How much do the small (side) stones matter? (Wedding Band question)

[hannahpandah]

Hello all!

I'm looking to purchase a wedding band. I initially wanted to go spend a bit less ($<$1000) since I spent quite a bit on my engagement ring.

I went to my local jeweler Diamonds Direct (now owned by Signet). And they're selling me a C. Gonshor 3/4 YG 14k marquise round alternating band for $1800 taxes included. I'll be honest, I don't care for the designer much, just the design.

Also, I'm in between 3/4 and 1/2. My fingers are sensitive so I initially wanted 1/2 but the salesperson encouraged me towards the 3/4 bc of spinning

Here's a similar concept, but with less stones. Also, only for $810. I believe the 3/4 sells for $1300 currently. https://www.jamesallen.com/wedding-...and-round-alternating-diamond-ring-item-66413

Zales (not the best, I know and also owned by Signet) is also selling this style for only $470 in halfway.

1/8 CT. T.W. Marquise and Round Diamond Alternating Anniversary Band in 14K White Gold|Zales

Mark a milestone in your romantic journey with this shimmering diamond anniversary band. Crafted in cool 14K white gold, this simple, yet elegant, style features a series of alternating dazzling marquise-cut and round diamonds. Captivating with 1/8 ct. t.w. of diamonds, this anniversary band is...

www.zales.com

Does the difference in quality in Zales vs. Diamonds Direct really matter?
Does it matter to a near $1300 degree difference?The sales people at Diamonds direct explained it to me as Chanel vs Coach. Same product but one is better made. I didn't realize C. Gonshor was that big in the jewelry world. Again I don't care about the designer, I just want good quality, value, no stones falling out etc. I hear that's a problem with Zales.

 

[AprilBaby]

What are the caret weights of each one? I never heard of your designer.

 

[tyty333]

I would not go with zales. I would have David Klass make it.

I have never heard of your designer brand before either.

 

[hannahpandah]

Unfortunately, my jeweler didn't give me any carat weights on the 3/4 band.

What are the caret weights of each one? I never heard of your designer.

They don't seem to disclose it. But I purchased the 3/4 version of this ring

Diamonds Direct - Engagement Rings, Jewelry, and More

Shop our extensive selection of diamond engagement rings, wedding bands, and other jewelry online. See the Diamonds Direct Difference today!

diamondsdirect.com

With a full eternity, the tcw is 1.11 according to the website.



From what I understand, the color (GH, and clarity VS1-SI1) don't matter so much on these smaller stones?

Carat weight is certainly important but I actually prefer a smaller, dainty look.

 

[hannahpandah]

I would not go with zales. I would have David Klass make it.

I have never heard of your designer brand before either.

David Klass is quoting approx $1650 for the 3/4. I am considering going with him though I do like Diamonds Direct lifetime warranty policy (standard maintenance, free prong tightening, free replacement of stones, no check-ins etc)

 

[tyty333]

How much ctw is DK quoting?

I saw this one on his IG...stones look rather large...Too large for a wedding band IMO. It looks like more of a stand-alone ring or a
stacking band.

David Klass Jewelry on Instagram: "Diamond Band #weddingband #diamondweddingband #marquisediamond #marquisediamondband #marquisering #love #weddingband #showmeyourrings #finejewelry #jewelry #jewellery #finejewellery #jewelryaddict #stackingrings #sp

130 likes, 6 comments - davidklassjewelry on March 13, 2021: "Diamond Band #weddingband #diamondweddingband #marquisediamond #marquisediamondband #marquisering #love #weddingband #showmeyourrings #finejewelry #jewelry #jewellery #finejewellery #jewelryaddict #stackingrings #sparkle #losangeles...

www.instagram.com

 

[hannahpandah]

How much ctw is DK quoting?

I saw this one on his IG...stones look rather large...Too large for a wedding band IMO. It looks like more of a stand-alone ring or a
stacking band.

