Where did you start and where are you now?

[Mayk]

Too many threads to count but there are many of us who have made numerous changes to our beloved e-ring. How long did it take you and how many changes "IF" you can count them all to find "the one" or "the one for now"?

My first e-ring was purchased in San Francisco July 2010. It was a mistake of the novice non PS informed shopper. It was a 1.25 ct EGL Israel (Gasp ) G VS2. An appraisal came back as a J. Round halo 14 kt WG and two bands to match 18 kt WG.

Next I upgraded at the same jeweler to a 1.30 AGS 000 G VS2. Beautiful diamond in a new setting to fit the new diamond in the same style in 18 kt WG. I paid way too much but the diamond was PS worthy... but alas the setting bug set in. .. In February or Mach or April (who can remember) 2011 I sent the ring to Sareen Jewelry to have Adam create a new cushion halo setting and two new diamond bands. $$$$

Then I found the halo was not for me. So off to JbEG for consignment this year and from them I acquired the BGB 2.0 ct SBF AGS 000 I VS2 in a solitaire setting.

Along the way a French cut sapphire band...sold and two platinum matching Sapphire bands from ERD to match the Sareen halo.

I still get the itch for a new setting. A Vatche like DS's but in reality I'm the only one that would know. So I'm trying to be good and be happy.. And so far it's working.

This is a dangerous place. Someone recently asked in a thread when it ends... I hope soon.

This doesn't include my obsessive RHR journey.

 

[braga123]

I am still in the process , so I won't share yet. But, I just wanted to say that is a comforting thread! And that all of your choices were lovely, so at least you got enjoyment out of them and that is worth something.

 

[SB621]

DS did a very similar thread not to long ago: [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/original-e-rings-and-upgrades-comparing-diamond-sizes.188110/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/original-e-rings-and-upgrades-comparing-diamond-sizes.188110/[/URL]


Anyhow here are my upgrades and dress changes:

1- Original Natalie K set with .76RB F SI1 (sorry no info on measurements)
2- Same setting with upgrade 2.08ct RB D SI2 (8.27 x 8.20 x 4.93mm)
3- Reset 2.04ct into VC Emilya Setting
4- Upgrade 5.06ct antique cushion in PLAT Rosebud inspired setting) (5.06ct N/O VS1 10.7 x11.1mm)
5- 5.06ct antique cushion reset into VC Emilya setting

And now I have moved on to several 1-2cts diamond RHR's.

 

[SB621]

This doesn't include my obsessive RHR journey.

Lets discuss the RHR journey! I'm right there with you!

 

[Mayk]

This doesn't include my obsessive RHR journey.

Lets discuss the RHR journey! I'm right there with you!

I think I have OCD-PS. I need therapy!

I missed DS's thread. How the heck did that happen? Thanks for the link!

SB love your recap picture. I should create one of those for myself for therapy.. Called "don't think about it"... You've got to stop somewhere!

 

[Laila619]

Too many changes to count. It's ridiculous!

 

[IE_Princess]

I don't have photos of my first e-ring.

I started with a .24 MRB in a four prong 14K YG solitaire. No official stats on it, but estimated by one jeweler as G/VS2. I wore it for 23 years ...

Two years ago we remade a diamond ring given to me by my grandmother; the jeweler basically cut the head off her big 80s RHR and soldered it to a wide gold band to make an e-ring. Appraised as a I-J/I1, the stone was never a beauty. I wore it for 16 months or so.


Earlier this year DH let me know that I could help him choose a pretty ring for my anniversary. He was thinking RHR, but we ended up going with a new e-ring. We bought it in May, and he made me WAIT for it. So in June I bought a 1.41 N/VS2 OEC and had that set in a 14K WG double prong cathedral setting, and I wore it until August. (It is now in earrings with a matched diamond.)


In August he gifted me with my current e-ring, an estimated 2.60 CT GIA L/SI1 antique cushion in a vintage setting.


Right now I also have a "back-up" e-ring, a 1.09 CT O-P/VS1 OEC in a vintage setting. I break the rules and sleep in it.

 

[diamondringlover]

No real pictures but here is my journey...got engaged Dec 24, 1983

1. original ring was a small band of poorly cut round rubies and diamonds (4 rubies, 3 diamonds) set in 10K..my wedding band was a 6mm yellow and white gold engraved band 14K

2. dec 1984, i was pregnant with my first son (he was born dec 26) he have me a .18 ct round diamond, no cert or stats but if I had to guess I would say H/I, SI2, I wore it with my wide band

3. some time around 1991 I had the small diamond and the ruby and diamond band merged into 1 ring...channel set of course as it was the style then..wore it with my wide band till around 1992 then hubby surprised me with a channel set band of poorly cut diamonds .33ct..stats are probably H-I, I1 and I2..i love that band at the time, I wore this up until around 1997-1998

4. I outgrew my rings..they could not be sized up anymore (I got too fat ugh) so I wore CZ's until I could justify spending the money to get new rings.

