Downgrades?

[trillionaire]

Has anyone downgraded their rings? Could be the size(center stone) or the setting (tcw)? If so, why did you? Anyone considering this or is it a weird concept?


Thanks!

 

[beechezz]

Trillionaire-I think this is a great question! Sometimes I think about changing my setting to something simple, like just plain platinum ring with some really pretty prongs. I currently have 4 pave set diamonds set on either side of my center diamond, but I think a simpler setting may set off the diamond even more!

 

[musey]

I had some guilt issues about my center stone and thought about downgrading. But, since we bought it secondhand from a private owner, we would have lost way too much of the value.

Good thing I got over it quickly, anyway

I don't think it's a weird concept--changing your ring is about making it what you want (whether it wasn't quite 'there' in the first place or your tastes have since changed), whether that's to make it bigger, blingier, simplified or smaller.

I've seen quite a few people on here switch from a blingy setting to a solitaire, which would count I guess

 

[Miss Fortune]

well... sort of. I have an 1.2ct asscher with .40 side stones and I''m upgrading my center stone asscher to 2+ (if I can find one I love - it''s hard!!) and I''m gonna put it in a Leon solitaire with no additional stones.

 

[trillionaire]

The ring I am expecting is a blingy split shank, and I am in my 20''s, so I think I will love it ''now'', but I can see myself wanting a simple solitaire setting in the future (maybe in 8-10 years) that is more of a classic take. Who knows, I might grow to just love love love it forever, but I have always been more of a plain and simple girl. I gave SO a bunch of options and let him make the decision, and I don''t want him to feel like I don''t like it or that he made the wrong decision. I don''t want him to be offended, but I guess I will have to wait until AFTER he gives me the ring to have that discussion.

 

[Fly Girl]

I got my 1.5 ct F VS2 in platinum after 25 years of marriage. It''s a beautiful ring, but often I want something simpler. For me this is especially true in the summer. Then I wear a plain band with a smaller solitaire. You''ll find that gardening, housework, camping, changing diapers, cooking, cleaning, exercise class, playing with your kids, and many other activities (flying!) just work better when your hands aren''t encumbered with a fancy, delicate ring. If you have a fancy ring, I''d suggest keeping it, and getting a plain band to wear at other times.

 

[EricaR]

My mom is in the process of downgrading right now. The ring she wears isn''t her original set, but it was handed down to her from my great grandmother. It is a 3.65ct center stone with baguette centers and a VERY elaborate wedding band that has many (around 10?) baguettes arranged in sort of a starburst pattern around it. The baguettes add an additional 1.5cts to the ring which means the whole set adds up to more than 5 ctw...

I''m in the process of convincing her to get the center stone recut. It is an H color with orange flour and, well, looks more like an M or N color. Once that is done she is having it set in one of Leon''s simple pave settings and won''t wear a band with it. So while she''ll still have her honker of a center stone it will feel much lighter and be much smaller overall.

 

[EricaR]

Ahhh, I dug up the thread where I posted my mom''s set so you can see what I''m talking about. Turns out there are 13 baguettes, not 10!

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/my-great-grandmothers-wedding-set.74902/

 

[trillionaire]

Date: 12/20/2008 1:51:20 AM
Author: EricaR
Ahhh, I dug up the thread where I posted my mom''s set so you can see what I''m talking about. Turns out there are 13 baguettes, not 10!


https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/my-great-grandmothers-wedding-set.74902/

Now THAT, my dear, is a RING!

 

[EricaR]

Date: 12/20/2008 2:02:47 AM
Author: trillionaire

Date: 12/20/2008 1:51:20 AM
Author: EricaR
Ahhh, I dug up the thread where I posted my mom''s set so you can see what I''m talking about. Turns out there are 13 baguettes, not 10!


https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/my-great-grandmothers-wedding-set.74902/

Now THAT, my dear, is a RING!

Isn''t it??! I keep trying to run off with it but she''s faster than I am. And meaner. A LOT meaner!

I actually think it looks a bit rediculous on me. haha. And if she does get it reset I''m tempted to take the setting for myself and replace the center stone either with something smaller or a colored gem. I think the setting itself has a lot of character and I love the sentimental value.

