For those who you've who've changed their e-rings....

[vintagelover229]

Hello my wonderful PS community

I come to you wanting to hear your stories-share your learning experiences-and hopefully gain some insight I apologize in advance for the long post-most of you here know me pretty well by now so if so skip to the end!



When I first met my DH I had just gotten out of a bad relationship. This was after diamond prices had increased (one of the many times) and I choose to part with a 1.31 J SI AVC (one of the first released) and I sold it at a very small loss (thanks to GOG) for 4500.00-to buy that same stone now-well I don't even want to know!


When I met my DH we knew right away we were meant to be together. He had it in his mind 'bigger and better' than my last one-but due to immigration costs-and the price increase of diamonds-and the fact I didn't care about a ring like I did before-I knew getting a similar stone of the color/clarity/quality just wasn't happening.

The on DB a stunning 1.64 carat RB 1930's ring was put up for sale 3 months after we started dating. The ring is/was beautiful and for 4500.00 we snatched that baby up. We took it to WF appraiser and it came back as H VVS1 1.64 carats. We felt we really hit the lotto (not to mention 4 is our lucky number lol!)


Fast forward 2 years later-we get married-I get my rings soldered together. The jeweler chips the side stones during tightening and also somehow (not sure *how* this happened) the girdle is chipped. Now this ring sat in a safe for well over a year-I had worn it less than 6 months when all this came out.

Due to it sitting in a safe for over a year we didn't have time to get an updated appraisal from the time we had the rings put together (thought we'd do it after) and this happening. Needless to say I was quite upset but since I can't see the damage it doesn't really bother me other than the devaluing of the stone.





I love my ring but over the years longed for something a bit more me. I love antiques and all things vintage-but I'm a hippie (at heart and in person) and the bezel style of James Meyer has always made my heart sing.


Before we even got engaged I was having doubt about the ring. While its beautiful-it's VERY big. My ring size is 4 and everyone else getting engaged in our circles-well-none even have a carat. Even upgrades (if there are any or anniversary rings) mine is WELL above the average. Most of my gf's have under a half carat-which is the size of my OEC studs!






I've felt compelled to downsize for quite some time now but the husband wasn't on board for a very long time. We have a house FULL of renos to do-a new furnace-hot water heater-a kitchen that half the floor is torn up in (and everything needs to be redone) along with a ton of other things that need to be done. Now we manage just fine-and everything can and will get done-as time allows-even if I choose to keep my diamond pieces.

What I"m finding though is that I'm wearing my feather earrings and artisan pieces way more than I do my diamonds.






If you've made it this far-wow I'm sorry I didn't realize this had gotten so very very long!


I've gotten the husband on board with possibly selling my e-ring. GOG has offered a hefty sum (needs to be inspected but around 13k) and I'd also sell my twin bypass ring from JBEG (hopefully get 1200.00 or so for that) and selling my 1ctw OEC studs as well (those will probably be sold to family as e-ring stones).









So my question is: How did you part with something so sentimental? How did you find the right style for you? I'm not wanting to change again-and probably am going down in size (although I won't limit myself to that just in case I fall in love with something larger and lower color/clarity but I'm hoping that doesn't happen).

If we do sell-I would go down on color/clarity and hopefully find an OEC/OMC that was set in a JM or Caleb meyer (or similar) ring to replace it with. One thing that kills me though is spending MORE on 'lower' quality than we did on my current e-ring.
I don't want to remove my rings (I am wanting to sell my e-ring and my RHR and my earrings and replace them all with smaller pieces of artisan quality).


All in all I know a trip is in order to make this happen. I need to go TRY on different color/clarity/style of rings to know for sure. That's how I've gotten DH on board-we will make a trip out of it and find 'the one' along the way. It's just I love my current ring-it's in my wedding pictures and everything.

I guess i really don't know what my question is-but I'm trying to sort out all these thoughts. We are not in any rush and wouldn't make any trip plans until the end of the summer/Aug time. We'd go to GOG and visit my uncle at the same time and hit up Philly to see JM and CM work in person.