5. Dec 2001, hubby bought me my current 1 ct princess cut and a diamond ring wrap to go with it, I wore that wrap up until april 2008 when I bought my current 5 stone ring...so now I wear the 1 ct princess with either my 5 stone or a plain gold band

Am I done? I don't really know yet..there is a lot going on in my life that I am not sure I want to pursue any further upgrades and or changes. My rings will stay as is until I figure out if I am really going to stay married or not.

 

[yennyfire]

This photo tells the tale. I've come a LOOONNNGGG way on PS! Am I done?? You bet! Other than wanting a larger center stone for the 3 stone ring (which ain't happening because it would destroy an expensive setting), I am completely thrilled with my little collection!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Mary, I had to laugh when you said you might like my Vatche setting, because when I get a new setting for the AVR, that setting will be available! And since you already have my Memoire band, well, I think that would be really funny for you to end up with my e-ring setting, too! I loved a MRB in that setting, but I want an antique style setting for the AVR. I am so determined to make a final, forever setting choice, that I almost cannot decide!

 

[Mayk]

Mary, I had to laugh when you said you might like my Vatche setting, because when I get a new setting for the AVR, that setting will be available! And since you already have my Memoire band, well, I think that would be really funny for you to end up with my e-ring setting, too! I loved a MRB in that setting, but I want an antique style setting for the AVR. I am so determined to make a final, forever setting choice, that I almost cannot decide!

I'm the first in line! Can you wait until the house is done so DH doesn't string me up? Better said... Take your time

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Mary, I had to laugh when you said you might like my Vatche setting, because when I get a new setting for the AVR, that setting will be available! And since you already have my Memoire band, well, I think that would be really funny for you to end up with my e-ring setting, too! I loved a MRB in that setting, but I want an antique style setting for the AVR. I am so determined to make a final, forever setting choice, that I almost cannot decide!

I'm the first in line! Can you wait until the house is done so DH doesn't string me up? Better said... Take your time

Lol!!! I am not even close to deciding, so I think you are safe!

 

[junebug17]

I got engaged in 1983 with a .33 diamond in yellow gold - I don't think I ever knew the stats lol. Lost the ring in the house in the mid 90's (am still wondering what the heck happened to it). Alternated wearing an anniversary band and a few ebay vintage rings for quite a few years. In 2009 got a new wedding set with a 1 carat GIA VS2 stone


After a few years DSS reared its ugly head and I got a beautiful 1.96 J OEC in an antique setting from JbEG


Loved the ring so much, but started to feel the setting didn't always do my stone justice in some lighting conditions so I reset into a Simon G vintage style halo. I love it and am definitely done!

 

[Daisyoz]

I got engaged in 1983 with a .33 diamond in yellow gold - I don't think I ever knew the stats lol. Lost the ring in the house in the mid 90's (am still wondering what the heck happened to it). Alternated wearing an anniversary band and a few ebay vintage rings for quite a few years. In 2009 got a new wedding set with a 1 carat GIA VS2 stone

I love both your wedding set and final e ring. Where did you get your wedding set Junebug?

 

[Enerchi]

I bought my own engagement ring back in 1984 - .33 marquise in YG. I'm sure colour is J/K/L and clarity has to be in the SI or less category. But hey --- what did we know back then, right?!

Shown here with my original WG and my grandmothers platinum single cut 1/2 eternity.

Then I bought myself a platinum princess solitaire around our 20/21st year. 1.06 (or is it 1.09?) F and can't remember other details! (shame on me... ) set in platinum.

no hand shots and this is shown before it was dismantled to become a 3 stone.

Next came the terrible ring that lead me to PS. I used the above centre stone, and purchased 2 side stones and had it made into this custom "mistake" by a local jeweller who bills himself as one of the top of the line stores in this city. HA! I think not...

Also shown w my original YG WB and my grandmothers plat WB

Finally --- I had the stones removed and this is what I now wear as my ER. BGD made this and I now wear it with my princess bar set eternity from IDJ.


Not to say I'm 'done'...

 

[GreenBling]

It all started in 1996 and it is an ongoing process. So far went through 4 stones 7 settings. Three things are consistent throughout: RB, solitaire, white gold.

1. 1ct 6-prong solitaire. Did not have a clue about diamonds then. bought at a major chain. It fitted the budget and was a full carat. That was all that mattered until I started getting bothered by the tint and dullness. (Around 6 years).

