Obsessed! Please help me...

[Pixie]

Hi All,

I''ve been looking for a 10th anniversary ring (married 4, together 10) for months now. (It seems that I may not end up deciding on what ring I want until my 10th wedding anniversary at the rate I''m going!!)

Anyway, I started with wanting a cushion with a halo setting (loved the Harry Winston one on the Bachelor), but then I decided that I don''t think I want a solitaire as an RHR since I still love my e-ring and intend to wear it on my ring finger. Then I decided on a 3 stone ring to represent past, present, future... blah blah blah (De Beers has me completely brainwashed). Since my e-ring is a RB and has 2 small RB sidestones, I didn''t want another RB 3 stone ring. So then I decided that I wanted to have something different and get something squarish. I saw a radiant with trillion sides at a posh jewelry store that was gorgeous so I''ve been going down that path for ages. I''m not an emerald or asscher girl so that''s how I decided if it was squarish, I would go radiant. Picked a couple of stones from WF, had them shipped to me, brought them to a store where I compared it to a couple of Original Radiants, and neither sang to me so I returned them both. At that point, I had decided that I was going to get the Original Radiant (these stones are cut very well, btw). The stone was in transit for weeks to get to the jeweler that I was going to buy it from, which was a bad thing because it gave me time to ponder, and now I''m thinking that I''m a kinda conservative girl that likes things on the elegant/softer side, so maybe the radiant/trillion combo would be a bit too racy/flashy or maybe, sharp around the edges for me, if that makes any sense. Don''t get me wrong, I really love that combo, but I''m still trying to decide if it''s me. I want something a bit understated and elegant since that''s my style, but I just so love all the bling in Leon''s micropave settings. I''m very petite (left ring finger size 2.5 and right is 3) and I''m planning to get a ring with a center stone of about 2 carats. I saw this oval the other day and thought it was one of the simplist, most beautiful settings. Then I thought that I can either consider an oval or cushion in this first setting. Or should I just go for the radiant/trillion combo? Or, should I get a cushion with a split shank like Britney''s ring which was my obsession last weekend? (Ya see, I''ve got split personality when it comes to picking a ring!

) So, here''s the question. I''ve attached a picture of my e-ring. If you had to pick a ring as an RHR, which one would you recommend and if you have other recommendations, please send them over! Oval, cushion, radiant, or other?

This decision is consuming me. Maybe I should just get those stud earrings for my second holes to quench my diamond lust and wait till my 10th wedding anniversary in 6 years for the RHR? Nah!!! Thanks for reading!

If interested, my e-ring has the following specs:

1.22 ct G VS2
6.97 x 7.02 x 4.20
D 60.0%
T 57%
G Thin - Faceted
C None
F None
P & S Very Good
Crown Height 14.7%
Setting from Boundless (Quadrillion) in platinum - round sidestones invisibly set with 4 channel set princesses down each side
Wedding band custom made with channel set princesses

 

[Pixie]

And here are the two settings, among several others, that are on the top of my list at the moment. (Key word being "moment"...)

 

[just_looking!]

The first one is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO gorgeous!! But I guess I''m a little biased towards LM rings!!

 

[MissGotRocks]

The choices can definitely be mind boggling! Everyone seems to wrestle with all of these issues too. I can''t tell you which to pick - it really is a personal preference and you have chosen some beautiful ideas. Are you sure you want your RHR to have a larger center stone than your ering? I am sure folks do that all the time as they have sentimental feelings toward their ering. My thinking is that I wouldn''t want it to outshine my ering - but of course not everyone feels that way. Would you be happier if you upgraded your orginial diamond - keeping the same setting - and finding something with a completely different look for a RHR? Just a thought!

 

[finerthings]

Opps I misread your post, thought that you wanted to replace your wedding set, which I love the look of. I don't have any advice for you with regard to the RHR, but I can completely understand your frustration. I guess that over time and after seeing many different rings you will come to love a certain shape/style. Just continue to visit your local jewelry stores and try on rings. Good luck.

