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Three-stone settings offer both personality and additional sparkle. With the ability to create an original design, a three-stone ring is a beautiful, unique choice. This round cut engagement ring from James Allen, for example, is a timeless design, while this diamond and ruby ring is modern and colorful.
No matter which style you choose, be sure to purchase your ring from a reputable vendor. Based on our experience in the industry, we recommend Blue Nile, James Allen and Brian Gavin Diamonds.
Top 6 Most Popular Three-Stone Rings To Buy in 2024
Three-stone engagement rings have long been a favorite thanks to their extra stones and style. The three stones represent the past, present, and future of a relationship, and many couples find them to be the perfect choice to represent their journey together.
”A three stone engagement ring typically has one center diamond bordered on each side by another gem of the same size or smaller.” “In some designs, the center stone is a colored gem.” Gemological Institute of America (GIA)
Here are the best three-stone diamond engagement rings with winning styles from the world’s most reliable vendors.
Why you should trust us
To help you with the diamond buying process we lean on our expertise and experience. The author of this article, our CEO, Mike Fried has over 20 years of experience in the diamond industry. Mike started from the bottom, sorting and evaluating hundreds of thousands of diamonds to learn every facet (pun intended) of diamond quality and value. Mike followed that up by spending years buying and selling diamonds on the wholesale market as well as selling tens of millions of dollars worth of diamonds to diamond retailers.
1. Three-Stone Emerald And Pavé Set Diamond Engagement Ring
Featuring two emerald shaped diamonds on either side of the center stone, this ring feels like royalty. Consider a rose gold or yellow gold for contrast against your diamond, or choose white gold for a more understated look.
Deal Alert: Get 25% off sitewide at James Allen
2. Princess-Cut Three-Stone Diamond Engagement Ring
Crafted with an elevated design, this ring combines straight lines and robust character. It’s great for a partner who wants to highlight the center stone with brilliance.
3. Bezel Straight Baguette 3 Stone Engagement Ring
For a modern look, consider this exquisite bezel setting. Three stones are securely held in place, making it great for those with an active lifestyle or hands-on job.
4. Athena Three-Stone Ring
Small flourishes make this three-stone diamond ring the beauty that it is. With pear side stones and soft sweeping lines, this design is perfect for those who want a little extra feminine detail.
5. Three-Stone Trapezoid Diamond Engagement Ring
The juxtaposition of trapezoid side stones and a round center stone gives this ring alluring visual contrast. Choose a rose or yellow gold for added dimension or opt for platinum for a more subdued look.
6. Emerald Halo 3 Stone Diamond Ring
Combine the brilliance of a halo with the texture and style of a three stone ring. Its bold design makes a serious statement.
6 Things to Look for When Choosing a Three Stone Engagement Ring
Searching for the perfect ring involves knowing what you like, finding a quality design, and choosing a reliable vendor. Here’s how to narrow down your search and find the best three-stone engagement ring for your budget and style.
Setting Style
Whether you love halos, vintage detailing, or sleek lines, focus on what engagement ring style matches your tastes best. If you appreciate antique items or prefer modern flair, consider rings that complement that aesthetic. You might end up with a traditional diamond ring or one with more personality, and either is OK.
Keep your lifestyle in mind too. If you’re active outdoors or have a hands-on job, consider a secure, low-profile setting like a channel or bezel ring. It’s less likely to snag on something or get damaged.
Diamond Shape
The center stone shape and side stones shapes play a huge role in the design and style of your ring. Consider round brilliant and oval shapes for a more classic or traditional look. Opt for a princess or radiant cut if you want a modern vibe. Or play with other unique shapes like a marquise diamond or heart-shaped stone for something truly unique.
Be sure to match your stone with a setting style that offers safety and security.
Precious Metal
Precious metal color accentuates the diamond in different ways. White gold and platinum offer a more cohesive look with a higher diamond color, while rose gold and yellow gold give contrast. 14K and 18K gold are both durable metals that hold up well with everyday wear. Platinum offers more durability but is also more expensive.
Precious Gemstone
A colorless diamond is a classic center stone, while a colored diamond or gemstone offers an eye-catching element. White diamonds never go out of style, but a gemstone can also be a treasured piece.
Cut Quality
More than any other feature, diamond cut plays the biggest role in a diamond’s beauty and brilliance. We strongly recommend only considering Excellent and Ideal cut diamonds for your center stone. Reducing your carat weight to get a better cut is a wise use of your budget. A smaller, more brilliant diamond far outperforms a large dull stone.
Reliable Vendor
Choosing a trustworthy vendor is critical to ensuring you receive a quality piece of jewelry for the price. In our years of experience, we’ve found a few vendors that stand far above the rest.
James Allen and Blue Nile have huge inventories of beautiful diamond rings at excellent prices. Brian Gavin Diamonds is another reputable vendor with designer three-stone rings and super ideal cut diamonds. Leibish & Co. is great for colored gemstone and diamond alternatives.
