Wedding band indecision

[Blenheim]

Perhaps like the typical Pricescoper, I am having such a hard time choosing a single wedding band. There are just so many great options! (Fortunately, I''ve talked FI up to TWO wedding bands -- one plain gold and one a bit fancier -- but I still can''t decide on the fancier band.) My first thought was a diamond 1/2 to 3/4 eternity band (not full eternity, so that it''s easier to resize if need be). On my recent trip to Pearlman''s, I just loved the single-prong memoire band (and the double-prong was pretty scrumptuous too).

Single prong (pictured in WG or plat, and on my pinky cause the band in the case wouldn''t fit on my size 7.5 finger)

Double prong (pictured in WG or plat)

The problem is that they seem to come in 5-stone and full eternity. I would like a thin-ish band that covers a lot of finger, so I''m not sure that the 5-stone would really work. I''ve been waiting for a good weekend to take the trip back to Battlecreek with FI and see what he thinks. But then, on Saturday, I suddenly had another idea -- why not have gemstones in the band, instead of or in addition to diamonds? FI was skeptical, but there was a long enough wait for the restaurant we ate at on Saturday night that we had just enough time to duck into the next door jewelry store and try on sapphire/diamond and ruby/diamond half-eternity channel set bands. Mmmmmm. So pretty.

(Since we were "just going out to dinner" I didn''t have a camera on me, so I don''t have any pictures -- sorry!)

So, now I''m even more confused. And I''m worried that gemstones might clash with some of my outfits, while diamonds would work fine. I mean, today I''m wearing a royal purple wrap sweater over a emerald green tank top, with a black skirt. Would sapphires or rubies go okay with that? I know for sure that my diamond does... (For those who have wedding bands or engagement rings with gemstones, do you think it "goes" with your outfits? And does it even matter?)

So, should I get a band with all diamonds? With diamonds and sapphires? Only sapphires? Diamonds and rubies? Just rubies?

I have even more questions, but I think that I should get the stones settled first. Then I can think about specific settings, right?

In case it influences your decision, here are some more pictures of my engagement ring:

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[Ellen]

I like the second one you posted best.

 

[mrssalvo]

Date: 9/18/2006 7:46:02 PM
Author: Ellen
I like the second one you posted best.

me too. I haven''t seen the single prong rings yet in person and I hear they look much prettier but in pictures it looks like there is more space b/t the stones than with the shared prong rings. Of course I think I remember Dee Jay saying the single prong looked amazing with your e-ring.

 

[Sundial]

Me three and I prefer a ring with all diamonds rather than colored gemstones for just the reasons you''ve mentioned.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Me four and ditto to what Sundial said.

I just ordered a Memoire with the tiny double prongs and it comes in 5, 7, and 9 stones. Seven more than covered the top of my finger, so that''s what I went with. I love the Memoire because it sits so low and won''t hurt your e-ring prongs. The Memoire and Tiffany were the best I''ve seen, with the Memoire being a little less expensive, thankfully!

 

[WTNLVR]

I actually went thru this process in my recent upgrade. My original set was sapphires and diamonds and they go with everything. But, I wanted an all diamond band to go with my new solitaire. I tried on a gazillion bands. Then fed up as I was looking, I asked to try on a sapphire and diamond band I saw and it was love at first sight. You will know the one when you try it on. This is mine-

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Gorgeous rings, WTNLVR!!! I''d love to have an alternate band with sapphires!!!

 

[Blenheim]

Those are gorgeous! Now that you mention it, I think that part of the problem is that I have yet to put on a ring and think "this is it." There are a bunch that I think are gorgeous though. Hmm, I might have to do some serious jewelry shopping when I''m back in DC. There''s just not the variety of stores here.

Diamondseeker, thanks for telling me that it also comes in 7 and 9 stones. I only saw the 5-stone and full eternity, and thought that was it -- maybe I was thinking of another line of rings.

