How to decide setting height for custom ring and advice for pairing with an existing band

[memhoo]

Hello! Long time reader/lurker and finally posting my own question

I am in the brainstorming & inspiration phase of a custom pear cathedral solitaire ring project. I don't have THE stone picked out yet but looking at .9 - 1.5 carat stones with depths ranging 3-4mm.

I have an existing band that is approximately 4mm height off my finger (using a ruler, no calipers at the moment but hoping this is enough basic info for my question).

Would it be possible to design a cathedral ring that will fit flush with this band, or would this 4mm height requirement make the cathedral ring way too high and difficult to wear and I'm better off using a spacer band between the two rings?

Here is an inspiration photo of what I'm thinking from top view, altho the proportions of this example are not exact to my existing ring and the pear shown is also probably quite large vs. my specs



Thanks so much in advance for your help! Really appreciate it.

 

[tyty333]

Can you post a top-down and a side view (from the knuckle) of the 4mm band you already own? How big are the stones in your
band that is 4mm high?

 

[breanne]

You could, but just know the pear would lay overtop of the eternity band. There would be no other way for it to sit flush.

Here's a photo just as an example, so maybe determine if you like that look first as its different than your inspo above, then decide if 4mm+ off the finger would be ok for the pear ER.

 

[breanne]

Consider the profile view as well

 

[memhoo]

@breanne ah thanks for the food for thought, that is something to consider.
I will look at more 'stacked rings on fingers' context inspiration!

@tyty333 of course! Stones seems to be about 5mm.
Here are some photos:

 

[tyty333]

Do you want it to sit flush? Like @breanne said, the inspo pic you posted is not flush. Is that the look you want or do you want
flush like the pictures @breanne posted?

 

[memhoo]

Do you want it to sit flush? Like @breanne said, the inspo pic you posted is not flush. Is that the look you want or do you want
flush like the pictures @breanne posted?

I've looked at some more photos of different ring stacks and spent some time contemplating.

I prefer the look of the original inspo photo I posted, not when the pear is sort of 'obscured' by the other bands when it is truly stacked together flush.

 

[breanne]

I've looked at some more photos of different ring stacks and spent some time contemplating.

I prefer the look of the original inspo photo I posted, not when the pear is sort of 'obscured' by the other bands when it is truly stacked together flush.

Nice that you came to this conclusion beforehand, I spent years fantasizing about completely flushed bands with my engagement ring, all of that obsessing to find out, I actually didn't like it once that CAD was complete.

 

[tyty333]

It just may end up that you need a separator band to keep your wedding ring diamonds from eating into the side of the
pear setting. Your wedding band is pretty tall. Have you tried on any rings with your wedding band? Its not really built in
the shape that you could easily put an engagement ring next to it (unless it had a matching wedding band). Does it have
sentimental value? If not, I would think about having it reset or getting a different wedding band that would work better.
You could always wear your 4-stone diamond band as a RHR.

 

[memhoo]

Nice that you came to this conclusion beforehand, I spent years fantasizing about completely flushed bands with my engagement ring, all of that obsessing to find out, I actually didn't like it once that CAD was complete.

I think it's time to go back and try things on again to REALLY confirm since it can be so different when it's on your finger vs. a beautiful photo of someone else's hand. Thanks for your comments, have been really helpful

It just may end up that you need a separator band to keep your wedding ring diamonds from eating into the side of the
pear setting. Your wedding band is pretty tall. Have you tried on any rings with your wedding band? Its not really built in
the shape that you could easily put an engagement ring next to it (unless it had a matching wedding band). Does it have
sentimental value? If not, I would think about having it reset or getting a different wedding band that would work better.
You could always wear your 4-stone diamond band as a RHR.

Hmm yeah this is what I was thinking, a separator band might be the way. I have tried some on recently and the store clerk also suggested a separator would be needed since the band is so tall. I wasn't sure if it would be possible or make sense to design a cathedral style setting to get around the height issue or not.

My ultimate dream would be to have a lovely set of mix and match rings that I can stack on both of my ring fingers on both hands, so I can play around with combining them

I think it's time to trek back to a B&M store and try some combos on! Thank you!

 

[Wink]

I spent years fantasizing about completely flushed bands with my engagement ring, all of that obsessing to find out, I actually didn't like it once that CAD was complete.

I had to hit the laughing button when I saw this. It is part of the custom design adventure. Your experience happens far more often than one might think. It is one of the joys of being able to offer up a quality CAD before actually committing the design to metal. The cost to do a second, or even a third CAD is so tiny compared to the cost of actually making the piece and only then deciding it is not what you want...

 

[memhoo]

I had to hit the laughing button when I saw this. It is part of the custom design adventure. Your experience happens far more often than one might think. It is one of the joys of being able to offer up a quality CAD before actually committing the design to metal. The cost to do a second, or even a third CAD is so tiny compared to the cost of actually making the piece and only then deciding it is not what you want...

Feeling quite honored to have a response from you on my thread! Thanks!!

 

[Wink]

Feeling quite honored to have a response from you on my thread! Thanks!!

You are welcome.