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How big is too big for a MRB center stone?

ice empress

ice empress

Shiny_Rock
Joined
Sep 25, 2013
Messages
436
I just struck a deal (sealed with a handshake and all) with my boyfriend involving a near-future upgrade to a super-ideal 7.5 carat with the same cut, colour, and clarity as my current stone. :lol:

Hence, we are talking a Whiteflash 7.5 carat G VS2 ACA.

:kiss2::kiss2::kiss2:

As much as I love my end of the deal and think a 7.5 carat would be beyond fabulous... my rational side realizes that this is probably beyond a reasonable size, especially for a MRB cut.

When we are getting beyond the 5 carat range, it seems to me that proportionally speaking, on a finger, an EC, oval or cushion are more esthetically pleasing. Unfortunately, I personally don’t think those shapes look good on my finger. Plus, I like the max sparkle/fire/brilliance of a MRB.

Those who followed my journey to picking out my current 3.724ct ACA may remember that I worried about a large size being too ostentatious. I worried that it would make me uncomfortable in public given the conservative and humble community I live in. Indeed, I began my search looking for a 4.5-5 carat but soon changed to <4 carat. For reference, my ring size is 5.5 for a finger size of 5.125-5.25.

Fast forward to today... now that she is on my finger, I don’t feel uncomfortable with her size at all and think my finger can support a heftier carat still. Granted, I have never worn her out in public as we are not yet engaged, but this has been my first impression so far in the privacy of our home.

This leads me to the question of the day: what do you think is the max “reasonable” or “esthetically-pleasing” size for a MRB center stone? Set as a solitaire? Set as a halo?

How big is too big?

Have a great day everyone! Looking forward to hearing your opinions ;)2
 
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What is this 'too big' concept that you speak of? :D
 
Hahaha depends on so many factors but I’ll second @OoohShiny :lol:
For me perhaps there is no such thing.

Two factors that must be taken into account IMO:

Finger size
Hand size

There have been a few threads on this very topic. I’m on the go on my phone so can’t search it now but if you do a search you’ll find lots of opinions and I’m looking forward to seeing some new opinions here too.
 
There's a thread on this somewhere and one of the reasons some people feel uncomfortable with larger rounds is the depth...at 7ct it will sit ver high off your finger. Have you tried some on to see how it feels to you?

Another poster had a rule of thumb - pun not intended :lol-2: - that the stone shouldn't be wider than her fingernail but I don't think you'll find a consensus on here ....:lol:
 
Too big

3DD2E76F-EAD5-4477-8A2B-21BE72138885.gif

Just right
IMO



F27A751C-232E-4C19-9653-E9B224895D63.jpeg



;-)
 
When I look at the picture of your new ring on your hand, I think that proportionally you have maxed out an engagement ring. While the thoughts of a seven carat might be enticing, I think you might regret it and the feeling of being uncomfortable wearing it. I know we all love bigger diamonds but I do think there are limits. You have small hands and slender fingers and I am all about balance. Just my .02!
 
bludiva said:
There's a thread on this somewhere and one of the reasons some people feel uncomfortable with larger rounds is the depth...at 7ct it will sit ver high off your finger. Have you tried some on to see how it feels to you?

Another poster had a rule of thumb - pun not intended :lol-2: - that the stone shouldn't be wider than her fingernail but I don't think you'll find a consensus on here ....:lol:
Click to expand...

I tried on a 5ct in a halo when I first began searching. Of course, at first glance, I thought it was outrageous (as I don’t usually wear any rings) but quickly got used to it during the hour refused to take it off while browsing the store. Lol.

I also tried on a 10ct MRB at Tiffany’s. That was definitely too big.

I like the guideline for the fingernail. Very clever as it relates the size of the stone to the proportions of one’s finger.
 
missy said:
Too big

3DD2E76F-EAD5-4477-8A2B-21BE72138885.gif

Just right
IMO



F27A751C-232E-4C19-9653-E9B224895D63.jpeg



;-)
Click to expand...


How big do you figure the bottom stone in your gif might be? It’s so :kiss2:

@missy your ring is breathtaking and has such incredible finger coverage!! Remind me what size finger you have and the weight of the OEC? Thanks!!
 
MissGotRocks said:
When I look at the picture of your new ring on your hand, I think that proportionally you have maxed out an engagement ring. While the thoughts of a seven carat might be enticing, I think you might regret it and the feeling of being uncomfortable wearing it. I know we all love bigger diamonds but I do think there are limits. You have small hands and slender fingers and I am all about balance. Just my .02!
Click to expand...

Thank you for your input @MissGotRocks I do appreciate it.