 

[jaz464]

My opinion is the oval. Just gorgous! It is elegant, timeless, and a little unusual. I must say, you cannot try on too many styles of ring. Pictures are not the same thing as seeing it on your own finger. So many gorgous rings just don''t look good on my own fingers.

 

[kittycatsmac]

Hi Pixie, first off love kitty!!! Ok you are in the same place I''m at right now. Me and hubby was talking last night, I''ve just this week got my upgrade of my wedding set that he had started for me like months ago redone and finished, We were talking about our 5th anniversary coming this summer and I told him that if he would go this weekend and pay the difference in my wedding set off at our jewelers, that I would make it easy for him with our ann. gift to me!!! lol!!

As soon as I got the ering of my dreams I started thinking of a RHR. So he''s going this weekend and paying the diff. so this is what I''m thinking. I want to go 1ct larger with my RHR, I''m thinking emerald with trillions. This is how I will ware it. When I want to ware my emerald I will only ware my eternity band on my ring finger left hand so that way all eyes will go to the almost 3ct emerald center stone!!! So the first stone shape I seen when I looked at your wedding set was a cushion cut, it''s has that square shape but softer like your rb. I love your rings by the way!!! So don''t be afraid to go bigger ..

 

[ChooChoo]

I vote for a cushion. For me, an oval is not different enough from a RB. Cushions are so unique and beautiful.

 

[decodelighted]

Gorgeous Wedding set BTW

. We could stand some more pictures of THAT (hint, hint).

It kind of reminds me of Kaleigh''s set and she chose an Asscher Pave Halo for her right hand ring ... now, you wouldn''t have to do an Asscher ... you could do a Radient Pave Halo?

I think three stone rings or a stone w/sidestones (like your example pix) might look too much like your e-ring.

Have you considered colored stones? A huge honkin'' sapphire oval or cushion with half moon diamond sidestones?. Or maybe a rectangular radiant set East West in a Cartier tank style setting?

 

[cutey TT]

Hey Pixie.

Your story sort of sounds like mine... I keep changing my mind on what I want for my upgrade. I''m probably not going to get one for another year, but I don''t know how I''m ever going to decide. Looking at the lovely rings here on PS only confuse me more! And I don''t want to try anything on in the stores because I''m still all over the place...

I, too, love the rounded look of the oval...like the idea of a 3-stone... Have you thought about an oval with half moon sides? I once talked to Leon Mege about this particular ring, and he sent me some pictures of one that he happened to be working on. This one has a 3 ct center....I would personally want his double-claw prongs for the center stone, but you get the idea... I originally saw this ring at a Cartier store and then on the Harry Winston website, and I thought for sure that I had made up my mind, but sometimes think maybe I just want a simple 6-prong RB solitaire (so classic) or possibly a cushion in a halo. Eek~!

Decisions, decisions! Since you''re closer to actually making a decision, I would just go to a nearby jewelry store and try on the different styles you''re interested in... Remember, there''s always your 25th anniversary next!

 

[jaz464]

I love, love, love, an oval with half moons:

http://www.jbstar.com/cgi-local/shop/jb.cgi?nhs=12&c=Engagement&s=

 

[Small]

I really like the radiant with the trillions (and I''m not even a square cut kind of gal lol). I''m not a huge fan of oval though...that''s just me. I think a cushion with trillions would be awesome too! Good luck.

 

[Pixie]

Thanks for everyone''s nice comments on my e-ring set! I don''t think I would ever want to upgrade that (the setting or the stone) as it has sentimental value to me. My hubby and I picked both together after a romantic proposal, which is very unlike my husband.

I don''t mind having another diamond ring that has a larger stone because I want that 2+ carat! I feel like once I get the 2 carat ring, I''ll be satisfied, especially since my fingers are so small. I don''t think I can carry off anything much larger than that! But am I kidding myself? Will I just continue to want bigger and bigger as time passes? Maybe!

