Three-Stone Diamond Rings: Beautiful, Unique & Brilliant
Bottom Line Recommendation:
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, for example, is a timeless design, while this diamond and emerald 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.
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What is the Meaning of “Three-Stone” Engagement Ring?
As their name indicates, three-stone engagement rings feature three diamonds or gemstones set closely together. The three stones are said to represent “past, present and future.”
Although many three-stone engagement rings feature three diamonds, others feature colored gemstones such as sapphires or rubies. Many couples choose gemstones that have a special significance for the bride or groom, such as birthstones or gemstones of a certain color.
Three-stone engagement rings aren’t as common as solitaire engagement rings. However, they are gaining in popularity, especially for couples that want an engagement ring that provides an opportunity to make a personal statement.
The stones can be the same size or the center stone may be the largest. This three-stone setting uses colored stones for the side accents, while this ring incorporates baguette diamonds.
You can design three-stone settings with any type of precious metal: white gold, yellow gold, platinum or rose gold. You can also pair a three-stone design with another type of setting, like a pavé band or a channel setting. The numerous options available with three-stone rings make them a popular choice for engagements.
Look through recently purchased diamond engagement rings to see more of them.
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. |
Why Choose a Three-Stone Engagement Ring?
The three-stone setting is a unique and versatile setting. The three stones, set closely together, are said to symbolize the couple’s past, present and future. Not only are you creating a ring that’s beautiful, but meaningful as well.
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, rubies and other birthstones.
Three-Stone Settings For Every Shape
Three-stone settings can be created with any Diamond Shape, but work best with Round Brilliants, Radiant Cuts, Cushions, Princess Cuts and Emerald Cuts.
When designing a three-stone ring, it’s important that the stones compliment each other, rather than clash. The styles below can be used as inspiration for designing your own three-stone ring.
Three-stone engagement ring examples:
- Round Cut three-stone ring
- Cushion Cut three-stone engagement ring
- Oval diamond and blue sapphire ring
- Emerald Cut three-stone ring
- Additional three-stone ring examples
Pros and Cons of a Three-Stone Setting
A three-stone setting is a beautiful choice. There are, of course, advantages and disadvantages to every ring style. Review the pros and cons below to determine if a three-stone engagement ring is right for the one you love.
Pros
- Offers a large amount of sparkle and brilliance
- Allows for multiple larger stones (including ones of different colors)
- 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. Choosing where you’ll purchase your engagement ring is extremely important. Both brick and mortar stores and online vendors can overcharge you—all while offering you inferior beauty and value. We don’t want that to happen to you, or any of our readers.
We recommend looking for an engagement ring through the diamond dealers below. They are reputable and maintain high-quality collections of diamonds and settings. All diamonds come with an AGS or GIA certificate—allowing you to trust what they’re selling you. If you have any questions about these vendors, please email us.
Blue Nile
- Maintains the largest online inventory of diamonds and settings
- Focuses on excellent diamond and jewelry quality
- Offers great prices and return policies
James Allen
- Appealing prices
- High-tech diamond imagery (allowing you to view every diamond up-close before purchase)
- Excellent customer service
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
Evaluating a Diamond Ring for Beauty and Value
At Diamond Pro, we want you to find the best diamond for the best price. We have an extensive collection of diamond educational resources to help you select the most beautiful ring for your budget.
- Diamond Shape: Choose a shape based on your personal style and preference. Be sure to match your stone with a setting that offers safety and security.
- Diamond Cut: More than any other quality, Cut plays the biggest role in a diamond’s beauty. Only consider Excellent and Ideal cut diamonds.
- Diamond Color: To the naked eye, diamonds in the G to I Color range will appear colorless, but cost far less than diamonds in the D to F range. Be sure your diamond looks white in relation to its setting.
- Diamond Clarity: Always choose a diamond that’s eye clean, but remember you don’t need a diamond that’s flawless under magnification. Inclusions and blemishes often cannot be seen with the naked eye at a VS1 or VS2 Clarity grade. While you can pay more for higher Clarity, it will likely go unnoticed.
Shop for three-stone diamond engagement rings here.
Any questions on engagement rings or diamonds? Email our experts.
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.
Blue Nile is currently running a limited time sale offering 15% on settings site-wide. Click here to browse some great settings.
- 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
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.
- 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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