Three-stone Engagement Rings vs Solitaire Engagement Rings
Three-stone engagement rings differ from solitaire engagement rings in several ways, from their appearance to their price:
| Solitaire Engagement Ring | Three-Stone Engagement Ring |
| Simple yet elegant appearance with just one diamond or gemstone. | Contains one large center stone (usually a diamond) with smaller side diamonds or colored gemstones. |
| Center diamond as the center of attention, with no side diamonds or gemstones to distract from its beauty. | Side diamonds or gemstones can often complement the center diamond but may clash with it if poorly paired. |
| Almost always the least expensive type of engagement ring setting. | Significantly more expensive than a solitaire setting, especially if the setting features large side diamonds or gemstones. |
| Available in all precious metals, from 14K and 18K gold to platinum. Doesn’t contain pavé or halo diamonds. | Also available in all precious metals. Many three-stone settings also feature pavé or halo diamonds. |
| Easy to clean and maintain due to simple, single-stone design. | May require more maintenance and care than a solitaire engagement ring. |
| A good choice if you want a simple, timeless engagement ring that looks elegant but won’t attract unwanted attention. | A good choice if you want to add your own personal touch, whether via a birthstone or colored gemstones, to an engagement ring. |
Three-Stone Diamond Ring FAQs
What is the Meaning of “Three-Stone” Engagement Ring?
A three-stone engagement ring represents the past, present, and future of a relationship. Many three-stone designs feature diamonds, while others include gemstones such as sapphires or rubies. Three-stone rings are popular and offer an opportunity to make a personal statement.
Why Choose a Three-Stone Engagement Ring?
The three-stone setting is a unique and versatile setting. Many people choose a three-stone setting because they can personalize it. You have the option to choose similar-sized diamonds, diamonds of different shapes and sizes, or colorful side stones like emeralds (such as this gorgeous 2.2mm wire basket ring setting from James Allen), rubies and other birthstones.
Three-Stone Settings For Every Shape
Three-stone settings work well with any shaped diamond but often look best with Round Brilliants, Radiant Cuts, Cushions, Princess Cuts and Emerald Cuts. When designing a three-stone ring, it’s important that the stones complement each other, rather than clash or distract from the center stone. If you’re unsure what three-stone ring to choose, reach out to our experts.
Pros and Cons of a Three-Stone Setting
Three-stone rings can be stunning and beautiful but aren’t right for everyone.
Pros
- Offers a large amount of sparkle and brilliance
- Allows for multiple larger stones (including ones of different colors, see this example from James Allen)
- Enhances the appearance of the center stone when paired properly with side stones
- Can achieve a greater surface area of gemstone or diamonds than a singular setting
- Gives options for personalizing the ring
Cons
- Requires more cleaning and maintenance than a single stone design
- When stones are poorly paired, the side stones can overpower or distract from the beauty of the center stone
Where to Buy Three-Stone Diamond Engagement Rings
Throughout our years in the industry, we’ve closely vetted diamond sellers to determine the best and most reliable in the business. Rather than worry that a vendor is overcharging you, you can rest easy.
The diamond dealers below are reputable. They have high-quality collections of diamonds and settings at excellent prices. All diamonds come with an AGS or GIA certificate—allowing you to trust what they’re selling you.
James Allen
- Appealing prices
- High-tech diamond imagery (allowing you to view every diamond up-close before purchase)
- Excellent customer service
Blue Nile
- One of the largest online diamond inventory and settings
- Focuses on excellent diamond and jewelry quality
- Offers great prices and return policies
Leibish & Co. (Gemstone Alternative)
- Recommended for gemstone and colored diamond jewelry
- Offers high-quality settings
- Maintains a large online inventory for easy viewing and selection
Brian Gavin Diamonds
- Sells some of the best cut diamonds in the world
- Carries high-quality settings
- Offers the “Brian Gavin Signature” Hearts & Arrows collection
What is the price range of three-stone engagement rings?
Three-stone engagement rings cost anywhere from $500 to $15,000 or more for the setting alone, depending on the precious metal, side stones, and detailing. The greater the carat weight of the side stones and the more intricate the craftsmanship, the higher the price tends to be.
How much is a three-stone diamond engagement ring worth?
A three-stone engagement ring is worth between $500 and $50,000 or more depending on the carat weight of your diamonds and the setting style. The better the cut quality of your stone and the higher the carat weight, the more your ring is worth.
But it’s important to remember that you won’t make money or break even when you sell your ring. On average, sellers tend to see a loss of about 12% of the price they originally paid.
Any questions on engagement rings or diamonds? Email our experts.
Here are more specific setting style topics to browse:
- What are the different types of engagement ring settings?
- What is a Solitaire diamond ring?
- How to pick a Halo diamond engagement ring?
- What is a Channel set engagement ring?
- What is a Pavé Engagement Ring Setting?
- Why choose a Micro-Pavé setting
- What’s the difference between a Vintage and Antique ring?
- The pros and cons of a bezel-setting engagement ring
- What does a Bar setting look like?
- How to choose an impressive Cathedral setting
- What is a Cluster engagement ring?
- Important things to know about a Flush setting
- Where to buy a Split Shank setting?
- What is a Tension ring setting?
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
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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