temping at that company for 15 months (!) after a very long period of being out of work, so it's pretty amazing to finally be full time.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I will tell you that I love side pears on a stone larger than 2 cts. Why? Because the pears will slant down from the side bar of the basket and be little accents. Look at Demelza's new ring as an example. With a smaller center, the pears just kind of lay flat on the top of the finger. They have nowhere near the performance of rounds. I think you'll get FAR more bling for the money with rounds with side rounds. My sister had about a .75 center and changed to 3 stones for an anniversary and it made an incredible difference! There should be stock settings with the sides included. Have you looked at WF to see if they have any? I think Vatche might have one. Just don't have time to look right now. No way would I pay $1200 for two .20 stones. I'd be looking elsewhere.

 

[recordaras]

I will tell you that I love side pears on a stone larger than 2 cts. Why? Because the pears will slant down from the side bar of the basket and be little accents. Look at Demelza's new ring as an example. With a smaller center, the pears just kind of lay flat on the top of the finger. They have nowhere near the performance of rounds. I think you'll get FAR more bling for the money with rounds with side rounds. My sister had about a .75 center and changed to 3 stones for an anniversary and it made an incredible difference! There should be stock settings with the sides included. Have you looked at WF to see if they have any? I think Vatche might have one. Just don't have time to look right now. No way would I pay $1200 for two .20 stones. I'd be looking elsewhere.

Thanks, DS! I think I'm pretty set on doing three rounds now - I'm so glad I came here for advice, because initially the pears seemed to be the perfect option.

I will look around, although I would prefer to stick to BGD since I love their stones and will be getting my wedding band from them AND we get a repeat customer discount... I think I'll give them a call today to see if it would make sense to buy the side stones separately.

They currently have a .24 J SI stone that I think could be a good fit at a nice price (less than the 20 point melee I was quoted!), but I'm a little worried that it might take forever to find a second stone of that size to match.

 

[braga123]

Your budget seems very generous for a temporary setting, even when considering that it will become a forever 3 stone. Have you shopped around local jewelers who have 3-tone settings with sidestones in stock? My 5 stone setting was only 850 dollars, and it came with all the diamonds. But, the stones are not cert or graded. That said, it is a rhr and I rotate it a lot because I have many others. Also, have you considered going preowned? I am thinking that since you said that you eventually plan to upgrade, you should save as much money as possible. The beauty of stock setting is that the stones have already been matched for you.

 

[recordaras]

Your budget seems very generous for a temporary setting, even when considering that it will become a forever 3 stone. Have you shopped around local jewelers who have 3-tone settings with sidestones in stock? My 5 stone setting was only 850 dollars, and it came with all the diamonds. But, the stones are not cert or graded. That said, it is a rhr and I rotate it a lot because I have many others. Also, have you considered going preowned? I am thinking that since you said that you eventually plan to upgrade, you should save as much money as possible. The beauty of stock setting is that the stones have already been matched for you.

Thanks, braga123! You bring up a very good point.
I have given this some thought, and here's my reasoning: where I come from we have a great saying that states that nothing is more permanent than the temporary. So while I hope that we will be able to upgrade down the line, you never really know what life has in store, and this ring could end up being my forever engagement ring. Because of that I'd really prefer to get the best I can afford right now and have a "mind clean" ring in platinum instead of treating it as a temporary reset. Worst case scenario: I'll end up with a very nice RHR several years down the line.

 

[recordaras]

So, I've been speaking with Jamie the last couple of days and here is what we have: the .241 that I was initially looking at doesn't have a pair and it looks like it won't have a pair for a while (they contacted the factory in Antwerp to see if they had anything on hand that could be brought in for me, but alas). But Brian looked up the stats of my stone and recommended this pair to go with it:
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/0.278-j-si1-round-diamond-ags-c-104068589144
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/0.271-j-si1-round-diamond-ags-c-104068589145

The stones are a little larger than what I was initially looking at, but I'm sure Brian wouldn't recommend anything out of proportion. I'll probably also ask them to set the center stone a little higher to make up for that as well.

So it looks like I'm about to pull the trigger! The setting will have to wait till after the tax return, though, so still a while till I get to see them.

This is both nerve wracking and incredibly exciting, and I just wanted to thank everyone who chimed in in this thread for your help, support and advice.

 

[Niel]

How exciting! I like the larger proportions on a three stone. So much bling!

Can't wait to see it finished.

 

[recordaras]

How exciting! I like the larger proportions on a three stone. So much bling!

Can't wait to see it finished.

Thanks so much, Niel! You've been so incredibly helpful.
I have .56 ctw studs that I tried putting next to my center stone and really liked both the proportions and (especially!) the finger coverage.

Here's my terrible mockup brought to you by scotch tape (what can I say, I'm a visual kind of person):

 

[Laila619]

Congrats, I think it'll be stunning when it's finished!

 

[recordaras]

Thank you so much, Laila! I can't wait till I can finally love my whole ring and not just the center stone.

 

[recordaras]

Just a quick update: I finally made it to a jeweler that had some Ritani setting in stock, and tried on both round and pear sides.
I am SO happy you guys suggested the rounds! I loved the look so much more than with the pears - and finally understood what you meant about the pears having less sparkle. It's still a beautiful look, but with a smaller center stone I think the round sides are so much nicer.

Also, it doesn't cease to amaze me that their in-house stock plat 3 stone setting with uncerted .4ctw sides ended up being more expensive than my BGD reset with two BGS Signature sides... Thank heavens for the internet!

 

[Niel]

Just a quick update: I finally made it to a jeweler that had some Ritani setting in stock, and tried on both round and pear sides.
I am SO happy you guys suggested the rounds! I loved the look so much more than with the pears - and finally understood what you meant about the pears having less sparkle. It's still a beautiful look, but with a smaller center stone I think the round sides are so much nicer.

Also, it doesn't cease to amaze me that their in-house stock plat 3 stone setting with uncerted .4ctw sides ended up being more expensive than my BGD reset with two BGS Signature sides... Thank heavens for the internet!

Im so glad you got to see it in person. Its so much better to be able to KNOW you made the right decision vs hoping you did

 

[Laila619]

Just a quick update: I finally made it to a jeweler that had some Ritani setting in stock, and tried on both round and pear sides.
I am SO happy you guys suggested the rounds! I loved the look so much more than with the pears - and finally understood what you meant about the pears having less sparkle. It's still a beautiful look, but with a smaller center stone I think the round sides are so much nicer.

Also, it doesn't cease to amaze me that their in-house stock plat 3 stone setting with uncerted .4ctw sides ended up being more expensive than my BGD reset with two BGS Signature sides... Thank heavens for the internet!

Wow, I'm surprised, esp since they are uncerted stones. But yes, we are lucky to have awesome PS vendors at our fingertips!