Need opinions on my "stone to be?"

[Totoro]

Hi
I´ve been lurking around here for quite a while now but this is my first posting

I am looking for diamonds to put together in a three stone trellis setting and I´m starting with the center.
I have been looking at both WF, GOG and JA and right now JA seems to have the biggest selection and the best prices, especially on settings. I am looking for a center of about 0.75 - 0.9 ct and my budget is ~$5000 total for stones and setting and that gives me about $3000 for the center.
The sidestones will be about 0.4 ct I guess, I haven´t start looking for these yet.

At first I was looking only at ACA and H&A, but I realized that there wasn´t that much to choose from in my size range and that they are way more expensive so now I lowered my demands but I still want an eye clean ideal cut stone.

I think I´ve found a nice stone, but I need expert advice from you here at PS! So what do you think?

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1160236.asp

Thanks!

 

[Dreamer_D]

I think that one looks pretty good! It scores a 1.6 on the HCA. As with all SI stones, you will want to confirm with the vendor whether or not the stone is eye clean.

It ways on the site that the stone is no longer available, do you have it on hold?

As for side stones, it is probably better to let the good vendor choose those for you to match the center stone. You may also want to do some searches for "three-stone" rings on PS. Different proportions looks very very different. .40ct sides will create a ring with little noticable difference between the center and the sides. This will look more like a tradiitonal three-stone look. Smaller sides, maybe around .25ct each, will highlight the center stone, more as accents. It's a personal preference, but it may be helpful to look at some examples before you choose!

Good luck!

ETA: Check into James Allen's upgrade policy, if it matter to you, since I think it is not a good as GOG and WF.

 

[Totoro]

Thanks dreamer for you opinion!
Yes, it´s on hold for me, and yes again it is supposed to be eye clean
The reason I want the side stones to be of similar size of the center is that I want them to represent my three kids, and my thought is the difference in size shouldn´t be too big.

I might ask JA to pick the side stones for me anyway they could probably do it better, I guess you are right there!

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 6/25/2008 4:24:50 PM
Author: Totoro
Thanks dreamer for you opinion!
Yes, it´s on hold for me, and yes again it is supposed to be eye clean
The reason I want the side stones to be of similar size of the center is that I want them to represent my three kids, and my thought is the difference in size shouldn´t be too big.

I might ask JA to pick the side stones for me anyway they could probably do it better, I guess you are right there!

Ahhh.. that sounds lovely. Which of the three kids gets to be the center stone

If you want a true three stone then you could even go closer in size, but that is a look that some people aren''t wild about, and I guess it would run up the budget!

Can''t wait to see the finished product, I love a great three-stone RB ring!