Pairing an eternity with a J color solitaire?

[recordaras]

I have a 0.64ct J color BGD Signature solitaire. I *love* the look of an eternity band paired with a plain solitaire, and am trying to figure out whether that will be in our $1.5K budget (not full but half eternity). Lesley recommended the Dream band, which is a little out of our budget, but between the repeat customer discount and my fiance's upcoming promotion it might be feasible. *fingers crossed*
However, the melee in it is F/G color, and I'm starting to have doubts. I am very color sensitive and can see color in my stone, but very rarely does it bother me (I'm looking at you, work meeting room with bright yellow walls and no windows...). However, I'd hate to buy the ring only to find out that the contrast between the two makes my engagement ring look anything but stellar.

I'd love to hear your thoughts and experience. I've read Dreamer's threads, but her center stone is larger than mine.
The Dream half eternity is 11 5-pointers, so I'm not sure if at that size going down to J/K melee (if that melee even exists) would make a difference?..

And the solitaire in question:

 

[msop04]

I'd say you'd be perfectly okay to go with G/H for an eternity, depending on the size stones you plan to use in it. I have a J and my band had G/H in it... see for yourself...



I wouldn't do DEF if you can help it, but anything G-J should be fine!

 

[msop04]

Just saw where you said you'd like 5 pointers... oops! I'd do G/H/I if you can.

 

[recordaras]

Just saw where you said you'd like 5 pointers... oops! I'd do G/H/I if you can.

Thank you!
Your set is absolutely amazing... Is the halo pave also G/H?
And I have to ask, as a J owner a J owner - in really unflattering light do you see the color difference/contrast?

 

[msop04]

Just saw where you said you'd like 5 pointers... oops! I'd do G/H/I if you can.

Thank you!
Your set is absolutely amazing... Is the halo pave also G/H?
And I have to ask, as a J owner a J owner - in really unflattering light do you see the color difference/contrast?

Thank you! And, yes, it's G/H pave in the setting. I do see some tint in certain bad lighting, but only from the side -- having the stone set lower in the halo really disguises most of the body color that would be seen in an open setting. The white metal seems to be reflected in the stone's faceting, making it appear whiter as well. I really wish it had fluorescence too!! ...maybe my next one will.

Here is a good example of its body color shown at its most concentrated in my horrid lighting at work:



Edited for grammar.

 

[Niel]

What about this? I don't know your metal but thos is in budget if you do it in gold.

http://www.jamesallen.com/wedding-rings/womens-anniversary/-platinum-0.50ctw-share-prong-diamond-anniversary-ring-item-2167

 

[recordaras]

Here is a good example of its body color shown at its most concentrated in my horrid lighting at work:

Once again, thank you! I love the combination of the two "non-matching" bands with the setting as well - there's something so beautiful about all of them worn together!

 

[msop04]

What about this? I don't know your metal but thos is in budget if you do it in gold.

http://www.jamesallen.com/wedding-rings/womens-anniversary/-platinum-0.50ctw-share-prong-diamond-anniversary-ring-item-2167

That's a good price... I wonder if JA would taper the band down a little to help with any bulkiness??

 

[recordaras]

What about this? I don't know your metal but thos is in budget if you do it in gold.

http://www.jamesallen.com/wedding-rings/womens-anniversary/-platinum-0.50ctw-share-prong-diamond-anniversary-ring-item-2167

Oooh, thank you! I was hoping to see if there were any more affordable options out there.

 

[Niel]

What about this? I don't know your metal but thos is in budget if you do it in gold.

http://www.jamesallen.com/wedding-rings/womens-anniversary/-platinum-0.50ctw-share-prong-diamond-anniversary-ring-item-2167

That's a good price... I wonder if JA would taper the band down a little to help with any bulkiness??

I do believe they will shave a bit off the shank of you ask.

 

[yssie]

I have a 0.64ct J color BGD Signature solitaire. I *love* the look of an eternity band paired with a plain solitaire, and am trying to figure out whether that will be in our $1.5K budget (not full but half eternity). Lesley recommended the Dream band, which is a little out of our budget, but between the repeat customer discount and my fiance's upcoming promotion it might be feasible. *fingers crossed*
However, the melee in it is F/G color, and I'm starting to have doubts. I am very color sensitive and can see color in my stone, but very rarely does it bother me (I'm looking at you, work meeting room with bright yellow walls and no windows...). However, I'd hate to buy the ring only to find out that the contrast between the two makes my engagement ring look anything but stellar.

I'd love to hear your thoughts and experience. I've read Dreamer's threads, but her center stone is larger than mine.
The Dream half eternity is 11 5-pointers, so I'm not sure if at that size going down to J/K melee (if that melee even exists) would make a difference?..

And the solitaire in question:

I think you're going to have to see it for yourself in-person to be sure. You've asked for opinions and you're going to get responses that are all over the spectrum... I can say with certainty that I will not pair a J with melee because the colour difference would drive me nuts.

