Please Help Me Pick a Vintage Band for my OEC!!

[Demelza]

I cannot get my pics to post!!

Band 7 -- 75 points of full cuts with milgrain and engraving.

 

[m-2-b]

I personally like things to look similar, so I like band 6.

Can you tell us a little more about the french cut bands? How many mm wide are they? Comfortable to wear? Thanks!

 

[derbygal]

I like them all actually, but if I already owned 5 I would wear that one. I like that it is different but has an antique look.

 

[ForteKitty]

The edges on band #7 isn't working for me. They look too sharp compared to the ering. I feel like it wants to fight with the ering.

 

[packrat]

I like this latest single cut band and the engraved band.

 

[marymm]

OK - I still like #5 the best with your ring - but if you are intent on a diamond band, of all the diamond bands you've posted so far, to my eyes, only #7 worked well with your ER.

 

[MissGotRocks]

I'm going with band 6. I like a thinner band and I'm probably more of a matchy person than I care to admit! Even though it's thinner it still shows up because of the gap. Pretty look!

I think Dreamer is right though - when you find the exact look you're after, you won't care about others opinions. You'll just know it!

Are any of them sticking out to you as a favorite?

 

[Demelza]

I have a few more pics of band 7 I haven't been able to post due to technical glitches.

 

[Demelza]

I personally like things to look similar, so I like band 6.

Can you tell us a little more about the french cut bands? How many mm wide are they? Comfortable to wear? Thanks!

I don't know much about the french cuts bands. The thinner one is probably 2.5 mm wide. The larger one is on Craig Evan Small's website, I believe. They were both comfortable and both beautiful. You can really appreciate the unique facet pattern in the larger carat weight, but it is definitely a bulky band.

I'm going with band 6. I like a thinner band and I'm probably more of a matchy person than I care to admit! Even though it's thinner it still shows up because of the gap. Pretty look!

I think Dreamer is right though - when you find the exact look you're after, you won't care about others opinions. You'll just know it!

Are any of them sticking out to you as a favorite?

I actually think that band 7 is more matchy in terms of style since the stones are bead set and the band has milgrain like the ering. But it is quite a bit wider than my ering.

As for which ones are my favorite, I would say this latest single cut band and band 2 (the wide box-set band) are at the top of my list, but I still can't decide on one which makes me wonder if none are quite right. Or maybe there just isn't a "perfect" match. Or a third option is that I'm being a bit too finicky about it all and I need to embrace the "character" of an antique set. Sigh. I just don't know!

 

[Enerchi]

Hmmm....I like this #7 option. Very nice. Low, good mm width, mirrors the style of your OEC ering, has a well balanced size when worn together. Good choice! So if you already have 5, why not purchase this and change them out when you want bling vs engraving?

 

[junebug17]

You hit the nail on the head. Band 2 is a tad too wide and band 4 is a tad too thin. It's very hard to find one that is just right and also just the right price. For some reason I am really drawn to band 2, but it sounds like most people think it's too wide. I also don't know how much I'm begin swayed by the fact that it's so affordable. It's only 700 vs 1400 for band 4!

I hear you on the cost of some of these bands! I've been browsing around on ebay, and many of them are so pricey for what they are. I'm having a rough time finding something that works and that's within my budget.

The bands you've found are all really pretty!

I really like #6!

 

[Laila619]

I love band 7!! Looks like a matching set to me.

 

[staci76]

I love #3 -- I think the facets of the french cuts actually match the faceting patterns in your OEC. The width of this band doesn't bother me at all. My next choices would be #4 then #5 in that order.

Hi Staci!!

I love the french cut band, but it's way more money than any of the others. And I really have no idea if it's a decent price since french cut bands are relatively rare. It's 1.5 ct and the best price was 3k including tax. Just for fun, here is a picture of a much larger vintage french cut band with the thinner one I tried. They are so gorgeous in person!!

ETA Never mind about the photos -- I cannot get the photos to upload properly tonight. I don't know what is going on!!

Hi!!

I really love the smaller french cut band with your OEC even though it doesn't seem to be the popular vote on PS. Something about the color flashes caught in your picture really drew me to it with your other ring. The price is definitely not cheap but it is still a good price for french cut diamonds. My next favorite has changed to #6 -- this matches your other ring most (IMO) if that's what you're truly looking for.

 

[Demelza]

I love #3 -- I think the facets of the french cuts actually match the faceting patterns in your OEC. The width of this band doesn't bother me at all. My next choices would be #4 then #5 in that order.

Hi Staci!!

I love the french cut band, but it's way more money than any of the others. And I really have no idea if it's a decent price since french cut bands are relatively rare. It's 1.5 ct and the best price was 3k including tax. Just for fun, here is a picture of a much larger vintage french cut band with the thinner one I tried. They are so gorgeous in person!!

ETA Never mind about the photos -- I cannot get the photos to upload properly tonight. I don't know what is going on!!

Hi!!

I really love the smaller french cut band with your OEC even though it doesn't seem to be the popular vote on PS. Something about the color flashes caught in your picture really drew me to it with your other ring. The price is definitely not cheap but it is still a good price for french cut diamonds. My next favorite has changed to #6 -- this matches your other ring most (IMO) if that's what you're truly looking for.

I really love the french cut band too, but it's just too much money right now. And it's also more than a full size too big, although that's less of a problem than the cost.

