Help me find two diamonds for three-stone!

[soxfan]

I am going to do a three stone with my K CBI. It will be the WF butterflies setting. I don't want to break the bank on the side stones- my kids ski racing costs are killing me right now. I want excellent cut I color side stones between .25 and .33 carats (each.) Does that proportion sound right? @yssie ? My center stone proportions are 8.25x8.27 mm.

I'd LOVE your help because you are the experts! I literally suck at this- it's why I just bought a super ideal stone.

 

[yssie]

I, of course, am fully supportive of this plan

My first iteration of Butterflies had an 8mm center with 4.3mm sides:



I love this proportion of sides to center - I’m very partial to the “tiny sides that tuck under the center”, “solitaire with accents” look. WF has made this setting with much larger sides, proportionally - the expected three-stone aesthetic, and those versions look lovely as well

My one non-negotiable is that skin should visible on both ends of the diamond lineup faceup

 

[soxfan]

I, of course, am fully supportive of this plan

My first iteration of Butterflies had an 8mm center with 4.3mm sides:



I love this proportion of sides to center - I’m very partial to the “tiny sides that tuck under the center”, “solitaire with accents” look. WF has made this setting with much larger sides, proportionally - the expected three-stone aesthetic, and those versions look lovely as well

My one non-negotiable is that skin should visible on both ends of the diamond lineup faceup

Exactly the look I want! So do you think .25's or .3?

 

[yssie]

I’d personally go with the smaller size @soxfan - to keep your large center in charge

 

[Matthews1127]

Exactly the look I want! So do you think .25's or .3?

4mm. Close to 0.30?

 

[diamondsR4eVR]

Ohhh I can’t wait to see on what you decide and eventually the finished product! Exciting!

 

[soxfan]

0.30 Carat round diamond

This 0.3 carat round diamond I color vvs2 clarity has Excellent proportions and a diamond grading report from GIA

www.jamesallen.com

Is this a good one? I can't find a great match to it...

 

[soxfan]

0.30 Carat round diamond

This 0.3 carat round diamond I color vs2 clarity has Excellent proportions and a diamond grading report from GIA

www.jamesallen.com

thoughts?

 

[Dreamer_D]

If you are buying the stones independently, why not buy K color to match? I realize I am beating a horse here lol... but you have that freedom now. Plus, K color stones are less $$.

EDIT: plus, buy SI1 or even SI2 stones. In this size you cannot possibly see any inclusions with the naked eye. When I was searching, I set my carat weight and then looked for K color, VS2/SI1, Excellent or ideal cut. Then looked for nice patterning.

 

[soxfan]

If you are buying the stones independently, why not buy K color to match? I realize I am beating a horse here lol... but you have that freedom now. Plus, K color stones are less $$.

EDIT: plus, buy SI1 or even SI2 stones. In this size you cannot possibly see any inclusions with the naked eye. When I was searching, I set my carat weight and then looked for K color, VS2/SI1, Excellent or ideal cut. Then looked for nice patterning.

My K is so white! I am worried that if I don't go with super ideals, the K color might show more? perhaps J is a good compromise?

 

[soxfan]

I've got these two in my cart right now. HCA's were excellent and I have a scope here.

 

[yssie]

My K is so white! I am worried that if I don't go with super ideals, the K color might show more? perhaps J is a good compromise?

Ditto @dreamer_dachsie - smaller stones look whiter than larger stones, and super-ideal vs. plain ol’ nicely cut doesn’t make any meaningful difference in terms of “facing up white for the colour grade”. I’d personally go with L or K (L being the preference, but they’re harder to find) RB sides to visually match a much larger K RB centerstone.

I believe WF charges a fee to set stones not purchased from them. WF has access to all manner of sidestones - would it be easier for you to just tell them your size preference and have them search? They could also photograph a lineup of various sizes with your center - much easier than buying and returning pairs that just aren’t quite right when you see everything together.