Problem is, it's not really a "body colour" difference, it's an "apparent" difference due to the fact that small stones return light differently - even I/J melee would irritate me.

 

[msop04]

I have a 0.64ct J color BGD Signature solitaire. I *love* the look of an eternity band paired with a plain solitaire, and am trying to figure out whether that will be in our $1.5K budget (not full but half eternity). Lesley recommended the Dream band, which is a little out of our budget, but between the repeat customer discount and my fiance's upcoming promotion it might be feasible. *fingers crossed*
However, the melee in it is F/G color, and I'm starting to have doubts. I am very color sensitive and can see color in my stone, but very rarely does it bother me (I'm looking at you, work meeting room with bright yellow walls and no windows...). However, I'd hate to buy the ring only to find out that the contrast between the two makes my engagement ring look anything but stellar.

I'd love to hear your thoughts and experience. I've read Dreamer's threads, but her center stone is larger than mine.
The Dream half eternity is 11 5-pointers, so I'm not sure if at that size going down to J/K melee (if that melee even exists) would make a difference?..

And the solitaire in question:

I think you're going to have to see it for yourself in-person to be sure. You've asked for opinions and you're going to get responses that are all over the spectrum... I can say with certainty that I will not pair a J with melee because the colour difference would drive me nuts.

Problem is, it's not really a "body colour" difference, it's an "apparent" difference due to the fact that small stones return light differently - even I/J melee would irritate me.

Yssie, wouldn't this be true for any color, regardless of level of "whiteness"? A D color will appear darker than the D melee near it, giving the same result, no?

If this bothers someone, then melee next to any color stone would be out of the question!

 

[yssie]

Yssie, wouldn't this be true for any color, regardless of level of "whiteness"? A D color will appear darker than the D melee near it, giving the same result, no?

If this bothers someone, then melee next to any color stone would be out of the question!

Pretty much! I tend to avoid full-cut melee unless the contrast between larger stone and melee deliberate - SB's ring is the first that comes to mind but there are lots of others on here!

I do think five-pointers are large enough that body colour becomes worth considering though.

 

[recordaras]

I think you're going to have to see it for yourself in-person to be sure. You've asked for opinions and you're going to get responses that are all over the spectrum... I can say with certainty that I will not pair a J with melee because the colour difference would drive me nuts.

Problem is, it's not really a "body colour" difference, it's an "apparent" difference due to the fact that small stones return light differently - even I/J melee would irritate me.

Thank you! And all over the spectrum is great - I'm happy to hear all sorts of opinions. Usually that makes you notice things you otherwise wouldn't have.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Yssie, wouldn't this be true for any color, regardless of level of "whiteness"? A D color will appear darker than the D melee near it, giving the same result, no?

If this bothers someone, then melee next to any color stone would be out of the question!

Small diamonds always read to the eye as "colorless" regardless of the actual body color of the small stone. If a large diamond reads to your eyes as also colorless (or close enough), then there is no contrast. But if there is tint in your larger stone, then setting it next to something "colorless" makes it show. Like if you hold a tinted stone next to a piece of white paper.

I found my Dream band made my J and K color stones look more tinted. But it was fine next to an F/G color diamond I owned because the larger F/G read as "colorless". Held up to white paper or white melee, the F/G looked very white and absent of tint.

So in my opinion, D color large stone with D color melee will look similar in hue, though they will still look optically different. There is simply no tint in the body of a D to be brought out by contrast!

All of this depends on how color sensitive you are, and also how tolerant you are of apparent differences in tint.

I prefer my J/K color stone paired with plain bands because then I cannot detect the tint nor am I bothered by the contast with melee.

OP, I paired the Dream Band with a J color solitaire. Let me see if I can find the thread for you.

ETA: Here it is, and commentary about the contrast too. I don't own either ring anymore Also, the larger stone was recerted after I sold it and AGS said it was an I color, so... a true J could show more contrast.

 

[TC1987]

I voted for the darker stones in the eternity band. I had a channel-set wedding wedding, 1ct, 8 stones. They were J color. Then I bought an H-color solitaire that faces up very white. I could tell the J stones were too tinted and didn't like the look.

 

[recordaras]

OP, I paired the Dream Band with a J color solitaire. Let me see if I can find the thread for you.

ETA: Here it is, and commentary about the contrast too. I don't own either ring anymore Also, the larger stone was recerted after I sold it and AGS said it was an I color, so... a true J could show more contrast.

Thank you, Dreamer! I actually did read your threads, and they were what got me thinking. However, your center stone was also substantially larger than mine, so I guess the only way to go will be to find a b&m jeweler that will let me try the combination out in different lighting.

