Find your diamond
Find your jewelry
shape
carat
color
clarity

ugh the indecisiveness on shape!!

B

ballercaller

Shiny_Rock
Joined
Jan 10, 2013
Messages
107
So the other half always kept saying she wanted a three stone princess cut. So ive been in the process of finding a really nice princess. Then this past weekend she was out looking around and finally realized that round was more sparkly and looked bigger (after I told her this so many times). Now I don't know whether she wants a round or a princess, and i dont think she knows what she wants either. Of course the round will cost more, and she would still want a three stone.
Are princess stones still that popular, or does everyone mostly go for round now? She really wants shiny and I know its based on cut, but how much more shinier is a round from a princess? The price of a round looks to be the same price as a princess that is about 0.1 ct smaller. Anyone else have trouble with the decision of shape?? How do I/she decide??
 
IMHO a round will be the most sparkly shape. However, any well cut diamond including princess will sparkle. I think princess cuts are still very popular. Since you are both uncertain maybe both of you could go look at diamonds together and see which shape she seems to be prefer.
 
Oh my gosh this was me but with a pear vs round. I LOVE leads they look so big and unique and flattering, but in terms of sparkle they just don't hold up. I ended up getting a round to replace my pear because in the long run I valued sparkle over shape.

And I think a well cut princess will sparkle a lot, more than most shapes, but I do think rounds sparkle most. Also, you can get away with lower colors are in a round. I bought a. 84 ct K for like, 2k just last week. It is very white and looks great. I know I wouldn't be happy going down to a k in a princess, personally.

If she prefers rounds now that she has had them on her hand then go with a round. Cut the color down to an I-J and you'll be able to get something nice. Did you look at colors while you were out too? Did you find out how she feel about GIA/AGS colors in the near colorless range?
 
I have a three stone princess!! I love it and it is PLENTY sparkly that's for sure!....but.....if you want more coverage and size for the ct wt, round is the way to go. I also think it sort of limits what bands really do look best w it, even tho I've certainly collected a few nice ones, it is far easier to find greater variety in rounds. Just my two cents as a 3 stone princess ering owner :))
 
Well I was about to put a princess on hold to check it out and was going to customize the below setting. Instead of having 3 sided I would only get the stones down the side of the ring and not the face and back. That would drop the price a bit.

http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/three-stone/3-stone-coeur-de-clara-ashley-diamond-engagement-ring-for-princess-cut-diamonds-1773.htm

Now with a round I would want something the same size, but would cost more. I was going for 1ct but the price is way too much. At least with the princess it was .9 and face up would look like a 1ct....
This whole thing is so stress full!!!
 
Over time, I think the rounds will be more timeless. I'd go with the rounds.
 
diamondseeker2006|1367204389|3436424 said:
Over time, I think the rounds will be more timeless. I'd go with the rounds.
Click to expand...

I agree!
 
 
ok, now I know its not .9ct + BUT, sense you were looking at .9ct princesses, i figure these might be comparable in size.
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/0.805-g-vs1-round-diamond-ags-bl-104063639037

Maybe with this type of settling?
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/engagement-rings/three-stone/grace-3-stone-pears-18k-white-gold-5557w18

I cant remember exactly what your budget is

Or from whiteflash
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2930375.htm

plus this setting, but with matching I's (.25 ct next to a .8ct center is a fabulous ratio!)
http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/three-stone/3-stone-trois-brillant-diamond-engagement-ring-846.htm

OR, a great place to go would be ID jewelry, they are great on a budget and i know they can make a stunning three stone
 
I have a strong preference for rounds over princess as all my jewelry is round. Look at her earrings,necklaces, watches, other jewelry. For a little bit I thought I liked cushions but knew I'd have to go bigger to get the same effect, that's when the SA held them side by side...it was really obvious the round is what made my heart flutter. Is she more trendy or classic of a person. Not saying princesses are trendy it's just they are less common I believe. What are the shape of her fingers, i love round cuts on long fingers. would she be happy with the 3 stone ring from IDJ posted above, it is stunning.
 
Yea, I don't think she even knows whether she wants a round or princess anymore...
kinda ruins the whole surprise now though, since if we start going to stores looking at the difference between the two she will kind of expect the question sooner or later. kinda wanted to keep it on the down low and have her not expect it...
back to square one we go...

i like the look of the three stone princess, but not a huge fan of the three stone round... (yes i know its not for me, but still :) )

i think it would most likely be a toss up between a decent size single round, or a three stone princess as that would be in the same price range...
 
FWIW - and this is only my opinion which counts for ZIP in your engagement plans! lol! - but I own both (see my avatar) plus a 1.68 ct OEC set in a repro band. Between the two, what gets noticed more is the solitaire over the 3 stone. While I get finger width coverage w the princess, I have "IMPACT" w the solitaire. Again- that's just my opinion.
 
Another opinion promoting rounds.
If I were looking for my first diamond, I would definitely choose a MRB.
The cut quality is more subjectively definable and the versatility for settings & bands is huge.
I love fancy shapes, but unless you both are positive about a princess, I'd go for the classic choice.

(I should disclose I have a personal bias against princess cuts. They were very popular among some brides I knew when I was just out of undergrad and I think I saw only the very worst Zales had to offer from the 1980s.)
 
Round. Tapered baguettes or pears.
 
I guess it's more so preference... but would it be better to get a single large round, or a three stone but smaller round centre? Are round 3 stones even that popular, or do people tend to just go for the single stone?
 
ballercaller|1367257220|3436733 said:
I guess it's more so preference... but would it be better to get a single large round, or a three stone but smaller round centre? Are round 3 stones even that popular, or do people tend to just go for the single stone?
Click to expand...
It doesn't matter what's popular. What does she want? If she keeps going back to a 3 stone, then get her one.
 
