How does it FEEL to wear a door-knocker?

[Indylady]

For those of you with big diamonds - how does it feel to wear it?

Powerful? Sexy? Fun?

Awkward? Does it ever feel like too much? Any uncomfortable comments?

I won’t define ‘big’ as that can really vary by culture and circumstance, but let’s just say, something that feels big to you or where you are.

I used to be all about color and cut. I don’t know if this is a product of getting older or what, but lately I have been lusting over a big ole’ iceberg of a ring. The idea of getting one feels super exciting, but I’m slightly scared to commit the $$ to a piece that’s way bigger than my usual. Curious to hear your thoughts!

 

[Mreader]

My stone is just under 4ct so many would consider it a door knocker. To me and I guess this is because of being on PS and also DSS it just looks normal on my hand. My original earring now looks small. I also rotate rings a lot so I’m not constantly wearing it. I just love the stone and love gazing at it so it’s more for that rather than feeling powerful or whatever. It just feels natural! I would love to hear what others say though.

 

[AprilBaby]

My jewelers wife had a 3 ct solitaire I always thought looked like a door knocker. She had size 3 finger. Now I have a 3 ct but mine is size 8. It does not look like one to me. Shrinkage is real at any size.

 

[Piper70]

I felt this way in my mid 30’s. DH was not on board with an upgrade so I got a lovely 3 stone RHR. Fast forward to our 20th anniversary and I got a 4.3 ct fy with a white diamond halo. It is large for where I live but I enjoy wearing it. I have large hands so that may or may not have been my excuse.

 

[Mrsz1ppy]

I recently got a 5.62 ct OEC from SinCityFinds. I’ve always thought a 3 ct was a great size for my ‘man’ hands, but I really love this bigger stone. I guess I’ve got DSS? It’s early days, but I don’t feel self-conscious yet. Now that the evenings are drawing in early, I really am enjoying the cut!

 

[Mreader]

I recently got a 5.62 ct OEC from SinCityFinds. I’ve always thought a 3 ct was a great size for my ‘man’ hands, but I really love this bigger stone. I guess I’ve got DSS? It’s early days, but I don’t feel self-conscious yet. Now that the evenings are drawing in early, I really am enjoying the cut!

Whoa! I remember that amazing stone! Beautiful!

 

[lulu_ma]

I recently got a 5.62 ct OEC from SinCityFinds. I’ve always thought a 3 ct was a great size for my ‘man’ hands, but I really love this bigger stone. I guess I’ve got DSS? It’s early days, but I don’t feel self-conscious yet. Now that the evenings are drawing in early, I really am enjoying the cut!

Looks great on your hand!

 

[lulu_ma]

My stone is just under 4ct so many would consider it a door knocker. To me and I guess this is because of being on PS and also DSS it just looks normal on my hand. My original earring now looks small. I also rotate rings a lot so I’m not constantly wearing it. I just love the stone and love gazing at it so it’s more for that rather than feeling powerful or whatever. It just feels natural! I would love to hear what others say though.

+1. I just love the chunky facets of my stone. I will wear MM even when I'm working from home. But I do enjoy the variety of rotating her with a couple of other rings.

@Indylady what cut are you considering?

 

[Mrsz1ppy]

Looks great on your hand!

Thank you kindly! And thank you, @Mreader!

 

[monarch64]

Love this thread—it’s a great question and I’m glad to see people answering honestly (it seems!)

Long ago I had a 1.5 ct RB solitaire and in my hometown that was just unheard of. But I lived in the near west ‘burbs of Chicago at the time and 1.5 was nothing. Among our circle it was larger than the other 1 carat solitaires and my ex husband was really proud of that, but he and all the other guys had to finance those rings. Idk if that matters to OP but I’m putting it out there. I was in my early-mid 20s at the time, the guys and other women were 30+.

When I visited my hometown and family, I got a lot of comments but only from those in our circle who knew what it was. I’m fairly sure everyone else in town assumed my ring was fake. That’s just how it was.

I missed wearing that ring. I kept it after the divorce but sold it. Got another solitaire for my 2nd marriage that I didn’t want; a 1.3 oval solitaire. (I asked specifically for an emerald like the one in my avatar ahead of both engagements when THEY asked what I liked.) I was told by that ex that it was “large enough to be respectable but not ostentatious.” It was clear that only his opinion and that of his friends mattered, not mine.

So wearing both of them sucked, mostly. I don’t think my feelings would be different no matter what carat my diamonds had been. It had everything to do with the men and their egos, and little to do with the rings.

Some of the attention felt good, from well-intentioned sources. But that’s anything in life. You know who means well and who isn’t very nice/is a wolf in sheep’s clothing when you get a little world experience.

