Did I finally find the right wedding band?

[miagracie]

Thanks for helping me decide against a double band. Thread:
[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/does-this-diamond-band-look-good-with-my-vintage-ring.168167/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/does-this-diamond-band-look-good-with-my-vintage-ring.168167/[/URL]


Okay, I think I've got it right this time. What do you ladies think? Also, do you think the diamond band is an old european or transitional?
Thoughts on wearing it with a spacer or a third band (my Grandma's) on the end when I need extra "security" (when it's cold and my fingers are a touch smaller)?

This is the fourth band I've tried and the best one so far. I think it works, but wanted to see what you all thought? Could I do better? (I got it for $235 at .49 ct tw H SI1).

Without a spacer or end/security band


With a spacer-I like it better WITHOUT the spacer. Thoughts?


With no spacer but a band on the end for security-I would need to do this when it's cold or my rings feel loose (they are both a touch large, to begin with 51/2 & 5 3/4 and I really wear a 5, but they aren't scary loose). It looks a lot less obtrusive, I think in person. A



With just the plain band for reference. I will wear it with the plain band for a cleaner more modern look at times. The band's my grandma's so it's sentimental also.

 

[miagracie]

One more thing, do you think the diamonds in the band are old European or Transitional?

 

[tyty333]

I think that one looks really good with your ering! I dont see any problem wearing the 3rd band either when your rings
are a litle too loose. Can't tell what kind of stones those are. We would have to have some straight on shots. They
could being single cuts.

Edit ...I dont think you need the "spacer" unless the girdles are touching stone/gold.

 

[miagracie]

Would these shots from the seller help. By straight on you mean the top of the ring directly, correct? I'm unfamilar with single cuts (going to google it an search the boards).

 

[miagracie]

I found this link, based on the pictures and looking with a loupe, to my untrained eyes the band's diamonds are more old european shaped due to the shape of the table and sides it's not quite as "flat" as the single cuts pictured.

Thoughts?

 

[Rhea]

I like it! A great match!

 

[Gypsy]

Yes, they look like a cohesive set.

 

[yennyfire]

I think you have a winner! I can't tell from the photos whether the stones are OEC or transitional, but I don't think it matters. It looks really nice with your ering and that's all that matters!

 

[mary poppins]

They look great together! I like ering and wband without the spacer (unless there's a problem and it's necessary). The end ring is a good idea when you're concerned the e and w might fall off - not too noticeable and doesn't detract.

 

[AuntKiki]

Winner! I like it with just the diamond band and with your grandmas band on the top.v

 

[ElenaM]

I can't believe I'm gonna say this but I love the plain band, especially with the back story.

But the diamond band is lovely, too. If you use three bands, I would put the plain band on last.

 

[Hospatogi]

I love your diamond band ! I think it looks perfect with and without the plain band

 

[Amys Bling]

I think you found a winner!!

 

[mitsui4]

Not bad I think~

 

[Ara Ann]

I think it looks nice in all the different ways you posted. It will be fun to have different ways to wear your rings!!! I like this diamond band with your e-ring too.

 

[ame]

I still stand by the plain band. This is still too huge for with the ering and makes the whole set, honestly, look cheap and fake. I think if you want a diamond band, a VERY thing string style diamond band would be the best match.

 

[pregcurious]

I like the look with the plain band the best, but the diamond band matches style-wise and looks decent. I do not like the look with the spacer because it is too obvious.

I think a thinner eternity band would complement your ering the best, and not compete with it. I would get one that is thin, like 2 mm in width and height. Before committing to this one forever, I would go to a jeweler and just try on some stock eternity bands. If you still love your new diamond band, I would keep it.

 

[miagracie]

I do like the plain band too! When I want to go more modern or simple or for just a change up.

I did try a 2mm (equal in width to the plain gold band) and the width was nice and it was a totally different look. It to me wasn't so much about "competing" with the ring, as slipping under the side of the head and not obstructing the shape. I had to send it back (it was lovely though) because it had some loose stones and significant wear in the prongs. I would have kept it otherwise, but I do also like the thicker band (at .50 ct vs .25 ct for the thinner).

Not to be snippy or argumentative, but there aren't many vintage fakes (unless someone is doing some fabulous copy work), and if a diamond band made a set look fake-then there'd be many fake looking sets going on, even here. I don't think that at all, just saying that it's not entirely fair to think that.

