No Diamond Regrets...

[megster84]

I am new to PS but have been silently lurking for a long time now. I have a question directed towards those ladies who chose not to have a diamond ering. I have put a lot of thought into my potential ering as of late because my SO and I have been talking about what I might like...or not like for that matter. I really think that I don''t want a diamond, and I feel very strongly about having an aquamarine ring. I know that aquas are not as strong and shouldn''t be considered for everyday wear. I intend to wear it for the duration of my engagement and after I am married I want to wear a diamond wedding band only. It seems silly to get a diamond ring just because that is what most people do for erings when I really love aquas. But my question to those with more wisdom than I, do you regret not having a diamond ering? Thanks!

 

[luvthemstrawberries]

I don't have any ering yet, so I'm not part of your targeted audience. But I can say that if you get an aqua ring, you'd better baby it!!! Aquas are extremely soft and not really recommended for rings period. My mom had one, but it was a fun piece to wear every now and then. I know you wouldn't wear it once you're married, but still every day until then is asking a lot.

I originally wanted a gemstone ering, but since I want to get as much wear out of it as possible, I'm getting a diamond - NOT because it's "what everyone does" but because of the hardness and because it's absolutely beautiful when ideal cut with the sparkle and fire. And I plan to get an absolutely awesome RHR with a gemstone later!

If you're against diamonds, I'd suggest a harder gemstone, like sapphires. But if you want aquas for sentimental reasons or just because of the color, then just be prepared to baby it!

 

[LostSapphire]

Hello Megster.

Welcome to the world of colour!

My first E-ring was a sapphire/diamond halo in 1987. LOVED IT.

My 2nd E-ring (lost the first one..duh) was replaced just a month ago. STILL LOVE IT.

There are a few threads on this subject - I say go for it if that''s what you want. Just research whether an aquamarine is suitable for everyday wear: mostly because you may find yourself WANTING to wear it for the rest of your life!!

We''re a bit different than those who just want the white blingfest on their ER finger.....

I think we''re *special*.

LS

 

[neatfreak]

I think as long as you are not getting a diamond because that is truly what you want (vs. not getting a diamond because you don''t feel you should, or the budget is small) you won''t regret it.

 

[luvthemstrawberries]

Date: 10/23/2008 3:00:27 PM
Author: LostSapphire
Hello Megster.

Welcome to the world of colour!

My first E-ring was a sapphire/diamond halo in 1987. LOVED IT.

My 2nd E-ring (lost the first one..duh) was replaced just a month ago. STILL LOVE IT.

There are a few threads on this subject - I say go for it if that''s what you want. Just research whether an aquamarine is suitable for everyday wear: mostly because you may find yourself WANTING to wear it for the rest of your life!!

We''re a bit different than those who just want the white blingfest on their ER finger.....

I think we''re *special*.

LS

Hehe ditto and ditto! You''ll probably find yourself wanting to wear your ring all the time even after the wedding - what else would you do with it otherwise? Kind of sad to set it down by itself!

And I do agree that colored stone erings are so special. I commend all of you who have them. I was close and still may do it, but I just don''t know if I''d want it every day. Eh, we''ll see. Maybe I''ll join the special group, or maybe just as a play ring later.

Regardless, megster, congratulations!!

 

[geckodani]

I''m the opposite- I have a gorgeous diamond and often wish I had gotten a sapphire, LOL.

 

[FrekeChild]

I don't have one yet, but I'm getting a blue spinel ering. I'm not a diamond girl AT ALL (and that sucks because it's my birthstone) because blue diamonds are incredibly expensive. So instead of paying $30,000 for a tiny .2 ct blue diamond (which we can't afford anyway) we have purchased 2 spinel, one of which will be used to make my ering. But I'm a blue girl. Half of my closet is blue, my car is blue, our condo is blue, and something stupid like 17 out of 114 pairs of my shoes are blue. So I think that anyone who knows all of this about me, would think it would be weird for me to have a non-blue ering.