 

[soxfan]

Ditto @dreamer_dachsie - smaller stones look whiter than larger stones, and super-ideal vs. plain ol’ nicely cut doesn’t make any meaningful difference in terms of “facing up white for the colour grade”. I’d personally go with L or K (L being the preference, but they’re harder to find) RB sides to visually match a much larger K RB centerstone.

I believe WF charges a fee to set stones not purchased from them. WF has access to all manner of sidestones - would it be easier for you to just tell them your size preference and have them search? They could photograph a line up of various sizes with your center.

Yeah, have two K's in my cart at whiteflash right now. I can't afford to do all of it now, but I'm going to get the diamonds. Thanks for your help!!! Stones:

 

[soxfan]

Ok, bought the ACA's. Now I can sit and stare at them until I can afford to set them all.

 

[Dreamer_D]

I get that your diamond is super well cut, but a K is a K is a K when it comes right down to it. In low lighting where there is less white light return to obscure the body color of the stone or in lighting where more tinted stones are more prone to show body color (beige or yellow rooms in my experience), that is where the difference in tint could be apparent if you get less-tinted sides. Or when you view the stones at an angle when worn on your hand, rather than face on. As I mentioned before, I was able to easily detect the difference between my own K/L color diamond and a J color side stone in those lighting environments and at the side angle. It was not aesthetically pleasing to me.

And as Yssie said, smaller stones on average face up whiter than larger stones, it's the nature of the optics of smaller vs. larger diamonds combined with the greater depth of diamond material in the larger stone vs. the smaller. So I think you made a good choice to get K color sides! And it's also good that you will have them loose to play with. You can compare them to your center stone in lots of lighting. At the end of the day, your eyes tell the story and will let you know what works best for you.

I think you will be surprised at how teensy these sides are and how little you can actually see the faceting anyway. I feel pretty certain you could have purchased a basic GIA XXX and not seen any difference! Maybe saved a little $$ -- but it's likely a wash when you account for the setting fees from WF.

They will be perfect little friends for your center stone. My ring proportions are very similar and I am very happy with my choice.

 

[Dreamer_D]

...I’d personally go with L or K (L being the preference, but they’re harder to find) RB sides to visually match a much larger K RB centerstone...

Just for anyone reading, I was able to find lots of L color diamonds on James Allen. They show right down to M color in their online inventory, or at least they did a year ago.

 

[soxfan]

I get that your diamond is super well cut, but a K is a K is a K when it comes right down to it. In low lighting where there is less white light return to obscure the body color of the stone or in lighting where more tinted stones are more prone to show body color (beige or yellow rooms in my experience), that is where the difference in tint could be apparent if you get less-tinted sides. Or when you view the stones at an angle when worn on your hand, rather than face on. As I mentioned before, I was able to easily detect the difference between my own K/L color diamond and a J color side stone in those lighting environments and at the side angle. It was not aesthetically pleasing to me.

And as Yssie said, smaller stones on average face up whiter than larger stones, it's the nature of the optics of smaller vs. larger diamonds combined with the greater depth of diamond material in the larger stone vs. the smaller. So I think you made a good choice to get K color sides! And it's also good that you will have them loose to play with. You can compare them to your center stone in lots of lighting. At the end of the day, your eyes tell the story and will let you know what works best for you.

I think you will be surprised at how teensy these sides are and how little you can actually see the faceting anyway. I feel pretty certain you could have purchased a basic GIA XXX and not seen any difference! Maybe saved a little $$ -- but it's likely a wash when you account for the setting fees from WF.

They will be perfect little friends for your center stone. My ring proportions are very similar and I am very happy with my choice.

Yeah, I figured adding the setting fee would have made it a wash, so I sprung for the ACA's Thanks for steering me in the right direction

 

[soxfan]

and thanks @yssie !!!!

