Three-stone engagement rings are a timeless style with ample opportunity to customize the design based on your unique personal tastes and preferences. There is a vast selection of side stone options, each offering a slightly different overall aesthetic when paired with your choice of the center stone. So, how do you choose the right side stones for your three-stone engagement ring?
We will take you through each of the most popular side stone options and offer our expert recommendations of compatible center stone pairings. Keep in mind: there are no hard and fast rules for three-stone engagement ring design; the potential combinations are limitless!
What is a Three-Stone Engagement Ring?
The three-stone engagement ring features a larger center stone flanked by two matching stones often referred to as “side stones.”
Side stones are most often natural diamond gemstones or natural diamond alternatives, which further enhance the regal beauty of any center stone. The side stones of a three-stone engagement ring can be secured in a plain setting, a halo setting, a Hidden Halo™ setting, a bezel setting, and more.
The three-stone engagement ring design offers a classically elegant aesthetic that will never go out of style. The side stones you choose for your three-stone engagement ring will allow you to infuse your unique personality and individuality into your engagement ring design.
Cushion Moissanite Three-Stone Hidden Halo Rose Engagement Ring
Types of Side Stones
When choosing the perfect side stones for your three-stone engagement ring, there is no shortage of side stone options. From the structural sophistication of the tapered baguette side stone to the traditional aesthetic of step-cut trapezoid side stones, the three-stone engagement ring variations are endless.
We will present a brief overview of each side stone option, a recommended pairing guide, and a few Lauren B examples of each indicated side stone for visual reference.
Tapered Baguettes
The tapered baguette features step-cut faceting in an elongated shape that tapers on one side. You need not worry about these understated side stones stealing the show; in fact, the tapered baguette creates a beautifully seamless transition from the center stone to the band, which enhances the grandeur of any center stone.
Pairs Well With…
- Any center stone shape
Round Moissanite Three-Stone Engagement Ring
4.06 ct Pear Shape Diamond Three-Stone Engagement Ring
Cushion Moissanite Three-Stone Engagement Ring
Trapezoids or “Traps”
Trapezoid side stones, sometimes referred to as “traps”, are four-sided stones comprised of two parallel sides and two sides that are inclined inwards. Traps are a great way to accentuate your center stone as they tend to make it look larger than it really is.
Trapezoid side stones can be cut in two styles: the step cut and the brilliant cut.
Step Cut
The step-cut trapezoid side stone has the same faceting style as an emerald or Asscher cut. This faceting style allows you to see clearly into the center of the stone, placing an emphasis on gemstone clarity.
3.02 Carat Emerald Cut Diamond Three-Stone Engagement Ring
Brilliant Cut
The brilliant-cut trapezoid side stone has a faceting style similar to the round “brilliant” cut. Brilliant cut traps feature a continuous sparkle throughout the stone, which emphasizes center stone brilliance.
Pairs Well With…
- Step Cut Trapezoids
- Emerald Cut Center Stone
- Asscher Cut Center Stones
- Brilliant Cut Trapezoids
- Radiant Cut Center Stone
- princess cut engagement rings
- Cushion Cut Center Stone
Pear Shapes
While the pear is a hugely popular center stone shape, pear-shaped side stones are a beautiful addition to your three-stone engagement ring. Pear-shaped side stones are most commonly nestled horizontally on the band with the rounded side closest to the center stone and the sharp tip introducing the band. The brilliant cut faceting of this teardrop shape enhances both brilliant cut and cushion cut center stones.
Pairs Well With…
- Round Cut Center Stone
- Oval Cut Center Stone
- Cushion Cut Center Stone
- Marquise Cut Center Stone
- Pear Shape Center Stone
2.01 Carat Cushion Cut Diamond Three-Stone Engagement Ring
Half Moons
The half-moon side stone resembles a round “brilliant” cut sliced in half, though some half moon side stones can appear elongated and resemble a halved oval cut gemstone. The rounded sides of this side stone option look best when paired with a rounded center stone.
