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What are the advantages/disadvantages of a full eternity ring?

DiamondBaby

DiamondBaby

Shiny_Rock
Joined
Sep 14, 2014
Messages
207
Hi,
After my last look at purchasing a five stone ring that failed, I am going back to the drawing board on this, for a lot of thought and research!!
I like the look of the five stone, but it wasn't going to be a stand alone band for me, so size wise it was to be .4ct each diamond, smaller I didn't really like.
As I have started to look, I have come across the 3/4 and full eternity rings. These have had much smaller diamonds, less than .20ct each, but are starting to grow on me!!
For those of you that have them in what ever format 3/4 or full, what are the pros and cons of them, and would you get them again?
Cheers!!

As examples:
https://www.whiteflash.com/wedding-rings/annettes-u-prong-eternity-diamond-wedding-band-68.htm
https://www.whiteflash.com/wedding-rings/annettes-u-prong-3-4-eternity-diamond-wedding-ring-2698.htm
https://www.whiteflash.com/wedding-rings/annettes-u-prong-eternity-diamond-wedding-band-68.htm
 
Biggest ones for me with a full eternity

Pro
No issue with spinning because it would look the same no matter what

Con
Not sizable

Now takes those and reverse them for a 3/4 eternity.

Pro
Sizable

Con
Spinning
 
If you are hard for your rings, you will damage the stones that are at the underside easily with a full eternity. (But if you have a half eternity that spins, this will also happen)
 
I am currently moving toward full eternity on all of my stackers. I hate the spinning! It literally drives me so crazy that I won't wear any of my 20+ stackers if they aren't full eternity. I haven't damaged any of my eternities yet. I am pretty careful with them though. Downside is, of course, they are more expensive!

Also wf will make any size or style you want. You aren't limited to smaller stones!
 
What drives you crazy most? I hate spinning so I get fulls. My finger size does not change.
 
Pros: no spin, always looks gorgeous
Cons: for me none. It’s been 5 years, no damage, way past baby making years when I would need a resize. Just order 1/2 size larger or get one metal space.
 
My daughter had Maytal Hannah make her eternity beadset wedding band and left the area of two diamond spaces in platinum and engraved it so you dont even notice when it spins.
 
Cannot do halves or 3/4s. Seems like they are always metal side up. Only eternities for me!
 
 
If you wear your rings tight, a half might work, but I vote for full.
My 3/4 and half eternities need to be tight ,and they STILL spin. I buy my full eternities a size too big just in case I get even fatter, or to allow for summer swell, and then just put a thin 1mm spacer on to keep it from falling off.
 
My finger is thinner than my knuckle, so i get spinning. A 5 stone would drive me crazy. All of mine are full for this reason.
 
I had an eternity and sold it because I knew I would need to resize (I was right) and that kind of drove me nuts. For smaller (thinner) bands I don't mind eternity because I also don't mind just reselling and getting something new. If I want something with larger stones I will stick to 5 or 7 stone bands.
 
My 5 stone doesn't spin. In the winter when my finger shrinks down to a size 4, it might. But it's the price I have to pay to get it over my knuckle!

I didn't choose an eternity because I am terrified of cracking the diamonds on the underside. I have a dainty tiffany metro eternity band that I do wear, but I wear it stacked with my wedding band and E-ring when I go out. I am very careful when I wear it!

IMG_2862.JPG IMG_2864.jpg
 
I like full eternity bands because I don't like the spinning that occurs otherwise.
My first was D/E VVS in size 3.5 that doesn't fit anymore.
Then I got one in size 4 that also doesn't fit anymore.
My two current eternity bands are size 4.5 both F/G VS.

One is asschers that I wear with my pear

20171014_193052.jpg

The other was made by HPD with built-in side rails designed to be worn with all 3 of my HPD CBI rings without needing a spacer.

Img3657.jpg

Finally, I like small melee because I don't want them competing with my erings.
 
