Sidestones should match but don’t

[Lilacrose]

I have a GIA H colour 2.51 Emerald Cut mined diamond centre stone. The sidestones are 3x 1.5mm princess stones and a trillion on each side. These have been ‘matched’ and are GHI according to my jeweller.
My custom setting is 18k yellow gold which I wanted.
The side stones almost always look yellow. The centre stone always looks white. Very occasionally slight yellow from the side view but that’s all.
The only time that all the stones look matched is in bright sunlight outside.
I queried the colour difference I see with my jeweller and she confirmed that the stones were ‘matched’
If I go up to ‘whiter’ sidestones will the reflection of the yellow setting means the whiter stones will look yellow anyway?
I don’t know what to do for the best but I am a bit disappointed in the overall look of my ring.
I will try and post a picture but everything looks quite yellow when taken with my phone.

Thank you for any advice here

 

[Rfisher]

Is fluorescence a factor?
Is GHI too big of a range to accept? High G vs a low I? Which stones are what grade?
The facet pattern of your sidestones will reflect more body color back to your eye than the center?

how long have you had the ring and did the same lab grade all the stones?

 

[Lilacrose]

I have had the ring 8 months.
My jeweller said the sidestones aren’t graded because they are too small. She said they are GHI which should be fine with H centre. But I agree with you they’re is a big difference between High G and an low I.

I was just told they had been ‘matched’ to my centre stone.
I don’t know about fluorescence of the side stones but there is no fluorescence on the centre stone.

 

[lizzydm26]

The trillions and center definitely look whiter to me than the princess cuts. Could be a cut or clarity issue. Or could be as @Rfisher suggested the large range from G to I, and they are more on the I side.

The princess stones would bother me too. Since you are disappointed with the look, maybe think about going with a long baguette on each side? I don't know if you want to change the stone completely, or if your setting could be modified to do so, but just a suggestion. Or change out the princess to a higher color.

Good luck!

 

[lizzydm26]

Is fluorescence a factor?
Is GHI too big of a range to accept? High G vs a low I? Which stones are what grade?
The facet pattern of your sidestones will reflect more body color back to your eye than the center?

how long have you had the ring and did the same lab grade all the stones?

@Rfisher as an aside - I think you give great advice. And you are always willing to help with photoshop mock ups. You are a great asset to PS, and I love reading your posts!

 

[Rfisher]

I have had the ring 8 months.
My jeweller said the sidestones aren’t graded because they are too small. She said they are GHI which should be fine with H centre. But I agree with you they’re is a big difference between High G and an low I.

I was just told they had been ‘matched’ to my centre stone.
I don’t know about fluorescence of the side stones but there is no fluorescence on the centre stone.

If you are disappointed - I think that’s the main issue that matters.
Go back to them and say the match is not good enough to your eye.
Ask to see what are your options. Higher color and different cuts if need be. You should be able to view the loose stones in multiple environments before you commit again?
Ask for a quote to get this done. I think it’s past time period to expect the jeweler to swap for low cost or nothing. If they offer to do so - that’s great! You don’t know how much it will cost until you ask. Once you have your quote- I think you will have a much clearer idea on what you want to do going forward.
I don’t think it’s your yellow gold mounting thats the issue, but I know others think differently on yellow gold prongs with diamonds.
I don’t know if your jeweler can rhodium plate the insides of the side stone mountings/baskets and do it neatly? But once again - I don’t think that’s a solution to your stated issue.

@lizzydm26 - Thank you for the kind words

 

[yssie]

Have you cleaned the ring thoroughly? Perhaps take it to a local jewellery store and have them steam it.

Some shapes will show body colour much more than others when grimy - and diamonds in rings always get grimy, especially hard-to-access underside facets! A good clean can make a world of difference - if you’re happy with it clean then that’s the cheapest fix there is, and if you still see a difference at least you’ll have tried the cheapest fix first!

 

[nala]

Rhodium dip it white—most economical solution and will help mask the yellow tint.

 

[Mreader]

Maybe also attach more photos bc it’s hard to tell from a single pic.

 

[distracts]

This looks like a cut type issue to me. To me, the princesses don't look yellow but look darker gray because they reflect less light, or reflect it differently or whatever. The emerald cut has big chunky reflections and the princess cuts have teeny tiny ones. The trillions honestly look to me in these pics like they may be rose cuts? I would swap the princesses out for baguettes or carre cuts and see if that fixes it.