Pairs Well With…
- Cushion Cut Center Stone
- Round Cut Center Stone
- Oval Cut Center Stone
Oval Moissanite Three-Stone Engagement Ring
1.30ct Cushion Cut Diamond Three-Stone Engagement Ring
Trillions
The trillion side stone is a three-sided, triangular shape with a brilliant-cut faceting style. Though they have dwindled in popularity over the past few decades, trillions create a stunning, winged accent to the center stone.
Center stones with parallel edges like the radiant and princess cuts are particularly compatible with trillion side stones. The flat edge of the trillion side stones sits flush against the flat edges of these center stones for a pristine transition from center stone to side stone.
Pairs Well With…
- Radiant Cut Center Stone
- Princess Cut Center Stone
- Oval Cut Center Stone
- Cushion Cut Center Stone
- Round Cut Center Stone
- Pear Shape Center Stone
1.8 ct Radiant Cut Rose Gold Three-Stone Ring
3.23 ct Sapphire and Diamond Three-Stone Ring with Pave
Tapered Bullets
The tapered bullet originated from the baguette diamond, though the tapered bullet features a pointed end that resembles a “V” shape, which is further accentuated by calculated prong placement.
The tapered bullet side stone comes in both step-cut faceting and brilliant-cut faceting, though step-cut faceting is most popular with this shape.
Pairs Well With…
- Asscher Cut Center Stone
- Cushion Cut Center Stone
5.01 ct Asscher cut Diamond Engagement Ring
Rounds
Not only is the round “brilliant” cut center stone a popular, classic center stone option, it also makes for a beautiful side stone option.
Traditionally, round side stones were exclusively paired with a larger, matching round center stone. We have recently seen round side stones paired with unexpected center stones, largely in part to the widely popular Megan Markle engagement ring design.
Pairs Well With…
- Round Cut Center Stone
- Cushion Cut Center Stone (i.e. Megan Markle Engagement Ring)
- Pear Shape Center Stone
- Oval Cut Center Stone
- Any Round Edged Center Stone
Epaulettes
“Epaulette” is French for “shoulder,” and resembles a fashionable shoulder ornament. The epaulette side stone is a five-sided shape with a pointed “V” tip similar to that of the tapered bullet. The pointed tip of this side stone creates a natural flow from the center stone to the band, differentiating the epaulette from the trapezoid side stone.
Pairs Well With…
- Emerald Cut Center Stone
2 ct Emerald Cut Diamond Three-Stone Engagement Ring
Cadillacs or “Chevrons”
The Cadillac side stone, also known as the “chevron,” is a five-sided shape comparable to the epaulette but with a less distinct pointed tip. These side stones are difficult to cut, and as a result, there is less variety of these side stones on the market.
Pairs Well With…
- Radiant Cut Center Stone
- Emerald Cut Center Stone
- Asscher Cut Center Stone
Emerald-Cut Moissanite Three-Stone Engagement Ring
Shields
The shield side stone earned its name from the semblance to a traditional warrior shield used throughout history. Shield side stones come from the same family as the trapezoid, the epaulette, and the Cadillac, and resemble an elongated trapezoid.
Pairs Well With…
- Emerald Cut Center Stone
- Radiant Cut Center Stone
- Asscher Cut Center Stone
11.75 ct Emerald and Diamond Platinum Ring
Classic Diamond Shapes
While the aforementioned side stone shapes are most notably featured in three-stone engagement ring designs, side stones can be fashioned in any classic diamond shape including emerald cut, oval cut, heart-shaped, and more.
Side stones with a classic diamond shape are most often paired with a center stone of the same shape, though this is not a rule. For example: if you have an oval cut center stone, you would pair this center stone with two smaller oval cut side stones as seen in the 1.40 ct Oval Diamond Three-Stone Engagement Ring featured, below.
Good Things Come in Threes…
At Lauren B, each of our three-stone engagement rings is hand-made to exact specifications. This process ensures our three-stone engagement rings are perfectly symmetrical and proportionate for a flawless overall appearance. If you choose an in-stock engagement ring, we will work with you to select side stones with comparable color and clarity to the center stone for a polished, uniform look that enhances the center stone.