 

[kittybean]

Date: 12/20/2008 2:07:23 AM
Author: EricaR

Date: 12/20/2008 2:02:47 AM

Author: trillionaire

Date: 12/20/2008 1:51:20 AM

Author: EricaR

Ahhh, I dug up the thread where I posted my mom''s set so you can see what I''m talking about. Turns out there are 13 baguettes, not 10!



https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/my-great-grandmothers-wedding-set.74902/

Now THAT, my dear, is a RING!

Isn''t it??! I keep trying to run off with it but she''s faster than I am. And meaner. A LOT meaner!


I actually think it looks a bit rediculous on me. haha. And if she does get it reset I''m tempted to take the setting for myself and replace the center stone either with something smaller or a colored gem. I think the setting itself has a lot of character and I love the sentimental value.

Wow, I am in L-O-V-E with the e-ring. The wedding band has some character. If I were feeling spunky, I''d rock that too!

Back to downgrades: My third cousin (I think) had about a 2 ct (I''m just guessing on that) that was pretty mediocre-looking in a chunky yellow gold setting, with some channel-set diamonds, and she is downgrading to a 1.23 RB ideal-cut E VS2 (I know the second set of specs ''cause I helped her a wee bit--she was having it shipped to Eastern Europe). She''ll be setting in a simple setting. After several years, she decided she didn''t like the first ring and wanted something simpler and of higher quality. We''ll see if she sends me any pictures.

 

[MMT]

Erica that is a gorgeous ring, it looks plenty white to me. The orange fluor sounds cool. Maybe you should try and run faster

I just upgraded and can''t imagine downgrading.

 

[vespergirl]

I downgraded ct weight from a 2.25 ct asscher to a 2.01 ct RB. Even though it''s 1/4 ct smaller, it faces up much bigger (From 7.1 mm to 8.1 mm). Still, the asscher was more expensive, so when I downgraded the diamond, I got a pair of 1.16 cttw RB diamond studs to go with my new RB diamond.

 

[kimikocat]

I am thinking about "downgrading" too -- though I will keep my original e-ring as well. There are times when I don''t want to wear something too ostentatious, but still want to wear a solitaire. I can''t decide on the cut for my "downgrade" but I definitely want a simple, classic solitaire with fluid lines. I''ll wear it w/ a plain wedding band and maybe a 1/2 eternity as well. I''m thinking of going from 2 carats to 1.3-1.5, or maybe a 2 carat fancy cut.

My downgrade is a good excuse to shop for more diamonds.

I think a girl can never have enough sparkle.

kimi

 

[EricaR]

Sorry to have stolen your thread trillionaire, but I wanted to say thank you to everyone for the nice comments about my mom''s set. It isn''t mine (yet!) but it has a lot of sentimental value to me and your comments mean a lot.

 

[kimikocat]

Date: 12/21/2008 1:17:01 AM
Author: EricaR
Sorry to have stolen your thread trillionaire, but I wanted to say thank you to everyone for the nice comments about my mom''s set. It isn''t mine (yet!) but it has a lot of sentimental value to me and your comments mean a lot.

Erica -- how would you recut your mom''s stone? I''m curious! Would you keep the OMC profile or switch to a more modern look?

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Erica, I also love that baguette setting with your mom''s diamond! A recut would be fabulous, though!

I had a 1 ct. e-ring for years and my husband was getting me a new one for an anniversary (which is when I joined PS). I was looking for a stone between 1.4-1.5. Naturally those are hard to come by, and I ended up deciding between a 1.37 (7.2mm) and a 1.6 (7.6mm). When you post such a choice on the forum, the overwhelming consensus is to get the larger stone, so I did! But there are times I feel like it is a little showy and the 1.37 might have been a little more appropriate for my lifestyle. But it was and is a beautiful diamond, and I am thankful to have it!

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

I don''t know about downgrading--but I think about downsizing. I wouldl ike a 2-3 carat RB, DIF with great specs. Might be rather diffiicult to come by and I have little time these days to search. Nothwithstanding I honestly don''t feel like putting out more $$ for a ring--our $ (exchange) is low and with the kind of qualities I am looking for in a stone would likely be would be no "downgrade". Anyway, my DH loves my ring and thinks it is "perfect" for me.

cheers--Sharon