Just Wondering: How Big Feels Too Big?

[wishingstar]

Date: 5/12/2010 12:51:47 PM
Author: dreamer_d
Yup, getting excited! Thanks for sharing my anticipating RaiKai, luvs2sparkle, vbnet!

We are picking the ring up in Seattle when we go away for a romantic anniversary weekend without our 14 month old

, woo hoo! Sleeping in, a great big bathtup, BOTH of us drinking wine together for the first time in two years! It will be a great weekend all around.

And now back to your regularly scheduled programming

sorry to hijack... hey dreamer, I''m in WA too!

I would love to know which independant appraiser you use and trust? Enjoy your weekend together with your new baby! Cant wait to see it!

Re: size, I''m

for a 2.5+ - 3ct. My finger size is 5 (5.25 with some bloating

) and feel that 2ct is just slightly small still, oh well, that''s why I''m aiming for a good tradeup policy. Who knows, after I find this upgrade, from my current 1.35... I may think it''s the perfect size, afterall, might loose a 3ct honker beating around the park with the kids

Re CZ: I think you can usually tell a diamond from CZ, and dreamerD had a point about ppl that wear fakes. But if I had to say, probably the 8-10 RB, and 10+ fancy shapes. I''ve found that most ppl that wear 5ct rings can usually pull it off.

 

[yssie]

I agree that I automatically assume other people's rings are real stones, whatever colour they are - and don't honestly give any thought to earrings unless something really strikes me!


When I was looking at stones for my upgrade I found that while a 2.85 looked fabulous size-wise, a 3ct was too much. I'm not sure how much of that is in my head, but somehow the "3ct" was just too big, too flashy, inappropriate. Not that it looked anything like a CZ, mind... that extra 0.3mm diametre really made a big difference!

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 5/12/2010 2:14:17 PM
Author: wishingstar
sorry to hijack... hey dreamer, I''m in WA too!

I would love to know which independant appraiser you use and trust? Enjoy your weekend together with your new baby! Cant wait to see it!

I actually don''t live there, we are in Canada, just going for the weekend because DH has never been. Sorry I am no help! And don''t forget, the baby is *not* coming with us, hence my eager anticipation of the weekend

 

[tberube]

I love big diamonds, but I think the cutoff (from "big" to "outlandish") for me personally is around 2.5 carats. I''m pretty sure that if I ever got an upgrade, even years down the road, I wouldn''t feel comfortable sporting anything larger than that (and even that size would probably take some real getting used to).

As far as what''s fake "looking" to me, I tend to lean toward diamonds that are not round, and have a warmer body color, because for some reason they look more "real" to me. You never see the dollar store copying an I color EC, for example.

Now that I think of it, I wonder if that''s the whole reason I prefer warmer, more antique-cut stones...because they never look like CZs? Hmmm......interesing thought.

 

[RaiKai]

Confession: Every time I see the title of this thread my mind goes straight to the gutter.

 

[clgwli]

Truthfully I don''t care if someone has real or not, so I don''t really pay attention to it.

I have one friend I wonder if hers is real or not because she keeps saying that getting a CZ is smart to do. Hers is larger and very high color, but without peering at it closely, I wouldn''t have a clue. And honestly I don''t care.

I do have some really wealthy family who have owned 5+ carat stones and I think seeing them really has me not assume that someone can or cannot afford a ring.

IMO CZs and diamonds do look different. I''ve had some really nice ones for travel and I can see sometimes a blue-green or grayish hue that I don''t normally see in real colorless diamonds. Seeing that blueish look inside is usually a tip off that something is fake to me. But I have only noticed it on things that I wear myself.

As for size, I literally have child sized hands. Not just ring size, but hand size over all for me is small. So for me always a certain size has felt just right. For me a round above .75 really starts to feel way too big on me. I have 10x12 mm I can use for real estate on my left ring finger so it isn''t a whole lot I can use especially after adding in a wedding band.
I can go up to just above 1 carat on the square shapes for the same reason. So I guess lucky for my bank account I feel that a 1+ carat in general is too much.

I''ve always felt the same about size it seems. Even with gemstone rings I seem to be drawn to a certain size in mm or smaller.

 

[oldminer]

It depends on several variables and your personal taste and lifestyle. I think the largest diamonds are worn in major cities. We see diamonds up to 2 carat size bought for initial engagement rings with some frequency in spite of their cost. In small towns and more rural areas, the tendency is to be less flashy and smaller diamonds prevail. Some years ago the average engagement ring was about 1/4ct in the USA although lots of city folks were buying close to 1 carat sizes then. I imagine the average size for a solitaire is still well under 1/2 carat for the country in spite of larger stones being sold to the affluent members of larger city populations.

