changing engagement ring setting

[missy]

Hi everyone,

I am new to this forum and am impressed by all the knowledgeable and helpful people here.
I am currently in the middle of a small dilemma and I am unsure as to what to do.

I have a shared prong platinum eternity wedding band (10 point stones all around).
My first engagment ring setting (I am now on my second and going to a third) was platinum and a solitaire in style.

BTW I am not sure if I am using the terms correctly so I apologise in advance. I really don''t know too much about this and I am trying to educate myself. Anyway, the engagment diamond was just too low in the first setting so after about 2 years we changed it based on the recommendation of my mom''s friend who is a jeweler. She insisted that 18K white gold was the way to go and I let her (foolishly, my fault 100%) pick the setting. So my second engagement ring setting (and the one I have now) is 18 K white gold with 2 begets surrounding the main stone. My diamond is a 2.93 carat G, VS2. So I have lived with this setting for about 2 years and I do not care for it. It is just not my style with the begets and all.

Now I am determined to make this 3rd setting my last one and I have been doing lots of reading and I have finally decided what I want and that is a shared prong eternity engagment ring setting in Platinum to match my wedding ring. There is 1 major problem though and sorry this post is so long. My fingers change size quite a bit as I have Raynaud''s and other issues. In the heat it can be pretty bad but my major worry is over the years that my fingers will increas in width making it impossible to resize my ring(s) which will be diamonds all around just like my wedding band.

My e ring is size 5.75 and too tight. My w ring is 6 and a bit tight but what the new jeweler determined to be my current ring size. I am concerned if I order the new e ring setting and my fingers continue this upward spiral (inevitable I am afraid based on the last few years history) I will be stuck redoing my ring(s) again. I have read about sizing beads on this forum and wanted to know if anyone had any thoughts about that. Is that a good idea, is it possible and are there any other alternatives? I was thinkin gof ordering a 6.25 full or 6.5 and putting in sizing beads (if it can even be done) and taking it from there. It is my understanding that you cannot resize an eternity band very much at all. maybe .25-.5 max if even that so I really need some ideas!

Thanks so much for reading all of this and sorry if it is a bit confusing. I am driving my poor husband mad with all of this and I really would appreciate some input. We are doing the redo of my e ring for my bday present in August and I so want it to last!

Thanks again everyone and best wishes,
Missy

PS I just love your forum it is so great! Especially all the beautiful rings that everyone has. I loved the thread where everyone showed all their rings. Breathtaking!!

 

[neatfreak]

I''m going to be the one who says it, but if your fingers will change a lot over the coming years an eternity band is not the way to go. That being said, there are many options/inserts like sizing beads, horseshoe sizers, etc. that you can put in to change the size of an eternity band a bit, but not a ton. And IMO none are terribly comfortable for the long haul. Instead could you get maybe a 3/4 eternity that could be resized more easily down the road when you need it to be?

 

[luvmyhalo]

Welcome to PS

I recently re-set my diamond into an eternity style setting. It has a small sizing bar in the back so it can be sized if need be. I don''t have any experience with beads or horseshoes but I know there are many on here that do. Have you done a search using either of those terms? I think there are several threads. I''ll see if I can find some.

 

[luvmyhalo]

This looks like a good one...

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/whats-your-experience-with-bumps-on-the-inside-of-the-ring.76529/

 

[dennyr]

Finger sizes can change as much as a half size during the day so it is important to get an average size by having your finger sized several times. We also find that the finger sizing tools that different jewelers use and vary ¼ to ½ finger size so it is good idea to get it sized several places. Fingers are different shapes with some folks having larger knuckles that dictate finger size and some have larger fingers behind the knuckle that dictate the finger size. The width of the ring can also affect what finger size feels most comfortable.

