Eternity rings: Are they durable??

[kalgal]

What a great site. I love diamonds and have lots of questions. Here is my first one..

I have always wanted an eternity ring and see lots advertised. Whenever I have looked at a jewelry store, the jewelers always say they do not reccomend them and are always replacing stones. Makes me wonder why they carry so many....

Does anyone have any good/bad experiences with eternity rings or advice on particular settings/stones that wear better than others?

I know I should not wear these types of rings for certain chores/activities. I also love baguettes and emeralds and would love a ring with either of these cuts..

Thanks!

 

[windowshopper]

they are much more expensive as the stones are twice as much than a half or 1/3 across the top so they arent sold as often. i have several eternity bands . all with channel set stones..........all vintage to antique in perfect shape. the only ones that are tough are the shared prong or prong set where they are more likely to be directly abraded.

anything can be damaged

 

[solange]

I have a shared prong eternity band with round stones.The stones are .28 each. I have been wearing it for several years and it is still in perfect condition. I have never had a stone fall out. I wear it every day and do chores with it. I was very careful at first but now I just forget that I am wearing it. I have never even had a loose prong.

A friend has a similar ring with smaller stones and she has had nothing but problems. The stones keep falling out and she does not wear it. She took it to a jeweler who advised her that the stones were not matched in size and the setting was not made to accommodate the stones. She would have to have a custom made setting that would accommodate all the different size stones.

I think you have to make sure that the stones are very close in size and that the setting is appropriate for those stones. My ring is platinum and the finish has not gotten dull or scratched. I think I am wearing it about seven or eight years now.

 

[kalgal]

thanks. This is helpful. I know they have to be well-made and sized carefully, as well.
Kim

 

[amytude]

I love the look of eternity bands, but every jeweler I''ve talked with has cautioned me against them. I know quite a few people on here have them, so maybe you could pm them privately? I love the newer style eternity rings with the baguette diamonds--the ones that look like EC''s going all the way across (like Melania Trump''s). Of course, hers are probably actual EC''s.

 

[ame]

There are a LOT of people with eternity bands, so many that I doubt PMing all of them is effecient.

I have been cautioned by several jewelers that I shouldn''t get one because I use my hands and beat stuff up. That said, others who HAVE these kind of rings tell me that they beat the snot out of theirs frequently and have yet to have a problem.

 

[allycat0303]

Kalgal,

I have had two eternity bands in four years (The first gone got eaten by my cat so I don''t think that counts as a durability issue

). I have never spent a moments worry about my band (it''s prong set). I take it off when I do the dishes and take a shower but aside from that I haven''t had any problems. I did my master''s degree in biology, so I did a lot of lab work with my hands, and the ring is fine. I even looked at it under a really, really high resolution microscope and the stones had no chips, wears, etc. I also looked at my friend''s ring: a three stone princess ring and she had chipped the side of one of her diamonds. She was also doing the same type of work as me, so I don''t see eternity bands as being a lot less durable then other rings.

 

[mrs jam]

I have two eternity rings. One is my wedding band, which is a very wide Simon G ring and has a floral design. This rings has taken a LOT of wear and tear over the past couple of years. I have never had to replace a stone or have any work done to it. The other is a pave band that is part of a rolling ring. I don''t wear this ring anymore, but it has also taken a lot of abuse over the years and has never needed any repair. Like others have posted, it''s all in the workmanship.

 

[amytude]

What about resizing issues? I am trying to lose weight (30 lbs gone so far!)--the appraiser told me these can be a nightmare to resize. Any comments on that?

 

[sevens one]

Date: 2/10/2005 5:57:43 PM
Author: mrs jam
I have two eternity rings. One is my wedding band, which is a very wide Simon G ring and has a floral design. This rings has taken a LOT of wear and tear over the past couple of years. I have never had to replace a stone or have any work done to it. The other is a pave band that is part of a rolling ring. I don''t wear this ring anymore, but it has also taken a lot of abuse over the years and has never needed any repair. Like others have posted, it''s all in the workmanship.

Could you post a picture of the Simon G? I love his stuff.

 

[ame]

They can''t be resized, they have to be remade in that event.

 

[mrs jam]

Date: 2/10/2005 7:17:29 PM
Author: sevens one

Date: 2/10/2005 5:57:43 PM
Author: mrs jam
I have two eternity rings. One is my wedding band, which is a very wide Simon G ring and has a floral design. This rings has taken a LOT of wear and tear over the past couple of years. I have never had to replace a stone or have any work done to it. The other is a pave band that is part of a rolling ring. I don''t wear this ring anymore, but it has also taken a lot of abuse over the years and has never needed any repair. Like others have posted, it''s all in the workmanship.

Could you post a picture of the Simon G? I love his stuff.

Here you go. I will post a picture of it on my finger this weekend. It is very wide and took some getting used to at first, but I was willing to sacrifice a little comfort.

Now my finger feels naked when I don''t have it on.

 

[Rowan]

Oh man is that gorgeous!!!

 

[sevens one]

Mrs Jam!!!!!! That is so elegant and beautiful. I love it. WOW (thanks)

 

[Mara]

Beautiful ring!

Kalgal...I have two eternity rings, my engagement ring and my wedding ring. I've had my e-ring for almost 3 years now and it takes alot of abuse from me. I had my eternity rings prong-set instead of pave, meaning that each small melee stone has it's own 4 prongs. It's a bit more metal but the stones are more secure. My jeweler agreed this was more safe for me than a Michael B type pave ring (which I loved) and told me a few horror stories on how people had smashed the heck out of their pave bands or BENT them and had to have them remade. Since I am hard on my hands and wanted the pave look, we went with this 4 prong style and I love them. I haven't had one problem with my rings at all or the small stones. and I'm pretty clumsy and wear my rings ALL THE TIME to do anything, housework, gardening, kickboxing..I only take them off when I sleep. I figure if rings are meant to be worn, I'm going to wear mine!

So yes it depends on the worksmanship but if you are hesitant about the small stones, try doing something like what I had done, it will protect the stones more and still give you that eternal row of sparkles. Good luck.

 

[ame]

Which is exactly why Im stealing the mara design for myself.

 

[diamondlil]

Date: 2/10/2005 9:37

8 PM
Author: mrs jam

Date: 2/10/2005 7:17:29 PM
Author: sevens one

Date: 2/10/2005 5:57:43 PM
Author: mrs jam
I have two eternity rings. One is my wedding band, which is a very wide Simon G ring and has a floral design. This rings has taken a LOT of wear and tear over the past couple of years. I have never had to replace a stone or have any work done to it. The other is a pave band that is part of a rolling ring. I don''t wear this ring anymore, but it has also taken a lot of abuse over the years and has never needed any repair. Like others have posted, it''s all in the workmanship.

Could you post a picture of the Simon G? I love his stuff.

Here you go. I will post a picture of it on my finger this weekend. It is very wide and took some getting used to at first, but I was willing to sacrifice a little comfort.

Now my finger feels naked when I don''t have it on.

OMG, Mrs Jam, I HAVE THE SAME RING!!!

Mine was a 40th birthday present to myself last July. I don''t know about you, but I have gotten more compliments on that Simon G ring than I have ever gotton on another piece of jewerly (including my diamond). I think it''s pretty unusual compared to what most people wear so people comment on it all the time.

It certainly is not a ring that can be worn by most people though. At 12 mm wide, none of my friends could close there hand when they tried it on.

How long have you had yours?

DiamondLil

 

[amytude]

absolutely stunning, mrs. jam! That ring would go up to my knuckle, though!!! WHat a great piece....thanks for sharing.