A big diamond comes with challenges. Are you and your fingers large enough to make it look appropriate? Do you think the large diamond might attract trouble? Is it going to raise questions at work or with your family? Does it work for your environment and circle of friends? Is there some other thing you might need more right now than a bigger diamond?

 

[LGK]

Date: 5/12/2010 10:25:45 AM
Author:missydebby
Question Time:

At how many carats do you think a diamond ring looks/feels:

- too big to wear with ease on a daily basis?

My 3 1/2 ct Old European Cut is perfectly comfy now that I reset it in a low bezel setting. It *has* to be on my left hand though- it isn''t comfortable on the right, I bang it up. I wouldn''t wear larger than that in a round, or this stone in a high setting.

- begins to look like CZ?

A really good CZ with a great cut and some body color can fool me and pretty much most everyone else in a great setting. Not many of those out there, though. I don''t usually equate a big size stone with CZ- more, poor workmanship on a setting, too white, not cleaned, and that weird bluish look that cheap CZs get. I do get asked a lot of my 3 1/2 ct stone is real though, despite it''s M color and obvious old cut. That would be because I tend to dress pretty goth, look young for my age, and nobody who doesn''t know me would believe my jewelry is real... I guess a large diamond doesn''t go well with stompy boots?

- makes you too self conscious?

When this stone was in a halo (not my choice, package deal with the diamond) I was a little self concious for about a month or so. Now I don''t think about it. I wouldn''t wear much larger in a round cut- 3 1/2 ct on my 4.75 finger is pushing it... I just don''t care for the look of a bigger round on my finger, it looks silly to my eye. But I do have small, short and stubby paws... if I had the long elegant fingers some girls on here have, I might feel differently! A fancy cut I would probably feel looked proportional up to maybe 4 1/2 ct, maybe 5 ct if it was deep or elongated & set N/S.

Lastly, have you always felt the same about carat size, or have your feelings changed as you''ve upgraded?

Definitely changed over time. I thought a full carat looked enormous when I first got married and I never intended to upgrade from my .20ish center stone ... nobody I know wears anything bigger than a half carat. I only ended up with a new stone because my original set fell apart. I fully blame PS for getting accustomed to larger size diamonds

 

[missydebby]

Date: 5/12/2010 2:53:33 PM
Author: RaiKai
Confession: Every time I see the title of this thread my mind goes straight to the gutter.

hehehehee

 

[kenny]

I think it''s easier if you start out with small ones and work your way up.

 

[yssie]

Date: 5/12/2010 4:27:24 PM
Author: kenny
I think it''s easier if you start out with small ones and work your way up.

That''s true enough!

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 5/12/2010 4:31:58 PM
Author: yssie

Date: 5/12/2010 4:27:24 PM
Author: kenny
I think it''s easier if you start out with small ones and work your way up.

That''s true enough!

Somehow I think Kenn''y mind is in the gutter too...

 

[yssie]

Date: 5/12/2010 4:38:16 PM
Author: dreamer_d

Date: 5/12/2010 4:31:58 PM
Author: yssie

Date: 5/12/2010 4:27:24 PM
Author: kenny
I think it''s easier if you start out with small ones and work your way up.

That''s true enough!

Somehow I think Kenn''y mind is in the gutter too...

 

[kenny]

I started with a 0.83 carat.
That didn't feel too big at all.

How big was your first one?

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 5/12/2010 4:44:56 PM
Author: kenny
I started with a 0.83 carat.
That didn''t feel too big at all.

How big was your first one?

My first was about that size too! It felt a little bit too small for my liking.

 

[yssie]

Date: 5/12/2010 5:00:07 PM
Author: dreamer_d

Date: 5/12/2010 4:44:56 PM
Author: kenny
I started with a 0.83 carat.
That didn't feel too big at all.

How big was your first one?

My first was about that size too! It felt a little bit too small for my liking.

right about the same here too

 

[kenny]

Date: 5/12/2010 5:01:49 PM
Author: yssie

Date: 5/12/2010 5:00:07 PM
Author: dreamer_d

Date: 5/12/2010 4:44:56 PM
Author: kenny
I started with a 0.83 carat.
That didn't feel too big at all.

How big was your first one?

My first was about that size too! It felt a little bit too small for my liking.

right about the same here too

Well at least they didn't hurt as much as those big ones.



Large diamonds are sooo expensive. OUCH!

 

[junebug17]

Date: 5/12/2010 1:38:02 PM
Author: kenny
June, sorry I didn''t mean to be critical of people wearing fakes.

I put my foot in my mouth a lot.