The biggest problem I''m finding is that I have tried on many styles of rings, but I seem to like them ALL! I tried on a yellow radiant with traps at Van Cleef and I loved it. My hubby actually liked it too, eventhough he''s never liked colored diamonds, but I''m not sure I want a colored diamond before I get the big colorless one. The other issue is that I really want a nice setting (I love love love Leon''s double claw prongs) and I don''t want to spend everything on the center stone and have nothing left for the sidestones and setting. Of course, I can just pay the difference (I feel bad for spending more than I have asked my hubby for as the budget since it''s already a lot of money and I''m having guilt issues with people starving in this world and I''m wearing a rock on my hand that costs more than people earn in a lifetime. Do any of you ever get that feeling? Sorry, I digress...

Anyway, thanks for the suggestions! I love that oval, but the more pictures I see of ovals, I see the dreaded bow tie. I don''t think I like that. I''m sure there is a huge premium for one that has minimal bow tie. The Original Radiant has a premium attached to it as well. I feel like that''s taking away from the setting I want to get. So I''m thinking maybe cushion or oval if there''s no huge bow tie for the time being. I''ll have to make another trip down to South Coast Plaza in SoCal to go to all the stores and try on rings again. I think I should just let that Original Radiant go for now. They''re holding it for me, which is why I feel the pressure to decide. It''s thousands more than I wanted to spend on a center stone. I''m not even sure if I want the disorganized facet look now. I like symmetrical things, so maybe a radiant isn''t the right long term choice, eventhough it sure is beautiful! Maybe I''ll save the radiant for a colored stone for my 10th wedding anniversary?

Mark at ERD is looking into a cushion and oval for me now. Since he works with Leon, it was ideal to go to him. I''m setting a budget of about $18K-$19K for the center stone. Do you think that would be enough to get a well cut 2 ct sparkly? I was thinking $20K for my budget originally. Now I may blow it, but we''ll see. I see some of those Ex/Ex cushion brilliants that are H VS that are $15K. It''s probably too good to be true... http://www.bluenile.com/diamonds_details.asp?pid=LD00931305&filter_id=0

 

[cutey TT]

Hi Pixie.

You''re so cute! You totally remind me of myself...love everything and indecisive!

I''m excited for you to work with Mark T. at ERD and possibly Leon Mege thereafter. I want to hear all about your experiences with them...! For now, I can live vicariously through you.

Fun fun, you''re lucky you live close to South Coast Plaza. I grew up in So Cal / Orange County, so I used to go there all the time...but somehow life brought me to Houston. I do get to visit 1-2x per year though since my parents are still out there.

Good luck and let us know what you decide!

 

[jaz464]

Sorry to say, I recently got a 2 ct e-ring and I''m quite certain, a 3+ would not be too big! Size wears off so quickly!

 

[Pixie]

Cutey, I think South Coast Plaza is great too. I grew up in OC as well and my parents are still there too. Life has brought me to the SF Valley and made me a Valley Girl. Never thought that would happen in a million years being from OC...

Kittycat, thanks for your comments on my kitty. I love him to death! Pixie is actually his sister''s name, and I have both of them. They are the sweetest things. I feel bad that I''m not able to give them as much attention as before now that I have a demanding 22 month old!

What do you all think of my current find on Leon''s website? I just saw it today. Similar to the oval one above with a classic style. I''m leaning towards the cushion now instead of the oval, but I do love that oval with half moon sides. I''m still waiting for Mark to get back to me regarding my search... Please hurry, Mark, or I''ll change my mind again! Plus, I can''t take these late nights of searching anymore! I''m exhausted! What are the sidestones on this ring? I can''t quite make it out. Half moon or shield with tapered baguette?

 

[finerthings]

That is a beauty! I think it is a cushion cut diamond with half moons on either side and tapered baguetts. You have fine taste Pixie!

