Bigger ring & no wedding band or wb+ring......????

[Dutchgirlll]

Hi!

Newbie here, so really would like your opinion!

So, here comes (somewhat complicated story lol):

My BF proposed a year ago and gave me this beautiful Tiffany ring. We live in the Netherlands (aka Holland -for those who don''t know, that''s in Europe

-) and we have totally different customs here regarding a wedding ring. Here it''s not common to receive a engagement ring + wb.
Instead couples only choose a wb with a small diamond for the bride. Of course these things are changing now, but I just wanted to let you in on the difference in our cultures.

Well, love my standard Tif setting (.44 ct), wanted a matching band (shared setting, half circle). But then Tiffany decided to bring out that Novo ring and that just changed everything...

haha
So now I changed my mind and figured I would like to have the novo ring too!!

Discussed it with my bf and he''s fine with everything, as long as I don''t exchange my ering (and no I won''t haha). Just want this ring too!

So I figured that I would love to have the novo wb for our upcoming 10 year aniversary and the novo ering for my wedding (I really don''t care about customs etc, just love to have a nice set and we already mixed all the rules anyway haha)...

So here comes the but: my budget is limited (at least US minded it is, here in Holland it''s kinda outrageous for your wedding rings

). I would like to spend $10k in total. So that is for the ring and wb. But now I''m in doubt whether I should skip the wb and get 1 bigger rock (.81 or something), or make a ''set'' with a smaller size ring (probably .61) and a matching wb.

AAARRGHHHH!!!

What should I do? A lot of people think a set would be nicer -I think too- but I''m so rock-minded now! Kinda already feel bad that we didn''t had the budget last year to buy a bigger stone, but I definitely can''t get buyers remorse on this one.... I already upgraded my budget with $4k, as I want 2 rings now instead of 1, can''t put in anymore money, otherwise I will be marrying in a GAP dress

lol

I read here in some topics that the size of the ct doesn''t always lead to a bigger rock in size (or at least not much). Will it be worth getting a .80 in stead of a .63 or something? Anybody an idea? I have seen a .61 IRL, not anything in the .75/.8 range.

Would be so pleased to get your opinions on this! Many thanks!

PS I have 1 week left before I leave for my trip to the US (will be the ring then)

 

[somethingshiny]

Welcome to PS, Dutchgirl!

Okay, there''s a lot of info in your post. First, I didn''t know anything about the wedding ring customs. Interesting.

Secondly, do YOU want the set or the bigger rock. No one can make that decision for you . Things to consider might be, will you upgrade the rock during your marriage, or is what you have now going to be your rock forever? What about the option of adding bands along the way instead of trying to get them now?

Difference in size between a .60 and a .80 is about half a millimeter in diameter.

Shopping for a diamond online will save money. Pricescope has reputable vendors listed. Under Resources, you can find the listings. Also, you can use the tool at the top of the screen to give approximate prices for stones.

There are also great tutorials and old threads that will give you TONS of info to help you decide. And, if you want help to choose a stone or band online, just tell us what you''d like and we''ll help.

 

[lyra]

Personally, I would go for the .60 plus the band you want, instead of just getting the .80. The difference in size isn't that much, but having 2 rings instead of just one new one gives you more options for the future. Some days you might want to just wear the wedding band and no diamond. That's my choice anyway. Good luck. I liked reading about your customs.

 

[mrssalvo]

Date: 12/6/2007 3:34:48 PM
Author: lyra
Personally, I would go for the .60 plus the band you want, instead of just getting the .80. The difference in size isn''t that much, but having 2 rings instead of just one new one gives you more options for the future. Some days you might want to just wear the wedding band and no diamond. That''s my choice anyway. Good luck. I liked reading about your customs.

me too. plus you get one upgrade at tiff''s so maybe down the road you could upgrade the novo e-ring.

 

[Dutchgirlll]

Thanks for your replies! I read her about the upgrades before, but I thought Tiffany didn''t do that (I askes the SA last year). At least something to keep in mind

If the size isn''t really improving for that amount of money, I''m probably better of buying 2 rings instead of 1... Unfortunately it is slim pickings at tif. right now, so only 1 ring available in my size/pricerange...

I have no clue whether these rings come into stock on a regular base, soI''ll just have to wait and see I guess.

Funny that you liked the stories about the customs here. Traditionally the couples here gets a matching set, main difference being the size (man slightly larger) and some will add a stone for the bride. Here people are kinda cheap about those things, so most couples won''t even spend $1000 on both rings!

Reasons for me not to tell people how much I would spend, they probably think I just want to brag about it

Here you can get an idea of what a lot of couples buy here

Definitely NOT my style

Something very ''trendy'' going on right now, are rings inscripted with your heartbeat: link

But, merely because of different influences (like US television lol), it becomes more and more common to give an ering right now...

 

[Maisie]

Hi Dutchgirll

I am a bit confused. You said your boyfriend gave you an engagement ring already and asked you not to upgrade it. Where will you wear this new set? On your wedding finger or the opposite hand? I am just wondering if your boyfriend will mind you getting a new set and wearing it in place of the ring he bought you.

Why not just spend the money on a wedding band to go with the engagement ring you have now? There are some gorgeous wedding bands at Tiffany.

I hope you come back to show us what you decide on

 

[Dutchgirlll]

That was the initial idea, untill that novo ring blinded me

And i fell in love with that one too... So being very unconventional here and gonna buy a new set. Might wanna stack my engagement ring with the set, or wear it separately on my other hand.

My bf will give me the band for our anniversary (in stead of another piece of jewelry), I save the rock as my ''official'' wedding ring. I know it might be strange to a lot of people, but I would never buy a ring like that anymore... and I have that universal girl problem: I just want it all

 

[lyra]

Thanks for posting those links, they were quite interesting. I liked some of those sets. It looks like they make them so that you can add matching earrings and necklaces. The heartbeat rings are very different. Cool idea. I guess yellow gold is more popular there?

I think the changing customs are due to the media, celebrities, lack of privacy. We have so much information and pictures available now!