I know many of you have changed your e-rings and have been happy with the one change. I've seen others reset a ton of times. How did you know the right style? Did you get to try things on in person? I've never seen JM work IRL-that makes me a bit nervous too since he won't take outside stones I'm limited to what they have in stock.



How do I know if this is the right decision? The extra money would be nice but considering I would be replacing all the pieces I'm not sure how to budget it and if we do budget it-how to go about it all.


I should also add that I'm open to stones other than diamonds....a para tourmaline would make a stunning ring in a JM setting I think.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Hey! I definitely can understand your desire to change rings. There are many things that we may love but that might not be practical to wear with our lifestyles. I am glad you have a great offer on your current ring! I am not sure why you are selling your OEC studs, though! Those still will be great to have with a new OEC e-ring!

I think the reason many of us end up resetting is that we find something we like better. Or we settle for something less than perfect to begin with because of cost or some other reason and later end up getting what we really wanted. Or some new stones like AVC/AVR's or Octavia's come along and people fall in love with something new!

You will know when you fall in love, and it will help a LOT if you get to go see rings in person and try them on. My changes came about because I didn't quite have the right thing. Now I do have the right stone but I can't commit to one setting! So it will stay in a plain solitaire until the day I am sure about a permanent setting! I also understand not wanting a stone so much larger than everyone you are around. Mine is larger than many of my friends as it is, so there is no way on earth I could manage one of these 3-4 ct OECs where I live, even though many are in the price range I paid for the AVR. I love seeing them here, though!

Ann McKay does some of the same style settings that JM does, so check out her shop, too. I love all of the Meyer's and McKay work. I just like it better in yg and I haven't let myself get into yg again because I have been working to get everything I want in platinum and wg! But maybe someday!

Only do a diamond for a daily wear ring. A paraiba tourmaline is a delicate stone and should be a special occasion wear ring only.

Good luck on this search! That will make one FUN trip!!!

 

[vintagelover229]

Thank you so much for the advice DS-I really value your opinion

Anny McKay is also on the list-and she *may* even take outside stones. Her style (there are a few I really like and in general I like her pieces) that catch my eye the way JM pieces do.

This is one of her e-rings that I love though

http://annmckaystudio.com/Diamonds/B11.html

This is the one I'm really most interested in at the moment. It just KILLS me to pay 6k for a smaller diamond-different color and clarity (by A LOT) than my 1.64 current ring since it was 4500.00-I know-not comparing apples to apples since his work is stunning. But still I'm a bit frugal at heart.
http://jamesmeyerjewelry.com/wordpress/1467-2/#.UvkAvrQqhjM

I also really really REALLY love this ring and would wear it as a e-ring but the center stone is HUGE and DH isn't sure about it as an e-ring and it's too expensive to replace as a RHR

http://jamesmeyerjewelry.com/wordpress/1462-2/

I am like you where i spent all my money replacing my YG with WG but now I'm going back to yellow gold. I love the richness of it!


And your AVR...well that would be enough to stop me from looking lol!

In an ideal world I'd either have an AVR or an Octavia in a JM style setting. If only Jim would take outside stones just one more time lol! I could trade my stone in for a smaller stone + cash and get him to set it.

This would be in the look out list
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/10390/

as well as this one
http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/7024/

Not sure if the CM will link to just his rings in general or the one I selected but here is one I really love its number 582 and it has a sapphire on the side

http://www.calebmeyer.com/showcase.php?collection=Diamond%20Rings

 

[momhappy]

I guess that I didn't have a sentimental attachment to my original ring. Obviously, it had some meaning, but I had no no major emotional attachment to it. A ring is just a ring - it's the relationship itself that has the greater meaning.

 

[MakingTheGrade]

I first reset my ering diamond from a simple solitaire to a Van Craeynest setting, the DH didn't mind much since by his own admission, he hadn't really put much thought into the setting, lol, he had done more research on the diamond and only realized there were setting options involved when the sales guy was like "so...you want us to put this stone in something now?"

After that, I reset it into my current 5 stone. I think DH was a little more surprised by that since the look is much different and blingier now, but he had no real complaints, I paid for it myself, and now it's just more obvious to people that I'm spoken for. :p

I think down the road if I ever changed the diamond entirely, I might feel sentimental about letting it go. I'd be more likely to repurpose it into a RHR or pendant since I doubt the money I would get reselling it would be worth losing the sentiment of it. (It would not fetch close to 13k, haha, maybe 4k on a good day).