One more thing: there was once a member here on Pricescope with the username “Doorknob Solitaire.” She was so kind. This thread title reminded me of her…I hope she is well, wherever she may be.

 

[mrs-b]

My center stone is just over 4ct. You can probably make out what I thought of that, size-wise, by the fact that I felt the need to add another 2.25ctw of side stones!

I feel like my ring fits my hand. No more and no less. My finger is a size 6.75 - but I like my rings very loose and have an auto immune disease that often causes swelling, so I get them made in a 7.25. 95% of the time, the head immediately swings to the underside of my finger, and then nobody sees them - door-knocker or no! I don't care tho - I just add a band or two and it tightens it right up! Either way, it never feels inappropriate or too much, and I'm thinking about turning it into a 5 stone and ditching the wedding band when I wear it.

I also wear smaller rings, and really want a 2ctw 3 stone as well. I think they're elegant and equally beautiful. I just love them all and none of them make me feel either ostentatious or hardly done-by. Wear what you love.

 

[Mrsz1ppy]

My center stone is just over 4ct. You can probably make out what I thought of that, size-wise, by the fact that I felt the need to add another 2.25ctw of side stones!

I feel like my ring fits my hand. No more and no less. My finger is a size 6.75 - but I like my rings very loose and have an auto immune disease that often causes swelling, so I get them made in a 7.25. 95% of the time, the head immediately swings to the underside of my finger, and then nobody sees them - door-knocker or no! I don't care tho - I just add a band or two and it tightens it right up! Either way, it never feels inappropriate or too much, and I'm thinking about turning it into a 5 stone and ditching the wedding band when I wear it.

I also wear smaller rings, and really want a 2ctw 3 stone as well. I think they're elegant and equally beautiful. I just love them all and none of them make me feel either ostentatious or hardly done-by. Wear what you love.

This. I’ve had so many rings to wear as e-rings. They’ve ranged from .7 to my current honker of 5.62. I love them all, and wear them all happily at the right time. My mother’s upgrade was a 10 ct radiant in the 80s, so I’ve never felt over the top!!!

 

[oncrutchesrightnow]

I used to have a 2 ct MRB and it just didn’t fit with my lifestyle. I now have a 2 ct asscher, which faces up much smaller, and it is just right for those days when I want a larger diamond. But overall the center stones in my diamond rings average 0.5 to 0.6 ct.

Now that LGD are available I see myself buying a larger LGD diamond someday but I do not imagine spending a lot of money on it.

 

[dk168]

My diamond rings do not qualify as door knockers, however, I have CS rings that do.

I don't wear the big cocktail rings on a regular basis as I worry about damaging them as I am very heavy with my hands.

They come out for dressier, more gentil and formal events as they will be quite over the top to wear for casual outings like walking the dog and to go grocery shopping.

Likewise, my 1.19ct EC only comes out for dressier events, as it is too big for daily casual wear.

It is not a door knocker by PS standard, of course; however, it is big in UK and within my social circles.

I have a 0.47ct EC plainly set East-West in a band for daily wear; soon to be joined by a 0.86ct OEC in a Gypsy setting.

I love dressing up for formal events as it means I can bring out my nicer and bigger pieces!

DK

 

[Indylady]

My diamond rings do not qualify as door knockers, however, I have CS rings that do.

I don't wear the big cocktail rings on a regular basis as I worry about damaging them as I am very heavy with my hands.

They come out for dressier, more gentil and formal events as they will be quite over the top to wear for casual outings like walking the dog and to go grocery shopping.

Likewise, my 1.19ct EC only comes out for dressier events, as it is too big for daily casual wear.

It is not a door knocker by PS standard, of course; however, it is big in UK and within my social circles.

I have a 0.47ct EC plainly set East-West in a band for daily wear; soon to be joined by a 0.86ct OEC in a Gypsy setting.

I love dressing up for formal events as it means I can bring out my nicer and bigger pieces!

DK

A fascinating idea that some rings may be over the top for the grocery store! I wonder if I would have similar feelings.

 

[Indylady]

This. I’ve had so many rings to wear as e-rings. They’ve ranged from .7 to my current honker of 5.62. I love them all, and wear them all happily at the right time. My mother’s upgrade was a 10 ct radiant in the 80s, so I’ve never felt over the top!!!

A 10ct radiant?! I cannot even imagine!

ETA - your 5 carat’er is stunning, @Mrsz1ppy

 

[Indylady]

Some of the attention felt good, from well-intentioned sources. But that’s anything in life. You know who means well and who isn’t very nice/is a wolf in sheep’s clothing when you get a little world experience.