 

[Cehrabehra]

Date: 9/18/2006 7:37:15 PM
Author:Blenheim
Perhaps like the typical Pricescoper, I am having such a hard time choosing a single wedding band. There are just so many great options!

omg I have no advice but what you say here is soooo true... I used to think ''why are these women debating head prongs, they all look the same!'' and now I''m thinking, "how can I get them to talk about head prongs *again*" bahahaha

I''ll take one of *each* please!!

 

[Tacori E-ring]

I agree. Sapphires go with everything. I have never once felt like my e-ring clashed anything I wear. Don''t forget they are small stones.

 

[Oleander]

Regarding colored stones in your wedding band or engagement ring: my mother''s engagement ring is an oval ruby in the most gorgeous pigeon''s blood color. She wears it with a gold wedding band and and a channel-set anniversary band with alternating diamonds and rubies (I think princess cut). I have never looked at her and thought her rings didn''t match her clothing.

I wear canaries and pink diamonds almost daily, and don''t feel like the colors clash with my wardrobe.

Perhaps with a very large center colored stone, one might feel like it would clash, but as an accent color in smaller stones I would not worry one iota about it, if that is the way you want to go with your wedding band.

Happy searching and deciding!

 

[Larissa]

I volunteer with two women who own coloured rings. One is a sapphire with diamond halo engagement ring with sapphire and diamond wedding band. The other is a ruby and diamond engagement ring with ruby and diamond wedding band. I never look at their rings and think they clash. I have no clue what they think, but from the outside looking in, their rings are beautiful!

WTNLVR - I love your set! I hope, someday soon, to be in the market for a band similar to your''s. Do you mind sharing info about it? Including how wide it is in mm compared to your center stone? It looks very proportional to me.

 

[Dee*Jay]

Blenheim - when we were at Pearlman's I liked both the single and double prong bands, but I liked the double prong band *more*.

As for diamond vs. gemstones; what if you got the diamond band first and added to your collection with gemstone bands for Christmas/birthdays/anniversaries? That way over time you end up with a bunch that you can switch out to match your outfit if you want to and you'll still have the all diamond one too.

 

[~*Alexis*~]

I have a channel set band that alternates with diamonds and sapphires. There are 5 diamonds and 5 sapphires. I love it. Sapphires go with everything, just like jeans. Blue is a universal color. Go with the sapphires...maybe you could have a diamond and sapphire pave band made? or one of each....

 

[Blenheim]

Tacori E-ring and Oleander, thanks for weighing in. I think that part of my problem stems from living with a very nasty girl last year who criticized one of my friends for having sapphires sidestones in her e-ring, saying that she now has to plan her outfits around her ring. Disclaimer: This girl was nasty and loved to insult people, often for transparently made up reasons. I love sapphires, but I''m letting what she said influence my thinking for whatever reason. It''s really comforting to hear that you''re happy with your choice!

DeeJay, I like the way you think!

Fortunately FI grew up with a dad who loves to give his mom jewelry gifts, so he''s very used to the idea of anniversary/birthday/etc jewelry. I just made the decision to go to Pearlman''s some upcoming weekend, and then realized that they''re not open on the weekends! FI works some pretty long hours during the week sometimes, so their normal hours are out. They have extended hours closer to Christmas, so we either need to wait (noooo!) or make an appointment to go out there and see what he thinks. From the pictures, he prefers the double prong. He also really likes the idea of rubies, though.

 

[WTNLVR]

Date: 9/19/2006 7:06:51 AM
Author: Larissa
I volunteer with two women who own coloured rings. One is a sapphire with diamond halo engagement ring with sapphire and diamond wedding band. The other is a ruby and diamond engagement ring with ruby and diamond wedding band. I never look at their rings and think they clash. I have no clue what they think, but from the outside looking in, their rings are beautiful!

WTNLVR - I love your set! I hope, someday soon, to be in the market for a band similar to your''s. Do you mind sharing info about it? Including how wide it is in mm compared to your center stone? It looks very proportional to me.

Thank you. The band has .21 of diamonds and .54 of sapphires. There are 5 sapphires and 4 diamonds. the band is 3mm wide and 2mm high. I found it in a local B&M. The center stone is 1.55 ct.