practical ering - working women: does pave bother/worry you?

[mel047]

Hi all!

I''ve only posted on PS once, but have been reading the forums more and more lately. I''ve noticed the kinship many of you have developed and wanted to get in on the fun and become more active.

A little about me:
I''m a med student, so that takes up a considerable amount of time. I''m currently taking time off and have been on PS a lot lately.

My BF and I have talked a lot about getting engaged and that''s what has brought me here. He''s currently saving up, but has given me the green light to start looking into what I want.

So back to my originial question:
I''m leaning towards a 1 - 1.5 cushion with a halo and pave band in platinum. Something like the harry ring seen in many ads. (BTW, I really love your ring mrssalvo!)

I''m worried, particularly in going into the medical field, that the halo and pave isn''t the most practical. Do any of you have to replace stones or constantly worry about this? I''m worried that it won''t be a sturdy enough ring for me, particuarly when I get into clinicals and residency. Also, I''m a lil klutzy and am constantly running into things.

Appreciate any thoughts and look forward to getting to know all of you!

 

[rockfever]

Hiya! It will depend on the quality of the setting if you have problems with the pave. I am the WORST.....no, really the WORST, in terms of taking care of my rings. I work out with them, do dishes with them, change diapers, clean, ummmm Oh, yah, did I happen to mention that I''m an ER nurse? I have had one tiny little stone come out after 2 years. I am the proverbial bull in the china shop with my rings....my jeweler cringes when I tell her how amazed I am that I haven''t knocked all the stones out. Anyhoo, just my two cents. Good luck!

 

[cinnamon013]

I have a Whiteflash micropave with legato head and the micropave is very secure. I don''t baby the ring at all.

 

[Catmom]

Date: 3/19/2008 11:29:29 PM
Author: rockfever
Hiya! It will depend on the quality of the setting if you have problems with the pave. I am the WORST.....no, really the WORST, in terms of taking care of my rings. I work out with them, do dishes with them, change diapers, clean, ummmm Oh, yah, did I happen to mention that I''m an ER nurse? I have had one tiny little stone come out after 2 years. I am the proverbial bull in the china shop with my rings....my jeweler cringes when I tell her how amazed I am that I haven''t knocked all the stones out. Anyhoo, just my two cents. Good luck!

Ditto! I admit that I wear mine 24/7. I figure if my ring can''t keep up with me then it is not the ring for me! I haven''t had a problem with any stones falling out yet [going on 5 months].

 

[DiamondGirlHH]

I agree, it all depends on the quality of the ring and the diamond setting. I also have a pave'' ring from Verragio and only time I had to replace a stone was when I dropped it on to a stone floor but the manufacturer was very good with dealing with even though it was my fault also the ring came with a lifetime warranty.

 

[mel047]

Technical question: I accidently posted this topic twice, anyway to combine the two?

I''m the type of person that would want to wear my rings pretty much all the time. I''ve also considered getting a halo with just a plain band. Any thoughts on that one?

My other question is how difficult is it to replace stones? I haven''t decided between going with an online vendor or a local jeweler. I''d prefer to go with the local jeweler, but can''t help but love that an online vendor helps with the budget and allows me to get something bigger and higher quality.

 

[mrssalvo]

Date: 3/20/2008 12:07:03 PM
Author: mel047


My other question is how difficult is it to replace stones? I haven''t decided between going with an online vendor or a local jeweler. I''d prefer to go with the local jeweler, but can''t help but love that an online vendor helps with the budget and allows me to get something bigger and higher quality.

it isn''t difficult to replace a lost stone and it''s pretty inexpensive. you will have to check though b/c many designers have a warranty and if someone else touches the ring it will void that warranty. this is where having a local jeweler who is an autherized retailer may be beneficial. tacori e-ring bought her ring from a local jeweler and lost a stone and just went over there and they fixed it for her, no charge. however, as you know I purchased my ring long distance and the savings will far outweigh the trouble if i end up loosing a stone and have to ship it off for repairs.

 

[tberube]

I''m pretty hard on my ring, too, even though I''m not a nurse, I do work out with my ring on sometimes, and do other things. I don''t wear it to bed, though...that''s the only thing. I have been wearing my ring for 10 months and there is no sign of loosening in any of the pave.

 

[March-8-2008]

I''ve worn my Tacori platinum micropave and filigree engagement ring for six months solid, with no stone loss. It''s three-sided half-eternity, with a partially micropaved shank, a halo, and diamonds on the underside of the basket. (I think that''s the right term?) (See this post for pictures!)

I''m a hotel concierge and lift lots of heavy luggage, handle all shipping/receiving for my hotel guests, deal with lots of filing and paperwork, and am hard on my hands in general. I also wore my engagement ring when I moved in with my fiance-now-husband, while helping a friend move, in the Pacific on my honeymoon, while doing dishes, etc., etc. The only time I typically take it off is at home, when putting on lotion. The lifetime guarantee gives me such peace of mind!!

