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Q&A: Building a 3 Stone Ring on James Allen for $10K Budget

By Mike Fried, Updated October 24, 2017

Thanks for your wonderful website. Learnt a lot from it. I’m looking for a three stone diamond ring with platinum setting with a budget of $10K.

JamesAllen seems to have the option of only 0.5 carat as sidestones and it is costing ~$5K. That allows me to spend $5K on the center diamond.

Any recommendations?

Is JA’s configuration not good? How would you prefer to balance out the stone sizes?

Thanks Ira for your message. I was looking for a center stone of 1.0 carat and side stones of 0.4 carat each. In Bluenile, with similar configuration, I was able to create a ring within $10K. BTW, i was looking for atleast I color and SI1 or better.

With JA, since i donot have choice of sidestones, my center stone is smaller to fit my budget.

Sorry for the delay. I wrote to my contact at JA about this, and he said the blank 3-stone in platinum that you like is $2300. So here’s a great pair for side stones for you:

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds-search/?View=4&Tab=3&Comparison=1377487,1390473

So that leaves you with $5780 for the center stone. Here’s what I like for you:

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1279064.asp

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1388925.asp

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1370987.asp

Let me know what you think!

Thanks Ira for your suggestion. I donot find any blank 3-stone platinum seeting in JA. The setting i’m looking at is

https://www.jamesallen.com/design-your-three-stone-ring/ring/item_260-3932.asp

The above setting already has side diamonds of 0.50 carat each and costs $5K.

I like your below diamond recommendation:

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1388925.asp

Now that i have an expert guiding me on diamonds, I’m willing to increase my budget by $1K. Do you suggest increasing the carat or the clarity of diamond with this additional money? Can you please provide your recomendations for a diamond in the range of $6.5 – $7K?

Looking forward to your recommendations.

They don’t have it showing on the site, but I spoke to one of the customer support managers, and this is what he explained to me. The price I gave you was for the exact same setting you linked to, but with no stones in it.

Here are some more recommendations within your budget:

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1384304.asp

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1385133.asp

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1375296.asp

Let me know what you thnik!

Thanks Ira for your help in choosing the right diamond. Placed the order today.

Finally, I went with https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1388925.asp

Thanks

Great! Did you order it with a custom setting with the pair of sidestones I suggested, or did you go with their stock ring?

Went with a regular solitaire setting ring instead of 3-stone.

https://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/round-diamond-solitaire-engagement-ring.html

Gotcha. Well please stay in touch and let me know what you think when it arrives!

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. They currently run a 10% discount on selected lab-grown diamonds!
Click to Visit
What we love about them:
  • No questions asked returns within 30 days of shipment. James Allen will send you a paid shipping label to return the ring.
  • Lifetime Warranty
  • Free International Shipping
  • Free prong tightening, repolishing, rhodium plating and cleaning every 6 months
  • Provide insurance appraisals
  • One free resizing within 60 days of purchase
  • Free ring inscriptions
  • Best-in-class high quality imagery of all diamonds in stock
  • 24/7 Customer Service
  • Best-in-class packaging
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Blue Nile Blue Nile is the largest and most well-known internet jewelry seller. They have a very large exclusive online inventory. Their high-quality images are catching up to James Allens' and their prices are amazing. Right now, Blue Nile offers up to 50% savings on selected jewelry during a limited-time season sale.
Click to Visit
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
  • Free Shipping
  • Free prong tightening, repolishing, rhodium plating and cleaning every 6 months
  • Provide insurance appraisal
  • One free resizing within the first year of purchase
  • High quality images of about half of their diamonds
  • 24/7 Customer Service
  • 100% credit towards future upgrades (must be at least double in value)
  • Best in class fulfillment
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