Is bigger always better?

[simplepleasures]

I am just starting to look forward to getting engaged. When I was looking I tend to look for very simple and non bulky rings. Is there something wrong that I don''t want a big diamond?

 

[ursulawrite]

Not at all.

Most people I know have 2 carat-plus rings, but I found that they looked too weighty on my long, bony fingers (size 3.75).

That''s not to say I wouldn''t like a fancy, bigger diamond as an anniversary present down the line

but my 1.3 carat, E, VVS1, RB, does me just fine right now.

 

[KSparkles]

Diamond size has been discussed a lot on this board. It pretty much boils down to what you''re comfortable with. If simple, classic and more average-sized diamonds are what you love, there''s no problem with it (your FI will definitely be happy!). That''s more what I''m into - FI was actually nervous about getting me a larger center stone (still it''s only .8 carats - small to some people!!) because he didn''t want me to feel uncomfortable. I ended up LOVING it even though I would''ve picked a .6 center stone if left to my own devices - I''m so glad he took a chance. Some people, though, can totally pull off larger stones and have the money to do it - to each his own! The moral of the story: diamonds are beautiful no matter what size!

 

[MrsFrk]

Of course there's nothing wrong with you.

I live in an area with a lot of money, you see women at the park with their little one's sporting 3 carat numbers, while some society matrons wear only a gold band. Everyone has different taste. A very good friend of mine married one of the heirs to the Spiegel catalog fortune, she fell in love with a lovely .75 carat solitaire bezel set in yellow gold. Wear what you love, and don't worry about anyone else.

 

[pearcrazy]

Nothing wrong with you at all. Go with what you like. Not everyone is as crazy about diamonds and jewelry as we are around here!!

A few years ago my dad offered to upgrade my mother's .75 diamond to something bigger or incorporate it into a 3 stone ring. She declined. She likes it simple and has worn a 2 mm plain white gold band with her diamond mounted in six prong solitaire for nearly 46 years and wants to keep it that way. I wore a half carat diamond ring for over 10 years before the bug hit me.

 

[sevens one]

Oh! you were talking about diamonds?

 

[simplepleasures]

unfortunately yes

 

[simplepleasures]

1/3 ct. Princess cut, "Princess Plus" diamond set in a unique 18kt. white gold ring.

Suggested Reference Price: $1,000.00
Online Price: $699.00


Shape of Stones Princess Cut
Carat Total Weight .29 - .44
Color I +
Clarity I1 +
Metal 18kt. White Gold


That is the ring I looked at. What do you all think? I need education about what I really want. I want to understand what I want.

 

[JC]

"To each his own, it''s personal preference, buy what YOU like and LIKE what YOU buy."

 

[Patty]

Date: 12/13/2004 5:17:31 PM
Author: simplepleasures

1/3 ct. Princess cut, ''Princess Plus'' diamond set in a unique 18kt. white gold ring.

Suggested Reference Price: $1,000.00
Online Price: $699.00


Shape of Stones Princess Cut
Carat Total Weight .29 - .44
Color I +
Clarity I1 +
Metal 18kt. White Gold


That is the ring I looked at. What do you all think? I need education about what I really want. I want to understand what I want.

I''m not sure what it means by the total carat weight being .29-.44. Is this a solitaire or are there other stones? If you post your budget and what you have in mind on the "Rocky Talk" forum, you''ll get more people viewing your post and I''m sure you''ll get some good suggestions for your budget. The I1+ clarity makes me think that the stone is not certified. What one person calls and I1 may not necessarily be that. It could easily be a lower clarity. Most people stay away from I1 clarity cuts in the "fancy" shapes because they tend to show inclusions more readily.

 

[KBerly]

nan you crack me up

 

[chantal990]

There is nothing wrong with going for smaller sized diamond especially if that is what you feel comfitable. A lot of people go for smaller sizes and better quality sones or just for personal preferance. I wear a size H (Australian sizes) ring which I think is around a size 4 in the US. My stone is a 0.75ct and it is plenty big for my finger. I did cop a bit of flack for getting a smaller sized stone but I am happy with what I have and the only people who said anything negative was his mother (who we don''t get along anyway) and a girl who is a friend of a friend and ablsolutely desperate to get engaged and married and therefore makes it a habit to make nasty coments about others engagements, weddings etc

 

[researcher]

You should most definitely get what you like. I''m sporting an engagement ring on the larger size for the average American, but a lot of my rings are just dainty (I chose them over rings with larger stones). One thing you should know, however, is you will most likely experience shrinkage--even my ring looks small now and again!

 

[sevens one]

Date: 12/13/2004 8

3:49 PM
Author: researcher
You should most definitely get what you like. I''m sporting an engagement ring on the larger size for the average American, but a lot of my rings are just dainty (I chose them over rings with larger stones). One thing you should know, however, is you will most likely experience shrinkage--even my ring looks small now and again!

Oh researcher- say it ain''t so

 

[cflutist]

We should start a poll to find out how long it takes for "shrinkage" to take effect

It hasn''t happened to me yet with my e-ring that I have had for 8 years, but HAS happened
with my new bracelet I just got 4 months ago from Wink. Go figure.