Are you totally dedicated to aquas? Sapphires can come in light blues and will be more durable.

(But not to worry, you are among good company here--keep an eye out for Movie Zombie--she's got a 8+ carat orange spess garnet ering! And holy moly that thing is amazing! And it's in her avatar.)

ETA: Lol at Dani

 

[bugwife]

ah, aquamarines are very pretty.

Your strategy sounds good to me, especially since it sounds like you really get how vulnerable an aquamarine can be.

My ering is a ruby, I did stop wearing it so regularly after 12 or 15 years. Around that time I took it to a jeweler to see about getting it resized and maybe reset--they pointed out how scratched up it was, and were able to polish it which improved its appearance a lot. However, because of the particularities of my ruby--a marquise that was apparently cut down from a pear, they recommended not resetting it, and maybe not wearing it when my hands are so busy.

I work with my hands everyday. So I didn't resize it, and now wear it occasionally on my pinky finger.

The other thing is, even if you may change your mind about diamonds in 20 years, like I seem possibly to have done, I don't regret the decisions and preferences I had when I was in my 20s.

My husband might get me some kind of diamond anniversary ring in the next few years. So I'm trying to figure out what I would like that to look like.

ETA: Frekechild: Diamond is my birthstone too! I wonder if there a lot of women born in April who are less excited about the diamond.

 

[megster84]

Thanks for all the advice! I really appreciate any and all thoughts.

The softness is an issue for sure. It is tricky because my heart is set on aquamarine for sentimental reasons, my great aunt who I was really close to always wore aquamarine, and they are my birthstone. He can afford a nice diamond ering but my heart says "colored stone!" I want a very large very diamond-y wedding band that will cost a lot, and part of me thinks it would look strange with any ering paired with it. So, I am thinking that the aqua (or maybe sapphire?) ering will be worn as a RHR post-wedding on special occassions.

Oh what to do! I have time to keep on thinking...but I am open to any and all ideas/pictures. I am really a fan of blue, green, and purple (all shades of each) set in white gold/platinum with maybe some diamonds on the side. SO any thoughts on a better choice hardness wise than aquamarine? Again, thanks for the advice!

 

[laurel25]

I''m in the process if getting my e-ring which is a concave cut sapphire and I don''t regret my decision for one second. I''ve been married before and done the diamond e-ring before, though so that may be part of the reason why I know I don''t regret my decision - I got to do one and now I get to do the other.

Anyway, I just love the flash of color that you get from a colored stone e-ring and I love the fact that they are not very common at all. My FI and I both love the color blue and love the fact that it''s something completely different from the norm. Plus in our group of family/friends there are quite a few uncommon choices of wedding/engagement jewelry (Mr.L''s brother & sister-in-law have wooden wedding bands & no e-ring), so they are all very supportive of our decision and excited to see the result.

 

[neatfreak]

Date: 10/23/2008 3:17:12 PM
Author: megster84

Oh what to do! I have time to keep on thinking...but I am open to any and all ideas/pictures. I am really a fan of blue, green, and purple (all shades of each) set in white gold/platinum with maybe some diamonds on the side. SO any thoughts on a better choice hardness wise than aquamarine? Again, thanks for the advice!

Spinel and sapphire come in lighter colors...and are appropriately hard.

 

[Inanna]

Although I haven''t received it yet (yeesh, the wait!), I will be receiving a sapphire (center stone) and diamond (sidestones/pave) e-ring. I am absolutely 100% certain that I''ll never have regrets about it. Firstly, a sapphire is what I wanted from the beginning. However, after about 5 months of searching and not finding the perfect color and cut, I got frustrated, discouraged and started considering a diamond because diamonds are far easier to find - they''re everywhere! Eventually, FF found an excellent local jeweler who actually found my sapphire within 2 weeks of him approaching them. I compared this sapphire with several diamonds. The diamonds were beautiful, but it was that sapphire that really excited me.

