What size solitaire for everyday wear?

[appreciateyouradvice]

What size solitaire do you prefer for e-ring if you want to wear it every day and not have it interfere too much with everyday activities?

EDIT: IF BUDGET WAS NOT A CONCERN, AND DECISION BASED PURELY ON PRACTICALITY OF WEAR

 

[slg47]

I think most people are limited by budget on this one! also, what are your everyday activities? you want a pave band, correct?

 

[appreciateyouradvice]

Thanks sig47, forgot about that factor and edited the question.

Hmm everyday activities include going to work (corporate type job so not super handsy but still a lot of typing, etc.), going to gym, and a certain amount of clumsiness. Not super clumsy, but enough that manicures don't always last very long

 

[Dreamer_D]

I wear my 1.7ct every day, not when sleeping and working out (uncomfortable) and it is perfectly fine. But I ticked "2 -3 ct" since that would be the rock I would like to rock.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

The size of the diamond wouldn't make any difference in terms of practicality. The setting would make a difference, though. I wouldn't wear any diamond to the gym or doing house or yard work. So to work, shopping, out to eat, etc., if wouldn't matter if it was one carat or 5.

Aside from budget, the size diamond one chooses more often has to do with the social circle and family. I wouldn't feel comfortable wearing 2 cts. because no one around me on a daily basis has more than a carat or so. For the amount spent on my stone, I could have had two carats in a lower color or clarity, but I chose the maximum size I'd feel comfortable with and went higher in color and clarity.

 

[appreciateyouradvice]

diamondseeker2006, that's a really good point, about how the size would be viewed by family/friends and if it would make us feel uncomfortable. We wouldn't want friends/family...especially family, to think that we're trying to be all flashy and something we're not.

 

[Dreamer_D]

diamondseeker2006, that's a really good point, about how the size would be viewed by family/friends and if it would make us feel uncomfortable. We wouldn't want friends/family...especially family, to think that we're trying to be all flashy and something we're not.

What is the average size diamond in your family/social circle?

To an extent you want to care about that stuff, and to another extent you should do what you love. People spend their money all sorts of ways. I think expensive cars are silly, but nice diamonds worth it. Who are others to judge?

Any self-consciousness can wear off too. I am very unaware of my diamond now, though a little self-conscious at first. Most women in my social circle wear under half a carat.

 

[Circe]

Well ... my e-ring is 1.5, and that's never gotten in my way ... and before I had that, I wore an 8 carat piece of rough on one hand and a 6 carat piece of rough on the other, and those didn't either (and I work with my hands, rock-climb, and am generally active). I do think that budget and social circle are bigger factors than sheer wieldiness ....

 

[clgwli]

I have just shy of a carat and I feel that is just about the right size for me. In my circle, hardly anyone has over a half a carat, let alone 1 carat (just a few have about a 3/4) and I already have one of the larger stones. I have small hands and feel that this size is great for my daily wear.

I probably could go larger for something like an asscher, but for this radiant, I'm happy where I am

ETA: I just remembered that when I was pregnant I wore a cz travel set that I kept. My fingers swelled just enough to make my rings not fit well so I started wearing it (I had bought it when I was much heavier and was a bigger size). The stone was about a 1.25 RB equivalent IIRC and it really got noticed a lot in a not so good way IMO. Strangers would come up to me and it made me uncomfortable. So in my life I feel better with about a carat.

 

[appreciateyouradvice]

For people we are around, the general size is around a carat, maybe 1.5ish. At work general size is around the same, not many huge blinged out rocks. It's probably obvious now that we don't live in NYC

 

[ringabling]

Mine is 3.67 and I wear it daily.

 

[Dreamer_D]

For people we are around, the general size is around a carat, maybe 1.5ish. At work general size is around the same, not many huge blinged out rocks. It's probably obvious now that we don't live in NYC

I think those are large enough you can get whatever you like in my opinion. To have stones that large, people are already accepting of people spending large sums of money on diamonds. If you want to spend more for a larger diamond (if you want it), then how can they possible citique you? In my opinion, once you hit a certain point, frivolity is frivolity when it comes to things like diamonds/cars/purses etc.

But then I think that you should buy whatever you want to bring you pleasure. It is a luxury item, it is not about practicality.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Well ... my e-ring is 1.5, and that's never gotten in my way ... and before I had that, I wore an 8 carat piece of rough on one hand and a 6 carat piece of rough on the other, and those didn't either (and I work with my hands, rock-climb, and am generally active). I do think that budget and social circle are bigger factors than sheer wieldiness ....