The thing that has me wondering is my experience with pairing the ring with two bands - a yellow gold one and an Argentium silver one (which is even "whiter" than white gold). I had read so many "Which metal color brings out more yellow" threads that I figured out I might as well try both options. To my surprise, I really disliked the way the stone looked next to the yellow gold, while the silver made the whole set look even less tinted than it looks solo. Hopefully melee will do something similar, but once again, I won't know till I try.

 

[baby monster]

I think you will see a difference between a J in your ER and F-G in WB. I'm not very color sensitive but I do see a difference when my J studs are next to my F eternity. The color difference would probably bother me.

 

[recordaras]

I think you will see a difference between a J in your ER and F-G in WB. I'm not very color sensitive but I do see a difference when my J studs are next to my F eternity. The color difference would probably bother me.

Thank you! And a special thanks for the picture - I can see what you mean.

 

[Dreamer_D]

I think you will see a difference between a J in your ER and F-G in WB. I'm not very color sensitive but I do see a difference when my J studs are next to my F eternity. The color difference would probably bother me.

Thank you! And a special thanks for the picture - I can see what you mean.

That picture illustrates the contrast I did not persoanally like in my own rings. With smaller diamonds that the ones pictured, the contrast can be even more.

ETA: I want to add that no one *else* would ever see the contrast and also if the wearer doesn't see it and mind, then its not a faux pas in any absolute sense! Tonnes of people pair eternities with J/K solitaires and like it a lot.

 

[recordaras]

By the way, a quick update - I went to try on some rings at a local jeweler yesterday, and didn't mind the color difference at all, even when wearing the solitaire next to the eternity (and I'll be wearing a platinum band between them). However, they use a G/H melee and not F/G. I spoke with Jamie, she says that F/G is their standard melee, and that there shouldn't be any issues with color clashing, but I'm just a touch concerned ("mind clean").
I also came to realize that I like very low set (under 2mm tall) bands. I wonder if there are any vendors out there who would be able to source G/H or I/J and also offer a low set 7- 9- or 11-stone...

 

[msop04]

By the way, a quick update - I went to try on some rings at a local jeweler yesterday, and didn't mind the color difference at all, even when wearing the solitaire next to the eternity (and I'll be wearing a platinum band between them). However, they use a G/H melee and not F/G. I spoke with Jamie, she says that F/G is their standard melee, and that there shouldn't be any issues with color clashing, but I'm just a touch concerned ("mind clean").
I also came to realize that I like very low set (under 2mm tall) bands. I wonder if there are any vendors out there who would be able to source G/H or I/J and also offer a low set 7- 9- or 11-stone...

Can she not get you some lower color melee?? If anything, it shouldn't be more expensive (I would think it would be the same or even less, due to the color)... I would ask. I don't see any reason why she couldn't get this for you, as a lot of vendors use G/H unless higher color is requested.

 

[Heidibrooke]

My previous diamond (now lost) was an H, and looked so white until I got an eternity band with GH stones. It made my center stone look very warm in some lights. I'm probably the only one to notice but it bugged me.

 

[recordaras]

Can she not get you some lower color melee?? If anything, it shouldn't be more expensive (I would think it would be the same or even less, due to the color)... I would ask. I don't see any reason why she couldn't get this for you, as a lot of vendors use G/H unless higher color is requested.

I've asked again, but they didn't seem too enthusiastic about it - I guess it would mean having to do a special order vs using what they have in stock?.. Hopefully they'll figure out a way to accommodate my request, because I'd hate to go elsewhere, but at the same time I won't be spending over $1K on something that isn't fully "mind clean" and the melee color could end up being a deal breaker.

 

[recordaras]

My previous diamond (now lost) was an H, and looked so white until I got an eternity band with GH stones. It made my center stone look very warm in some lights. I'm probably the only one to notice but it bugged me.

Was your stone on the larger side?

 

[makemepretty]

Msop04, who did your lovely setting?

 

[recordaras]

Great news: Jamie just let me know that they would be able to do a special order of H/I melee (yay!), and it would even make the whole project a smidge cheaper (double yay!).
Now I'll just have to head back to the b&m jeweler and try on some more rings to see what I'm most comfortable with. Once the options are narrowed down, I will most definitely be back for advice.

 

[Rebecca0388]

Your ring is beautiful! I love the look of an eternity with a solitaire.

I am looking to get a five stone band to go with my K OMC solitaire so i cant wait to see your set (im not colour sensitive i love warmer stones)

 

[Gypsy]

Shoot for H/I melee. SI and that will save you money too.

 

[recordaras]

Your ring is beautiful! I love the look of an eternity with a solitaire.

I am looking to get a five stone band to go with my K OMC solitaire so i cant wait to see your set (im not colour sensitive i love warmer stones)

Thank you so much! I absolutely adore my ring, and hopefully I will be able to find an eternity to complement it. Hopefully your 5-stone search will result in something spectacular as well!