How did you know which ring?

[shelly1170]

My partner and I have only been looking at rings for a couple of weeks and will probably not be buying for a few months (I intend to take my time and enjoy the process!).

At this early stage, I find my tastes are in a constant state of flux! The first ring I tried on was a halo and I was in love. Now that particular ring isn''t even in the front of my mind! I find myself loving antique style rings and modern equally.

For example, on the weekend I tried on a beautiful three brilliant stone engraved platinum ring that was just so pretty! Then I tried on a princess solitaire similar to Tiffany Lucida. I loved them both!!!

How did you decide on "the one"? I thought finding "the one" when it came to a man was hard enough!

 

[Kaleigh]

I say try on all different syles and shapes and see which one's you keep going back to. Something about a ring will speak to you eventually, and you will know that's the one for you. Good luck and happy hunting.

 

[WTNLVR]

Another thing to keep in mind is what kind of wedding band will go with the ring. I didn''t get to choose my e-ring I was surprised by it. While I like it, I was amazed that we actually were able to fine a band to sit flush with it because it was a marquise with side stones. That was 16 yrs ago and when I upgraded, I made sure to get a style that I wouldn''t have that problem with.

 

[glaucomflecken]

Hi Shelly and welcome to ps!

You have posted the question of my life! I wish I was able to have an engagement ring for every finger! I love modern, antique, princess, shared prong, round, asscher...

I knew which set I wanted because I saw it years ago and knew I wanted it, so I am no help there. I always came back to the tacori set no matter how many i tried on.

I would start by ruling out what you do for sure like and what you dont. I know for me I liked a white metal ring and round stones. I love both modern and antique looking rings, but am a sucker for how a ring looks from the side view, and I love details. I knew I wanted something "different" from what most people I know have.

Looking through the show me the ring folder might help. Although in my case it made me want a ring for every finger! But you can look for ideas on what you do like and for sure dont, and use that as a starting point for when you go and try them on. Its amazing how a ring can look nice in a pic or in the case but not fit with your hand!

Also think about your personality, lifestyle, and if its something you would want to wear 50 years from now ( I know that is hard to predict, but I guess I mean pick a timeless style!) I am a very bold and "blingy" person and am known for my love of all things sparkly, so my set is perfect for me. My best friend is quiet and wants a simple ring with small side stones, and that is perfect for her.

good luck and enjoy. its fun!

 

[shelly1170]

Thanks for the replies so far everyone.

So, I guess it''s a process of elimination then. In that case, I better try on every ring I can!!! (I think I can hear Damien''s jaw hitting the ground!!!).

It seems like a daunting task at the moment but I guess I''m already eliminating rings at this early stage.

Thanks for the advice regarding the wedding band. I''ll definitely have to think about that a little more carefully.

punchnpie75, your rings are just divine! Like you, I want a blingy ring. Or at least I do today... tomorrow I may want a solitaire!

 

[jaz464]

In my quest, I went from cushion to oval to emerald cut to marquise. I never in a million years thought I would end up with a marquise (too 80s). However, while perusing the emerald cuts at a local jewelry store, I saw a drop-dead gorgous setting with an east-west marquise. I knew it would be mine before I even tried it on. It was like love at first site! Anyway, that must have been the 50th setting that I had proclaimed was "the one." My fiance didn't even take me seriously when I found one I liked. He said let me know if you still love it next week. Well, none of them passed the 1 week mark but the marquise setting. I can't even recall 1/2 of the settings I was so sure I had to have. Anyway, I think you will have a moment like I did. There was no doubt in my mind. With other settings, I would love them but there would always be a couple of others in the back of my mind. I say wait until you have the "that's the only setting for me" moment.

 

[FireGoddess]

I hope you do find an answer to your question. I don''t think I will ever be able to pin down one particular setting for the rest of my life.

They say a diamond is forever, but I''ve found that the setting sure isn''t. Actually, neither was the diamond in my case, and in many cases here on PS.