But right now I'm happy with the 5 stone, if I jones for other styles, that's what all my RHRs are for. I even just bought a 6mm lower colored OEC that I think will fit into my old VC setting to make into a RHR or alternative Ering when I'm feeling vintage or just want a little less bling for an outing.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I like the first, simple JM e-ring the best, BUT I would really rather supply my own stone, and if Caleb would do a design you liked (obviously he is able to do any that his dad does), I'd go that route. I think an AVR would be stunning in those settings and you know I love asschers as well!

I still have my original e-ring, by the way. It isn't a good recut candidate because it would lose too much weight. I am waiting to see if my youngest wants it for her e-ring. Otherwise, I will eventually set it in a pendant because it is a white stone with a large table and will work best in a pendant. It's probably only worth $3-4k, so it's not worth it for me to sell it. In your case, since you bought at a bargain price and resell at a profit, I'd do it and not look back since it really isn't what you want.

Hunt Country Jewelers in VA is another source for organic handmade jewelry like you like. I am not seeing e-rings that you'd like, but they have some gorgeous pendants that I would love to have! Right hand rings and any other jewelry would be a good possibility there.

http://www.huntcountry.com/~huntcoun/

 

[vintagelover229]

I guess that I didn't have a sentimental attachment to my original ring. Obviously, it had some meaning, but I had no no major emotional attachment to it. A ring is just a ring - it's the relationship itself that has the greater meaning.

I felt the same way too all the while DH wouldn't budge (he even joked if i bought it up again it's grounds for divorce-he was kidding but he was THAT passionate about it. I didn't get it) now I feel just a bit attached to it.

I first reset my ering diamond from a simple solitaire to a Van Craeynest setting, the DH didn't mind much since by his own admission, he hadn't really put much thought into the setting, lol, he had done more research on the diamond and only realized there were setting options involved when the sales guy was like "so...you want us to put this stone in something now?"

After that, I reset it into my current 5 stone. I think DH was a little more surprised by that since the look is much different and blingier now, but he had no real complaints, I paid for it myself, and now it's just more obvious to people that I'm spoken for. :p

I think down the road if I ever changed the diamond entirely, I might feel sentimental about letting it go. I'd be more likely to repurpose it into a RHR or pendant since I doubt the money I would get reselling it would be worth losing the sentiment of it. (It would not fetch close to 13k, haha, maybe 4k on a good day).

But right now I'm happy with the 5 stone, if I jones for other styles, that's what all my RHRs are for. I even just bought a 6mm lower colored OEC that I think will fit into my old VC setting to make into a RHR or alternative Ering when I'm feeling vintage or just want a little less bling for an outing.

MTG: I love all the rings you put together. You and D&T both have my ring size and I'm always waiting for you to list the goodies. When you got that great deal on the VC setting + the diamond I about fell out of my chair. VC is a close 2nd for me and there's been many times I've wanted to buy that setting from you-but to redo the head and to get a band eats up any cost savings I'd get. Although I do still love it.


I also love athenaworths sapphire VS set and would consider something like that for an e-ring as well even though it's not a JM piece...

I like the first, simple JM e-ring the best, BUT I would really rather supply my own stone, and if Caleb would do a design you liked (obviously he is able to do any that his dad does), I'd go that route. I think an AVR would be stunning in those settings and you know I love asschers as well!

I still have my original e-ring, by the way. It isn't a good recut candidate because it would lose too much weight. I am waiting to see if my youngest wants it for her e-ring. Otherwise, I will eventually set it in a pendant because it is a white stone with a large table and will work best in a pendant. It's probably only worth $3-4k, so it's not worth it for me to sell it. In your case, since you bought at a bargain price and resell at a profit, I'd do it and not look back since it really isn't what you want.