David Klass Jewelry on Instagram: "Diamond Band #weddingband #diamondweddingband #marquisediamond #marquisediamondband #marquisering #love #weddingband #showmeyourrings #finejewelry #jewelry #jewellery #finejewellery #jewelryaddict #stackingrings #sp

130 likes, 6 comments - davidklassjewelry on March 13, 2021: "Diamond Band #weddingband #diamondweddingband #marquisediamond #marquisediamondband #marquisering #love #weddingband #showmeyourrings #finejewelry #jewelry #jewellery #finejewellery #jewelryaddict #stackingrings #sparkle #losangeles...

www.instagram.com

This is what he sent me based off of these photos I sent him. The picture of my hand is the ring at diamonds direct. I have tried the diamonds direct one with my band and it seems to work nicely. Not sure about the DK one though.

No tcw we're discussed

Hi,
In solid 14k yellow gold with natural G color, VS clarity marquise diamonds and round diamonds 3/4 around it will cost $1650, 1/2 around $1450.

 

[Kim N]

You could order the 3/4 version from James Allen to compare to the Diamonds Direct, and at least it would save you $500.

 

[Lookinagain]

Also, I'm in between 3/4 and 1/2. My fingers are sensitive so I initially wanted 1/2 but the salesperson encouraged me towards the 3/4 bc of spinning

In my own experience, almost all bands spin. I have a band that has a tiny spacer bar at the bottom, and it still moves to the top. So I wouldn't make my decision based on the spinning. Unless you want to buy a full eternity style and then spinning wouldn't be an issue. But thinking about it more, it may depend on your finger shape. My bands have to be a bit larger than my actual ring area as my knuckles are larger and the rings are a bit loose while wearing. Maybe spinning wouldn't be an issue if you don't have the knuckle issue, and it looks like you probably don't. So maybe others can address that issue.

 

[hannahpandah]

You could order the 3/4 version from James Allen to compare to the Diamonds Direct, and at least it would save you $500.

I also like this idea. What holds me back is maintenance and such. To my understanding, I would have to ship the ring (at Cost) for any repairs, cleaning etc if I were to continue using James Allen for aftercare.

If you have any experience purchasing with JA, BN or something similar & the aftercare, I'd love to know. I couldn't find anything concrete on the forums.

Otherwise, I would likely take my ring to Diamonds Direct as I've built a relationship through my e-ring already.

It's partially why I did end up going B&M for my e-ring vs online. I have to decide if the extra $400 (taxes) is worth the maintenance policy at DD.

 

[Lookinagain]

Almost any local jeweler will clean your ring for you for free. And you can also do that yourself. So I guess the real difference is if you think you will need a repair. A well made ring shouldn't lose stones. Sizing may not be included in what is called "normal maintenance" so you may pay for that no matter what. If a stone is lost, I'm not sure that it would cost you $500 to replace at the size of these stones. These are the things that I would be considering in your shoes.

 

[hannahpandah]

I believe lifetime free sizing is included. But that's something that I also believe I will really only require once or twice in life.

To justify and compare to JA pricing, I'd have to take advantage of re-sizing, prong tightening, and loose stone loss at my local jeweler. As these are services generally not offered free at a local jeweler I believe.


The second deciding factor is the quality of the stones.

I'm curious to know if in stones this small, is there truly a significant difference in stones that come from Zales vs James Allen vs Diamonds Direct vs David Klass for example?

I'm also not considering color in this. As it's similar across the board Perhaps just clarity and it's brilliance, which I suppose comes down to the cut?

My friend told me her mom and pop shop anniversary band absolutely outshines her Zales wedding band, which I think is telling. I haven't witnessed this personally though...

 

[tyty333]

Is the 3/4 James Allen band returnable? If so, I think its worth ordering to see if it fits the bill.

Have you seen the band from Zales? What did you think? Most of us would not go in that direction.
I cant tell you the quality of the Zales stone but in general, they don't have a great reputation for beautiful
stones.

