Too young for a larger stone?

[Julian]

Hi! I was engaged at 27 with a 3 carat RB.
Many of my friends also had 2-3 carat solitaires so I fit right in there. I don''t think you''re too young for any size stone.

Nowadays, I see lots of young people sporting very large engagement stones and they carry it off very well. The only time I feel like I''m too young is when someone asks me if my ring is fake. But that''s only because usually the people asking have never seen a large stone before. They look incredulous that a diamond can sparkle like that.

But then again... If all I saw was mall jewelry my entire life and saw some of the stones on PS and the one I have now, I might think they were fake too. Thank goodness that is not the case!

 

[Sparkles22]

Thanks for all your input and all your help I appreciate it!

I will try to be good and stick to what we can afford

 

[Sparkles22]

Date: 4/25/2006 3:44:03 AM
Author: Rhapsody

Just make sure you ask the jeweler to make sure it will accomodate the size stone you eventually want. A couple people on here have had problems with upgrading stones and trying to use an existing setting, but a lot of the depends on the type of setting it is.

The setting I wanted would not allow for a bigger stone to be put in later, so I had to make sure i was happy with the size now or face changing the whole thing out later (not a problem for most but I want to keep the setting).

As far as size and age, I agree that you should wear whatever you are comfortable with. And as long as your husband is comfortable paying for it go for it! I''m hoping to go back to school for grad school in a year or two and my BF has already told me my jewelery budget with decrease dramatically when I stop pulling in a normal income, boooooo

I am considering this setting, do you think it will allow for a bigger stone in the future, like a 1.25 or 1.5 or something?

Well grad school has definately taken out of my jewelry fund too, but the way I look at it I''ll be making lots more when I''m all done and you know what that means for the jewelry budget.....

Thanks for you response!

 

[pahoyafan]

My fiance is 24 and she wears a 1.7 ct center (RB), and we live in the scranton area of pa, so it is considered BIG around here. I am actually mad that I didn't wait another month or so to get a 2 ct center stone, because I don't think she will ever upgrade. I personally don't think that the 1.7 looks too big on her 4.5 size finger, I actually think a 2 ct would look perfect.

 

[Sparkles22]

Date: 4/26/2006 5:01:23 AM
Author: pahoyafan
My fiance is 24 and she wears a 1.7 ct center (RB), and we live in the scranton area of pa, so it is considered BIG around here. I am actually mad that I didn't wait another month or so to get a 2 ct center stone, because I don't think she will ever upgrade. I personally don't think that the 1.7 looks too big on her 4.5 size finger, I actually think a 2 ct would look perfect.

My husband already thinks my 0.63ct center (princess) is big. LOL. He's definately going to think any upgrade I want to do isn really big. I am hoping he'll do some research of his own too though, so he can help with the decision making process in the future.

 

[Sparkles22]

Anyone ever heard of luminar creations? Are their settings of good quality? What about the side diamonds they use? I tried doing a search on here and didn't find anything. Also what about Leo Ingwer? Either of these reputable?

Thanks!!!

 

[laurel_aurelia]

i got engaged last september, 7 days after my 23rd birthday, with a 1.50 ct princess set in a .4 ct band.

i doubt i''ll upgrade any time soon -- because i LOVE my stone size!

i think you''d be happy with a stone that size. tell him it''s a "forever" ring -- you''ll love the size. (and if you decide to upgrade again later -- then that''s another discussion entirely!)

diamondfan, i LOVE LOVE LOVE you r9ct. dramy.

 

[Sparkles22]

Date: 4/26/2006 10:50:16 AM
Author: laurel_aurelia
i got engaged last september, 7 days after my 23rd birthday, with a 1.50 ct princess set in a .4 ct band.

i doubt i'll upgrade any time soon -- because i LOVE my stone size!

i think you'd be happy with a stone that size. tell him it's a 'forever' ring -- you'll love the size. (and if you decide to upgrade again later -- then that's another discussion entirely!)

diamondfan, i LOVE LOVE LOVE you r9ct. dramy.

I would absolutely love to see pics (and hand pics), please, please, please. That is the size band I am considering. The one I am looking at has 8 channel set princess stones (4 on each side) that total 0.4ct, (see above post). My ring size is 4 so I don't know if it would look different on me or not, but pictures are ALWAYS good

Thank you!!!!!!!!

 

[Scooba]

Sparkles-

I just turned 23 and I am getting engaged (today maybe?!?!) I am getting an almost 3.5 carat Princess, and I would gladly take bigger if I was allowed to!