Ok - - I'm different. I have a 3/4 eternity made by Caysie with 10 .50 carat OEC stones. She made the ring 1/4 size larger and put a sizing bead at the bottom of the ring. The ring stays in place and does not spin at all. I'm loving it! One would never know that it's not a full eternity.
 
I think full eternities are gorgeous!! But I'm so afraid of not being able to size mine since we are still possibly having one more kid I just went for 3/4. It does spin on me but very rarely so much the bottom gets seen on top of my hand. So for me it was the perfect compromise. I might see if putting a single sizing bead on there helps though. That is such a great idea!
 
Like Queenie, I also decided to get a small sizing bar on the back. Based on what I wanted re stone size (.50 er's), I knew there would be no replacement at all if my ring size changed. The sizing bar is so small, it rarely shows.
 
cflutist said:
I like full eternity bands because I don't like the spinning that occurs otherwise.
My first was D/E VVS in size 3.5 that doesn't fit anymore.
Then I got one in size 4 that also doesn't fit anymore.
My two current eternity bands are size 4.5 both F/G VS.

One is asschers that I wear with my pear

20171014_193052.jpg

The other was made by HPD with built-in side rails designed to be worn with all 3 of my HPD CBI rings without needing a spacer.

Img3657.jpg

Finally, I like small melee because I don't want them competing with my erings.
Click to expand...

@cflutist, I love your asscher eternity, where did you find it, its so sweet!!
 
I had a 1/2 eternity first... I saw metal most of the time, and it drove me crazy. Then had a 3/4 eternity - same thing. I finally went full eternity, and I LOVE IT. After having my baby, my ring size actually got smaller (thank you, Lord!!), so I had to have had it sized down by DK. However, mine is bezeled instead of pronged, so DK somehow moved all the stations a smidge closer together and didn't have to remove a single diamond! It went from a 5.25 to a tiny bit below a 5 (maybe 4 7/8?). If I ever do a pronged full eternity, I will get it in 1/4-1/2 size larger than I need and have a sizing bar added.
 
MeowMeow said:
I think full eternities are gorgeous!! But I'm so afraid of not being able to size mine since we are still possibly having one more kid I just went for 3/4. It does spin on me but very rarely so much the bottom gets seen on top of my hand. So for me it was the perfect compromise. I might see if putting a single sizing bead on there helps though. That is such a great idea!
Click to expand...
Try the sizing bead - works well for me.
 
I love the look of a full eternity. It is,of course, more fragile than a 1/2 or 3/4 eternity band. I baby it as best I can - I would never wear it to the gym and I always remove it as soon as I get home. That being said, I have slammed it a few times while engaging in seemingly innocuous activities. I do worry about fit and I went up a 1/4 in sizing just to be certain that I would be able to wear my eternity band when my finger swells (hot weather, salty food, etc.). I didn't want to have to tug on diamonds in order to get the band off. Since it doesn't matter if a full eternity band spins a little, this was a good option for me. Hopefully, my finger size will not change significantly down the road!
 
A full eternity ring is good for
Full coverage and no worries if it spins
Bad for resizing and you can’t taper the “underside” thinner for comfort.
Potential for damage to diamonds on the underside ie grabbing a metal railing - possible “crunch”
More expensive
A half size eternity is good for
No worries resizing, bigger individual diamonds than a full for same $$$, can be tapered on the underside for comfort wearing
Bad - will spin which can be very annoying.
 
Thanks everyone, it does seem to be a very personal thing, so I've a list relevant to me out of all the posts I think!
Spinning - my rings spin anyway, time of day dependant, not even in the heat of summer!! It doesn't overly bother me, but all plain bands currently. I'm done having kids so I don't have to account for that in the future!!
Hard on then - Possibly?? by platinum bands are scratched, I wear them doing everything, so a full diamond band might be a big ask at this point.
@ceg - My husband might go a little mad if I suggested WF would make be any size diamond band!! I'm looking at slightly smaller stones so it will fit with my wedding set, ultimately I want two identical rings for it, and to wear them all together. I might keep the big stone ones for a big anniversary!!
@canuk-gal thanks for the thread links, I had a read of them all!!
@Queenie60 a sizing band is a great idea, I might try that on my existing bands!