Hunt Country Jewelers in VA is another source for organic handmade jewelry like you like. I am not seeing e-rings that you'd like, but they have some gorgeous pendants that I would love to have! Right hand rings and any other jewelry would be a good possibility there.

http://www.huntcountry.com/~huntcoun/

I LOVE AVR stones but if I was going to pay to have a stone cut for light return and not for size I think I'd get the octavia asscher bc it's so unique. If I hunted long enough I can find a well cut OEC for a lot less than AVR go for usually. So that would be the biggest hurdle to over come for myself.


If Caleb would take an outsiders stone that would be the best route. I have no clue if he will do that though since his dad no longer works with outside stones either. It's hard to pay retail for an OEC when there are so many exchanging homes on here for a great price. I know if I really needed something I can always reach out to forekitty or charmy and see what they have in their magic bag of diamonds that would fit the size/price that I was looking for.


What a journey this is going to be. You all are right though-when someone will pay me 13k for a diamond when a much less 'valuable' diamond visually to me will make me just as happy if not more so-is hard to say no too!

 

[heididdl]

Hmmm. When my DH and I got engaged 28 years ago he was given a 1 carat pear shape diamond by his mother (whose first cousin was Fortunoff) Fortunoff sold her three 1 carat pear shapes for each of her sons. My husband had no interest in the ring so he just put the pear shape in a basic setting with three melee princess cut stones on each side and handed me the ring.

Fast forward f5 years and we saw this 1.66 Trillion cut stone with .25 trillions on either side I was in love so we set the pear into a pendant and he bought me the trillion for a mere $5,000 of course this was 23 years ago.

Fast forward 3 years My necklace was stolen off my neck and I received $$$$ from insurance bought my first pair of 1.60 studs. Then upgraded those to uncertified 2.05 studs

Fast forward 2001 lost my mommy and inheritted her 3.66 EC solitaire which I wear now.

So my only upgrades since 2001 was last year when I sold a lot of my smaller pieces of jewelry and upgraded my studs to 2.41

So I am good for now.

So I really had no sentimental attachement to my Ering but I do with my current one as it is HUGE and my mothers.

Enjoy the process of selecting your new ring. A trip fo New York and GOG you might just end up with something that you didn't expect

Your lucky

 

[artdecolover71]

Ok my story is I always wanted an EC, my husband gave me something different than an EC. A very beautiful and unique stone but 20 years later/two re-sets later/several other diamond rings that included ECs and baguettes, still had the longing! My husband finally suggested I should think about getting the ring I wanted. So I am selling my e ring (and another ring) to go towards the purchase.

Rings are a beautiful symbol, but the important thing is I am keeping the man and getting a new e ring lol. I thought about keeping the existing e ring but went to look at EC's but realized I wanted a larger one than I could afford unless I sold some other pieces.

I agree, GOG is wonderful to deal with, they are my jeweler as well. They have suggested I will do better by separating the stone from the setting, but I said I would prefer to keep it together if possible.

You cannot change what your heart desires...doesn't mean you aren't sentimental (I am very actually). I just think if you are both onboard, then it is the right thing for you and your SO!

 

[vintagelover229]

Hmmm. When my DH and I got engaged 28 years ago he was given a 1 carat pear shape diamond by his mother (whose first cousin was Fortunoff) Fortunoff sold her three 1 carat pear shapes for each of her sons. My husband had no interest in the ring so he just put the pear shape in a basic setting with three melee princess cut stones on each side and handed me the ring.

Fast forward f5 years and we saw this 1.66 Trillion cut stone with .25 trillions on either side I was in love so we set the pear into a pendant and he bought me the trillion for a mere $5,000 of course this was 23 years ago.

Fast forward 3 years My necklace was stolen off my neck and I received $$$$ from insurance bought my first pair of 1.60 studs. Then upgraded those to uncertified 2.05 studs

Fast forward 2001 lost my mommy and inheritted her 3.66 EC solitaire which I wear now.

So my only upgrades since 2001 was last year when I sold a lot of my smaller pieces of jewelry and upgraded my studs to 2.41

So I am good for now.

So I really had no sentimental attachement to my Ering but I do with my current one as it is HUGE and my mothers.

