New Here... Would love thoughts on a graduated 5 stone ring with an oval center stone

[TaraMom22]

I just joined, specifically because I saw a number of conversations about 5 stone rings. My 25th anniversary is in 3 months. My husband has given permission for me to choose a gift of jewelry. I have been driving myself crazy trying to figure out what to do with some different jewelry that was gifted to me from my mom because she doesn't wear them any more. Right now they just live in the safe deposit box and don't get worn. One piece that others say is beautiful but just isn't me is a ballerina ring. I am ready to move the center stone to a new ring that I love and replace the center with a lab created ruby or emerald, and have the ring size adjusted to fit me and wear the ballerina on special occasions and wear the 5 stone ring every day.

That is where you come in. None of my friends understand my focus on treating myself to a new ring, so trying to get them to discuss the fine details is impossible. I need some really helpful criticism and questions. So, here is what I am currently thinking: A 5 stone graduated ring with the oval as the center, but all the other stones would be round. This center stone is 0.87 carats, 5.4mmx7.4mm. Color E, Clarity VVS1. I am thinking of doing 0.4 ct stones on either side, then 0.25 stones for the outer stones. I rarely see a 5 stone ring with an oval in the center, so want to make sure that it will look okay. I wish I could get an image of how it would look, but don't know how to do that. Any suggestions appreciated.

 

[MissGotRocks]

Welcome to PS! Many folks here are in the same boat - no one to discuss jewelry with that really delves into the details!

Google five stone ring with oval center. There are pictures from Pinterest, etc. It will probably look more like an engagement ring with an oval center as the rounds will of course not be as tall as the oval. Could be pretty but just depends on the design you have in mind. Have you found any inspiration pictures?

 

[Asscherhalo_lover]

IMO the performance difference between ovals and rounds are very different. I would set the oval East/West with graduated smaller ovals also East/West to get your graduated five stone look.

 

[marymm]

These are smaller stones than you are using but give a general idea -- the center oval is 0.75ct, and the slightly graduated rounds are 0.17ct and 0.15ct:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/383296166973?chn=ps&mkevt=1&mkcid=28


I like the idea of @Asscherhalo_lover to orient your oval diamond east-west but personally I think you could still use graduated rounds. In case it's helpful, here's a pic of my chubby oval ruby (5.9 x 5.1mm) with a 4mm round OEC pair -- I am still deciding whether to keep a trilogy or whether I want to add a 3mm OEC pair for a graduated 5-stone:

 

[TaraMom22]

Welcome to PS! Many folks here are in the same boat - no one to discuss jewelry with that really delves into the details!

Google five stone ring with oval center. There are pictures from Pinterest, etc. It will probably look more like an engagement ring with an oval center as the rounds will of course not be as tall as the oval. Could be pretty but just depends on the design you have in mind. Have you found any inspiration pictures?

I have spent hours on Google, and most accentuate that engagement look by using small side stones. The first photo I pull out when discussing with a jeweler is this one called Amelia from Brilliant Earth, BUT the description says the 16 accent stones are a minimum of 0.73ct and I am not planning to do those 12 itty bitty stones (that add up quick towards carat count!) and mine would be 1.3ct:

The goal is to wear instead of my 25 year old wedding set which is causing me issues. Because of the places in how it was built that can collect soap and water, I keep getting a rash, and I have this little bone growth on my ring finger that the hand specialist said there is nothing to do to fix but not wear rings that rub. My wedding set is sort of wide, while this would be one narrow band and shouldn’t come up my finger enough to rub where the lump is. I love the band of that brilliant earth ring, how smooth and neat it is. And I love the hint towards a trellis with the curves of the prongs, while actual trellis in a 5 stone bug me because they aren’t symmetrical … which I KNOW makes me weird!

I have no interest in setting this stone sideways. If I can’t make it look right set tall, then I will abandon the idea of a 5 stone ring.

Here is the challenge… the ring doesn’t have to use this oval. My husband would buy me whatever ring I wanted for our anniversary within reason. And it doesn’t have to be a 5 stone. I just really like the look of 5 stone. So, part of what I need to figure out is whether I would love this design more than anything I could buy already made for the same cost. I can always put the ballerina back in the safe deposit box and make it my daughters problem to solve.

 

[RMOO]

Would you consider the oval center with a half moon and then a small round on each side?

 

[marymm]

It sounds like you have many options. I agree it makes sense to use a center stone you already own, if you really love it ... is there a reason you won't consider a graduated band using all ovals?

If you haven't already, it may be worth your while to go to jewelry stores in your area and try on all of their 5-stone diamond bands -- see if you actually like graduated diamonds on your hand, see if they have 5-stone oval bands, see if there are stone dimensions and setting designs that please you more ... And keep your eyes open and ask to try on absolutely every ring that appeals to you.

Perhaps also check out the CZ 5-stone bands on Berricle and Amazon -- both have generous return policies and it can be helpful to try options on in your own home over several days in order to determine if one design may be more comfortable and wearable as compared to another.

Good luck -- this is a lovely project and I hope you find the perfect anniversary ring!

 

[MissGotRocks]

It really is nice that you have options. Do you have jewelry stores in your area that would have some rings that you could try on? Ovals and rounds do have a different appearance so it would be nice to be able to see your oval with some round diamonds in the sizes you are considering. A ready made ring would be easier to select of course but I would give the oval a chance with some smaller diamonds before I ruled it out completely.

 

[junebug17]

Welcome! I think the reason most of us ended up on Pricescope is because our family and friends don't have the same enthusiasm for jewelry and diamonds. We do, so you are in good company here lol!