@monarch64 - so lovely to see you and to read your stories. +1 on Doorknob Solitaire. I just love the writing on this forum - particularly the quoted bit here

 

[Indylady]

My center stone is just over 4ct. You can probably make out what I thought of that, size-wise, by the fact that I felt the need to add another 2.25ctw of side stones!

I feel like my ring fits my hand. No more and no less. My finger is a size 6.75 - but I like my rings very loose and have an auto immune disease that often causes swelling, so I get them made in a 7.25. 95% of the time, the head immediately swings to the underside of my finger, and then nobody sees them - door-knocker or no! I don't care tho - I just add a band or two and it tightens it right up! Either way, it never feels inappropriate or too much, and I'm thinking about turning it into a 5 stone and ditching the wedding band when I wear it.

I also wear smaller rings, and really want a 2ctw 3 stone as well. I think they're elegant and equally beautiful. I just love them all and none of them make me feel either ostentatious or hardly done-by. Wear what you love.

Love your style and your rings @mrs-b. I love the door knockers, and also agree that a 2cttw is a very graceful doze for a three stone.

 

[seaurchin]

I don't think my diamond solitaire was a doorknocker by PS standards, at a bit under 3 carats. But in my surroundings, it was too much or that's how I felt anyway. Now it's set in a bracelet and doesn't attract much attention that way, which I'm happier with.

 

[mrs-b]

Love your style and your rings @mrs-b. I love the door knockers, and also agree that a 2cttw is a very graceful doze for a three stone.

Hi @Indylady!

This really made me laugh! I'm guessing you meant...."size"?

One of the best typos I've ever seen on PS!!

 

[dk168]

A fascinating idea that some rings may be over the top for the grocery store! I wonder if I would have similar feelings.

Each to their own?

I can't wear the bigger ones out this lot with my normal casual outfit of Hawaiian shirts and shorts in the warmer months, and flannel shirts and thick leggings in the colder months, with Crocs (and waterproof socks in the colder months!), out and about walking the dog and going to grocery shop.

(I need to update the photo as I added to my collection of cocktail rings!)




DK

 

[Indylady]

Hi @Indylady!

This really made me laugh! I'm guessing you meant...."size"?

One of the best typos I've ever seen on PS!!

I did mean size

 

[Indylady]

Each to their own?

I can't wear the bigger ones out this lot with my normal casual outfit of Hawaiian shirts and shorts in the warmer months, and flannel shirts and thick leggings in the colder months, with Crocs (and waterproof socks in the colder months!), out and about walking the dog and going to grocery shop.

(I need to update the photo as I added to my collection of cocktail rings!)




DK

Beautiful rings, DK! I’m ultra casual, especially since I work remotely these days, but I put on all my bling (albeit a bit smaller) for trips to the grocery store! The grocery store is my main place for an outing, so the butcher counter and bakery is where I go in my diamonds

 

[monarch64]

@monarch64 - so lovely to see you and to read your stories. +1 on Doorknob Solitaire. I just love the writing on this forum - particularly the quoted bit here

Oh wow, it’s great to see you as well, @Indylady ! It’s been awhile. Glad you’re posting again.

 

[Peary]

I'd feel self conscious wearing 3+ ct diamond on the ring finger, or even moissanites or cz, if people would assume they're diamonds. I'd be fine with a bigger stone if it were a color gemstone and it was worn on a finger other than the left hand ring finger. I think because I could pass it off as a fun cocktail ring rather than an e-ring.

I like looking at larger rings on other people, like looking at celebs' rings. I guess I much prefer the look of large rings when the ring is online or on other people, but not in real life on myself. For short periods of time in the past, I've gotten cz or moissanites in the 3-4 ct range, worn it on the ring finger like an e-ring, and while I had fun wearing them around the house or working from home, I mostly did not feel comfortable wearing it them out and about. I wasn't worried about safety or anything like getting robbed. Rather, I'd feel uncomfortable if I'm at the grocery store or post office or really anywhere else like work or being served food at a restaurant where I could be interacting in close distance with other women. I'd sometimes turn the ring around so you could only see the band if I'm going to be that close. I really did not like the feeling of having a much larger e-ring than the woman I'm interacting with. Maybe not just women, men too.

Maybe with the hopefully soon, if not already, proliferation of lab diamonds and moissanites, people would start to wear larger rings? Currently, my comfort zone for out and about in real life would probably be a 2-3 ct e-ring.