 

[Crazie4Cuts]

Hi @hannahpandah! I thought I throw this suggestion from a vendor on Etsy who also has the band you are wanting: https://www.etsy.com/listing/878232820/marquise-diamond-ring-alternating?ref=cart

She does have the specs and ctw of the marquise and round brilliant diamonds in the description. She is transparent about the size and how many will be in the ring. Tho I haven’t ordered from this specific Etsy vendor but am thinking of getting this band. Right now she is offering 15% off her items. I’ve also reached out to ask questions about other bands in 18k rose gold and she does let me know the cost for the upgrades.

Hope this helps,
C4C

 

[hannahpandah]

Hi @hannahpandah! I thought I throw this suggestion from a vendor on Etsy who also has the band you are wanting: https://www.etsy.com/listing/878232820/marquise-diamond-ring-alternating?ref=cart

She does have the specs and ctw of the marquise and round brilliant diamonds in the description. She is transparent about the size and how many will be in the ring. Tho I haven’t ordered from this specific Etsy vendor but am thinking of getting this band. Right now she is offering 15% off her items. I’ve also reached out to ask questions about other bands in 18k rose gold and she does let me know the cost for the upgrades.

Hope this helps,
C4C

This is very helpful! Thank you for the suggestion! I did some research and it looks like the bands are made a bit thin & dainty, which I honestly quite love the look of! But it does raise concern for an everyday wear ring, which my wedding band will ideally be. Do you happen to have any of her pieces and know how they hold up?

 

[tyty333]

Do you have a picture of your engagement ring you can post @hannahpandah ?

 

[Crazie4Cuts]

Hi! I haven’t purchased anything from this vendor previously…sorry. But from her reviews she’s highly regarded!

-C4C

 

[Jax172]

Zales is trash. I have been happy with all my James Allen pieces and they have a good return policy so I would order it and see what you think. I have a local jeweler service all my jewelry regardless of where I bought it.

 

[MissGotRocks]

Don’t buy based on the cleaning, service, etc. That is a sales gimmick for things that you can either have done somewhere else or may never need. Buy based on the quality of the ring you are buying. You will theoretically wear it every day for the rest of your life so really consider the quality of the stones and the ring. I wouldn’t consider Zales or Diamonds Direct either - very questionable quality in my opinion. Just my two cents!

 

[Cerulean]

Don’t buy based on the cleaning, service, etc. That is a sales gimmick for things that you can either have done somewhere else or may never need. Buy based on the quality of the ring you are buying. You will theoretically wear it every day for the rest of your life so really consider the quality of the stones and the ring. I wouldn’t consider Zales or Diamonds Direct either - very questionable quality in my opinion. Just my two cents!

Agree entirely / these services are really not worth a subpar ring

Buy an ultrasonic off Amazon for $30…

 

[hannahpandah]

Do you have a picture of your engagement ring you can post @hannahpandah ?

Yes! It is marquise and two stacked rounds alternating. I like a simple and dainty pave band or marquise eternity or marquise round alternating the best so far! Definitely open to more suggestions though

 

[tyty333]

Have you tried on any of these type bands with your ering to make sure you like the look? Not sure what the base of your ering
looks like...will the band set right next to the ering shank or will there be a large gap due to the basket/prongs of the oval?

Do you have any feelings as to whether you want your wedding band (the stones) to be approximately the same size, smaller, or
bigger than your ering diamonds? I think you were leaning toward petite (or smaller) but you want the band to set about the same
height as your ering.

If I were in your situation, I would not order anything that was not returnable. If I was having DK make it I would give him the
height (off the finger) of your ering as well as the lengthxwidth of your marquises in your ering band.

Dont order anything that is not returnable because you'll be stuck with it whether it sits well with your ering or not.

 

[hannahpandah]

Have you tried on any of these type bands with your ering to make sure you like the look? Not sure what the base of your ering
looks like...will the band set right next to the ering shank or will there be a large gap due to the basket/prongs of the oval?

Do you have any feelings as to whether you want your wedding band (the stones) to be approximately the same size, smaller, or
bigger than your ering diamonds? I think you were leaning toward petite (or smaller) but you want the band to set about the same
height as your ering.

If I were in your situation, I would not order anything that was not returnable. If I was having DK make it I would give him the
height (off the finger) of your ering as well as the lengthxwidth of your marquises in your ering band.