Enjoy the process of selecting your new ring. A trip fo New York and GOG you might just end up with something that you didn't expect

Your lucky

I'm so sorry that your necklace got stolen! But thank you so much for sharing your story. For some strange reason now that my husband isn't freaking out over the idea of 'selling' and getting something else I'm finding myself oddly attached to the color and clarity of my stone as well as the setting. It's quite strange and I don't know what to make of it. The good news is nothing is happening soon and I can always keep it lol!

Ok my story is I always wanted an EC, my husband gave me something different than an EC. A very beautiful and unique stone but 20 years later/two re-sets later/several other diamond rings that included ECs and baguettes, still had the longing! My husband finally suggested I should think about getting the ring I wanted. So I am selling my e ring (and another ring) to go towards the purchase.

Rings are a beautiful symbol, but the important thing is I am keeping the man and getting a new e ring lol. I thought about keeping the existing e ring but went to look at EC's but realized I wanted a larger one than I could afford unless I sold some other pieces.

I agree, GOG is wonderful to deal with, they are my jeweler as well. They have suggested I will do better by separating the stone from the setting, but I said I would prefer to keep it together if possible.

You cannot change what your heart desires...doesn't mean you aren't sentimental (I am very actually). I just think if you are both onboard, then it is the right thing for you and your SO!

I have a feeling that my heart will always long for something else. I've tried hard to just be happy with what I have (and I am!) but at the same time just feel torn and a bit selfish. It's a symbol and a beautiful and big one at that.


I think that if I can't get someone to use an outside stone then perhaps I'll just keep what I have. I don't want to pay the mark up of using a vendors stone when I can save thousands and that would be one of the main goals of parting with this diamond. If I didn't have the value in the stone I would just reset it which I suppose is still an option down the road.

 

[marymm]

Just as an fyi: Caleb Meyer will work with customer-owned stones, but just during the 1st half of the year (Jan-June).

 

[vintagelover229]

Just as an fyi: Caleb Meyer will work with customer-owned stones, but just during the 1st half of the year (Jan-June).

That is great to know!

I wonder if he's okay with making something very very close to his fathers setting. I know he learned from him but he might have issues with that.

That's food for thought for sure!





Does anyone know anywhere in Toronto who will have similar pieces to JM that I could try on?

 

[Laila619]

I guess that I didn't have a sentimental attachment to my original ring. Obviously, it had some meaning, but I had no no major emotional attachment to it. A ring is just a ring - it's the relationship itself that has the greater meaning.

Ditto.

Although with me, not only did I not have any major emotional attachment to it, I downright strongly disliked it and it was frustrating to me (DH proposed without any ring input from me).

I picked out some new rings for me that were much more my style, mind clean because I got some killer prices and a lot of bling for my buck, and they made me so much happier.

ETA: You would make close to a 9k profit for selling your ring?!? Holy crap, how awesome!

 

[artdecolover71]

On the "selfish" note, I don't think it is. I had thought about it so many times but felt guilty and when my husband was the one who suggested getting one I truly loved, it alleviated the "guilt" or selfish feeling. Not to mention that I also felt my current e ring is very beautiful and could perhaps make someone else very happy!

 

[vintagelover229]

I guess that I didn't have a sentimental attachment to my original ring. Obviously, it had some meaning, but I had no no major emotional attachment to it. A ring is just a ring - it's the relationship itself that has the greater meaning.

Ditto.

Although with me, not only did I not have any major emotional attachment to it, I downright strongly disliked it and it was frustrating to me (DH proposed without any ring input from me).

I picked out some new rings for me that were much more my style, mind clean because I got some killer prices and a lot of bling for my buck, and they made me so much happier.

ETA: You would make close to a 9k profit for selling your ring?!? Holy crap, how awesome!

Yeah close to 9k if the quote works out in person (might even be more-who knows won't know until the stones unset and inspected) which is why I'm all about changing it. I don't need a VVS or even an H colored stone.

Your DH picked out the ring without you-so I can understand you wanting to change it.

When I saw the ring on DB I loved it (wasn't what I wanted but it was beautiful) and SUCH a great deal that I knew I could make $$ on it even if our relationship didn't work out. We actually talked about selling it before getting engaged but I couldn't find anything else that was a good deal that I liked better. He said once it was done-it was done. So I kept it. Now for the past 4 years he's heard about how I want to sell it.