I''m a PITA (pain in the !!!) and when I see someone with a dainty thin band, I want one. Then I''ll see someone with a thick, chunky band and I''ll want one of those. Or I''ll see someone with no ering but a cool funky diamond band and want that too.

I love my halo and the diamond in it, and don''t believe at this point I''ll ever be changing it (don''t hold me to that, though!). However, I never said I didn''t want ANOTHER set in the future, maybe with a different diamond shape and setting style altogether. I''m perpetually desiring new things.

What''s worked for me is to pick a style I adore and go for it....then play around with other looks in cz rings for a day here or there when I just want to wear something *different*. It''s not for everybody, but it certainly keeps me from going bankrupt buying everything I want in real diamonds! Someday when I''m rich (or at least have some disposable income) I''ll get a new or different look!

Try on a bunch of rings and see what really, really speaks to you. I had a simple solitaire at first and then fell in love with halos, and several rings I saw on this site before I designed one specific to me. The "Show Me The Ring" thread is really good for getting ideas. Good luck! It''s a great problem to have!

 

[shelly1170]

I am waiting for the "this is it" moment. It may have already happened but only time will tell. I''m still at the stage where every second ring is "it"!

After seeing punchnpie75''s beautiful ring, I checked out the Tacori site and found a ring similar to the one I tried on last weekend. The band was a slightly different shape and the yellow gold strip was slightly thinner, but it''s very similar!

 

[Jr22]

Date: 9/20/2005 10:06:34 PM
Author: jazmine
In my quest, I went from cushion to oval to emerald cut to marquise. I never in a million years thought I would end up with a marquise (too 80s). However, while perusing the emerald cuts at a local jewelry store, I saw a drop-dead gorgous setting with an east-west marquise. I knew it would be mine before I even tried it on. It was like love at first site! Anyway, that must have been the 50th setting that I had proclaimed was ''the one.'' My fiance didn''t even take me seriously when I found one I liked. He said let me know if you still love it next week. Well, none of them passed the 1 week mark but the marquise setting. I can''t even recall 1/2 of the settings I was so sure I had to have. Anyway, I think you will have a moment like I did. There was no doubt in my mind. With other settings, I would love them but there would always be a couple of others in the back of my mind. I say wait until you have the ''that''s the only setting for me'' moment.

Wow, that is EXACTLY what I went through with my GF. I can''t tell you how many times I heard "this is the one". Funny thing is the next day when I asked to to compare this to that one she wouldn''t even remember the deatils of what "the one" looked like, ugh so frustrating for me. She was all over the map with styles, some she sadi she didn''t like but when she saw them in person she liked. Anyway, I noticed styles that she always went back to. I would say narrow it down to a type or certain style characteristic your looking for and then go from there.

 

[fancyrock]

I sure went thru THAT issue in the past. Now that my ring set is done, i find myself liking other style and designs. But I have no regret for having what i got (i love it to death). So keep in mind... whatever style/design you don''t get... you can always save them for birthdays, Christmas and annisversaries!!! He will never run out of ideas for GIFTS!!

 

[Tacori E-ring]

Date: 9/20/2005 11:20:58 PM
Author: shelly1170
I am waiting for the ''this is it'' moment. It may have already happened but only time will tell. I''m still at the stage where every second ring is ''it''!


After seeing punchnpie75''s beautiful ring, I checked out the Tacori site and found a ring similar to the one I tried on last weekend. The band was a slightly different shape and the yellow gold strip was slightly thinner, but it''s very similar!

I think that is a lovely choice but I am a Tacori fan. If you go to a jewelry store who carries Tacori rings they have a book of every ring they make (much more than what is on the website) also since they are custom made you can make slight changes. Just know they take 4-6 weeks. I think mine was well worth the wait!

