If you have a family history of arthritis, consider skipping the eternity band....

[DiamondsRagirlsbestfriend]

I haven''t been on this wonderful site in forever... and it''s been fun visiting and seeing all the photos and posts.

Anyway, here''s my lesson-learned:

My first wedding anniversary is a few weeks away, and sadly, I haven''t been able to wear my eternity-style wedding band (which is, btw, sautered to my engagement ring) any longer. Obviously, it can''t be resized.

I thought I was eating too many salty things, and that my fingers would calm down if I cut back on the sodium... Um... not so much. I finally gave in and went to the doctor and then a rheumatologist, and sure enough I''ve got inflammatory arthritis. I''ve gone from a size 5 to a 6 in a matter of months. Sigh...

As I type this my engagement ring emerald cut stones are being set into a Ritani setting with super thin setting, which should be comfortable on my sausage-like stubs that used to be my fingers.

As for the wedding band...my jeweler is trying to seperate it from the engagement ring and restore it. It''s a 1920s vintage band, so I hope it will work out. My only option is to wear it on my pinky. ...not really my style, but we''ll see.

(

So if you''re like me and LOVE eternity bands and you haven''t yet bought your band, you might consider a nearly-eternity (and sizable) band, especially if you have a family history of auto-immune disorders/arthritis. I wish I had!

 

[Dogmom]

Oh, dear, I am SO sorry to hear this. Hopefully your vintage band will be able to be salvaged, and I think it would make a smashing pinkie ring.

I LOVE your avatar pic! What a cutie! (Sorry for the T/J

)

 

[BigDiamonds]

I''m so sorry that happened to you!

I hope your rings come out okay. Please show us pics when the whole thing is worked out!

 

[Diamond*Dana]

Aw bummer! I am sorry about that...

 

[HappyAnniversary]

Diamonds--Even without the possibility of arthritis--almost everyone I know has resized their rings upward as knuckles just get bigger. I think I had to at about my 10 year anniversay. Now, when I've been trying on new options to upgrade I've asked jewelers if they tell people that eternity bands can't be sized and they 've shaken their heads and say, yea, we tell them, but they buy them anyway. So sorry about your arthritis.

 

[dani13]

Hi Diamonds!

Sorry to hear you are going through this...my mom struggles with arthritis too in her hands, and I know its very painful....I hope you feel better soon...

I remember your gorgeous 3 stone EC very well....but I am looking foward to seeing it in the Ritani. Make sure you post pics when you get it...I would love to see it...I am also contemplating resetting my EC, and the Ritani is one of the contenders....

Stay well!!!

 

[starshine]

Thanks so much fo the feedback! I absolutely love the look of a full eternity, but have often wondered if it might not work later down the road... Probably a 3/4 eternity would be wisest! Hope they can save your antique band!

 

[DiamondsRagirlsbestfriend]

thanks so much, Ladies. I should know any day now about the vintage band... and the Ritani re-setting should be done in early July.

The Ritani experience was interesting. I first phoned BBB about this, and the salesperson there said that she called Ritani and was told they wouldn''t use my side stones. I was so bummed. Then I went a local jeweler, told them my sob story, and they were able to get Ritani to do it, even though my stones aren''t the right size for their standard three-stone setting - it''ll be custom done. Maybe Ritani took pitty on me?

Any-hoo...I''ll keep ya''ll updated.

The most important thing here is that I ADORE my wonderful husband and love him more than ever.

hugs.

 

[Jelly]

Great news about Ritani! Can''t wait to see the pics of the new ring!

I''m so sorry to hear about your arthritis.