 

[adlgel]

This looks like a cut type issue to me. To me, the princesses don't look yellow but look darker gray because they reflect less light, or reflect it differently or whatever. The emerald cut has big chunky reflections and the princess cuts have teeny tiny ones. The trillions honestly look to me in these pics like they may be rose cuts? I would swap the princesses out for baguettes or carre cuts and see if that fixes it.

Yes that's what I thought - that they looked dark more than they looked yellow.

 

[Lilacrose]

Thank you all for your useful comments. More pictures as requested

 

[lizzydm26]

Thank you all for your useful comments. More pictures as requested

Honestly - I don't think they look as dark in these additional pictures. Might be that something about the cut is bothering you??

 

[MamaBee]

I’m wondering if it’s just the two yellow bars that’s next to each side of the princess cuts..I think it may be casting a yellow shadow over them. Princess cuts don’t sparkle like a mrb...They also show more color...Maybe switching them out fo definite Fs or Gs would work

 

[aisa901]

I really hope my story inspires you to approach your jeweller again about the stones and anything else about the setting you're not happy with.

I just went through a similar situation with the side stone melee in my custom made ring. The CS (F color) and round melee appeared to be a good color match, but the pears on either side (appraised as E/F) looked yellow and lifeless no matter what I did to clean them or lighting environment I was in. I was hesitant to contact the jeweller since 3 months had passed since I picked up the ring, they had already switched out the pear melee once before, and I also thought, "may be this is just how pears are". I'm so glad I did, they sourced new melee for me, gave me the opportunity to view and approve them before getting them switched out, and this was all hassle free with no additional charges (and these new melee perform considerably better than the previous ones, they are white and sparkly just like the others so the ring has a cohesive look to it now).

I was never really able to get to the bottom of why my melee weren't performing (i.e. color vs. cut or both color and cut). I analyzed both pairs of stones before and after they were mounted and to my novice but really detail orientated/laser focused eyes, both looked of equal cut and color unmounted, so I will never know but I suspect it was a combination of both (?)

All this to say, I totally understand how you're feeling, and if you're anything like me, it's all you focus on when you look at your ring which takes the joy out of it. I agree with @Rfisher, I would contact your jeweller, be very clear about what is bugging you, and see what your options are including complimentary vs. ones that will require an up charge.

Good luck, please let us know how it goes!

 

[Mreader]

When I see the additional pictures I also don’t notice a big difference in body color but I’m not that color sensitive. I think like the other poster mentioned, the combination of different cuts and yellow bars may be what is throwing you off. I agree that rhodium dipping may be an inexpensive fix Perhaps even just dipping the prongs and those bars.

 

[AnastasiaBeaverhausen]

I agree that I think it's a combination of the cut and size of the princess cuts in conjuction with the bars. My DH's wedding band has channel set princess cut sapphires. So matter how light the sapphires may look in person, once set, they end up being pretty dark. But he loves the look and design so *shrug* lol.

 

[oncrutchesrightnow]

I agree that the princesses are not as sparkly and also agree that the difference is due to cut. Agree that you might want to swap out for another step cut like a baguette. The princesses are just going to look different no matter what.

One other factor might be that the light is hitting and reflecting at different angles to your eye for the side stones versus center stone. A lot of us with three stone rings notice that effect.

Finally it is also possible that even though your center stone faces up white when you look at it, your jeweler might be paying attention to the warm undertones, like what you see in your center stone from the side.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

It is hard to see in your pictures, but I would tell the jeweler you do not want any I color small stones. The other issue is that often, even when the shank of a ring is yellow gold, the diamonds are set with white gold or platinum prongs so they are less visible and do not reflect yellow in the stones. Short of remaking the ring, they might be able to rhodium plate just the parts with the heads/prongs and leave the shank (band) yellow gold.

 

[bright&shiny]

I agree with the cut of the princess stones and the angle contributing to the difference in appearance. Clearly, they are not the same as the rest of your stones in the ring - regardless of the reason.

Definitely consider another cut of stone (I loved the baguette idea) that performs in a way that is a bette rematch to the center and trillions. It’s a great ring and I’m sure you’ll love it even more after it’s tweaked a little.

 

[monipod]

I've got a yellow gold pendant set with about 36 small princess cuts and as a whole, it can out-sparkle a 1ct stone and looks white, so I'm going to agree that it's the setting. TBH, at that size, those princesses shouldn't look more yellow than your H main stone unless they are K or lower.
I think as others have said, they are perhaps overshadowed by the yellow gold. I personally love mixing metals so adding white prongs or bars might lighten things up.