Help with Stones for 3-stone ring

[Big_G]

Hey Everyone,

I''ve been lurking for a while. This site is really great and helpful.
I''ve been shopping around lately for an engagement ring and have found a jeweler fairly local that seems the best in the area. I asked him to give me a well cut ring. I wanted a G or better color grade and a VS2 or better clarity grade. Here is what I got.

Primak past, present, future setting (14k white gold)

Center-stone:
round brilliant
5.81-5.84 x 3.53
Cut: Ideal (AGS-000)
G
VS1
0.715 cts.
Fluor: Negligable
Pav. Angle 41.0
Crown Angle 33.9
Table 56%
Total Depth 60.5%
Faceted Girdle: 0.7%-1.7%
No Cutlet
AGSL graded

This stone seems fairly well proportioned based on what I know. Your opinions?


Side Stone 1:
0.35 ct., G, VS2 61.9% depth, 34.7 crown angle, 41.3 Pavilion Angle, 55.5% Table, Cutlet 1.1%, Girdle 0.7-1.5%, sarin report from cutter (sagems.com) only.

Side Stone 2:
0.36 ct., G, VS2 61.3% depth, 34.0 crown angle, 41.1 Pavilion Angle, 56% Table, Cutlet 1.6%, Girdle 1.0-2.2%, sarin report from cutter (sagems.com) only.

Seems like these stones might be ok. Cutlets seem a little large, and girdles don''t match too close. These are not independently graded (which I''m a little nervous about), so should I expect their price to be ~$150 less than others? What do you guys think?

Well, anyway, for the complete ring, the jeweler is asking $7500. I havn''t tried to negotiate price yet, but it seems like there is about $1500-$2000 worth of padding in there. Your expert opinions would be greatly apprecitated.
Thanks in advance.

 

[valeria101]

Date: 5/2/2005 7:19:11 PM
Author:Big_G

Primak past, present, future setting (14k white gold)

Well, anyway, for the complete ring, the jeweler is asking $7500.

I have no idea how much the designer setting adds to the mix - some have rather surprising prices.

Otherwise, the center stones could be about $3300 (like this). The sidestones are rather large relative to the center and it is not very usual to get them with cut pedigree & all. Perhaps this makes a reasonable price refference ($900 each). The setting itself must cost something as well over these ~ $5100

Have you seen the diamonds ? .35 sides are relatively large next to .75 center, perhaps more than the usual sidestones meant just as accents of the center. If a "three stone" ring is what you are looking for, the combination is great.


Otherwise, 7k could definitely hold a no-excuse piece above 1 carat (like this, say)

Just my 0.2, of course.

 

[Big_G]

Date: 5/2/2005 7:34:33 PM
Author: valeria101

Have you seen the diamonds ? .35 sides are relatively large next to .75 center, perhaps more than the usual sidestones meant just as accents of the center. If a ''three stone'' ring is what you are looking for, the combination is great.
Just my 0.2, of course.

Yeah, I realize the sides are fairly large compared to the center. I like the smaller accent look better, but the g/f REALLY likes the large accents on the PPP radiant star rings at Helzberg. I was just trying to create a ring that was similar, but with a better quality of diamond in a more traditional cut.

I like the prices of the internet sites, but I favor dealing face to face with large purchases. Maybe it is time to get over this...

 

[valeria101]

Date: 5/2/2005 9:9:43 PM
Author: Big_G

... the g/f REALLY likes the large accents on the PPP radiant star rings at Helzberg.

How about a randiant ring then ? It is a very traditional choice, IMO. It does not have to be a branded piece... radiants should be less expensive per carat than rounds, and brilliant cut traps make large sides for the weight and fit radiant cut centres like a glove.

Something like this, just white...

 

[valeria101]

(last post appeared twice...)

 

[headlight]

On a three-stone all round shapes ring, having .35 ct sides stones each with a .70 ct center is the perfect ratio.

If she saw the radiants and likes them, then I don''t think she''d want a round!!! You might want to verify.