Wait... really?? Do you have pictures?

 

[kenny]

I wear a 2.26, but it's an asscher which face up small, maybe like a 1.75 round.
It feels comfortable but I doubt I'd go much bigger if I had unlimited funds.

I may get 4 matching 2.26 ct FCDs asschers cut in natural red, blue, yellow and green.
Then I could rotate the 5 rings.
Oh My!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

For people we are around, the general size is around a carat, maybe 1.5ish. At work general size is around the same, not many huge blinged out rocks. It's probably obvious now that we don't live in NYC

Me either!

My sisters and sister's-in-law have .75, 1.0, and 1.25 ct. stones and my mother wears 1 ct. My daughter just got married with 1.15 cts. My sisters and mother were pretty encouraging for me to get the 1.63 ct. stone I got for an anniversary. But I also am around a few very wealthy older women at church who still wear their original half carat stones. So sometimes it does make me feel a little self-conscious, and there are times I wear a band and not the diamond.

Here on PS my stone is just average so it is no big deal. But in the real world, I think 1.3 would have been a more comfortable choice for my upgrade (and my original e-ring was 1.0 cts.). I still think of going down a little in size occasionally. So just keep your real world in mind because PS, while a fun and informative place, is not the real world for most of us!

 

[appreciateyouradvice]

Have to admit, PS makes us think "BIGGER BIGGER BIGGER!"

Maybe it's an American thing? I don't know if people in other countries are as obsessed with big bling. In Japan the tendency is to go for best color/clarity possible and sacrifice on size.

 

[tyty333]

I also think it depends on the style of the setting. Kenny wears a tension setting that is more of a low profile. You could
also go bigger with a low bezel set ring. But a high set 4 or 6 prong is either going to bother some people or not bother other
people depending on their everyday activities.

 

[geckodani]

The size of the diamond wouldn't make any difference in terms of practicality. The setting would make a difference, though. I wouldn't wear any diamond to the gym or doing house or yard work. So to work, shopping, out to eat, etc., if wouldn't matter if it was one carat or 5.

Aside from budget, the size diamond one chooses more often has to do with the social circle and family. I wouldn't feel comfortable wearing 2 cts. because no one around me on a daily basis has more than a carat or so. For the amount spent on my stone, I could have had two carats in a lower color or clarity, but I chose the maximum size I'd feel comfortable with and went higher in color and clarity.

The setting is definitely going to make more of a difference in terms of practicality. Don't get anything encrusted with pave if you're a klutz like me.

I think any size stone bezeled constitutes the most practical setting out there, IMO.

 

[Circe]

Well ... my e-ring is 1.5, and that's never gotten in my way ... and before I had that, I wore an 8 carat piece of rough on one hand and a 6 carat piece of rough on the other, and those didn't either (and I work with my hands, rock-climb, and am generally active). I do think that budget and social circle are bigger factors than sheer wieldiness ....

Wait... really?? Do you have pictures?

Heh, yep, and I think I've posted them at odd points in the past! They "face up" considerably smaller - I think if they were cut, they'd end up in the three-four carat range (both are roundish, like pearls). Will see if I can hunt down the pics and post a new thread in SMTB, if you like.

 

[slg47]

Well ... my e-ring is 1.5, and that's never gotten in my way ... and before I had that, I wore an 8 carat piece of rough on one hand and a 6 carat piece of rough on the other, and those didn't either (and I work with my hands, rock-climb, and am generally active). I do think that budget and social circle are bigger factors than sheer wieldiness ....

Wait... really?? Do you have pictures?

Heh, yep, and I think I've posted them at odd points in the past! They "face up" considerably smaller - I think if they were cut, they'd end up in the three-four carat range (both are roundish, like pearls). Will see if I can hunt down the pics and post a new thread in SMTB, if you like.

please do post pictures! do you still have these?

 

[rosetta]

My 1 carat is my daily ring.

It gets enough attention in the uk.

 

[LGK]

3.55ct here, it's in a secure, incredibly low (like culet is maybe 1-2mm off my finger) bezel setting. I wear it 24/7 and I don't bang it into things any more than my original ~0.20ct diamond. That is to say, yes, I bang it into things sometimes!