My logical side agrees with you. I know in my head that the proportions of my current ring are perfect, or at the very least, near-perfect. My heart on the other hand... is playing tricks with my head.

My BF did say that I could use the upgrade funds to buy other pieces instead. He asked how much I figured the upgrade would cost and I “conservatively” said $320k usd! He shook on it, and said he still think he got the better end of the deal! Hahaha
 
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ice empress said:
How big do you figure the bottom stone in your gif might be? It’s so :kiss2:

@missy your ring is breathtaking and has such incredible finger coverage!! Remind me what size finger you have and the weight of the OEC? Thanks!!
Click to expand...


Thanks @ice empress. My finger is a 6 (5.75 technically but I always size rings to at least a six as I have big knuckles getting bigger all the time :cry2:). My OEC is a 4.93. I have huge hands, not just long fingers. So I think my OEC is just right for my hand. All about proportion. When I reset with a solitaire it will take some getting used to but I really adore solitaires for engagement rings. And I think it will still be a good size for me.

In the the photo I would guess the bottom diamond is probably at least 7 carats but impossible to say since we don’t know the finger size or hand size for that matter of the model. IMO both diamonds are too big for the model. JMO.
 
 
missy said:
Thanks @ice empress. My finger is a 6 (5.75 technically but I always size rings to at least a six as I have big knuckles getting bigger all the time :cry2:). My OEC is a 4.93. I have huge hands, not just long fingers. So I think my OEC is just right for my hand. All about proportion. When I reset with a solitaire it will take some getting used to but I really adore solitaires for engagement rings. And I think it will still be a good size for me.

In the the photo I would guess the bottom diamond is probably at least 7 carats but impossible to say since we don’t know the finger size or hand size for that matter of the model. IMO both diamonds are too big for the model. JMO.
Click to expand...

May I ask why you are resetting into a solitaire? Do you know the exact setting yet?
 
ice empress said:
Im on the go too but look forward to reading these later. Thanks for finding them and sending them my way.
Click to expand...

You’re very welcome. Lol I’m getting to be an expert at posting on the go from my phone. Who’d a thunk. I’m the person who didn’t ever use a computer till 2006! How far I’ve come. My attention span dropped lots since I started using the internet though. ::)
 
ice empress said:
May I ask why you are resetting into a solitaire? Do you know the exact setting yet?
Click to expand...


No clue yet. I’d love to find a genuine antique setting 8 prong but that’s proving to be impossible so far . I’m loving this setting now but for the long term it’s not my forever setting. I think it’s because I love a beautiful stone in a solitaire setting. But nothing is set in stone. Haha set in stone. :D
 
OoohShiny said:
What is this 'too big' concept that you speak of? :D
Click to expand...

+1:lol:.

Seriously though, @ice empress, I have a friend - whom I've spoken of here a few times - who wears a 12ct MRB and a 20ct radiant cut. She's a little bigger than I am, but not a whole lot. I am guessing she wears a size 6. The 20ct def looks too big on her, though of course radiant faces up smaller than MRB. Her 12ct MRB still looks huge but not ridiculously huge. The key though is that she rocks them both, pun fully intended, lol.

I wear a size 4 and I'd totally rock a 7.5ct G VS2 ACA if I could afford it. I've been thinking lately that if I hadn't bought all my other bling, I could have have bought something like this and in fact wish I had just done just that (plus a few other basic jewellery staple).

So you totally get my vote for your future upgrade. Please, when you do, do not forget us!;)) Come back and post plenty of pics so I can live vicariously through you, haha.

In the meantime, enjoy that new blingtastic baubble. She's an absolute beauty.:love::love::love: Bet you can't wait to have her all the time on your finger.

ETA: There are quite a few PS members who seem to find larger MRB's not as aesthetically pleasing as fancy shapes, a sentiment you yourself seem to have echoed above. I love other shapes too, most notably a large well cut EC. But MRB is my number 1 choice and if you like MRB for *you* and you wanna rock a large one, who's to say otherwise?;)):devil:
 
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A carat is such an unnaturally tiny quantity, who knows how many of those is too much - I am loosing count

Rings tell too much of the wearer.
 
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missy said:
My attention span dropped lots since I started using the internet though. ::)
Click to expand...
So true!!


