Q&A: Choosing a 1.50 Ct. Round Diamond for a White Gold Three Stone Channel Setting With a $10k Total Budget

Thanks in advance for your help. I’ve chosen a three stone channel setting from James Allen called Trio SKU 17401 size 9 price $2060. I was shooting for a total cost of $10000, but could go a thousand or two more if necessary, so I’ve looked at diamonds around $8000.

Maximum stone size is 1.5 and I’d like to be a close to that as possible, no smaller than 1.4. The side stones in this setting average G-H so I’ve focused on G color for the center stone so it will be a little better than the side ones. It appears at the price range I’m looking at that I’m going to be SI2 or possible SI1. But even at that I’m still faced with about 20 different diamonds to choose from.

For example, SKU 2713597 looks good to me, but I’m not at all confident in my choice. If there was a better choice closer to 1.50 ct., I’d certainly be interested. Any help would be greatly appreciated… Awesome website by the way.

Thanks for the help.

I guess I focused on G color because I had read the center stone should be better than the side stones and they average G-H. Is there something in H color that you like? Is there a diamond in the 1.4 range that you like, that is similar in quality to the one you have chosen but a little less expensive? Or is there something 1.5 that might be better for a little more money? I guess I could stretch from the $9200 to maybe $10000 if that would make a difference.

If you feel the diamond you’ve chosen is the best choice for something in the $8000-$10000 range (for just the diamond) I certainly can respect that, but a couple of alternates would be nice. The setting will be 14K white gold as she needs something durable and doesn’t like platinum.

Thanks again.

I think I’ve narrowed it down to the original pick and the 1.40. I don’t see anything at all in the 1.40 but I can see a few dark spots in the 1.50. Are those really noticeable to the naked eye? Also the original choice has a higher fluorescence which I’ve read is a good thing for diamonds in this color range. Since this is going in a three stone setting, does that have any bearing on which of the two might be better?

If you were the receiver, would you have a preference? I’m leaning toward the 1.50 now just because it’s a little bigger, but what do you think the typical woman would pick between the two?

I promise this will be it for questions. I need to get on with this. Thanks again for all the help.