And to the poster of that comment, while appreciate the honesty of it-with all due respect it looks like YOU are wearing a diamond band yourself (it is lovely as is your e-ring!). So not being snippy, and apologize if it comes off that way, is it the fact that it has diamonds, the size or the diamonds or the width that makes it look "fakey"? I'm honestly asking wanting to know why it feels that way to you, because I wouldn't WANT it to look that way.

One final question...I'm not a fan of mixing gold tones, unless it's in a two toned item (and usually then only vintage where they blended it so nicely together, say in an art deco style).

However, I own both yellow and white gold items (and I've now become a fan of good, polished, coated silver for a few fun items). I have my original yellow gold set, which is quite dated from the early/mid 1990's. I'll use it for everyday wear, because I want to be extra careful with the vintage set. Resetting probably isn't an option due to a crack in the stone (that's likely my fault, which is why I'm NOT wearing this vintage set around the house *smile*).

In a year or two for another anniversary I'm planning on finding a vintage set or getting a solitaire to go with a crazy wide (can barely bend my finger!) vintage yellow gold cigar band that was my great grandmother's and that my mother wore for years (I took it off her finger at her request before she died, so it's really sentimental to me.)

My question is...with this white gold vintage set (above)-since it's mostly diamonds and the head, which blends well. Can I wear it (without the spacer band which draws more attention to the white gold) with say, a yellow gold ring on the other hand and a yellow gold necklace. I break the rule about mixing metal for my diamond stud earrings, because you only see the diamond (martini setting) for the most part. Could I get away with wearing this set with yellow gold items (but none on the same hand or wrist of course)?

 

[ame]

Not to be snippy or argumentative, but there aren't many vintage fakes (unless someone is doing some fabulous copy work), and if a diamond band made a set look fake-then there'd be many fake looking sets going on, even here. I don't think that at all, just saying that it's not entirely fair to think that.

And to the poster of that comment, while appreciate the honesty of it-with all due respect it looks like YOU are wearing a diamond band yourself (it is lovely as is your e-ring!). So not being snippy, and apologize if it comes off that way, is it the fact that it has diamonds, the size or the diamonds or the width that makes it look "fakey"? I'm honestly asking wanting to know why it feels that way to you, because I wouldn't WANT it to look that way.

I am wearing a diamond band with my set. And I feel that with it being narrower now than the original band, it looks a ton better than it did before I got the thinner band. The e-ring is better complemented now that it's not as wide.

In your instance, and I really truly mean no offense, I was giving my honest gut reaction instead of the standard PS response of "it's a classic beauty", why I say that is that the size of the ring itself, width, height, and all, AND the diamonds that make it look that way to me. It just does not look good together to my eyes, the band with that e-ring looks "cheap" like costume jewelry (hence the fake comment), and takes so much away from your engagement ring itself making it look less special and it's a really neat e-ring. Like I said in the other thread and above, I think a very thin diamond band (the same width even as that plain one) would look significantly better along side the engagement ring, complementing it far more than the one you have paired with it above. It might not look as off to me in person, but Im not viewing it in person, Im viewing it by way of photos on the internet.

Since I have said all of that, I have to say that it's not my ring, or my set, so obviously you have to decide for yourself if you like them together. But I feel like since you're still asking, I don't get the impression that YOU love it and are asking for us to tell you we like it so you'll not second guess it.

 

[motownmama]

I LOVE the band with your er. There seems to be a nice visual tie with the design and the diamond ring and the corners/prongs of the setting.

 

[miagracie]

Ame, Sorry if I was snippy and thanks for explaining your reasoning and your honesty, no offense taken.

So you didn't like a wide band yourself? I love your bands and your e-ring! Lovely! With that beautiful solitaire, I'm sure you could wear it with quite a variety of bands and all would look great!

I have to agree with you in many ways the narrower band point. As much as I love this band and the ct. weight, it is a very different look from the 2 mm diamond band I tried before (and had to return due to loose diamonds, not the look).

Given the choice between the two bands, all other things considered-It's a tough call! (I'd actually kind of want BOTH-not worn together but for different looks.)

And you are right that it changes the look of the ring. I don't think it looks "fake," at least not in person, but that's just me. I swear it looks better in person than the photos.

But I also tend to like larger scaled jewelry when it's well done. So that might influence my perception of it.

But as lovely as the band is, there is something quite nice about the plain band (and the thinner diamond band, which I wish I had pictures of) and how it sets with the head of the ring-mainly that the head of the ring is not obstructed.