 

[curlygirl]

I had absolutely NO idea what I wanted. Well, actually, I knew I didn''t want a round stone, I knew I didn''t want it to look too engagement ring-ish and I knew that I wanted an asscher. I went around and tried on a million different types of settings and didn''t fall in love with any. PLUS, I couldn''t find an asscher that I was crazy about. Then one jeweler tried to convince me to buy a princess in a pave setting. So I started looking at princesses but I just didn''t love them. My now-fiance and I went around for months looking for what it might be that I was going to decide upon--if I had no clue, he was certainly clueless!! And then it hit me. I tried on a JB Star cushion halo ring and that was it. I had to have a cushion with a halo. I loved the way it looked on my hand and I knew that it was exactly what I wanted. It was perfect for me. So I looked in every magazine and website and used the JB Star and the Tiffany Legacy as inspiration for the ring my jeweler ended up making. I wouldn''t trade it for anything. It may not be huge and the cushion is not "perfect" in terms of numbers but I absolutely LOVE it. Although I will get an asscher one day but not to replace this ring, just as a supplement.

The point of the story is, you don''t have to know exactly what you want. Go and have fun trying on all different styles and shapes and see what looks best on your hand and what "speaks" to you. Enjoy and keep us posted!!

 

[shelly1170]

Tacori E-Ring: Unfortunately, as far as I am aware, Tacori is not available in Australia

. I''m sure as I look into it, I will find a jeweller here who specialises in hand-engraved platinum. The jeweller I visited last week (www.gregoryjewellers.com.au) had a couple of styles and do custom work. There must be others!

Curlygirl: I saw your ring and it''s bewdiful! I must admit that I''m in love with the Legacy. I haven''t tried it on yet so it may not even suit me.

There''s also the "Tiffany Mark-up" factor to consider... Damien doesn''t see a problem with paying extra for a brand name, after all they are the ones that did the work. But it really irks me! If we spend a certain amount on a ring, I want to know that we are getting what we paid for. Does anybody know how much extra you pay for the name? Are we talking a significant amount??

 

[Tacori E-ring]

shelly if you really love Tacori I would e-mail them. I have before and they are very fast to respond. They probably will be willing to sell directly to a local jeweler in your area. I doubt it will be a problem. Maybe they will even send you their spec book. Tacori also has a mark-up (like tiffany''s) because it is a brand name but I think their designs are very unique and beautiful. They will also do custom work so if you rather have yellow gold or gemstones in place of certain diamonds (in the setting) Also it is nice b/c you buy your center diamond elsewhere (interent maybe?) Good luck and keep us updated!

 

[shelly1170]

Thanks Tacori E-Ring! I emailed Tacori this morning so hopefully will have a reply soon. I asked about local distributors as well as getting a catalogue. One can only ask, I guess!

I really do love the engraved platinum bands. We have only just started looking so I may still find a local jeweller who specialises in this kind of work. But I do love those Tacori rings!!!

 

[Mara]

you never know which ring!!!

well, that was the case with me. i loved so many that finally we just had to choose something. it was never THE ONE because there were so many i''d have really loved. but we both really liked this one so we did it. it''s not the last setting i''ll ever have so that made it easier.

oh and try lots of stuff on!

 

[windowshopper]

PunchnPie75---------So what do your tings look like????????????/

 

[shelly1170]

You can see punchnpie''s lovely rings here:

punchnpie

 

[Odilia]

I don''t have much to add to what others have already said, but I am heartened to know I was/am not the only one who''s had major trouble deciding which ring is "the one." I always pictured that once you got an ER and WB, you never take them off again!!!!!!!! Not only did I change my first eng. setting during engagement, and then had incredible trouble finding something, and finally HAD to pick something because we were getting married!, and still not satisfied, and now on the path to buying an antique ER to go with my WB, and then reset my stone in white metal to use as an alternate - I would NEVER have dreamed I would do all this. But as many have said, there are so many pretty styles out there, antique & other, and it seems like my taste can change with the way the wind is blowing. Plus I found that what I might think is beautiful in the store might not grab me once it''s on my finger at home. (Especially since, in the store, the ring is about 2 sizes too big, and there''s no stone, so you have to hold your hand flat and still, put a diamond on top and try to keep it in place while deciding if this is the ring you want to wear for the rest of your life.) Plus there are lots of wedding bands that I love, and lots of ER''s that I love, but when you put the two together I seem to find it too much or too little !!!!!! Don''t know why; it''s just me. But anyway, your dilemma is totally understandable. Good luck!