It does get attention, but then, it kinda blends in with the whole not-so-subtle style I tend to have... I would say I get strangers commenting on the diamond about as much as my larger tattoos. (That is- if I'm at work, and my tattoos are showing and I'm wearing my ring, I usually have a couple of conversations a day about either jewelry or ink, lol.) The stone is kinda OTT but then, subtle isn't my style so it doesn't really faze me. Regardless of income most of my friends/family either have a plain wedding band or a less than a quarter carat diamond. So mine is a bit out of place. Most of them are used to me though and don't give me crap about except in a loving manner, haha

So yeah, you can pretty much go with whatever it is that works with your style, that makes you happy. Wearability isn't really a factor. Also after you've owned a diamond for awhile it kind of just becomes part of your hand and you don't think about it much or see it as large, no matter the size I think.

 

[Dreamer_D]

My 1 carat is my daily ring.

It gets enough attention in the uk.

When do you wear your three-stone? It is really criminal not to wear that every day you know. I am putting you under citizen's arrest.

 

[slg47]

My 1 carat is my daily ring.

It gets enough attention in the uk.

When do you wear your three-stone? It is really criminal not to wear that every day you know. I am putting you under citizen's arrest.

I am in agreement with Dreamer on this one!

 

[rosetta]

My 1 carat is my daily ring.

It gets enough attention in the uk.

When do you wear your three-stone? It is really criminal not to wear that every day you know. I am putting you under citizen's arrest.

I am in agreement with Dreamer on this one!

LOL ladies!

I'm afraid it I can't wear it at work, both because my employer would not be happy, and because I often have to give bad news to patients and a big ring just doesn't seem very discrete.

I do wear it at home and when going out. I must admit it doesn't get the use it should but I do love looking at it golum-fashion every day

 

[hisboatmyring]

LOL ladies!

I'm afraid it I can't wear it at work, both because my employer would not be happy, and because I often have to give bad news to patients and a big ring just doesn't seem very discrete.

I do wear it at home and when going out. I must admit it doesn't get the use it should but I do love looking at it golum-fashion every day

Im glad Im not the only one who does this. I told my FI i wanted to get "My Precious" engraved on the inside.

 

[lovemydiamond]

It kind of depends on the job situation too. My engagemnet ring has a 3 ct. center stone and 1.6 cttw. side stones on the setting. I felt very comfortable to wearing it every day at my old job because I had been there for a few years and people knew me well. They wouldn't change their opinions about my work quality just because what kind of ring that I am wearing. I just relocated to a different state and started at a new place. It is a similar job at a comparable company that pays about the same. However, since I am new, I don't want my colleagues or my boss to think that I am not going to work hard because my husband is doing well. Therefore, I only wear my wedding band. I want to give it a bit time to let people know me first (maybe a year) and start wearing my engagement ring together with my wedding band again.

LMD

 

[luv2sparkle]

I wear a 2.57 every day. I am a SAHM, and the only time I take it off is for serious cleaning, like scouring sinks or cleaning bathrooms.
I wear it to the gym if I am just on the treadmill or elliptical. I could probably wear bigger, but this size seems perfect to me
for everyday wear.

As a side note, the other day I stopped in a Panera to pick up some bread and I saw a woman with her granddaughter who had
a diamond the size of a nickel! No kidding! I was whispering under my breath for DH to look. I wished she seemed like the kind
of woman who wouldn't mind a stranger grabbing her hand and oohing and ahhing over her ring, but she wasn't. I don't know
how she managed to wear it every day, but it was the biggest stone I have ever seen in real life. In my little town!!!!!

 

[motherof3inct]

I recently upgraded from a 1.05 to a 2.01 carat solitaire. I haven't noticed a difference at all. I wear it 24/7, except when I shower. My favorite time to wear it is at the gym, something about the overhead lights make it sparkle like crazy. I can see it twinkling back at me in the mirror during gym classes. I stare at it while doing push ups. I do move it to my right hand when I do weights. My wedding band is a bit high and presses against the prongs on my e-ring. I am hoping that doesn't cause problems in the future.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I recently upgraded from a 1.05 to a 2.01 carat solitaire. I haven't noticed a difference at all. I wear it 24/7, except when I shower. My favorite time to wear it is at the gym, something about the overhead lights make it sparkle like crazy. I can see it twinkling back at me in the mirror during gym classes. I stare at it while doing push ups. I do move it to my right hand when I do weights. My wedding band is a bit high and presses against the prongs on my e-ring. I am hoping that doesn't cause problems in the future.

Hi, just wanted to tell you that we've seen many rings ruined that way! So if your wedding band is too high, you need to use a thin spacer band between the two rings. Here's an example someone posted the other day:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/25977586/platinum-sol