Similarly, I think you should get what excites you - if it''s aquamarine, well, that''s what you should get (you might consider lighter colored sapphires for durability though).

The one thing that may bother me when I receive my ring is the fact that some people assume colored gemstone ring=low budget. If anyone ever approaches me with that attitude once I do have my ring, I might need to be restrained.

I think you''ll find, especially on Pricescope, that those who have colored e-rings put just as much, effort, and often money into their e-rings as those with diamonds. Those who want diamonds should have diamonds. Those who want color should have color. One cannot substitute for the other.

I''m in complete agreement with Lost Sapphire - I think us colored e-ring gals are special

 

[LostSapphire]

Date: 10/23/2008 3:57:13 PM
Author: Inanna
Although I haven''t received it yet (yeesh, the wait!), I will be receiving a sapphire (center stone) and diamond (sidestones/pave) e-ring. I am absolutely 100% certain that I''ll never have regrets about it. Firstly, a sapphire is what I wanted from the beginning. However, after about 5 months of searching and not finding the perfect color and cut, I got frustrated, discouraged and started considering a diamond because diamonds are far easier to find - they''re everywhere! Eventually, FF found an excellent local jeweler who actually found my sapphire within 2 weeks of him approaching them. I compared this sapphire with several diamonds. The diamonds were beautiful, but it was that sapphire that really excited me.

Similarly, I think you should get what excites you - if it''s aquamarine, well, that''s what you should get (you might consider lighter colored sapphires for durability though).

The one thing that may bother me when I receive my ring is the fact that some people assume colored gemstone ring=low budget. If anyone ever approaches me with that attitude once I do have my ring, I might need to be restrained.

I think you''ll find, especially on Pricescope, that those who have colored e-rings put just as much, effort, and often money into their e-rings as those with diamonds. Those who want diamonds should have diamonds. Those who want color should have color. One cannot substitute for the other.

I''m in complete agreement with Lost Sapphire - I think us colored e-ring gals are special

Well said!

My pet peeve too: people who assume coloured gemstone ring = low budget.

LS

 

[laurel25]

Date: 10/23/2008 3:57:13 PM
Author: Inanna
Although I haven''t received it yet (yeesh, the wait!), I will be receiving a sapphire (center stone) and diamond (sidestones/pave) e-ring. I am absolutely 100% certain that I''ll never have regrets about it. Firstly, a sapphire is what I wanted from the beginning. However, after about 5 months of searching and not finding the perfect color and cut, I got frustrated, discouraged and started considering a diamond because diamonds are far easier to find - they''re everywhere! Eventually, FF found an excellent local jeweler who actually found my sapphire within 2 weeks of him approaching them. I compared this sapphire with several diamonds. The diamonds were beautiful, but it was that sapphire that really excited me.

Similarly, I think you should get what excites you - if it''s aquamarine, well, that''s what you should get (you might consider lighter colored sapphires for durability though).

The one thing that may bother me when I receive my ring is the fact that some people assume colored gemstone ring=low budget. If anyone ever approaches me with that attitude once I do have my ring, I might need to be restrained.

I think you''ll find, especially on Pricescope, that those who have colored e-rings put just as much, effort, and often money into their e-rings as those with diamonds. Those who want diamonds should have diamonds. Those who want color should have color. One cannot substitute for the other.

I''m in complete agreement with Lost Sapphire - I think us colored e-ring gals are special

I think that that we put even MORE effort into them - I know in my search it would have been 100 times easier to call up WhiteFlash and get an ACA diamond than it was to find the perfect sapphire. And I''m not going to even start on setting a colored stone...

 

[Asu]

Honestly,my promise ring was an oval aqua,I''ve always wear it everyday for about four years,even at work,even in house,and the stone isn''t scratched or cracked at all.And I can say that i''m really terrible with my rings!I still wear it as a rhr,or even with my diamond eternity band,like a wedding set,and I love how it look!