 

[ringbling17]

I'd feel self conscious wearing 3+ ct diamond on the ring finger, or even moissanites or cz, if people would assume they're diamonds. I'd be fine with a bigger stone if it were a color gemstone and it was worn on a finger other than the left hand ring finger. I think because I could pass it off as a fun cocktail ring rather than an e-ring.

I like looking at larger rings on other people, like looking at celebs' rings. I guess I much prefer the look of large rings when the ring is online or on other people, but not in real life on myself. For short periods of time in the past, I've gotten cz or moissanites in the 3-4 ct range, worn it on the ring finger like an e-ring, and while I had fun wearing them around the house or working from home, I mostly did not feel comfortable wearing it them out and about. I wasn't worried about safety or anything like getting robbed. Rather, I'd feel uncomfortable if I'm at the grocery store or post office or really anywhere else like work or being served food at a restaurant where I could be interacting in close distance with other women. I'd sometimes turn the ring around so you could only see the band if I'm going to be that close. I really did not like the feeling of having a much larger e-ring than the woman I'm interacting with. Maybe not just women, men

This sounds like I wrote it! I feel exactly the same way. I have a 3 carat and I have hidden it or turned it around at work bc my diamond was bigger than my co-workers. I feel very self conscious if it is bigger but I also still love my diamond so much.
I do notice I’m not as “embarassed” to wear it at the other hospital where I work bc many of the nurses there have big engagement rings and/or the quality seems very good. There is even someone there who wears 4 carats.
But at my main hospital most of the nurses I work with have smaller mall type engagement rings. A few have the illusion type sets where they have four diamonds to make it look like one bigger one.
I don’t want them to think am showing off my ring when I work with them.

 

[ringbling17]

 

[ItsMainelyYou]

I love seeing the perspectives. I want to read more! I don't have any doorknockers, not because I care particularly what anyone thinks, but because of my own peculiarities. I have a set perception parameter for my own hand(s)-and oddly only my own hand. The ratio must be right, it is self limiting and it makes no matter if CS/diamond. It's annoying.
Also, I'm super curious how other people avoid bonking their rocks off every table and door jamb, or getting them caught in things. Is it always conscious? Do you adjust?

 

[Piper70]

I love seeing the perspectives. I want to read more! I don't have any doorknockers, not because I care particularly what anyone thinks, but because of my own peculiarities. I have a set perception parameter for my own hand(s)-and oddly only my own hand. The ratio must be right, it is self limiting and it makes no matter if CS/diamond. It's annoying.
Also, I'm super curious how other people avoid bonking their rocks off every table and door jamb, or getting them caught in things. Is it always conscious? Do you adjust?

I had mine reset and it sits higher now so I think I’m a little more careful with it and don’t wear it when I could bang it on something. Maybe that’s why I feel less self conscious about wearing it out because I want to enjoy it. I will say that my ring is huge for where I live but not many people mention it. Now I’m wondering if people don’t realize it’s real. Lol

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

Love this thread—it’s a great question and I’m glad to see people answering honestly (it seems!)

Long ago I had a 1.5 ct RB solitaire and in my hometown that was just unheard of. But I lived in the near west ‘burbs of Chicago at the time and 1.5 was nothing. Among our circle it was larger than the other 1 carat solitaires and my ex husband was really proud of that, but he and all the other guys had to finance those rings. Idk if that matters to OP but I’m putting it out there. I was in my early-mid 20s at the time, the guys and other women were 30+.

When I visited my hometown and family, I got a lot of comments but only from those in our circle who knew what it was. I’m fairly sure everyone else in town assumed my ring was fake. That’s just how it was.

I missed wearing that ring. I kept it after the divorce but sold it. Got another solitaire for my 2nd marriage that I didn’t want; a 1.3 oval solitaire. (I asked specifically for an emerald like the one in my avatar ahead of both engagements when THEY asked what I liked.) I was told by that ex that it was “large enough to be respectable but not ostentatious.” It was clear that only his opinion and that of his friends mattered, not mine.

So wearing both of them sucked, mostly. I don’t think my feelings would be different no matter what carat my diamonds had been. It had everything to do with the men and their egos, and little to do with the rings.

Some of the attention felt good, from well-intentioned sources. But that’s anything in life. You know who means well and who isn’t very nice/is a wolf in sheep’s clothing when you get a little world experience.

One more thing: there was once a member here on Pricescope with the username “Doorknob Solitaire.” She was so kind. This thread title reminded me of her…I hope she is well, wherever she may be.

men are so self rightouse and thick sometimes (no PS men of course)
my work mate just got engaged with her late mother in laws's ring and he was too stingy (or lazy more like to get it sized), saying they would do it when they buy the wedding rings
-lucky it only feel off at work and is now out for resizing