2. Upgraded to a GIA G. (Around 4 years).

3. 1.2F ExExVg. Wanted more finger coverage but couldn't upgrade a second time as per upgrade policy so bought another stone and this time a B&M recommended by a relative. First setting was simple 6-prong knife edge solitaire. Second, a 4 prong low set solitaire with very thick 4mm-ish tappered shank, very sheek modern look which i loved. The one drawback was the thick and heavy shank made the stone looked small. Third setting was 4 prong solitaire with thinner shank. Meanwhile the former (or second) stone, the 1ct G was made into pendant then stud after finding her twin. (Around 7 years)

4. 2.36 AGS0 I SI1. Just got it last Sep. First setting was Tiffany inspired 6 prongs now reset into double 4 prong. This was my very first time purchasing diamond online. Also first AGS experience. Over a year now, still loving both the diamond and setting. The 1.2F is now in a square halo. But i am contemplating resetting it into a 5-stone graduated ring or a bezel pendant.

This is not end of the journey yet. DH anticipates upgrade in the future and i suspect another setting before that happens.

 

[AprilBaby]

First ring 1979; .35round in plain gold solitaire setting with matching band.

Now; three stone ring, .42aca/ 1.21/.42aca with a 2.3 ct ACA eternity band.

 

[marcy]

Great thread idea and fun to read everyone's upgrades.

My ering was a .25 ctw with a .15 ct center diamond and 6 diamond accents
Wedding rings were matching bands - mine had "canhard" diamonds (can hardly see them) - it was a thin band with diamond chips
We got the .06 ctw ring guard the following Christmas that went with the ering

12 years later got a .33 ctw channel set anniversary band to wear with ering and ring guard (I don't have a picture of that)

For our 16th anniversary I upgraded to a .53 F AGS0 and a .33 ctw PC wedding set

10 months later found I missed the anniversary band so got a .30 ctw 3 stone ring for the 1/2 ct diamond and a 1/2 ctw anniversary band

For our 20th anniversary decided I wanted a bigger center diamond. We got a 3/4 ct GIA EX but I thought it still blended in with 3 stone ring so I ended up changin
g my rings to a solitaire and a different 1/2 ctw anniversary band

8 months later I traded the 3/4 ct diamond for a 1.03 AGS0 keeping the same rings

 

[Rhea]

I've had the same .47ct e-ring with tapered bag sides in 14K white gold for 10 1/2 yrs now. No changes to it. My original w-rings were a 4mm flat topped titanium band, and a 5mm vintage platinum filigree ring with a high dome and 11 little diamonds studded around it. Neither wedding band was bought to wear with the e-ring and both looked terrible and clashed with my e-ring. That eventually bugged me some because both hands were taken and blinged out. So I bought more!

My e-ring remains the biggest at .47ct but I also have: 1/3ct tranny with sap half moon sides in WG filigree setting, an engraved orange blossom ring, an eternity ring with alternating bags and round diamonds, a Cartier trinity ring, and a 2mm palladium wedding ring. The orange blossom ring, eternity ring, and plain palladium ring all go with my e-ring so I have a matching set for days I feel like a set. And 3 different looks!

So I have the 3 original engagement and wedding rings and also own 1 other diamond engagement style ring and 4 other wedding style rings. 8 total rings. Not bad going! If I could do it over, I would, and have a more stream-lined collection to start out with.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Oh I have quite a few steps in my path

(1) My original e-ring, which I still own, was a 0.90ct sapphire. My husband picked it and designed it himself after I told him what I wanted.



(2) Around the time I found PS about 6 years ago, I reset my sapphire into a three stone. This was a lovely ring, I would have kept it if I could have afforded to have it AND my dream larger round. But, 'twas not to be. The sapphire is back in its original mount now.



(3) On the left is my first diamond engagement ring: .80ct J VS2 and 6.1mm, from Whiteflash.

(4) Middle is my 1.16ct K Si1 upgrade, which was 6.8mm, also from Whiteflash.

(5) Not pictured is a 1.20ct G Si2 that I got from BGD and only had a very short time. It was not eye clean to me and was not a good choice for an upgrade

(6) Then on the left is my 1.67ct J VS1 upgrade from BGD, which was 7.65mm. From my first diamond to this one was about 3.5 years of upgrades that were about once per year.



I sold that 1.67ct stone when diamond prices went sky high in the Fall of 2011. And then began a very fun and strange diamond journey in the next 18 months!

(7) First I bought a big blingy band pre-loved. I love this look. But in the end I am a solitaire gal. Sold this. Pictured with the number (9) ring, a 0.91ct old cut that was the second old cut I bought on ebay.



( The first old cut I bought was a 0.80ct H VS2. I wore it for a few months and then my mom's fiance bought it and she has worn it ever since! I am happy its still in the family.



(10) Then I found this lovely three stone, also on ebay. Center 1.39ct and sides 0.80ct each. I tried very hard to love this ring. But it needed a reset, and the sides were cushions and the center a round, and the classic OEC center was not my dream patterning... so this one moved along in the bling continuum. I also realized I love big diamonds (for me, that means 8mm+) and nothing will change that.