 

[Pixie]

Okay, I''ve decided on the cushion instead of the oval because I went to the posh jewelry store yesterday and the large ovals that looked quite nice all had those bowties. And I think I agree with Choochoo, an oval is too similar to my RB. Also, I was considering Decodelighted''s comments about a 3 stone ring being a bit too similar to my wedding set. The HW halo was the first ring that I just went

when I first saw it. But my concern was that the setting was too different from my wedding set and the styles wouldn''t match eventhough I was wearing them on different hands (antique-y vs. modern-ish). Deco''s comment about Kaleigh choosing an asscher halo for her RHR started me thinking about the halo again, since that was the first one I wanted. So anyway, if I get a halo, I would LOVE Reena''s style of ring. I''ve been secretly in love with her ring for months. So my question is:

1) Do you think it would look okay for me to wear my wedding set with something like Reena''s halo as an RHR eventhough the styles seem different to me? (I''ve attached a picture of Reena''s ring here.)
2) Do you think that halos may look dated in another decade? That was my other concern and why I had decided against it, but it does seem so popular and everyone has it as e-rings, so I figure it should stand the test of time, at least in our lifetimes, I hope.

Thanks for your comments! I would love to hear everyone''s thoughts!

 

[Sundial]

I think you WANT your right hand ring to have a different look from your engagement/wedding set. Why would you have rings that look too much alike??? Reena''s ring is just gorgeous and I think that would make a terrific ring to wear on your right hand. It would be a nice change from your wedding set. I also think the halos are rather timeless and if you love the look I would go with it.

 

[DonaBella]

Hi neighbor! I live in Riverside which isn''t exactly close, but not that far away...My GF and I love to shop at South Coast! I personally have a cushion and though it isn''t the rectangular choice I will most likely end up with, it is truly different than a usual round. I have no qualms about getting a round brilliant some day too, of course. I LOVE diamonds so I am NOT opposed to a round and a rect. shaped cushion.

People stop me and comment all the time on my cushion so I know it catches attention...which is fun. I don''t see many ovals, but the pics here are pretty nice...I think I am in serious trouble cuz I like ovals and asschers too...oh my...

Good luck on your search!

 

[Melinda]

I''m a little bit biased, but I love the oval. I definitely think it''s different enough from a RB. I find that my oval hardly has any bowtie, so I know they''re out there. The cushion is absolutely beautiful too.

 

[decodelighted]

Date: 3/18/2006 5:17:04 PM
Author: Pixie
I would LOVE Reena''s style of ring. I''ve been secretly in love with her ring for months.

I think a "Reena Classic" would be a TO DIE FOR right hand ring, and awesomely-different from your e-ring. It''s easy to get caught up in stone+sidestone because that''s what SO MANY rings are. I think, though popular right now, halos are kinda thinking outside the box ... yet timeless because they hark back to vintage styles. Even if they''re not SUPER, UBER popular ten years from now (for a period of time) it''d be kind of like wearing a Vintage, heirloom, family piece on your right hand ... until it ZOOMS back to "it ring" status.

HOWEVER - if you want something more modern to "matchy, matchy" your e-ring more ... check out Mark Morell''s crazy split crown/shank swoopy East/West cushion setting in the middle of
this page.

Cushion cushion cushion!!!! Just say "No" to ovals & radiants (unless fancy canary radiant).

 

[Mara]

I love cushions!! I think that a halo with a cushion would be a great right hand ring but the only thing I would say is that I wouldn''t get too large of a cushion to halo with it...otherwise it ends up looking more cocktaily IMO...a halo is a great way to make a diamond look bigger...not sure what kind of stone you are looking at (size wise) but I wouldn''t go too large with a halo...just my own thoughts!!! Good luck!

 

[Pixie]

Thanks for everyone''s comments! I think I''m fairly set on going with the "Reena Classic" as Deco-D calls it. I really think the squarish cushion will be a nice contrast to my wedding set the more I think about it. Sundial, I was thinking what you said all day today. Plus, I''m so in love with micropave and those double claw prongs by Leon.

Melinda, your ring was one of the reasons I really liked ovals. I was following your story about your initial meeting with Leon disaster, and I''m so glad everything worked out. Your ring is just gorgeous!!

Deanne, where did you get your cushion? Isn''t it freezing for SoCal these nights?