 

[TravelingGal]

I don''t think there is any correlation between rock size and age. What I do consider is economic status. Kudos to the 20 somethings who can afford a nice stone! I don''t think it''s the norm though. A 2+ carat diamond is in the 5 figure range? I''ll admit, I''d raise an eyebrow if I saw a student wearing a huge rock, if I knew her fiance wasn''t in the financial situation to afford it pretty easily.

But I agree with what was said earlier...the most important thing is that you both are happy with whatever decision you make, and to hell with what other people (myself included) would think!

 

[UCLABelle]

I am in my early twenties with a 4.75 ring sz and a 1.95 ct Asscher Diamond--- I am a PRICESCOPE LOVER and maintain that I could always go bigger Whether I will or not is a whole other story...I still need earrings, a nice diamond necklace ect

 

[jimhwu]

How about a nice watch? My wife bought me a nice Omega watch recently and I love it.

Big screen TV is always nice...

Season tickets to his favorite sports team would be great too!

For a Corvette, you would have to get at least a 3 ct ring then... hahaha

Seriously, sounds like you guys are doing fine and have a good idea of what''s important. House is the most important thing, I think, then all the fun stuff can happen.

 

[Lorelei]

Just a quick thought, I was reading this thread and was thinking about this and it seems to me that the caratage of e-rings has grown hugely in the past 5 years maybe and that seeing the more mature ladies only wearing the huge rocks isn''t the case any more. Newly engaged couples are buying far bigger than a few years ago and we will see more and more younger ladies wearing the substantial rocks than in the past, it will become more " the norm" perhaps that many younger women will start off at around 1.5 - 2 carats and larger. I would have thought a huge factor in this is the availability of online diamond education and sales, you can really learn and browse and buy far more of a diamond than you perhaps thought was possible.

 

[saturn]

Sparkles-

I''m pretty sure that the setting you like is the same one that I have - the one in my avatar.
There''s also more pictures towards the end of this thread.

I wear a size 4.25, and I have a 1 carat cushion center stone.
I really like the setting because it''s a nice thin channel set band, and it doesn''t "stick out" from my finger very far. It''s nice and dainty and very comfortable and classic.
However, I don''t know about the quality...it looks great on the outside, but on the inside, the openings behind the channel set stones aren''t even (but no one can see that except for me, when I take the ring off). Plus, when I first got it, there was a tiny tiny gap in the solder holding the head on. I took it back to the store and they fixed it in a day, and now I''ve had it for about a year and had no other problems.

Since the head is removable, I''m sure that it could accomodate a larger stone in the future.

 

[Dancing Fire]

Date: 4/26/2006 4:03:36 PM
Author: Lorelei
Just a quick thought, I was reading this thread and was thinking about this and it seems to me that the caratage of e-rings has grown hugely in the past 5 years maybe and that seeing the more mature ladies only wearing the huge rocks isn''t the case any more. Newly engaged couples are buying far bigger than a few years ago and we will see more and more younger ladies wearing the substantial rocks than in the past, it will become more '' the norm'' perhaps that many younger women will start off at around 1.5 - 2 carats and larger. I would have thought a huge factor in this is the availability of online diamond education and sales, you can really learn and browse and buy far more of a diamond than you perhaps thought was possible.

brit GF

how old would you have to be?

before you''re call a mature lady.

 

[Allisonfaye]

I have been married 3.5 years and I am considering my second upgrade. I started with a 1.53 lucere cut diamond and went to a 1.85 regent cut.

I think you will find that some people don''t approve of upgrades, period. They put a heavy sentimental attachment on that first ring and there isn''t much you can say to convince them otherwise. So you need to feel happy about your decision and not worry about what other people think.
Given that I have been trying to sell my Lucere for a while and realize what a hit I am probably going to have to take, I think you will find selling your old ring is harder than you might expect and you will probably be shocked at how little you will get back for it. I would research that before considering the upgrade.

As far as the age thing, I think it is just what YOU are comfortable with. I have small fingers too and when I was first ring shopping, my DH was pushing me to go smaller. Now, I have shown him enough jewelry over the years that he is more on board too. Sometimes it takes time to soften them up.

 

[Sparkles22]

Date: 4/26/2006 3:49:10 PM
Author: jimhwu
How about a nice watch? My wife bought me a nice Omega watch recently and I love it.

Big screen TV is always nice...

Season tickets to his favorite sports team would be great too!

For a Corvette, you would have to get at least a 3 ct ring then... hahaha

Seriously, sounds like you guys are doing fine and have a good idea of what''s important. House is the most important thing, I think, then all the fun stuff can happen.