(11) And finally my precious, which I have had since July 2012. My 1.89ct K Si1 American Cut (circa 1930s), 8mm in a platinum, die struck bezel mount that gives the ring an 8.7mm hand presence. I think this is the longest I have owned a single ring! I had my 1.16 K Si1 (#4) for almost as long. I adore this ring, and although I think about a reset for variety, for now I am very happy with my One Ring.

 

[junebug17]

[I love both your wedding set and final e ring. Where did you get your wedding set Junebug?

Thank you Daisyoz, I really appreciate the nice words!! My husband purchased the set in the estate section of a jewelry store in our area.

 

[Catmom]

Where I started way back in 19.....mumble mumble.......a .30ct J VS1 solitaire. The stone was hubby's grandmother's from her wedding set. Where I am today after a journey with a 1.52 ct princess stopover.........A 2.52ct FLY rounded corner radiant.

 

[LLJsmom]

Here goes...

15 years... 1.11 carat, F, VS1, MRB, first ering.



July 2012 - new ring 2.59 carats, F, VS1 MRB (Is it really an e-ring if I still have the old one?)


June 2013 - reset and current


To be really honest, I think I would be perfectly happy with my current ring if I wasn't on PS so often. But, I can't help myself. I LOVE looking at everyone's beautiful bling!! And I find it hard to turn off my brain, to keep it from wanting EVERYTHING out there. My mantra: I will be strong...

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

I was engaged with a MRB, a 1.46 ctw solitaire of high color and clarity, wore it for 20 years and now I have a 3 stone ER comprised of completely different shapes. Although I have no plans to change rings at this moment, if I did it would be to divest myself of my present large ER and wear only my eternity ring and assorted colored stone rings and wedding bands.

cheers--Sharon

 

[lambskin]

I admire you all and your changes. For my entire lifetime I dreamed of certain settings and stones and for the most part my tastes have not changed. For my ER I have an oval with baguettes set in plat. I would never change. However, my ruby (oval with two side pear diamonds set in yellow gold) would love to upgrade. I really wanted a 3-4 ct cushion but I went for quality and picked a 2ct stone which is an oval which is smaller than my ER so it looks small. Same with my blue sapphire-it is a square cut with two side princess set in a thick plat setting. I really wanted a round set with two round diamonds but again I went for size, no heat but it is a little dark. I have a baguette eternity -all the way around channel set in plat which I have really abused-cracking diamonds with heavy wear. I would now rather have a rounds all the way around. My emerald is perfect-an EC set with a pair of EC diamonds set in plat. My desires for stone upgrades and new settings is hindered by gold prices and rising gem prices. So I guess I would not upgrade but get something new as the cost of settings are so high I would not want to 'waste' the current setting. Be that as it may, I really want to thank you all for your appreciation for OEC in vintage settings. I have my Grandma's ring (1920s) that was so not my style for years and thought about selling it for another diamond. But I never got around to it and now would not change it based on your posts and information. Thank you.

 

[heididdl]

Got engaged in 1986 with a 1 carat pear shape with size square cut diamonds three on each side of the solitaire. The stone came from Fortunoff's as my mother in law is Helene Fortunoff's first cousin. I have no idea of the stats of that stone .

Fast forward 5 years. I saw this trillion 1.66 in a setting that looked like half a jewish star. I had the pear made into a necklace and it was later stolen .

Fast forward to 2001 just after 9/11 I lost my mother to brain cancer and inhereted her magnificant 3.66 emerald ring in platinum. I am back and forth about resetting her but my sisters would freak so I keep it as is.

I just keep buying stackables for days that I don't feel like wearing a big honker and enjoy changing the stackables

 

[hathalove]

Bump. Any new stories out there?

 

[Gypsy]

First setting: Ingore my questionable taste in nail fashions (did I really wear those claws once upon a time, and what was I thinking!). I blame the Jersey air. 2004


Maytal Hannah halo with one point single cuts 2007:



Current (and final) 2011:
Steven Kirch Halo (on the original Maytal Hannah shank) with 1/2 point full cut melee :




Fun thread!

 

[CRYSTAL24K]

Interesting thread. Lovely rings, ladies!I just joined PS b/c I am in the process of researching a 10 year anniversary upgrade. I suspect that I will have much to add to this thread in the next few years! Thank you for sharing!

 

[Resonance.Of.Life]

2011: 1.07 AVC J I1 (totally eye clean)




2012: 3.48 O/P VS2 Antique Cushion




2013: 4.00 J VS 1 Antique Cushion



2014: I will probably downgrade in size, no new stone yet, but we will see The 4 carat was really big!