 

[researcher]

How funny would it be to have a "Do you experience shrinkage" post?!?! That just sounds SO wrong!!!

But yes, I do occasionally experience shrinkage--I just have to go to Starbuck''s here in Del Mar where everyone is sporting 5 carat rounds and mine doesn''t look big at all!

 

[indigirl]

I''m not going to comment on the shrinkage issue... but I want to chime in and say that smaller can be better, in my opinion!

I thought I would love a bezel or semi-bezel setting, but when trying them on only liked the size of the band when paired with a .5ct or smaller stone. And even at .5ct, the band felt too thick on my fingers. (I ended up with a .75ct RB stunner, which is just the right size for me and my skinny fingers.) A few of the other settings also seemed to compliment a smaller stone better.

Have fun and go for what you like (and feel comfortable wearing)!

 

[tulipcloud]

are we talking about the need for viagra for diamonds?

size is all preference. Prior to my e-ring...i always preferred little things in my jewelrey. When I would go see my jeweler, she had tried to show me these huge gauwdy ( to me) monstroscities. But as the years went by, she realized I liked simple and small. As for my e-ring, my fiance initally wanted bigger, but I begged for smaller, and this was as small as he would agree to.

I''m a very lucky gal! Can''t wait to see the anniversary presents...heheheh

But go with what you like and what you will love. Size of an e-ring doesn''t determine how much he loves you. The e-ring no matter what size is a symbolism of the joining of your lives...and the wonderful advertising power of DeBeers..a Diamond is forever...no matter what size.

 

[ursulawrite]

Engagement rings are, first and foremost, an expression of love. I can''t tell you the number of salespeople who''ve given my ring a quizzical look in Bergdorf Goodman or Sak''s or people at parties who descibe is at "cute" or "er, cute".

All I can say is buy what makes you happy, and to hell with small-minded people who think bigger is a direct reflection of your bank balance when, in a lot of cases, it isn''t! (Phew. Rant over...

)

 

[treysar]

Hi Simple pleasures!

I must tell you - I often prefer a smaller diamond in a dainty setting as opposed to a honker. For example, this weekend I was at a bridal shower, and the girl to my left had a 4 carat + ring. The girl to my right had a lovely half carat princess set with a small sapphires on each side - it was gorgeous! And I prefered the smaller ring. (We all traded, and let each other try on the others).

Just as an FYI - IMO, the ring you are looking at with I1 quality is not worth it. You can get a much nicer .30 stone from one of the vendors on price scope for about $600, and add $99 for a soitaire setting and you''re at the same amount spent for a much better quality ring.

Sometimes it''s very tempting to go with the I1 rings they have in some of the stores atthe mall, etc, becaue the lighting i so bright, and becuase the idea of getting the ring is SO EXCITING that you become overwhelemd and just want a ring SO BAD! (That could be just me though! )

Take your time - I would pick a priscescope vendor and call them, tell them your budget, and they will help you. (Note, i did not get my ring off of p-scope - I just hear GREAT things about the vendors on here!)

 

[abradabra]

I remember reading a few months ago something about the size of the diamond and amount of brilliance/fire it produces. I don''t remember the exact reasoning, but the gist of it was that larger diamonds with the same number of facets as smaller diamonds tend to produce less brilliance/fire (I think the reasoning had something to do with each facet being larger on the bigger diamond and so the light return is less concentrated or something. Larger diamonds with extra facets tend to produce the same brillance/fire as smaller diamonds because the extra facets somehow make up for this. You''d need someone with more experience to actually explain this well).

So bigger definitely does not always mean better.

 

[fortheloveofdiamonds]

I didn''t want a big diamond when I got engaged. I got to chose my engagement ring. I chose an 0.17c very plain engagement ring. However, people change and so did my e-ring.

 

[windowshopper]

yes

 

[innerkitten]

It''s all a matter of taste. Some people prefer a smaller stone for an engagement ring and some people like larger stones. I like both for different reasons. It really doesn''t matter which you decide on as long as your both happy.

I''d like to add. I hear a lot of people say that in more expensive parts of the country people have larger stones. I''m not sure thats aways true. I live in a city ( San Francisco) where real estate is very expensive and rents are high. I don''t see people walking around with unusually large stones here very often. Maybe they are spending all their money on rent and mortgage payments, or maybe they feel nervous about leaving the house with too much jewelry? I''m not really sure what the answer is.
Perhaps in the suburbs it''s different.

 

[innerkitten]

P.S. I think Treysar is right. Look around for a while first.

 

[Nicrez]

In class, we have to grade mounted stones, and we are given .30ct and under solitaires to grade, and honestly, all of us women (and a few men) tried them on, and we only had issues with the awful settings and not the size. I think they looked very dainty and pretty. I actually want to buy a pretty solitaire (under .50cts) for another finger, because I think they are so pretty and simple.

I have also seen some real honkers (25 cts+) and frankly, I would rather MORE smaller stones than just ONE BIG ONE.... In my opinion, sometimes bigger, is just that. Better is what you like the most, so enjoy!!!