And how exciting to be getting a special ring for a milestone anniversary! My only thoughts are to get what would make you the happiest. This is a special piece and it should be exactly what you want. It's a lovely idea to use the oval, but only if that is what you truly want.

As a few pp's have asked, how about a 5 stone with all ovals? My only concern with using rounds is that the faceting, and therefore sparkle, will be different between the 2 shapes and might be noticable. But then again, maybe it won't be that noticable, or it won't bother you lol. It would be great if you could find an example somewhere to try on. Of course, this is your ring and if you to with the rounds that's perfectly fine.

Another thought I just had, and a pro for going with the rounds...it will be easier to find matching rounds as opposed to ovals, imo anyway. Ovals can vary in the faceting, the amount of bowtie, etc.

Anyway, here are a few pics I found of all ovals - the second is a 7 stone but gives you an idea

 

[lovedogs]

I agree with trying on some cz options and/or stuff at local stores to make sure you like the shape, size, etc.

 

[lovedogs]

Welcome! I think the reason most of us ended up on Pricescope is because our family and friends don't have the same enthusiasm for jewelry and diamonds. We do, so you are in good company here lol!

And how exciting to be getting a special ring for a milestone anniversary! My only thoughts are to get what would make you the happiest. This is a special piece and it should be exactly what you want. It's a lovely idea to use the oval, but only if that is what you truly want.

As a few pp's have asked, how about a 5 stone with all ovals? My only concern with using rounds is that the faceting, and therefore sparkle, will be different between the 2 shapes and might be noticable. But then again, maybe it won't be that noticable, or it won't bother you lol. It would be great if you could find an example somewhere to try on. Of course, this is your ring and if you to with the rounds that's perfectly fine.

Another thought I just had, and a pro for going with the rounds...it will be easier to find matching rounds as opposed to ovals, imo anyway. Ovals can vary in the faceting, the amount of bowtie, etc.

Anyway, here are a few pics I found of all ovals - the second is a 7 stone but gives you an idea

I like this 7 stone option a lot because to me it reads less like an engagement ring

 

[TaraMom22]

I am lucky to live in the San Francisco Bay Area and there are lots of jewelry stores. I have been to the jeweler that made my engagement set twice in the past month, once with my husband where we began the research (and I thought I wanted a halo) and then just a couple days ago with my daughter (who is the only person who I can get excited about this decision, maybe because one day all this will be hers? ). Between these two trips my husband and I visited all the high end jewelry stores at Stanford shopping center and that is where I tried my first 5 stone ring, all 0.4ct stones, and fell in love. We have also visited “my” jeweler 3 times. He is a small, high end shop that will make whatever I decide to do, but I am guessing he is covering up his exhaustion at my indecisiveness. So, if I can’t figure out how to do a 5-stone with the oval, I will just change the plan. I have seen an oval with 3 stones on either side set in a triangle, and liked it, but I worry that will look like an engagement ring. Ditto the ring with a pear and round on either side. The goal is ONE ring that replaces both an engagement ring and a wedding ring, that hopefully uses the 0.87 oval.

 

[TaraMom22]

I cannot stand how this ring is put together (ie, the view from the fingertips or wrist) but from the top it is very pretty BUT does it look more like a cocktail ring than a wedding-gagement ring. https://www.abbysparks.com/custom-jewelry/the-colle-rose-gold-diamond-engagement-ring/

 

[junebug17]

The ring you posted doesn't look like a cocktail ring to me... it's really pretty and I think it would work for what you are looking for. I think a 5 stone will look the least like an engagement ring. Good luck with your decision and keep us posted.

 

[TaraMom22]

I am thinking of trying to buy CZ stones in the sizes I am considering. I have a plain stainless band that I could hot glue the cz stones to to get a really rough idea of proportion, and how it fits my hand. I did look for cz stones on etsy and found oval stones the right size, but that seller sold round stones in bags of 50 per size, which seems to be just a few more than the 2-4 I need. Any other places, or favorite etsy sellers, that would make it easy to purchase a couple oval and a handful of round cz stones the sizes I want to play with?

Edited to add what I found on ebay. Is it reasonable to pay $4.59 for a 7.5x5.5 oval cz plus $1.85 for each 4.5-4.75 and $1.55 for each 4.0-4.25? It is worth the $22 to me to have stones to play with, as long as you all don't have a source that offers them at a third that cost.

 

[lulu_ma]

What about a tester ring like this one?


Sterling Silver Rhodium Oval 5 Stone Cubic Zirconia Graduated Anniversary Band Engagement Ring https://a.co/10Iivk2

 

[TaraMom22]

What about a tester ring like this one?


Sterling Silver Rhodium Oval 5 Stone Cubic Zirconia Graduated Anniversary Band Engagement Ring https://a.co/10Iivk2

I am not attracted to the oval 5 stone rings. I don't know why. It would be the easiest solution. But if I eliminated the round-round-oval-round-round ring idea, I would either pursue a 5-round diamond ring without using my oval diamond, or would pursue a ring using the oval diamond that wasn't 5-stone.

 

[marymm]

^ have you actually tried on an oval 5-stone ring?

FWIW I and many other PSers have had the experience of thinking we love / hate a certain ring design and once we put it on our finger IRL it surprisingly turns out to be the exact opposite ... for me, since it is an obvious choice on its face, I'd go out of my way to try one on, "just to see for myself," then I can knowledgeably move forward having fairly crossed it off the list of possibles if you know what I mean ...