Dont order anything that is not returnable because you'll be stuck with it whether it sits well with your ering or not.

I actually have a photo where I tried on the ering my ring was based off of. Paired with the full marquise. I think it stacks relatively well.

But good advice regarding a custom / non returnable piece. In terms of size, I'm not particular but I don't want my band to be outrageously larger than the stones present on my ring. It should complement vs outshine, imo.

Given this info, I might have to save DK for another standalone piece as I simply don't have the knowledge / equip to give that info accurately. Plus, his pricing is only $200 less than my local jeweler :/

 

[lovedogs]

Do not go with zales. I wanted to spend under 1000 on my wedding band and went with zales because I thought it wouldnt matter for a .25 melee size. Omg I was wrong. It looked dead next to my ering melee stones, and I had to buy a new band because it drove me insane.

 

[tyty333]

Just wanted to comment on DK vs your local jeweler. A problem with using a lot of "local" jewelers is that they may only do a few
custom rings within say a month vs. David Klass who does a massive amount of custom rings in a year. The experience alone
makes it worth going with him (ignore the $200 difference). If you go with your local jeweler ask to see pictures of the custom
work they have done.

I know its an issue getting those sizes from DK. You can send him a picture of your ering with the lengthXwidth of your oval. He
should be able to figure out how big your side stones are. You would need to send him a picture of the side of your ring to help
with that. Anyway...I know it would be a pain. I'm hoping that you can find something off the shelf (besides zales) that is returnable.

 

[hannahpandah]

Don’t buy based on the cleaning, service, etc. That is a sales gimmick for things that you can either have done somewhere else or may never need. Buy based on the quality of the ring you are buying. You will theoretically wear it every day for the rest of your life so really consider the quality of the stones and the ring. I wouldn’t consider Zales or Diamonds Direct either - very questionable quality in my opinion. Just my two cents!

Thanks for the response! Can I ask you more on your experience/ knowledge with Diamonds Direct? I couldn't find anything concretely terrible about them in the few mentions on this site. They are considered a "local jeweler" in my area. But primarily also function as a wholesale jeweler from what I understand. Locals here (Charlotte, NC) usually recommend them for jewelry purchases.

I've bought my e-ring with them, which is cut better than most stones I've seen personally. (Diamond newbie though) So I'm quite happy with that purchase. But now, I think they've been bought out by Signet, who owns Zales Kay's etc... So I'm now concerned what that means in terms of quality. Would appreciate any personal experiences.

 

[hannahpandah]

Do not go with zales. I wanted to spend under 1000 on my wedding band and went with zales because I thought it wouldnt matter for a .25 melee size. Omg I was wrong. It looked dead next to my ering melee stones, and I had to buy a new band because it drove me insane.

This is exactly the info I'm looking for. Thanks for your input. I also thought it wouldn't matter for such tiny stones but I think you're right. It'll drive me cuckoo.

 

[hannahpandah]

Just wanted to comment on DK vs your local jeweler. A problem with using a lot of "local" jewelers is that they may only do a few
custom rings within say a month vs. David Klass who does a massive amount of custom rings in a year. The experience alone
makes it worth going with him (ignore the $200 difference). If you go with your local jeweler ask to see pictures of the custom
work they have done.

I know its an issue getting those sizes from DK. You can send him a picture of your ering with the lengthXwidth of your oval. He
should be able to figure out how big your side stones are. You would need to send him a picture of the side of your ring to help
with that. Anyway...I know it would be a pain. I'm hoping that you can find something off the shelf (besides zales) that is returnable.

I might've made this confusing in my posts but my current "local jeweler" is Diamonds Direct, who is also known as a diamond wholesaler. They churn out a ton of pieces from what I understand so quality shouldn't be an issue? But idk, they've been bought out by Signet since the last time I purchase with them (tbf, I don't know how much that has an affect on quality)

They also have a similar return policy and care package as James Allen except I can return to a brick and mortar versus shipping.