Mara, I''m going for a 2 ct center stone for the ring, so it''s going to be quite like Reena''s. That was my goal for this anniversary ring. I figure once I hit the 2 ct mark, I shouldn''t have any more milestones, because there is no way I would be able to carry off a 3 ct stone with fingers so tiny AND I''m not the flashy type. I''m quite conservative in dress/style, but I do like diamonds. I want a ring that will be elegant, and make a bit of a statement without being flashy. I hope I can accomplish that with this ring. And, living in the strange world of SoCal, it seems that large center stones are the norm here. My career brought me to Calabasas (where Nick and Jessica just sold their house used in the Newlyweds - I''m embarrased to say that I used to watch that show before moving here), and it is ridiculous how much plastic there is around here, if you know what I mean. People get dressed up to go to the grocery store, for God''s sake!

Anyway, thanks again and I''ll keep everyone posted on the progress of finding a center stone. It seems that well cut cushions are scarce. Hopefully, Mark T. will be able to find me a great one!

 

[decodelighted]

Would you ever, gasp, consider doing the "Reena Classic" East/West??? Maybe with a split pave shank or crown leading up to the halo??

Okay .. now I''m just daydreaming about MY dream RHR ... carry on!

 

[decodelighted]

daydream continues ... photoshop help anyone, anyone .... so imagine the halo part of Reena's ring set sideways with these type of pave strands leading up to it on either side of the center halo.

Oh divine ... though the "Reena Classic" is quite unmatchable just as it is - with a killer cushion of your own ...

Me go sleepy now ... stop making trouble

 

[Pixie]

Deco-D, it is scary that you said that because I LOVE

split shanks, and I''ve been trying to see if I could work that in somehow. I did try on a split shank ring yesterday (there were 3 thin bands, very similar to Katie Holmes ring), and it just looked like too much on my finger. I think that might look alright on a 5+ ct ring, but it seemed too busy for the 2 ct ring that I tried on. Maybe the bands weren''t thin enough, but after reading all about melees falling out, I probably want to stick with the 2mm band width minimum. I''m not quite sure if I''m the east/west type of person. I''ll need to think about it...

Oh, I also wanted to mention to everyone that another reason I wanted to go with the Reena ring was because I was looking at pictures this morning and my husband walked by, saw it on the screen, and said, "That''s really nice." Keep in mind, this was totally unsolicited. He thinks I''m crazy spending so much time searching for a ring, eventhough he''s the one that wanted to get it for our 10th anniversary of togetherness. But getting an unsolicited response means he likes it very much! Otherwise, I''m always forcing him to sit down and look at rings I''ve found pictures of, and he says each one is nice, trying to gauge the look on my face to see if he''s answered correctly... unless he really doesn''t like it. It was like planning our wedding. He really couldn''t care less what I picked (his only requirement was an open bar. He''s Irish, need I say more?). I would bring him in when I narrowed down the choices, and he would pretend to participate in the decision-making, but really, he was just trying to read my expression to see which choice I liked most, and then he would say that he agreed with me. I guess it all worked out well. I got to have my dream wedding, he, at least, feigned enough interest, so I wasn''t that annoyed. This is why the unsolicted response means so much!

 

[Pixie]

Deco, I have that Daniel K ring saved on my computer as well.... Love, love, love it...

 

[W2W]

You guys have me planning my RHR and I haven''t even gotten engaged yet

. The Leon Mege cushion with the half moons and baguettes makes me want to cry. That is drop dead gorgeous. We are looking at a cushion ering so I know I am biased. I think that the Mege or maybe even a cushion solitaire with a pave setting would be my pick.

I know you have your heart set on a 2ct center stone but have you seen the Daniel K U prong cushion eternity band. Food for thought. That is my right hand dream.

 

[Pixie]

Deco-D (I hope you don''t mind me shortening your name, btw

), here is a picture of a split shank with a halo, imagine with a cushion though, similar to the Daniel K ring you posted. What do you think? I''m debating whether having the split shank takes away from the center stone. I''m not sure what I think yet.

Anyone else have opinions?