I didn't think I had an emotional attachment to it but maybe I do have a little one? I think once I got the 'new' ring I would feel better lol!

On the "selfish" note, I don't think it is. I had thought about it so many times but felt guilty and when my husband was the one who suggested getting one I truly loved, it alleviated the "guilt" or selfish feeling. Not to mention that I also felt my current e ring is very beautiful and could perhaps make someone else very happy!

I think I feel guilty a little bit bc no one I know would change their e-rings. Or even upgrade. They'd get an anniversary ring or something but then again-idk anyone who has the potential to make over double their money on the ring they bought.

The setting I will probably keep for a colored stone later on down the road. The stone would be unset and recut to ideal or even AVR depending on GOG analysis. Which I considered doing myself but again I didn't want to put OUT money when I could be bringing in a lot.


ETA: What do you think of an octivia in a JM style setting?

GOG just said they could also make a setting in the JM style but idk I'd have to see examples first lol!

 

[Roxy]

Hello my wonderful PS community

I come to you wanting to hear your stories-share your learning experiences-and hopefully gain some insight I apologize in advance for the long post-most of you here know me pretty well by now so if so skip to the end!



When I first met my DH I had just gotten out of a bad relationship. This was after diamond prices had increased (one of the many times) and I choose to part with a 1.31 J SI AVC (one of the first released) and I sold it at a very small loss (thanks to GOG) for 4500.00-to buy that same stone now-well I don't even want to know!


When I met my DH we knew right away we were meant to be together. He had it in his mind 'bigger and better' than my last one-but due to immigration costs-and the price increase of diamonds-and the fact I didn't care about a ring like I did before-I knew getting a similar stone of the color/clarity/quality just wasn't happening.

The on DB a stunning 1.64 carat RB 1930's ring was put up for sale 3 months after we started dating. The ring is/was beautiful and for 4500.00 we snatched that baby up. We took it to WF appraiser and it came back as H VVS1 1.64 carats. We felt we really hit the lotto (not to mention 4 is our lucky number lol!)


Fast forward 2 years later-we get married-I get my rings soldered together. The jeweler chips the side stones during tightening and also somehow (not sure *how* this happened) the girdle is chipped. Now this ring sat in a safe for well over a year-I had worn it less than 6 months when all this came out.

Due to it sitting in a safe for over a year we didn't have time to get an updated appraisal from the time we had the rings put together (thought we'd do it after) and this happening. Needless to say I was quite upset but since I can't see the damage it doesn't really bother me other than the devaluing of the stone.





I love my ring but over the years longed for something a bit more me. I love antiques and all things vintage-but I'm a hippie (at heart and in person) and the bezel style of James Meyer has always made my heart sing.


Before we even got engaged I was having doubt about the ring. While its beautiful-it's VERY big. My ring size is 4 and everyone else getting engaged in our circles-well-none even have a carat. Even upgrades (if there are any or anniversary rings) mine is WELL above the average. Most of my gf's have under a half carat-which is the size of my OEC studs!






I've felt compelled to downsize for quite some time now but the husband wasn't on board for a very long time. We have a house FULL of renos to do-a new furnace-hot water heater-a kitchen that half the floor is torn up in (and everything needs to be redone) along with a ton of other things that need to be done. Now we manage just fine-and everything can and will get done-as time allows-even if I choose to keep my diamond pieces.

What I"m finding though is that I'm wearing my feather earrings and artisan pieces way more than I do my diamonds.






If you've made it this far-wow I'm sorry I didn't realize this had gotten so very very long!


I've gotten the husband on board with possibly selling my e-ring. GOG has offered a hefty sum (needs to be inspected but around 13k) and I'd also sell my twin bypass ring from JBEG (hopefully get 1200.00 or so for that) and selling my 1ctw OEC studs as well (those will probably be sold to family as e-ring stones).









So my question is: How did you part with something so sentimental? How did you find the right style for you? I'm not wanting to change again-and probably am going down in size (although I won't limit myself to that just in case I fall in love with something larger and lower color/clarity but I'm hoping that doesn't happen).