For the 10 - 15 pointers there is a big difference in price amongst the various vendors recommended here for the same tcw. Would you see the difference between f/g and g/h or VS1/2 and SI1/2 in diamonds of that size in a ring?
 
I just had a Brian Gavin 3/4 eternity with .15 ct stones made in platinum. It never turns enough that the metal is showing. It will turn but I still see diamonds. I will look at my palm and notice it’s moved a little and will straighten it. It pretty much stays where it is. I love full eternity bands but I’m rough on my rings and I know I would bang the heck out of the ones on the underside. No one sees them anyway. My engagement diamond is a G VS1 and the melee are f/g vs. They match perfectly..I’m very happy with mine.
 
My wedding band is a 9-stone and I HATE that I constantly have to center it. I wish I had gone with a 2/3 or full eternity

that said, my right hand ring eternity ring annoys me too. I feel like it's constantly getting dirty because there are just so many diamonds to smear up with lotion/soap/food when cooking.

So yeah. don't listen to me. I'm fussy lol
 
There’s talk of having to baby eternities and fear if the diamonds cracking. Could I ask why we should fear cracking the hardest substance on earth? I know that catching the girdle just the right way can chip a diamond but in this case we’re talking about the table where the girdle’s are quite protected. Is this really a legit concern?

I have noticed the longer I wear diamonds the more I have begun to worry about damaging them. Is this just the pricescope effect or should I be treating my diamonds better?
 
HappyNewLife said:
My wedding band is a 9-stone and I HATE that I constantly have to center it. I wish I had gone with a 2/3 or full eternity

that said, my right hand ring eternity ring annoys me too. I feel like it's constantly getting dirty because there are just so many diamonds to smear up with lotion/soap/food when cooking.

So yeah. don't listen to me. I'm fussy lol
Click to expand...

You’re funny..Take them off when you’re cooking, etc...I throw mine in the ultrasonic without turning it on..It’s just Dawn and water..When I’m done cooking and washing dishes I put them back on after rinsing off the soapy water..Then I take them off before bed..I’m fussy too!
 
Mamabean said:
You’re funny..Take them off when you’re cooking, etc...I throw mine in the ultrasonic without turning it on..It’s just Dawn and water..When I’m done cooking and washing dishes I put them back on after rinsing off the soapy water..Then I take them off before bed..I’m fussy too!
Click to expand...

I know, that's the smart thing to do, haha. But sometimes I'm like - did I JUST reach into this oily pot with my ring on? DAMNIT!

I think the problem isn't the rings, it's the person wearing them LOL
 
scarsmum said:
There’s talk of having to baby eternities and fear if the diamonds cracking. Could I ask why we should fear cracking the hardest substance on earth? I know that catching the girdle just the right way can chip a diamond but in this case we’re talking about the table where the girdle’s are quite protected. Is this really a legit concern?

I have noticed the longer I wear diamonds the more I have begun to worry about damaging them. Is this just the pricescope effect or should I be treating my diamonds better?
Click to expand...

I had a really bad experience with my first wedding/anniversary band..I wanted to change it from yellow to white gold..I had a local jeweler copy the setting and use my stones from the original ring. They made the setting too small for my stones. I didn’t know this at the time..but I noticed later that the stones were looking gray. I went back to the jeweler and found out they went out of business. So..I went to a different jeweler..He put the ring under what looked like a big microscope..I can still see his face when he looked up at me..Every single stone was cracked..The stones were too close together and rubbed each other until they were broken..and....insurance didn’t cover it because it was the jewelers fault..who was now out of business. My husband bought me a Brian Gavin 3/4 eternity to replace it..I still have the ring..It makes me sad to look at it..so..I guess just make sure you trust your jeweler that he/she sets the stones properly so they aren’t touching..Other than that I think it’s pretty hard to chip a diamond..
 
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