Help with 3 Stone / Princess Cut

[DaPaki1]

Hi guys,
New member here. I''ve been browsing the forums for a while, and you guys seem very knowledgeable regarding diamonds and rings. Since I''m in a major time crunch, I was hoping you can give me some much needed advice? I have to get the ring by next Friday ...so that doesn''t leave me much time to do research.

My GF mentioned she wants a 3 stone princess cut ring. I''m hoping to spend between $2,000-$4,500 and looking for the center stone to be around 1 carat.

She showed me the link to ultradiamonds (below) a few months ago and she said she really liked it, but she''s not very knowledgeable about things like cut, clarity, color etc. I can tell by the bad clarity, this is not something I''d want to get her.

Type of ring she wants (from UltaDiamonds)

I found a ring through Blue Nile that seems semi-reasonable. Curious what you guys think and if you can point me to better options.

Blue Nile ring


I appreciate any help I can get. Hope you guys have a great 4th of July weekend!

 

[JulieN]

Hi, welcome to PS!

I think put less money into the setting (go with white gold) and looking at a J princess in person is very important, since the sides on that ring are H color.

 

[Gypsy]

I would buy from here with one of these stones:

http://www.exceldiamonds.com/diamond/24595.html

http://www.exceldiamonds.com/diamond/24594.html

http://www.exceldiamonds.com/diamond/23176.html

http://www.exceldiamonds.com/diamond/24591.html

http://www.exceldiamonds.com/diamond/24593.html

Why these? The are idealcut AGS0 diamonds. They are I or better in color-- which is one grade higher in color than the blue nile one and will face up whiter because of the ideal cutting. The bluenile is very good cut... which usually isn't very good... so the J will show color. And will not sparkle and shine as much as one of these will. If these are eyeclean (you can call and ask)... I'd go with them. You do not need a VS stone... you have a tight budget for what you want... and clarity is the easiest thing to sacrifice because you aren't sacrificing anything you can't see.

Then I would either get it set by that vendor in a three stone princess setting... or I'd get the one by facets:
http://www.exceldiamonds.com/-Engagement-Rings-5/Vatche-18-KT-White-Gold-3Stone-Round-Diamond-Engagement-Ring-Setting-666.html (ask if they have this for princesses) ETA: Their 3 stone princesses are expensive... I'd get the Facets one below.

http://www.thefacetscollection.com/item.cfm?item_id=3678 (I'd get this one with G-H color side stones to work with your I great price and with the diamonds above... you are looking at about 5K)

Timing may be a problem though... so I'll go see if I can find a better diamond on Bluenile. Yeah... okay. Looked on Bluenile... there's nothing in your price range worth buying on there.

 

[Gypsy]

HAH!! Considering the time crunch you need a vendor that has both in stock.

Okay I''ve got it! The perfect setting (similar to the one your lady picked) at a great price from a vendor that carries good diamonds: 18K (make sure the diamonds are eye clean-- James Allen is good about telling you that).

http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/settings-with-sidestones.asp?module=setting&cid=58&item=877

These are some nice princesses... I would call James Allen and ask them for the brightest, nicest sparkliest diamond of these. They will tell you their opinion. Then you ask them for Ideal Scope and Sarin reports for that diamond (and the second choice) and post them here and we will help you pick one of these. James Allen has a Pricescope discount as well... and an upgrade policy.


http://www.jamesallen.com/diamond.asp?cid=130&item=851737


http://www.jamesallen.com/search_results.asp?quick=1&tab=&cid=130&sbmt=1&shape=PRI&carat_from=0.8&carat_to=1&color_from=&color_to=&clarity_from=&clarity_to=&price=&cut_grade=0&x=53&y=9

 

[JulieN]

Considering your timeline and buget, and if she really wants platinum...I''m a little tempted to go with
http://www.jamesallen.com/item.asp?cid=60&item=473&name=1521

Kind of the easy way out.

 

[Gypsy]

I saw that Julie! Thought it was a good idea too... but was worried the diamond might be too small for him... It''s a good, quick, solid choice.

 

[JulieN]

The picture of the Ulta is very nice.

Has your girlfriend specifically said princess 3-stone? Or did she just say that the Ulta represented something she likes?

