SP rings -- help me!

[katiedid]

Hi everyone! I just picked up the 2 new SP bands--one channel set that''s larger than the one they sent me originally, and one shared prong. The diamonds in both rings are the same size -- ~2.4 pts each, which I think is a good size. Here are the pros and cons. Geez, please help me think through these!!!!

Channel set:
very comfortable
safer setting (in terms of losing or chipping stones--more metal holding it all together)
sits nice and flat on my finger and matches well with the width and height of my ering
metal on sides matches nicely with metal on ering
size of diamonds seems to be great with ering diamond (about 2.4 pts each)
hubby loves the channel set but...
not as pretty as prong set (at least to me)
see metal, not just diamonds
Prong set:
more sparkly than channel set (although maybe not in sunlight--I can''t tell because it''s rainy here today!)
see all diamonds and very little metal
matches well with the width of my ering, but is noticeably "taller" than my ering (I''ve asked if it can be made flatter)
love the "look" of this but...
not as comfy as channel set
would need to be "babied" more
the height is a problem unless it can be made flatter--it''s ~ 2mm in height and really needs to be ~ 1.7mm at the most.

opinions?????

wish I had my camera to post photos--I can do that tonight from home. Both rings are WAY too big for me so it''s kindof hard to see exactly how they would sit with my ering.

 

[fanboy]

Personally, I don''t like channel-set round diamonds. There''s too much space and metal between the stones. But then, if you want to be able to see the individual diamonds, then thats probably not a problem.

 

[isaku5]

I too prefer the look of prong set to channel set. While the channel set is probably safer, it looks dated to me now.

 

[inlove8]

I also prefer the Pronged look over channel set. I have also heard that channel set bands are a pain to clean and trap a lot more dirt.

 

[katiedid]

I agree that the channel set is a little more dated. But with the SP channel set bands, they put the diamonds so close together that the issue of seeing lots of space or gaps between the stones really isn''t an issue.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I ended up going with a Memoire band because they are set much lower than many others. Unfortunately, you pay for that as well as the quality. The diamonds also do not rub the ring next to them.

I would consider a bead-set ring but not channel set. I think the gaps in channel set will be more noticeable once the stones are a little dirty. I was cleaning my sister''s channel set anniversary ring just this past weekend and I noticed that. I do think channel set bands are dated but I don''t see shared prong rings ever looking dated. But you do have to find ones that are set low if your e-ring stone is set low. And the only two that I know of that are set lower are Tiffany and Memoire. Memoire is less than Tiffany but more than Facets.

 

[katiedid]

Where did you get your memoire band? Are there any online vendors for memoire that are less expensive than B&M stores?

 

[chrono]

Pearlman's has competitive pricing on designer and Memoire items.

 

[snlee]

I personally like shared prong bands better.

 

[kcoursolle]

Great review!

I prefer the look of shared prong bands. I''m not sure if the band can be made less tall without compromising on the integrity of the setting. SP will know for sure.

These types of bands do get more comfortable over time.

 

[neatfreak]

I prefer shared prong too.

 

[katiedid]

I am so glad to have you guys to give me feedback! Here''s where my head is right now...

I don''t absolutely LOVE the larger channel set. When I look at it, there seems to be too much going on--it''s a little distracting with the metal on the sides, the round stones and the small spaces between the stones. I worry that the spaces would get darker and more noticeable as the ring aged and wasn''t as clean as it is now. And I think it takes away from my ering a little. By itself, it is beautiful, but paired with my ering, it''s not the continuous line of "sparkle" I''m looking for.

Isaac said the SP prong set band cannot be made less "tall". It would damage the structural soundness of the ring. SO... I have emailed Bill Pearlman to ask him about the memoire band. I have absolutely no idea of what to expect in terms of price on these. I know that a local B & M carries them, so we are going to go tonight to look at them. Does anyone know what a memoire band with ~ 2 - 2.5 pt stones would cost in a size 4 3/4? Even a ballpark would be good--if it''s just totally out of range for our budget, I will just get a platinum band and be done with the eternity band idea for now. I would rather have a plain band than settle at all and wish I''d gotten something else. I already know a plain band would look great--I was just really in love with the eternity band look.

My sweet hubby met me at the gym at lunch because he knew I was dying to get his opinion. He likes both and pretty much agreed with my thoughts on them. Of the 4 girls I''ve shown the rings to (coworkers/friends), everyone likes the shared prong better with my ering.

As my friend said, "what a nice problem to have!".