 

[jellybean]

How do you know when you''ve found "the one"? Well, for me, that has never really happened for more than a day.

If you have ever seen any of my posts, you will notice that I change my mind every other day!

Most recently I was dead set on getting a Scott Kay split shank 3 stone ring. Unfortunately, it''s out of my price range, so I have to forget about it. Before that, I was going to get the shared prong setting to match my eternity band. Too many issues with the diamonds rubbing against each other, so forget about that one too. Before that, I wanted a 3 stone ring with pears on the sides. Went and tried it on...didn''t love it like I thought I would.

So now I have a solitaire with my eternity band...actually, a different solitaire than what I had even 3 months ago! While I really, really like it, I wouldn''t say it''s "the one". *The one* for today, maybe, but probably not forever.

My husband and my family just don''t get it. Even my friends don''t understand. Most have just picked out a set and don''t give it a second thought. Only one of my friends has changed her setting, and now she wishes she hadn''t.

Sometimes when there are too many choices, it can be confusing as well. At least with me, when I tried on a ton of settings, I kept coming back to the solitaire. Something about it was just so clean and sleek compared to everything else I tried on. Also, settings that I loved the pictures of just looked awful on me. I have to keep telling myself that the pics are so magnified that the setting looks totally different on your finger.

As you try settings on you will probably eventually come to a style or type of style that you keep coming back to. For some, its the antique look, for others the big, bold chunky look. Try to enjoy the process and I think you will find something that really speaks to you.

Good luck!

 

[anika]

Hi Shelley,
I can''t really add much more than what everyone has said. My only advice is to not rush in - if I sleep on something long enough I realise I''m not that much in love with it. If I still keep coming back to it then thats the one.


I know ultimately you have to decide but if you wanted to post some pics, we could always vote!

Anika

 

[Odilia]

{{{{My only advice is to not rush in - if I sleep on something long enough I realise I''m not that much in love with it. If I still keep coming back to it then thats the one. }}}}}

EXCELLENT advice!

 

[Jelly]

Hi Shelly,

First of all, I think your dog in your avatar is such a cutie!

About the ring...I went through the same thing you did when deciding my ring. LOVED the halos, but changed my mind to a solitaire. Went back to loving the halos, but realized it might be smarter to find a setting where we can upgrade the diamond in a few years. Looked at solitaires but decided I wanted a little more bling.

Finally found a lovely compromise with a shared prong half eternity where I can upgrade the center stone but also have a blingy setting!

(though I still drool at the halos here on PS)

 

[shelly1170]

I emailed Tacori last Friday (Australian time) and received a reply overnight. I asked whether there were any local Australian distributors and, aside from flying to the US, how could I purchase a Tacori ring. I also asked about a more extensive catalogue than their website.

They gave me a link to three websites:

www.solomonbrothers.com
www.baileybanksandbiddle.com
www.topperjewelers.com

But no info on local distributors.

Oh, well, at least I have a rough idea about costings for the settings now. No idea how much it would cost to ship to Australia or what the customs regulations would be regarding duty/tax etc.

The more I see of the Tacori rings, the more I'm tending towards that kind of design. Would be great to find someone in Australia that does engraved platinum work.

Jelly: thanks for your kind words about my pooch. Her name is Jedda and she is a five year old field spaniel x engligh springer spaniel and is excutiatingly cute! You puppy is very cute too, love those ears!

 

[Tacori E-ring]

It says on their website that you can "elect" a jeweler to carry Tacori designs. Might work...

 

[shelly1170]

Thanks Tacori E-ring. I hadn''t seen that on their site.

I think I still have alot of ring-testing to do before I settle on a style. At this stage, I am totally in love with the engraved platinum and filligree (sp?) work of Tacori. Who knows what I''ll end up with though!

Damien is being great and is really taking an interest in the diamonds. Not that we''ve really started looking but he''s keen to get a good quality one! He was under the impression that Tiffany would only sell excellent quality diamonds. Thanks to PS, I gently explained that may not be the case...