My wedding band is micropave eternity in platinum, but I''ve only worn it for a little less than two weeks.

I can''t attest to its durability yet but am optimistic, judging by the performance of the engagement ring.

Again, Tacori offers a lifetime warranty and will replace any stones that come out.

Okay, one sidebar item: one comment that baffles me (and makes me giggle a bit) is how many women on PS say they don''t wear wedding rings to sleep. Um, what in the world do you ladies DO in bed!??!?!?!?! That''s probably the SAFEST time for my ring.

 

[mrssalvo]

Date: 3/20/2008 4:06:42 PM
Author: March-8-2008



Okay, one sidebar item: one comment that baffles me (and makes me giggle a bit) is how many women on PS say they don''t wear wedding rings to sleep. Um, what in the world do you ladies DO in bed!??!?!?!?! That''s probably the SAFEST time for my ring.

i think a lot of women fingers swell at night and that''s why they take them off. also, if the ring is WG, apparantly sheets can wear down the prongs, weakening them. But I agree, it does sound funny...

 

[BrownEyedCountryGirl]

I have a three sided pave ring by Leon Mege.... Intially, I didn''t want to so much as EAT with that baby on, but now I''m not as cautious.. I stil ltake it off when cleaning with harsh chemicals, etc, but wear it 99% of the time... and I am pretty rough on my hands...

I work full time, have a 5 and 6 year old, so that speaks for itself !!!!!!!

My ring is fairly new, so perhaps I will have problems later, but my ring was intended to be enjoyed and worn... Leon basically staed I would have to be super duper hard on my ring all the time, for YEARS for anything major to happy... he even told me to RELAX and ENJOY my ring...

So now I am !

Ohhhh, I''ve ran into WALLS .. seriously, totally not paying attention .... heard a horrid WHACK, my hand was BRUISED, but my ring.. INTACT....

 

[March-8-2008]

Date: 3/20/2008 4:09:22 PM
Author: mrssalvo

Date: 3/20/2008 4:06:42 PM

i think a lot of women fingers swell at night and that''s why they take them off. also, if the ring is WG, apparantly sheets can wear down the prongs, weakening them. But I agree, it does sound funny...

Sheets can wear down white gold prongs? Wow. I had no idea that was possible.

Thank you for the info, MrsS!

 

[cutey TT]

I have a Ritani Endless Love w/ halo and no problems to-date with stones falling out. I pretty much wear it 24/7, even when I sleep, wash dishes, in the shower, and at the gym (although I don''t lift weights, so I figure it''s okay). The only time I consciously take it off is to put on lotion cuz I don''t want to muck it all up on purpose. I have banged it a couple times, and no problems yet. I also clean mine in the ultrasonic.

I just ordered a new set - Michael B 3-sided ... so I must definitely be okay with micropave all over! Personally, I love the way it looks. A cushion with a halo and micropave band will be beautiful! Good luck.

 

[mel047]

Date: 3/20/2008 4:06:42 PM
Author: March-8-2008
Okay, one sidebar item:[/b] one comment that baffles me (and makes me giggle a bit) is how many women on PS say they don''t wear wedding rings to sleep. Um, what in the world do you ladies DO in bed!??!?!?!?! That''s probably the SAFEST time for my ring.

Haha, this cracks me up!!

Just wanted to say thanks and that all this info is very helpful! I guess now I don''t have to worry about getting pave, just getting quality pave on my budget.

 

[chiapet]

The only thing that I would be concerned about is putting gloves over your ring. Some gloves have that powder on the inner side so you might have to clean your ring frequently. I have a 3-sided pave setting and I wear it 24/7: work, gym, home, sleep. The only times I take it off is when I shower or clean the apartment.

 

[icekid]

mel- I am a med student as well (but only for 2 more months yay

). If you check out my avatar, you''ll notice both a halo and lots of pave. I''ve had my ring for a couple years now and have yet to lose any stones (knock on wood!). But I am also very careful with my rings and not that hard on my hands in general. They''re the last thing I put on before I leave the house, first thing that comes off when I get home type of thing. I pretty much never wear them when I am home, cooking, cleaning, sleeping, etc. However, I am going into a field where I will be using my hands quite a lot so I will not be surprised if I end up wearing just a band to work eventually. Or perhaps a higher weight eternity band at some point (seems more sturdy?). Not sure how it will work out, because I really enjoy my rings and not wearing them to work would mean not wearing them very often at all! I think if you''re planning on going into medicine or something of that nature your pave would likely be fine though. Good luck! And don''t forget to show us what you end up with!!

 

[~*kalypso*~]

Hi!

This is my very first post on Pricescope.

I just wanted to come out of lurkdome because I''m in a very similar situation to you!! I was actually considering starting a new thread on Pricescope with this very same topic.