My current favorites are band 2 and band 6. I realize band 2 isn't very popular, but something about it pleases me. I don't know how to decide. Sigh.

 

[NKOTB]

My picks are 2 and 5, and also like your mom's band with it.

 

[Demelza]

My picks are 2 and 5, and also like your mom's band with it.

I'm glad you like number 2 -- I was starting to get worried I was alone! I know there are a few others, but it doesn't seem to be a popular choice....and yet my eye is drawn to it. So far, I think it's either 2 or 6. Here they are in one place for easy reference.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Okay, I like #7 the best. I think it needs the milgrain and I do love the engraving. I think they have over-estimated the weight of the diamonds on #6.

I do like #2. It looks like maybe it had milgrain but some is worn off?

 

[Demelza]

Okay, I like #7 the best. I think it needs the milgrain and I do love the engraving. I think they have over-estimated the weight of the diamonds on #6.

I do like #2. It looks like maybe it had milgrain but some is worn off?

That's interesting you say you think they've overestimated the carat weight. I thought that about band 4 as well because it was so thin I couldn't see how it added up to 90 points. Same with band 6 which is just shy of 90 points. There are A LOT of little diamonds crammed in that channel, so maybe it is possible. It looks very different than the newer style channel setting where you can clearly see where each stone ends and the other begins. These older channel set bands have a very different look and there appears to be significantly more diamonds. Not sure how or why.

Band 2 does have milgrain between on the little bars between the stones, not on the outside of the band. I suppose it could be added or sharpened up if necessary.

 

[dani13]

I also like number 2 a lot Dem!!!! It provides some contrast, which I like. I also like number 7 too. You can't go wrong, they are all gorgeous though!!!

 

[woofmama]

Oh gosh - love your mom's band!!

(Where's a taser when you need it?)
JUST KIDDING!!!

Rosebloom-Was that you????????????? I know you live in the Windy City and love diamonds...Hmmmmm

 

[woofmama]

Revised vote-for a diamond band I agree 2 looks very nice next to your ring and I still love 5.

 

[Demelza]

I also like number 2 a lot Dem!!!! It provides some contrast, which I like. I also like number 7 too. You can't go wrong, they are all gorgeous though!!!

Yes, maybe that's what I like. Contrast and yet there's something complimentary about band 2 with my ring -- I can't quite put my finger on it. But it is a wider band and I wonder if I'll like that. For some reason, I'm not wild about 7 as a band. I do think it matches my ring quite well, but I don't love it as is. I really like band 6, too, and wish I could get both!!! Band 6 is definitely more sparkly than band 2, but it's also 300 more.

Revised vote-for a diamond band I agree 2 looks very nice next to your ring and I still love 5.

Thanks for the input and the vote for the underdog band, haha.

 

[milton333]

5 and 6

 

[maccers]

I love band 2 though it may be a bit too wide for your ring - then again, from far away, I don't think the difference in width will be noticeable. I also love band 5 and I'm glad you're keeping it!

 

[Demelza]

Anyone want to talk me out of something crazy? I want to get both band 2 and band 6. In addition to the plain engraved band, I would have these two very different diamond bands to change things up when I get bored (which I do often). And I actually think they might look nice stacked together. Money, of course, is an issue, so I need to think about that, but I don't think having both would be redundant in any way since they provide different looks??

ETA Okay, I think I've tentatively decided on band 6. And I'll add milgrain to it which I'm told is super easy to do. Band 2 is beautiful but I think a tad thick and some of the diamonds are dark. I think that will bug me in the end. I want a sparkly band and I think 6 is the way go!

 

[Demelza]

Update: I wanted to let you all know that I purchased a band today from Excalibur Jewelers in LA. It's band 6 -- the single-cut channel-set band. After seeing band 7 again, I realized that, even though the milgraining and bead setting match my ering well, the ring itself is just not particularly well-made. The salesperson told me today she thought it was likely made in the 50s or 60s which also turned me off. I eliminated band 2 because I think the diamonds are a bit dark. I loved the style of the ring, but the diamonds were simply not bright enough and the band a bit too wide. The single cuts in the band I chose are so bright and white and sparkly and there are no gaps between the diamonds in the channel setting -- the band is simple, but a very good example of its kind. I might add milgrain at some later point, but the salesperson said that unless it's done by hand, it won't look authentic to the ring. And she said doing it by hand can be quite pricey, so I'll have to look into it -- I'm not sure if it needs it.

Here's an iphone pic taken just after I purchased the ring. I don't love how it looks stacked with my engraved band, but this is all that I have right now. Thanks to everyone for your input and advice. It was very helpful!

 

[Deactivated member 42515]

Well it just looks perfect! I'm glad you found a band that you love!

 

[junebug17]

I think you've made an excellent choice demelza! I love the band you chose and would like to get something like it to wear with my solitaire. I'm pretty impressed by the way you arrived at your decision - your reasons for ruling out the contenders make a lot of sense. I actually really like it with the plain band! You have such a gorgeous set now. I've been drooling over your ering as I've been checking out your pics! In fact, I'd love to see more if you get a chance!

 

[chel180]

it looks lovely with your ering. i dont think it needs milgrain- i quite like it not exactly the same. x

 

[heliotrope]

I love the choice you have made

perhaps if you had a plain band in between you might want some milgrain on the diamond one - but with the pattern on the middle band I think this is working well