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Q&A: Looking for Help Building a Monster 3-Stone 3 Carat Total Weight Princess Cut Diamond Ring

By Mike Fried,

The information on this site is extremely helpful!

I have been looking on JamesAllen.com for a roughly 2 carat center diamond to go in a 3 stone platinum ring. I have found a ring I like on bluenile.com and I have sent the image to James Allen to see if they can produce one similar.

Blue Nile Classic Three-Stone Diamond Engagement Ring

I am looking to spend roughly $18k on the whole ring. I was only looking at G VS2 or better, but after exploring your site I have started to look at H VS2. I just want to be sure it is completely eye clean and colorless, as well as stunning and beautiful. I am thinking roughly 0.4 carats for each sidestone, but I want to be sure they are only accents and the focus is the center diamond. I figure once I have decided on a ring and center diamond, I will just find side stones that match well. Here is a list of links to the center diamonds I have been considering, just to give you an idea of what I think I am looking for in a diamond. Of course any other diamond suggestions are welcomed and appreciated. JA is working on getting me an image of the 2.2 carat that is currently lacking a photo.

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1052813.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1255896.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1295660.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VS2-Premium-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1315768.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1243814.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS1-Premium-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1244221.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

Is the 10% commission only on the personal diamond buying service, or just to provide advice? Sorry for the long winded email. Any help you could provide would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you!

Hi, I would think that JA could match that ring. It seems simple enough. Make sure to tell them after they quote you a price that you want them to apply the TAD0611 coupon (it’ll give you 10% off the setting).

As for the diamonds you linked to, the only two I would recommend against are the G (too deep) and 1244221 (table too big and too deep). The others all look fantastic.

And as for the commission, that’s only relevant if I broker a stone for you. This advice is free of charge. Take a look at my article “truth about truthaboutdiamonds.com” to get a better understanding of what I do.

Great, thanks for the advice and the coupon code!

My pleasure.  Let me know how it goes and what you go with in the end!

Hi Ira,

I guess I need some more help narrowing my decision, if you don’t mind. JA is able to manufacture a sufficiently similar ring as you thought they could. I have narrowed the initial list of six center diamonds to three, but I am struggling to make a final decision. The three diamonds are:

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1052813.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1295660.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1255896.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

I find myself leaning towards the third one because it is larger, has a really nice depth and table, as well as a good girdle. Is it possible the 2.2 carat would be too big? I don’t want the ring to look gaudy. JA is working to get an image of the diamond for me, but based on the GIA report there looks to be some inclusions right in the center of the diamond. They have confirmed to me via email that it is eye clean/white. Should I be concerned? If I get the picture from JA soon I will send it over to you. They said yesterday that they should be able to get it to me in a day or two.

I’m putting the other two head to head against each other in case the 2.2 doesn’t work out for whatever reason. My concern with the first one is the extremely thin to thick girdle and my concern with the second is the inclusions, depth, smaller length and width dimensions, and to some degree the thick in the girdle.

Without seeing the picture for the 2.2 carat and just based on the GIA report, which of the three would you think is best overall? If you think the 2.2 is best, which is best out of the other two in case when the picture comes back there is a problem with the 2.2 carat?

Also, I have narrowed my search for the two side diamonds to three possible choices:

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1305588.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1310546.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1310547.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

Which two of those three do you think would make the best matching pair to accentuate your favorite center diamond? Do you think in the end this will be a really spectacular ring? It’s hard to envision when I’m piecing it together like this how the final product will look.

Thanks again for your help! I can’t express enough how valuable you and your site have been during this overwhelming experience!

……….

Oh, and one other question.  The girl I have been working with at JA just emailed me her opinions and she said the following with regard to the 2.2 carat diamond:

“I do tend to shy away from diamonds that approach the 1.05 ratio boundary.  I do feel that the rectangular nature of the shape begins to be apparent around 1.04.  Personally, I do not like Princess shape diamonds that are not a perfect square, it detracts from their beauty. “

What are your thoughts on that?

It’s a tough call. Some people are just simply more sensitive to these things than others. GIA defines square as 1.00-1.05 L/W ratio. I tend to stick with that as a guide. So I would still think this stone is fine.

I agree the 2.20 is your top choice if the pic is nice.

Out of the other two, I like the 2.02 better since it’s slightly larger.

As for the side stones, reject 1305588 and take the other two. That stone has a strong black inclusion in the center.

Good luck! Let me know what you go with in the end!

I finally received a picture of the 2.20 carat from JA and I have attached it to this email. It looks a little out of square to me, and there is a visible inclusion in the middle, but this image is huge so I wonder how it will look in actual size. What do you think?

Here is the 2.02 we were considering for the backup diamond.

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Princess-Diamond-1052813.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

As for the inclusion – there’s no way that would be visible.  As far as the squareness goes, it’s hard to say. Some people are definitely more sensitive than others about these kinds of things.

Final Chosen Three Stones

 

I have made my decision so I just wanted to let you know what I picked. I decided on the 2.20 carat and the side stones we discussed before.  I had the gemologists put them all together and look at them to verify they will all work.  They sent me back a photo and I think they look great!  I attached the picture if you’d like to see them.  Thank you so much for all of your help!  You made this process so much easier and taught me a great deal!

The 3 stones together look amazing!  That’s going to be a very special ring.  Did they allow you to apply the TAD0611 coupon even though they made you a custom setting?

Great, I‘m glad you like it!  I think it is going to be fantastic and I can’t wait to get the ring!  Yes, they did allow me to apply the coupon code with the custom setting.  Thank you again for all of your help!

3-stone Ring from James Allen

 

That’s great news! Please let me know what you think when it arrives!

Hi Ira!

I just wanted to let you know how the ring turned out.  I couldn’t be happier and my fiancée loves it!  I attached a picture, but it in no way does justice to how beautiful it is in person.  Thank you so much for all of your help!

Wow!!!  That ring is a SCREAMER!  I’m sure she must have LOVED it!

James Allen James Allen is the leader in online diamond sales. Their imaging technology is the same as inspecting a diamond with a jeweler's loupe. They have the largest exclusive loose diamond inventory online and fantastic prices. They also have the nicest collection of lab-created diamonds online. Get 30% off lab-grown diamonds during a limited time sale.
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What we love about them:
  • No questions asked returns within 30 days of shipment. Blue Nile will send you a paid shipping label to return the ring.
  • Lifetime Warranty
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  • Free prong tightening, repolishing, rhodium plating and cleaning every 6 months
  • Provide insurance appraisal
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