3 Stone Ring Dilemma

[JeBri31508]

So, I thought I had my upgrade all figured out as far as the setting I want, but now I''m starting to change my mind! I originally was thinking a halo setting for a 1.20 BGD Signature H&A, but now I''m starting to lean toward a 3 stone. My original engagement ring is a 3 stone, so that style is very sentimental to me, plus the finger coverage (even for my current setting, which is only 1.0 ct total weight) on my size 5.25 finger is a plus. So, I wanted to run this idea past the PS''ers and see what you all thought of it, it might just be wishful thinking and would look terrible lol. But, I''ve got two earrings that my mother passed down to me that are about .30 carats each. According to a local jeweler, they are an older round cut, and just by looking at them and comparing them to my current ring, I would say they are about an I (ish) color. I have no way to be sure, I haven''t had them appraised. I''ve used my IS on them and there is some leakage, so I know they are not the best cut like my upgrade stone will be. Would it look really bad to put those with a 1.20 center in a 3 stone ring? I was just thinking that to save around 1000, I could use the stones I already had.

Another option I was thinking of was to take the two side stones out of my current e-ring, which are both .30 carats. The issue with these is that we bought the ring from the mall, and although they are round diamonds, they are one of the "branded" cuts that have extra facets in them. We were only 20 when we got engaged, and didn''t know anything about diamonds, and bought from the mall

But now we know better thanks to PS! However, my dad, who is a geologist and knows a thing or two about rocks, inspected my ring and was actually really surprised with the quality, it''s an eyeclean SI1 and F-G color (he thinks the center was closer to an F and the sides closer to an H). It''s certified by IGI, so I know that everything is most likely a little off in the grading. I used my IS on the diamonds in my ring, and it actually turned out great, it produces a lot of light (high Gem Ex scores as well, if that matters). But, I worry that it would look wierd to put the two diamonds that have the extra facets next to a traditional H&A, any thoughts on that?

So, both of these options might not work out at all, but I thought I''d just see what you all thought! If I had to buy new side stones, I don''t think I could get as big a center stone, which I think would bug me, so I might end up with a halo after all. Would love advice, thanks!

 

[yssie]

I personally would not use the first pair - the problem with superideals is that they make the fact that other stones aren't so well cut so very obvious! I rather think it would detract from the beauty of your BGD and the ring itself to have stones of sub-par cut in the piece.



If the second pair performs well I'd consider it - it would make for a very unique ring, with the different types of rounds!



This is a clinical perspective though - if you would love the piece for its sentiment then that's a very different thing

 

[lizzyann]

Hi there JeBrie, I agree with yssie that I wouldn''t use the first two stones and maybe consider the .3''s from your current e-ring. Could you send your current e-ring to Brian Gavin and ask his opinion?

If you really want to stick with a 3-stone, then I wouldn''t get the halo. Don''t compromise. Maybe just buy the 1.2, put it in a temporary solitaire setting, then save up some money to get new sidestones if your current ones don''t work. This way you can still get the larger stone upgrade that you want!

 

[Zappy]

Date: 3/20/2010 5:45:26 PM
Author: lizzyann01

If you really want to stick with a 3-stone, then I wouldn''t get the halo. Don''t compromise. Maybe just buy the 1.2, put it in a temporary solitaire setting, then save up some money to get new sidestones if your current ones don''t work. This way you can still get the larger stone upgrade that you want!

I agree with lizzy!

 

[JeBri31508]

Date: 3/20/2010 5:45:26 PM
Author: lizzyann01
Hi there JeBrie, I agree with yssie that I wouldn''t use the first two stones and maybe consider the .3''s from your current e-ring. Could you send your current e-ring to Brian Gavin and ask his opinion?

If you really want to stick with a 3-stone, then I wouldn''t get the halo. Don''t compromise. Maybe just buy the 1.2, put it in a temporary solitaire setting, then save up some money to get new sidestones if your current ones don''t work. This way you can still get the larger stone upgrade that you want!

Sending it to Brian is an idea--does anyone know how that works? I''ve been working with Jamie so I''ll email her on Monday about it, but if anyone knows in the meantime I''d love to hear! I really do think that a 3 stone will always be the engagement ring I want---I was thinking a halo just because it makes it look bigger, and they are very pretty, but in reality, I am very active and would probably be replacing stones all the time anyway lol! Plus, when we got married our pastor even did a speech about what the 3 stones symbolize (to us that is--my hubby has a 3 stone ring too), so it would be sad not to have one anymore. I just really want more size--my current ring has the .30 sides and a .40 center, so I''m really ready to break that 1 carat center!

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 3/20/2010 5:53:47 PM
Author: Zappy

Date: 3/20/2010 5:45:26 PM
Author: lizzyann01

If you really want to stick with a 3-stone, then I wouldn''t get the halo. Don''t compromise. Maybe just buy the 1.2, put it in a temporary solitaire setting, then save up some money to get new sidestones if your current ones don''t work. This way you can still get the larger stone upgrade that you want!

I agree with lizzy!

I agree with this as well.