I do love it, but wanted some more thoughts/opinions from this very smart, savvy group of wonderful folks! Also, I love the honesty here that if it was bad someone would kindly tell me.

I'm going to keep it-because it was a great price, great quality and I do like it. But I might also try to find a narrower diamond band at some point as well for a different look, since it does also work well.

The only reservation I have really, is the width of it being a touch wider than the engagement ring. But it wraps around the finger edges cleanly and nicely.

I've been shocked at how hard it is to find a vintage band (not in a set), one at the right price, size (I really don't want to have to have a vintage ring sized, afraid I'd loose diamonds, as I did on one new ring I had sized and they had to replace them), quality and style. It's been a frustrating but also fun process.

 

[ame]

I am very direct, it's not always coming out as "kindly" as I think in my head it is?

I had a wider band with this ering and it never grew on me. I tried it on with so many different widths and it just never looked right, it like...blurred together. I swore I did not want a thin band like this, I wanted it to match widths and when I saw the way this thin one went with the solitaire, it made so much more sense. It did what I wanted, it looked nice together but wasn't so wide and weird that it took away. And the one that I replaced this with was just about 3mm and was just way too much. My solitaire is nothing as unique and cool as yours, it's a simple plain solitaire, but you have a really neat ring with more design going on, and it just seems like the plain band, or something narrower and lower and more discrete, just looks perfect next to it, lets it stand out so much more. I feel like a really narrow diamond band--though finding one of those with older cuts might be tough--might be ideal next to it, OR below the plain band, with the plain band kind of acting like a spacer. I have kind of looked in passing for thinner antique bands just because I like the idea of history, but I agree, it's fairly hard to find those and seems like all of them are just reproductions.

What matters here is not my opinion or others though, it's yours, and you have to love what you're buying and wearing. In person Im sure it's amazing and there's a lot more to seeing it togehter in reality, more intricacies and whatnot are visible. Don't settle if it's not perfection. And if this IS perfect to your eye, that's when you know.

 

[miagracie]

No, don't worry. You're fine!

It's interesting that after wanting a wider band you found a thinner band more to your liking. Because that was kind of my thinking as well until I tried the thinner band and liked it as well, while still liking the thicker bands.

Sometimes it's just hard to tell until we try them all. Thanks for encouraging me to do so, so I didn't miss out on something even more wonderful. And I have to admit, the thinner band was special too.

It's a lovely band (all your rings are), I really like how it matches the plain band (spacer?) in width very nice! You're engagement ring is lovely, a real timeless classic you'll never tire of or go out of style. And you can always have fun with bands if you ever need a change or want to stack, though yours is perfect.

When we were shopping for the engagement ring (which is actually a 2nd ring/set to my original one), I was all, "I don't want a solitaire, too plain, I only want vintage (trust me this isn't in any way insulting, it's going somewhere) and very intricate."

Then I tried on a solitaire (my original one is a solitaire set with side stones and a thick cathedral band and is decent .50 ct but not great and the setting is dated) and really wished I had gotten the orignal ring in a solitaire (thin band too!) so it wouldn't be dated.

The lady at the jeweler told me I wouldn't like a solitaire with a diamond band, which I thought was a must have. I can't say I didn't like them with diamond bands, because I did. But I appreciated for the first time (after trying on a lot) the simplicity and beauty of the plain band, which also carries over to this ring too.

I kind of debated on this vintage ring at .70 center and a 1ct solitaire at a little more money. But under the loupe there was no comparison and I just loved it and it's classic but vintage feel and it's uniqueness. Thanks for the kind compliments on the ring! I feel so fortunate to have found it. I swooped it up quickly after being sure and shopping around, didn't want to let it pass me by.

Also, one thing I loved about it compared to other vintage rings, is that I COULD wear just the plain band from Gramdma without the "need" to add a diamond band. But then I kind of got to wanting to have the option, so here I am.

Yep, most vintage bands are new copies. And from my limited experience, you have to be sure the vintage bands don't have loose stones or worn down prongs (the thin one did). That is when you can even find them!

You're right when it's "perfect" you know. I'm pretty sure it's perfect. But I'm one of those people who second guesses everything and overanylizes too.

 

[Mrs.W 514]

I really like it with the band and think that both rings go very well with your e-ring. I have to wear a small spacer style band on the outside of my rings when its cold so they don't fall off so I know that it is absolutely necessary. I am totally in love with old cuts so I think having the old cuts in both the band and your e-ring give the set a very cohesive look. That being said it is a tad (only to a PS'er I'm sure) wide but if I were you I would still keep it.