My focus lasts about one minute nowadays :( lol :lol:
 
So for the first ever I saw a diamond I thought was too big. It was at the airport and I have no idea how many carats, but a lot!! It was a small lady and every single thing she was wearing had the luxury brand name displayed, from the sneakers to sunglasses. It really was a bit much and at that point I felt the ring was purely to show off and not just to have a beautiful huge ring. It looked top heavy and not very elegant. I think big rings are wonderful and love 4-5 carats, but in the round shape it just starts to get a little funny lookinging past that... at least in the example I saw! Even being on PS, I don't often notice rings in public so it was definitely eye catching and made me sort of stare/people watch her for a bit....not in a creepy way, lol....but just saying it will draw attention so be ready for it!
 
ice empress said:
Thank you for your input @MissGotRocks I do appreciate it.

My logical side agrees with you. I know in my head that the proportions of my current ring are perfect, or at the very least, near-perfect. My heart on the other hand... is playing tricks with my head.

My BF did say that I could use the upgrade funds to buy other pieces instead. He asked how much I figured the upgrade would cost and I “conservatively” said $320k usd! He shook on it, and said he still think he got the better end of the deal! Hahaha
Click to expand...

I like the way he thinks! Diamond staples to include diamond studs, pendants and bracelets never hurt - you know, spread the sparkle around - lol! I must say though I have admired the look of a beautiful solitaire on some women while their earrings and such were non-diamond pieces. It just all depends on the look you are going for - sometimes you could be all decked out and other times a bit understated. You do have an exquisite engagement ring though so I'd focus the attention on other diamonds if I were you. Too much of anything can go from gorgeous to garish in a few little carats!

However, with all being said, it is just my opinion and does not necessarily reflect your desires or lifestyle. Please don't think I am being critical or harsh. What works for one does not work for all and we are not all the same. If we were, it would be a boring world for sure!
 
I've seen some huge rings in NYC, but then again, it's NYC. There's no way I could get away wearing anything more than 3 carats (round shape) in my semi-rural New England town. My finger size is 4.25
 
I tried a 3 ct and it looked crazy big on my size 8 finger. I don’t think I could go bigger than that.
 
I'd say MRB with greater than 10mm diameter looks too big on my size 5 finger. If I had funds for 7ct stone, I'd get an EC instead.
 
I think after a certain size I prefer fancy shapes over rounds. A MRB after a certain size (like over 7ct) just starts to remind me of the cartoon versions lol. an 8 ct antique emerald though...
 
I agree, fancies look much different at larger sizes. Maybe it’s because of the height.
 
Why don’t you get a CZ ring that’s 7.5 carats and trial it on your right hand and not just around the house! Wear it out doing your normal things and see how it goes.
I would say unreservedly that there is absolutely no point having such a huge and stunning ring and only wearing it occasionally because you feel self conscious, uncomfortable or awkward. Why have have such a treasure of you aren't enjoying it to the max.
7.5 carats in a RB will be big and high and attract ALOT of attention.
 
Phoenix said:
+1:lol:.

Seriously though, @ice empress, I have a friend - whom I've spoken of here a few times - who wears a 12ct MRB and a 20ct radiant cut. She's a little bigger than I am, but not a whole lot. I am guessing she wears a size 6. The 20ct def looks too big on her, though of course radiant faces up smaller than MRB. Her 12ct MRB still looks huge but not ridiculously huge. The key though is that she rocks them both, pun fully intended, lol.

I wear a size 4 and I'd totally rock a 7.5ct G VS2 ACA if I could afford it. I've been thinking lately that if I hadn't bought all my other bling, I could have have bought something like this and in fact wish I had just done just that (plus a few other basic jewellery staple).

So you totally get my vote for your future upgrade. Please, when you do, do not forget us!;)) Come back and post plenty of pics so I can live vicariously through you, haha.

In the meantime, enjoy that new blingtastic baubble. She's an absolute beauty.:love::love::love: Bet you can't wait to have her all the time on your finger.

ETA: There are quite a few PS members who seem to find larger MRB's not as aesthetically pleasing as fancy shapes, a sentiment you yourself seem to have echoed above. I love other shapes too, most notably a large well cut EC. But MRB is my number 1 choice and if you like MRB for *you* and you wanna rock a large one, who's to say otherwise?;)):devil:
Click to expand...

Hello @Phoenix! Thanks for chiming in! I know you’ve been contemplating a 7+ ct upgrade for a while... do you happen to have any pics of such stones on your finger? It would certainly help put things into perspective for me.

Also, do you have any pics you can share of your friend’s 12ct? Wow... I can’t even imagine such a size in a MRB.
 
I want to see the 12 ct and the 20 ct!
 
I remember visiting Brian in Houston 15 years ago. He showed me the 7.5ct F-VVS if I remember correctly.
It was gorgeous, but I think totally unwearable.
For a 5-5.5 finger size, your diamond shouldn't be bigger than your 3.72 ACA.
But it's a different story if you go fancy.
An emerald cut is never too big.
 
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