Thank you so much for your ideas they are really helpful. I tried to buy him a watch, but he''s just not much of a watch person, won''t wear one. But the season tickets are a great idea, wonder how hard they are to get.

Thanks again, and if you think of anything else....

 

[Sparkles22]

Date: 4/26/2006 4:32:46 PM
Author: saturn
Sparkles-

I''m pretty sure that the setting you like is the same one that I have - the one in my avatar.
There''s also more pictures towards the end of this thread.

I wear a size 4.25, and I have a 1 carat cushion center stone.
I really like the setting because it''s a nice thin channel set band, and it doesn''t ''stick out'' from my finger very far. It''s nice and dainty and very comfortable and classic.
However, I don''t know about the quality...it looks great on the outside, but on the inside, the openings behind the channel set stones aren''t even (but no one can see that except for me, when I take the ring off). Plus, when I first got it, there was a tiny tiny gap in the solder holding the head on. I took it back to the store and they fixed it in a day, and now I''ve had it for about a year and had no other problems.

Since the head is removable, I''m sure that it could accomodate a larger stone in the future.

Your ring is so beautiful! I think it might be the same setting. Except on the inside of the one I''m considering it has hearts cut out behind the diamonds, so each diamond has an individual heart hole. They alternate rightside up, upside down. I thought it was cute and added some character to the ring. What kind of band are you going to get to go with it? Also, this probably is a dumb question, but what''s an east-west setting? I think the head is removable on the one I''m considering too.

Thanks for the pics!

 

[Sparkles22]

Date: 4/26/2006 10:12:45 PM
Author: Allisonfaye
I have been married 3.5 years and I am considering my second upgrade. I started with a 1.53 lucere cut diamond and went to a 1.85 regent cut.

I think you will find that some people don''t approve of upgrades, period. They put a heavy sentimental attachment on that first ring and there isn''t much you can say to convince them otherwise. So you need to feel happy about your decision and not worry about what other people think.
Given that I have been trying to sell my Lucere for a while and realize what a hit I am probably going to have to take, I think you will find selling your old ring is harder than you might expect and you will probably be shocked at how little you will get back for it. I would research that before considering the upgrade.

As far as the age thing, I think it is just what YOU are comfortable with. I have small fingers too and when I was first ring shopping, my DH was pushing me to go smaller. Now, I have shown him enough jewelry over the years that he is more on board too. Sometimes it takes time to soften them up.

Thanks I''ll have to keep that in mind. I know I overpaid for the first setting, because they had the exact same one in YG for $950 less, I just really wanted white, go figure. The funny thing is the settings I''m considering look a lot like the one I have now, except in platinum, so I think I have definately found a look I like as far as the setting goes, just trying to decide on the size, etc for it.

I might keep my center stone (maybe put in on a necklace), because I don''t think I''ll get much for it, and if I can''t get a lot for the setting, maybe I''ll make earrings out of it!

Thanks again for the advice. Do you know where the best place to sell it would be, if I decided to go that route?

Thanks!

 

[Brooke]

Sparkles,
If you can afford it, take it and run! I went from 1/2ct to 1ct to 2.02ct between the ages of 18 and 25. My husband traded in the 1/2ct, but we kept the 1ct and I have it set in a plain necklace pendant. My ring size is 4.5 and I hate to say it, but shrinkage has set in on the 2.02...our 10 year Anniversary is coming up in a few years...

Good luck and let us know what you get!

Brooke

 

[Rhapsody]

Date: 4/26/2006 2:08:14 AM
Author: Sparkles22

I am considering this setting, do you think it will allow for a bigger stone in the future, like a 1.25 or 1.5 or something?


Well grad school has definately taken out of my jewelry fund too, but the way I look at it I''ll be making lots more when I''m all done and you know what that means for the jewelry budget.....

Thanks for you response!

It''s a beautiful setting, but you''d really have to ask the jeweler or manufacturer for their opinion on what stone sizes would work in it. It''s too hard to tell from just a picture. There was someone on here who had crammed a bigger stone onto an old setting and although it *fit* it didn''t look quite right and she ended up changing the setting.

As far as earning potential after graduation, I would just make sure you *have* the job before you start spending the money you *think* you''ll earn. I''ve had friends come off their phds and post docs, and not make nearly as much as they thought they would. Its fun to plan and dream but sometimes reality doesn''t work out quite as smoothly.

FWIW, I''m 24 and have a 0.55 ct princess which seems to be average for my area (CO).