You were saying how difficult it is to find vintage bands and I agree I have been looking as well and have had a hard time finding real antique rings. I have started going into pawn shops, antique stores and places that say "we buy gold." I found a beautiful .34ct OMB solitare in a yg setting sort of similar to yours for only 190! You generally have to wade through some "junk" and (at the risk of looking crazy) bring a loupe, diamond tester, a toothbrush and some windex. The ring I bought was so dirty the stone looked brown and had a large black inclusion . After some windex and a brush it was a lovely creamy L-M and completely eye clean!

enjoy your band

 

[miagracie]

Future Mrs. Williamson!!, congrats on your engagement by the way! Yay!

WOW! I'm impressed with the deal you got on the ring! You've got to show us! That is amazing! What a deal!

I don't think it looks crazy at all, but smart to shop that way! I would have thought of the loupe and tester, but the windex wouldn't have occured to me. It's hard to imagine it could look so bad and clean up so nicely! It's really better it was dirty, perhaps it helped you get a better price?

When we went shopping for the engagement ring we went to pawn shops with slim pickings there. Of course we live in a small town, and there were about 3 or 4 that even carried jewelry. Some were seedy, I dressed down, wore no jewelry, locked my purse in the car and had dear hubby by my side. I did find one pawn shop (nice owner but SEEDY, would NEVER go alone) with some good deals on lovely cocktail rings (might go back sometime!).

The shop was also memorable for a weird, slightly creepy moment-a customer (dare I say redneck, we are southern *smile* and that seems the most apt word and description), male of course came up behind me (hubby was looking at something a few feet away and didn't see it) and was about two feet behind me looking over my shoulder and SNIFFED at me. I could feel it and hear it. It was not quite as creepy as it sounds or could have been (but still creepy), I think he actually was just smelling my perfume and he didn't get too close, and in a weird way actually seemed harmless and almost respectful-like he mean no harm or lewdness by it-I didn't feel threatened or violated or angry (nor flattered either *smile*). But I was still like, "Okay...so glad hubby's with me. And I can't believe the guy just did that."

I didn't try antique shops, because ours are in a touristy historical district and are generally overpriced. I did end up getting the e-ring at a reputable coin & jewelry shop (mostly vintage/used) that is also now a goldbuyer. They wanted $1900 (which IS too much) and went down to $1400 (which might be a touch high but considering the uniqueness and quality, wasn't too bad).

Ebay, with a good return policy, and caution, seems to be a good source, at least better than our local resources and shops. But then there's the trouble of returning it if you don't like it, which I've just been through several times.

 

[ame]

uh. wut. He SNIFFED AT YOU? That...that's so beyond words. That's just weird! People do such bizarro things.

Anyway...yea I swore up and down and sideways to the jeweler that I did not want narrower than like 2.2mm. And this one is like 1.9mm. lol But when it was on with the ering and plain band...it was like...THIS is what I was looking for. It did not upstage my ering at all. I just wish I was 100% happy with the workmanship on either. I feel like I am back at square one, and now if I buy anything new I might look for antiques and have them spruced up or something. I just seem to never find anything rad around here.

I hate that there's very few REAL antiques still around and easily found and that people take to copying real antiques so freely. I feel like you just never know anymore.

 

[miagracie]

Yep, the strange man sniffed me. It sounds worse than it was.

Hope you find what you're looking for. Your ring is lovely though. But I get wanting something vintage. I hope it's easier for you to find one than it was for me.

If you go on ebay soon (or plan to) and find a narrow 2mm platinum band with baguettes (2) & round (4) mixed, PM me because it might be the one I had to return for it having loose stones that couldn't be tightened (I asked). Pity, because it was lovely! Just saying that in case you run across it I would hate for you to have the same problem I did with it.

 

[ame]

OH that's good to know! I hate that they would just relist that. I am not a big ebay person, I simply don't trust the sellers. lol

It might sound worse than it is, but the whole thing is seriously WEIRD!

I hope you find a perfect band if THIS is not it.

 

[luv2sparkle]

I really like them together! I think they look very comparable in era and work really well together. I do think I would eliminate wearing
the spacer with them. It brings a modern look to a very antique looking set, and I am not crazy about that look. These rings have survived
this long, they will probably survive being worn together.

The plain band does look good worn with just the e-ring though. That is always classic and will look even better after it is worn and dulled just a bit.