Oh no Kenny, I didn''t take it that way at all!!! No apology necessary, I was just in a "chatty" mood today and was adding to the conversation, and rambling quite a bit actually - I truly did not take offense at what you said, I apologize to you if that''s how I came across! Now I feel bad that you felt bad lol...it''s really hard to communicate through the written word sometimes!

 

[missydebby]

"You Degenerates!!!!" *wags finger*

 

[kenny]

No problem.

 

[Shadowplay]

Date: 5/12/2010 5:05:48 PM
Author: kenny

Well at least they didn't hurt as much as those big ones.




Large diamonds are sooo expensive. OUCH!

Yeah... my FF is going to be feeling the affect of mine on our wedding night.





We simply won't have as much to spend on the wedding/reception!

 

[gardengloves]

I''m getting used to wearing a larger stone which was an upgrade. I love it and it''s beautiful, and have many private moments just enjoying it- but there is definately a period of adjustment when going out and about, because it is still new to me.

Sometimes I turn it around if I feel uncomfortable, but working in NYC, I soon see a larger stone, which can pop up just about anywhere, and relax and go back to just enjoying it. Where I work there are several women with very large round stones. In all the years working there I have never heard an unkind comment or any catty remarks at all about them or their rings. People seem more judged on what you contribute, and how much a team player, good sport you are than the jewelry worn.

Today on the subway, I turned my ring around because I thought it was too big, but then noticed a woman opposite me doing a crossword puzzle with a huge oval or cushion with halo and pave band. I just became fascinated watching the rainbows shoot off her huge facets as we went into tunnels, and it just danced in the changes of light. She was completely absorbed in her puzzle, unconcerned about her ring... it was simply her ring, and look right on her. I''m getting more comfortable with it and learning to relax.

 

[Amethyste]

Date: 5/12/2010 12:08:07 PM
Author: dreamer_d

Date: 5/12/2010 12:01:04 PM

Author: Amethyste

I have a 5CT+ center pear and 1.30TCW trillion


Right now, my pear/trillion 3 stone ring is comfortable for everyday wear... and is bordering the fake look.

anything bigger (on me) - would be too much, and at its size, it is challenging ( in some way ) to handle and would look fake.

LOL! Maybe to someone who doesn't know diamonds and just gives it a glance, but I think anyone who looked closer would know it was real because of the high quality of the diamonds and the setting. Your ring is like a celebrity ring, you must get double takes all the time!

I would love to see your ring in person, or any of the much larger PS rings really. I have never seen anything over 2ct in real life and it would be such a treat to see some amazing bling in person!

Dreamer - I am not lying to you, i NEVER get compliments from stranger or whatever when I am out and about. THat's why I m thinking they probably must all think it's a CZ ring lol. I'd be happy to meet you as well and let you wear my ring while we are at it! Speaking of bling - YOUR TURN IS COMING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Date: 5/12/2010 12:24:16 PM
Author: Black Jade

Date: 5/12/2010 12:01:04 PM

Yours doesn't look fake, it looks lovely.

THank you Black Jade, it is lover-ly... I get lost in it sometimes... I must stop being so possessed by it! lol.

Date: 5/12/2010 12:26:32 PM
Author: vbnet
Amethyst your ring is gorgeous! I love the pear & trillions

Aww THank you VBNET! It's nice of you to say!

 

[Dancing Fire]

Date: 5/12/2010 5:00:07 PM
Author: dreamer_d

My first was about that size too! It felt a little bit too small for my liking.

i thought this was a diamond forum?

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 5/12/2010 10:20:22 PM
Author: Dancing Fire

Date: 5/12/2010 5:00:07 PM
Author: dreamer_d


My first was about that size too! It felt a little bit too small for my liking.

i thought this was a diamond forum?

I was talking about my diamond, I have no idea what you are thinking DF

 

[Phoenix]

There is no such thing as "TOO big"!!

 

[wsblue430]

^^^ Ditto Phoenix!

 

[hunt7191]

my two cents: I have a 3.33 round plus a halo around it. I was afraid the halo would take it over the edge but it didn''t. The first two days it seemed large because it is almost the width of my finger but then it wears off and feels "normal". I will say that people notice it a lot but no one has ever asked it it was fake....at least to my face ; ) I went from a 2ct princess to this stone and it more that doubled in appearance. Good luck!

 

[CharmyPoo]

For me, 7.5 to 8.0 mm is max for non-haloed rings. 7 mm for haloed rings. Not going for ct weight because the face up size can vary so much.

But if anyone wants to give me a 15mm diamond (or any size for that matter) .. I will gladly accept it with pleasure. Any offers?

 

[marcy]

It is all personal. I would feel awkward with over about 1 1/2 carats but I tend to like things 1 ct and smaller.