There are lots of components of this ring, and I''m wondering which ones she really likes and which ones can go.

3 stone vs solitaire: a setting for a 3 stone costs more...as well as the cost of the sidestones
plat vs white gold: plat costs more, of course...but maybe she really wants plat or is allergic to nickel.
x-prong/trellis vs basket setting
the smaller channel-set stones on the side
larger diamond vs. nicer setting

 

[DaPaki1]

Date: 6/30/2006 11:06:47 PM
Author: Gypsy
HAH!! Considering the time crunch you need a vendor that has both in stock.

Thanks Gypsy for your replies! Just wondering, if I get one of these ''virtual'' diamonds, I wouldn''t be able to get it w/in a week? Only the in-house diamonds?
What do you think of the diamonds through Pricescope? I noticed whiteflash looks like it might have some decent ones around $3k? Since I have a $30k tuition bill from my Masters program to pay by May 2007, I rather not pay $5k if I don''t have to I can always upgrade her later

 

[JulieN]

the virtual diamonds should come in few days...it's the setting that needs to be in stock.

 

[DaPaki1]

Date: 7/1/2006 3:04:48 AM
Author: JulieN
The picture of the Ulta is very nice.


Has your girlfriend specifically said princess 3-stone? Or did she just say that the Ulta represented something she likes?


There are lots of components of this ring, and I''m wondering which ones she really likes and which ones can go.


3 stone vs solitaire: a setting for a 3 stone costs more...as well as the cost of the sidestones

plat vs white gold: plat costs more, of course...but maybe she really wants plat or is allergic to nickel.

x-prong/trellis vs basket setting

the smaller channel-set stones on the side

larger diamond vs. nicer setting

Hi Julien, I really like your suggestion for the ring from James Allen. Looks very nice! Regarding your questions, my GF mentioned she just wanted a 3 stone princess cut ring and she would love it if the middle stone was 1 carat or bigger. She doesn''t care if the setting is platinum or white gold. She also doesn''t care about the smaller channel stones. Just a nice size diamond that looks impressive to her naked eye.

Since the size is fairly important to her (she doesn''t know about the other Cs, until her other gfs will tell her

), do you think I can find a ring w/ 1CT that''s within my budget (less than $4500)? I am willing to sacrifice on other aspects as long as the ring will look nice and bright in person. I like everything about that ring, except Gypsy is right, it''s a lil small. Thanks in advance for your replies.

 

[JulieN]

Since we have the option of upgrading later:

I think I'd either get her a AGS-0 H SI1 1 ct and put it in a solitaire setting and add the other stones later

OR get her a 3 stone with a more average cut or low color 1 ct center diamond and then upgrade the center later (unless she's in love with it and doesn't care.)

I think the .96(?) I SI1 from SuperbCert that Gypsy posted looks pretty good... I'd get on the phone pronto with SuperbCert and see if they have stock 3 stone princess settings that will accomodate that center and if any of those H SI2s are eye-clean.

 

[Gypsy]

WF's settings ar a little pricey...that's why I stayed away from them. Their diamonds rock though.

Best thing you can do is get on the phone with James Allen and WF and Excel (supercert) NOW and tell them what you need, what your budget is and by when you need it (both have upgrade policies) and see what each of them come up with for you. That's my best advice. You need to get on the phone NOW though.

 

[DaPaki1]

I tried calling all three right now (WF, excel and James Allen). They''re all closed

Seems like they''re only open M-F.
Now I''m startin to stress!

What are my options now? What do you guys think of Costco? I heard they have an excellent return policy.

 

[pricescope]

Date: 7/1/2006 3:27:30 PM
Author: DaPaki1
INow I''m startin to stress!

What are my options now? What do you guys think of Costco? I heard they have an excellent return policy.

They do, but 3-princess they have on the web site is 1 tct, too small for you.
But they do have a solitaire here for your budget and it''s much cheaper to upgrade later to 3-stone when you have time and money for it.

Good luck and please let us know how it went.

 

[Gypsy]

Isn't that nice! Costco? Well... I was looking at a pretty 1.5 asscher there today. I don't know if I'd buy from them though... the return policy is amazing though. And it would work with your time frame. Still would rather go with one of our vendors here though. Really would.

 

[JulieN]

just checking...have you gotten anywhere?