Rings with diamonds all the way around are very difficult to resize so leaving a space at the bottom with just metal is good advice, especially if you expect your fingers to be changing in the months and years ahead. With metal at the bottom, it also makes the ring more comfortable when you close your hand and avoids the problems that can occur with diamonds on the bottom when you grab metal objects with your hand.

 

[missy]

Thanks for the welcome and all the advice.

So if I leave a bit of metal at the bottom it is possible to increase the size much more easily? My husband thought that it would still be difficult because the integrity of the ring might be compromised.

I would be OK with having the stones go 3/4 the way around if that would allow me to get this type of engagement ring setting to go with my wedding band. Of course that still leaves the problem of my wedding band which is a size 6 and it is too late to change that as I got that in 2004 when we got married. Is there anything I can do retroactively now to the w ring to perhaps make it easier to adjust in the future? Is it possible to remove some of my stones from it (

) and make that 3/4 also or is it too late in that it would be too damaging to the ring since it is already an eternity band?

Thanks for your help!

Missy

 

[missy]

Thanks luvmyhalo.
I read the thread you linked me to and it was helpful.

It seems as if maybe I could just size my ring up and add the "bumps" or something like that and hope my finger doesn''t increase in the future more than I have sized the ring to be.
Alternatively I could follow the advice to do diamonds 3/4 the way around and make it easier for sizing in the future but I am still not sure how that affect the integrity of the ring regarding shape and stone security etc.

 

[missy]

I just spoke with Quest jewelers in Va and they said they can resize eternity rings (ie diamonds all the way around) because they have this special laser (laser welding machine) that allows them to do that without interfering with the integrity of the diamonds. Does anyone have any experience with this?

Thanks again,
Missy

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I would really recommend not going with the type ring you are considering if you expect your ring size to change. I think resizing can compromise the setting of an eternity ring, and I just wouldn''t risk it. Some people who have done two eternities with larger stones have said that their diamond sort of blended in to the bling of the bands. Do think about that before you make a final decision.

 

[Gypsy]

I would definitely not go with an eternity band if you have finger size issues. That said, if you are set on this course. I''ve been looking at Memoire bands recently and they have some of the best quality (and nicest looking) shared prong rings on the market.

They also have: a full current market value purchase price buy back policy and a re-sizing policy that basically gives you a new setting with the same diamonds in it for a few hundred dollars. So if I were you, I''d go with this super high quality designer for your setting, and feel confident that they will stand behind their products. Or you can get a larger ring and put in a sizer, then you can take the sizers out, and put them it back in, as needed.

All that aside. I personally would not go full eternity with the finger size concerns you have. There are other lovely options.

 

[missy]

Thanks Diamond Seeker and Gypsy.
So do you think if I go 3/4 the way around that is a good option for resizing potential down the road?
I am definitely considering this option and would appreciate any feedback.


Missy

 

[Odilia]

I agree with everyone else, I would not go full eternity if I have sizing issues. For your wedding band, you might try one of those horseshoe sizers.

 

[Gypsy]

Missy, I would go to your nearest Memoire dealer and take a look at their rings. If you like them, then ask them what their advice is, or call Pearlmans Jewelers and ask them about the Memorie and sizing and ask their advice. Other than Mark Morrell''s (a designer on here) set like another poster on this board named Jadeleaves, I would not get a shared prong type set (with both bands being all diamonds) from anyone else.

 

[rainydaze]

Date: 6/9/2008 7:48:25 PM
Author: missy
Thanks Diamond Seeker and Gypsy.
So do you think if I go 3/4 the way around that is a good option for resizing potential down the road?
I am definitely considering this option and would appreciate any feedback.


Missy

hi missy - a while back (almost a year?) i had spoken with Bill Pearlman about having memoire make a 3/4 eternity, and getting a quote. they looked into it and memoire could do it, and they were able to give me a price. i definitely say give them (Pearlman''s) a call and talk with them about it!

 

[missy]

Thanks for all your advice and I will check it out.

I am just loving all the scrumptious pictures of diamonds on this board