 

[soxfan]

Stones will be here Friday and I'll post pics with my CBI. Will be a month or so before I can set them but that's ok- at least I can wear my CBI until then!

@yssie I just looked at the measurements and I should have room on either side of the sidestones- the proportions look perfect! When I send them off to WF, will you help me with the wording regarding "tucking" them and having a sidestone look rather than 3-stone?

 

[mrs-b]

My K is so white! I am worried that if I don't go with super ideals, the K color might show more? perhaps J is a good compromise?

Hi @soxfan

Three stones are my jam, and I know through deadly experience that smaller sides of the same color look whiter. If you go with I or even J sides, you'll see the difference. One of my early 3-stones had a K center and J sides. I showed a friend vie email - and even by that medium, the first thing she said was "Are your sides whiter than your center?" And that's with a super ideal center (BGD signature diamond) and PEARS as the sides!! Pears are noted for showing tint, but you could still definitely see the difference in color.

So - stay with the super-ideal K's. For the drop in color, you can definitely afford super ideals as your sides and you'll get a piece far more coherent.

I think those 2 K's you have book-marked with WF are *perfect* to go with your CBI. This is going to be GORGEOUS!

 

[soxfan]

Hi @soxfan

Three stones are my jam, and I know through deadly experience that smaller sides of the same color look whiter. If you go with I or even J sides, you'll see the difference. One of my early 3-stones had a K center and J sides. I showed a friend vie email - and even by that medium, the first thing she said was "Are your sides whiter than your center?" And that's with a super ideal center (BGD signature diamond) and PEARS as the sides!! Pears are noted for showing tint, but you could still definitely see the difference in color.

So - stay with the super-ideal K's. For the drop in color, you can definitely afford super ideals as your sides and you'll get a piece far more coherent.

I think those 2 K's you have book-marked with WF are *perfect* to go with your CBI. This is going to be GORGEOUS!

The K's are on their way I will have them Friday!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I am SO glad dreamer and yssie convinced you to go with K's! I think you chose the right stones! I look forward to seeing your three stone ring..love the small sides!

 

[soxfan]

Ok i got the stones! They are perfect. I can't get good pics, it's overcast here and I am having trouble holding the stones on either side of my CBI lol. They are perfect size and color match. I'll try to get some pics later!

 

[lydial]

Just posting an example of another K CBI with cooler side stones. Excuse the filthy ring (took pictures here at my desk after work and it has been soap and lotion allll day); so this is my K with my G color baguettes from my original setting and they look great...
but my cluster ring and necklace w/ warm center stones do look very different from the cooler melee. So the side stone shape affects the color perception.
B

 

[KristinTech]

Very exciting! I’m thinking about turning my 1.23 CBI into a three stone, so I’m watching this thread with great interest. But I am thinking larger side stones as an anniversary “band” sort of look. Just in the dreaming stage now. Can’t wait to see your three stones together!

 

[KristinTech]

Ok i got the stones! They are perfect. I can't get good pics, it's overcast here and I am having trouble holding the stones on either side of my CBI lol. They are perfect size and color match. I'll try to get some pics later!

Fill a shot glass with salt and plop them in, side-by-side?

 

[soxfan]

Very exciting! I’m thinking about turning my 1.23 CBI into a three stone, so I’m watching this thread with great interest. But I am thinking larger side stones as an anniversary “band” sort of look. Just in the dreaming stage now. Can’t wait to see your three stones together!

It's kind of exciting having a CBI AND two WF stones in one ring! I can't wait!

 

[soxfan]

Fill a shot glass with salt and plop them in, side-by-side?

Good idea- open to any other suggestions too!!

 

[Txborn79]

Good idea- open to any other suggestions too!!

If you have a ring box that is deep, you can push your solitaire in until just the diamond is sticking out and place the stones next to it on the slot. I recently did this with a three stone that I’m turning into a five stone

 

[soxfan]

I just posted the pics in SMTB!