Go with a square antique cushion...better resale than a princess cut. Rounds and cushions have a better resale right now...learned that from a diamond buyer recently.

Since she likes a square look of a princess cut then she will probably like a squarish cushion. JMO

I've never cared for the faceting of Modern Round Brilliant cuts but I love the look of the chunky Old European cuts (OEC)
Just another option.

Go to GOG and watch their educational videos and she will then see which cut and faceting type she really prefers.

www.goodoldgold.com
 
I understand her indecisiveness and your frustration. Around here, I see a lot more princess cut engagement rings than any other cut. I don't know if it's just a local trend but I'd say 80% of the newer rings I see are princess cuts. Personally, I think a round cut has more life and sparkle but that's just me.

The important thing is to get your future bride what she wants. Maybe you could talk to her friends, sisters and/or mother and see if they can give you a little more perspective on what she really wants.

If all else fails, get her a princess now and let her upgrade in a few years if she wants a MRB.
 
Lol I think part of the problem is she doesn't know what she wants.. and that doesn't really help me out. Wish I could just pull a homer and give her an onion ring
 
ballercaller|1367261802|3436809 said:
Lol I think part of the problem is she doesn't know what she wants.. and that doesn't really help me out. Wish I could just pull a homer and give her an onion ring
Click to expand...


Here's an idea. Propose with a ring pop, tell her "heres $x" let's together get whatever your heart desires. Then send her this way.

Maybe shed like to learn a little more and enjoy the hunt?
 
For what it's worth, I went e-ring shopping with my SO several times, we put a lot of research into it together and it was a really fun experience. We bought the stone and setting separately. We picked out the stone, had fun admiring it...then picked the setting a couple of months later but I never did see the two together until he proposed. The proposal was still a surprise and seeing the finished product was definitely a surprise and totally awesome...there's nothing quite like seeing the end result and knowing that WE picked everything out to suit us (well, me). I understand that you want it to be a surprise but I guess what I'm saying is, it still can be and it may be even more meaningful because you guys did it together. Just another point of view. :D
 
Thanks everyone for the feedback. Now I'm kinda leaning towards the round cut. She's opening up to the idea now after doing a bit more research.
What I currently have in mind for the setting is the below in 18k white gold, except I will request to remove the stones on the face and back and just have it on the sides. What do you guys think?

http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/three-stone/3-stone-coeur-de-clara-ashley-diamond-engagement-ring-39.htm

My budget for the stone will be $4500 max. I think the best I can do would be around .8ct. I would like .9ct, but don't think i can find a good one with my budget. I'm hoping to maybe find a .8ct that has a good face side that would match something that's bigger.
Her finger size is size 5, which is smaller than average?
Gosh, i didn't think this whole decision process could be so agonizing...
 
diamondseeker2006|1367297637|3437161 said:
Please don't spend $3000 on a setting and leave $4500 for the diamond. Get something like this and maximize the size of your center stone. This one is only $1256 in 18k white gold, although I personally would prefer the platinum at $1818.

http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/diamond-settings/legato-sleek-line-pave-diamond-engagement-ring-1120.htm
Click to expand...
I agree not to go with that setting, custom it'll still be expensive and dont think the detail your getting for the price will be worth sacrificing diamond size. Though I would go with this setting, sense we know she likes 3 stones. In 18k its 1900 or so WITH the side stones included, I'd see if it could be in 14k to make it even cheaper. When you rhodium plate it, the difference in 14 and 18 k is minimal. Plus 14k looks whiter!

http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/three-stone/3-stone-trois-brillant-diamond-engagement-ring-846.htm
 
Plus on a size 5 finger a 80-85 pointer with 25 point sides is going to take up a lot of space. The amount of side diamond shell see will be minimal anyways. Plus, don't forget you can always buy her a diamond wedding band to add that bit of sparkle, you don't have to add everything to the e ring

All of these stones are in budget and 6mm
I'd just tell WF to make sure the side stones are the same color.
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2930375.htm
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2928620.htm
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2928621.htm

I like the I if they can match the side stones just because its a nice price, leave you Broome for 18k gold OR money for a nice wedding diamond band down the line
 
thanks for the feedback. Will look into the suggestions. Only issue is she wants the diamonds on the shank. So that will of course bring the cost up.
For the example I gave, to remove the stones from the back and front of the band I can bring down the price to approx $2600 for 18K, $2475 for 14K... Yea it's still high, but thats around the typical price for three stone with a pave/channel setting no?
 
A friend of mine had an engagament ring that was a three stone with a round in the middle and two kite set princesses on the sides. (Kite set meaning meaning rotated so they had the look of a diamond shape instead of a square). It was gorgeous. Just a thought that may get you the best of both worlds and enable her to enjoy both shapes.
 
I get she wants pave on the shank, I just think a good compromise is to just get a plain one and a pave wedding band. I mean did you look at that IDjewelry ring a few of us posted you? Her hand is 5.25 and diamonds about the size you are looking at and you can barely see the shank.

Of course if she is set on it get her what she wants, i dont want her to get it and br sad thay element is missing,I just think its a small concession to meet your budget.


Eta his had .35 sides but if you pic that I posted I get wf could probably find you . 3 ct sides or so in your budget..
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
GET 3 FREE HCA RESULTS JOIN THE FORUM. ASK FOR HELP
Jewelry Blog
PriceScope-Concierge-Ad
Find prime cuts.
Top