If we do sell-I would go down on color/clarity and hopefully find an OEC/OMC that was set in a JM or Caleb meyer (or similar) ring to replace it with. One thing that kills me though is spending MORE on 'lower' quality than we did on my current e-ring.
I don't want to remove my rings (I am wanting to sell my e-ring and my RHR and my earrings and replace them all with smaller pieces of artisan quality).


All in all I know a trip is in order to make this happen. I need to go TRY on different color/clarity/style of rings to know for sure. That's how I've gotten DH on board-we will make a trip out of it and find 'the one' along the way. It's just I love my current ring-it's in my wedding pictures and everything.

I guess i really don't know what my question is-but I'm trying to sort out all these thoughts. We are not in any rush and wouldn't make any trip plans until the end of the summer/Aug time. We'd go to GOG and visit my uncle at the same time and hit up Philly to see JM and CM work in person.




I know many of you have changed your e-rings and have been happy with the one change. I've seen others reset a ton of times. How did you know the right style? Did you get to try things on in person? I've never seen JM work IRL-that makes me a bit nervous too since he won't take outside stones I'm limited to what they have in stock.



How do I know if this is the right decision? The extra money would be nice but considering I would be replacing all the pieces I'm not sure how to budget it and if we do budget it-how to go about it all.


I should also add that I'm open to stones other than diamonds....a para tourmaline would make a stunning ring in a JM setting I think.

How exciting!!! I think this will be a lot of fun for both you and your sweetie, so you're smart not to rush it. Just take your time and enjoy the adventure. I’ve included quite a few details to help you as well as others who might be reading along.

I changed my e-ring/w-band set a little over a year ago (Dec2012) and I’m surprised by how much I love my new setting. Even hubby can't believe how attached I am to my new rings - I actually wear them in the house quite often, when I'm not going anywhere, and I'd never done that in the past. He thinks that’s hilarious.

I knew I wanted a change because my original set was extremely dated and had a LOT of yellow gold w/ a custom ring guard (which had even MORE yellow gold) to match. Wanting to go in the opposite direction with the overall “look” of the rings, I was drawn to eternity bands that were set in platinum and looked like a sea of diamonds, so that’s where my adventure started.

Since I’m sentimental, I planned to use my original center stone (I like it and still have it) and design a set of eternity bands to set it in, but I had so many questions: What size to choose for the melee? Whether to “halo” or not? Full eternity or ¾ or ½? Shared prong or channel set? Scalloped edges or straight? The list was endless …

The way I narrowed it down and finally made a decision was by getting a large variety of CZ rings w/ all of the different design ideas I had come up with over time. I’d wear each of the rings around the house for weeks at a time to see what felt & looked “right” for me [e.g., halos look fabulous on other people, but look like cocktail rings on my hand (total bummer); .02-.03 melee look perfectly proportioned on other people, but seemed to disappear on my hand, etc]. It was extremely helpful to practice with a bunch of CZ rings (at home) and saved us a lot of money and heartache in the long run.

I worked w/ GOG and they were AMAZING. They set my old stone (1ct oval, 7mm, “I” color) in a new full eternity band of .06 ideal H&A rounds (“G” color), and made two additional bands that I could wear on each side (that was DH’s idea LOL). While the eternity bands were (and still are) breathtaking, there was a visible difference between the color in my center stone and the color in the melee and it was distracting to both DH and me as soon as we saw the rings in person. [I want to note that this was not due to a problem w/ GOG, they actually worked w/ me for several weeks (a lot of email & pics back and forth) trying to best match the melee w/ my center stone. They even ordered lower-colored melee (I, J, K) to see if they would work, but they didn’t have the same “personality” as my oval. I learned that there’s a lot more to “matching” or “complimenting” stones than just “color”, but that’s another discussion for another thread.]

As it turned out, GOG was able to provide another oval for me that worked perfectly with the bands and although it was a much higher color and much larger (for me), it flows seamlessly w/ the eternity bands. I think that part of the reason I’m still so fascinated with this set is because I’m constantly admiring some new aspect of the design, so the one piece of advice I’d give (if any) is to put as much thought into the overall design of your ring (or e-ring/w-band) as you do into the details of the center stone. Oh, and have fun!!