The last thing I forgot to discuss was we're a military family so I am a little concerned about having to build a relationship with a local jeweler everytime we move, versus a multiple location retailer like BN, JA, or Diamonds Direct. (Also Zales but no longer considering them lol)

 

[MissGotRocks]

Thanks for the response! Can I ask you more on your experience/ knowledge with Diamonds Direct? I couldn't find anything concretely terrible about them in the few mentions on this site. They are considered a "local jeweler" in my area. But primarily also function as a wholesale jeweler from what I understand. Locals here (Charlotte, NC) usually recommend them for jewelry purchases.


I've bought my e-ring with them, which is cut better than most stones I've seen personally. (Diamond newbie though) So I'm quite happy with that purchase. But now, I think they've been bought out by Signet, who owns Zales Kay's etc... So I'm now concerned what that means in terms of quality. Would appreciate any personal experiences.

No personal experience with them but their ads feature the same crazy stuff that most mall jewelers do. 110% trade-up, service for life, blah, blah. Their prices, in my opinion, feature the same type of inferior diamonds. Are they GIA or AGS graded? Doubtful. They are cut to retain weight and showcase razzle dazzle in their showroom lighting. In my younger years, well before the internet, a lot of us bought this stuff. That and some brick and mortar jewelers were really all there was to choose from so we did. After learning about really well cut diamonds, I realized that I had really never owned a well cut diamond. The difference is vast and I would never recommend anyone to buy from those types of businesses as I have come to truly appreciate finely cut diamonds. If you look at the Whiteflash website or other vendors featured here on PS, there is a wealth of knowledge. You begin to get an idea of what goes into a well cut or super ideal cut diamond. No hocus-pocus - just facts and diamonds backed up by superior grading labs. I so wish I had this much information in my early diamond buying days as it would have saved a lot of frustration and tears!
There is no retail jeweler that is a wholesale jeweler either - just want to make that point clear. They are generally selling inferior products at inflated prices. The price may seem good but if you knew exactly how much it was really worth or what they paid for it, you would be shocked. Unfortunately, there are a lot of games in the jewelry industry so buyer beware!

 

[fascinatedbyfacets]

Hello all!

I'm looking to purchase a wedding band. I initially wanted to go spend a bit less ($<$1000) since I spent quite a bit on my engagement ring.

I went to my local jeweler Diamonds Direct (now owned by Signet). And they're selling me a C. Gonshor 3/4 YG 14k marquise round alternating band for $1800 taxes included. I'll be honest, I don't care for the designer much, just the design.

Also, I'm in between 3/4 and 1/2. My fingers are sensitive so I initially wanted 1/2 but the salesperson encouraged me towards the 3/4 bc of spinning

Here's a similar concept, but with less stones. Also, only for $810. I believe the 3/4 sells for $1300 currently. https://www.jamesallen.com/wedding-...and-round-alternating-diamond-ring-item-66413

Zales (not the best, I know and also owned by Signet) is also selling this style for only $470 in halfway.

1/8 CT. T.W. Marquise and Round Diamond Alternating Anniversary Band in 14K White Gold|Zales

Mark a milestone in your romantic journey with this shimmering diamond anniversary band. Crafted in cool 14K white gold, this simple, yet elegant, style features a series of alternating dazzling marquise-cut and round diamonds. Captivating with 1/8 ct. t.w. of diamonds, this anniversary band is...

www.zales.com

Does the difference in quality in Zales vs. Diamonds Direct really matter?
Does it matter to a near $1300 degree difference?The sales people at Diamonds direct explained it to me as Chanel vs Coach. Same product but one is better made. I didn't realize C. Gonshor was that big in the jewelry world. Again I don't care about the designer, I just want good quality, value, no stones falling out etc. I hear that's a problem with Zales.

If your fingers are sensitive you will likely find that James Allen ring kind of uncomfortable, I know I did. My fingers are much more comfortable with bezel settings over prongs for bands. I have a David Klass eternity band and while it’s fab I only wear it on special occasions.
I would suggest Ferkos Fine Jewelry for pretty affordable and well made bands! I have purchased 6 of her rings and love them!