I am a recent med school graduate and currently studying for my boards. My boyfriend and I have been talking about rings for the past few months (but he won''t buy one for me until I finish my exams!!! ARRRGHHH

).

We''ve been searching the internet and researching about diamonds. We''ve gone window shopping on 47th street (which was a daunting experience) and to retail stores as well. At first I had really liked the Tiffany Novo and Tiffany Legacy. I tried both on and the Legacy had too much metal to it for my liking. The Novo was beautiful but seemed to be missing something, which I couldn''t quite put my finger on. Possibly the stones that I had seen with the Novo were not quite right, I had only seen one stone that was absolutely gorgeous out of 3 different Tiffany stores that we looked at.

HE then saw online the Harry Winston micropave which led us to Pricescope. Three months later, we finally made a trip into the Harry Winston store!!! I was blown away by the ring and absolutely fell in love with it. The craftsmanship of it was absolutely AMAZING!!!

My biggest concern is with my chosen profession, I''m scared about the delicacy of the ring in particular the micropave. From medical school experience I know my hands alone have suffered IMMENSELY from constant handwashing, alcohol based hand sanitizers, scrubbing, wearing gloves (powdered or not), and I have tried to combat this by moisturizing on a regular basis. I''m really concerned that the above alone, nevermind the potential hazards of my work may affect the ring. Considering the potential investment, is it a wise choice to go down the micropave-esque route?

Could anyone else chime in on their experiences with it, especially if you have the Harry Winston micropave or similar ring?

I look forward to becoming part of the Pricescope community!!!

 

[Pandora II]

Date: 3/20/2008 4:06:42 PM
Author: March-8-2008

Okay, one sidebar item: one comment that baffles me (and makes me giggle a bit) is how many women on PS say they don''t wear wedding rings to sleep. Um, what in the world do you ladies DO in bed!??!?!?!?! That''s probably the SAFEST time for my ring.

I only wear my e-ring when doing ''safe'' things with my hands.

Basically it comes off when I get home from work and stays in it''s box until I go to work next day - unless I am going out for the evening. I would NEVER sleep/shower/cook/lift heavy thinks in it.

Part of that is because I have a tsavorite - but even if it was a diamond I would do the same. Diamonds maybe a 10 on the mohs, but that only measures scratch hardness. You can still chip them, or if you hit it in the right place, due to diamond''s perfect cleavage you could potentially break it in half.

I don''t feel ''unengaged'' without my ring on - although I don''t like to go out without it one - and I know my baby will stay in good shape for many, many years.

I looked at my grandmother''s sapphire and diamond e-ring at Christmas - she had chipped both of the diamonds, and the sapphire had no facets left at all. This was after listening to her tell me I was mad to be so careful with mine, and how she had no damage to her ring after 40 years...

Obviously, each to their own, but I like to play safe - plus your prongs will come to less harm.

 

[mel047]

Icekid and Kalypso: Just wanted to say congrats on being at the end of your med school careers. I''m just getting started and I already know it''s quite a journey and quite an accomplishment. Yay for you!

With all the great advice so far, I think this is the game plan: I want to get what I want (Always been the type of person to not settle) and so I think I''ve come up with a compromise. I was thinking a cushion with a pave halo and just a plain band, this way I''d have less stones to worry about falling out. Also, in the future I was leaning towards just a plain wedding band because it provides that added element of practicality and maybe later on I could get some eternity bands to flank either side of the plain band.

What do ya think? (Like how I already have my wedding finger''s life planned out? Lol!)

Also, just want to add, it''s nice to be able to nit pick with you guys. Everyone else I talk to thinks I''m nuts to worry so much about these details. I love PS!

 

[Elmorton]

I have to agree with Pandora about care - I have an itty bitty bead set w-ring (so, similar to pave but set slightly differently), and I've never had problems with it. I'm a klutz and I'm hard on my rings, so if I can avoid everyday abuses, I do. A few months after getting married, I decided I wanted a plain band, because I just couldn't stand the heart attack every time I was doing something (working out, washing dishes, moving boxes) where I'd pause and think "OMG, what if I knock a stone out?" I don't wear my set to bed, and I wear my plain band about 50% of the time, especially if I'm doing an activity that isn't "ring friendly."

Depending on what kind of practice you're doing, you might find that the pave drives you a little crazy at work - esp. if you like to keep your rings super clean. I teach, and we still have chalkboards. My rings are covered in chalk dust at the end of the day. Plus, it makes my hands dry, so I'll slide off my rings to put on lotion - so afraid that someday I'll forget to put my rings back on, drop one and lose it, etc. If your hands get messy and /or dry from constant washing, that might be something to think about.

And - one more thing - my MIL (a nurse) has made comments before about how she has problems with people in the medical field wearing rings because they trap bacteria. I ALWAYS think of that when I see drs and rns wearing rings.

Still, at the end of the day, I'm a firm believer that practicality should never get in the way of having the ring of your dreams

. You just might want to consider having an "everyday" alternative.