 

[FrekeChild]

Date: 10/23/2008 4:13:58 PM
Author: laurel25
I think that that we put even MORE effort into them - I know in my search it would have been 100 times easier to call up WhiteFlash and get an ACA diamond than it was to find the perfect sapphire. And I'm not going to even start on setting a colored stone...

DITTO!!!!!!!!!! TIMES A MILLION!!!!!! (Do a search for "Desperately Seeking Spinel" and just check out how many pages there are...

 

[omieluv]

Personally, I think a fine aqua looks very nice with diamonds. So if your heart is really set on an aqua, I would say go for it, as long as you understand that aquas need a bit more care than diamonds. Sapphires also look lovely when paired with a diamond wedding band, so check into those as well.

Whatever you decide, go with what will make YOU happy!

 

[movie zombie]

good grief NO!

i found pricescope while researching diamonds for my e-ring.....and then got turned onto colored stones. personally, and this is just me, i find diamonds boring..... i spent as much time researching it as others do for a diamond....and we spent way more than many to get a world class stone.

never once have i regreted my choice nor have i ever felt like i settled for less....but i saw many colored stones that would have left me feeling that way.

am i as picky or willing to have the big bucks spent for each color stone purchase? no. but for an e-ring get the best you can afford and don''t look back. however, be aware that many quality color stones are as expensive and in some cases more expensive than a diamond.

movie zombie

 

[megster84]

I am glad that there are so many other ladies like me out there. A lot of my girlfriends think I am crazy for wanting a colored ering. I mean no offense to diamond ering gals, but I want something different, something that is "me". I feel like I need a stone with some spice to it! I am going to spend time searching for some spinels tomorrow. I have seen some colors that I like in that stone family. I love sapphires too. My mother has the most gorgeous 6 carat emerald cut deep blue sapphire set in a platinum band, it is an heirloom from the 1920''s from my great aunt. Now if only I can convince her that it should be my ering, the search would be over! I appreciate all the thoughts, it is like a support group for colored stone girls!

 

[movie zombie]

that heirloom ring would be a lovely e-ring!

note: really fine spinel can and does go for $1800 or more per carat..........

you sound like just the sort of person that will do fine with a color e-ring! welcome to the club!

movie zombie

 

[Kelli]

Date: 10/23/2008 3:17:12 PM
Author: megster84
Thanks for all the advice! I really appreciate any and all thoughts.

The softness is an issue for sure. It is tricky because my heart is set on aquamarine for sentimental reasons, my great aunt who I was really close to always wore aquamarine, and they are my birthstone. He can afford a nice diamond ering but my heart says ''colored stone!'' I want a very large very diamond-y wedding band that will cost a lot, and part of me thinks it would look strange with any ering paired with it. So, I am thinking that the aqua (or maybe sapphire?) ering will be worn as a RHR post-wedding on special occassions.

Oh what to do! I have time to keep on thinking...but I am open to any and all ideas/pictures. I am really a fan of blue, green, and purple (all shades of each) set in white gold/platinum with maybe some diamonds on the side. SO any thoughts on a better choice hardness wise than aquamarine? Again, thanks for the advice!

For this reason I think you should go for the aqua! You know it''s not as durable, so maybe you could take it off while doing things that aren''t as safe. Wear it carefully, and maybe get one big enough that it could be recut if it did happen to chip or get scratched. It would make a great RHR after the wedding, and might end up looking great with a diamond band. If you really are worried about it though, spinels or sapphires would definitely be great too!

 

[lightseeker]

I wore a diamond [smallish marquise] for 29 years, and have now been wearing a saphire for a year and a half. I love having color on my hand. I love that it is not like anyone else's ring. I love how the color stands out against the white gold and the diamonds. When I look at my diamond band, I often can't tell exactly where the diamond ends and the white gold starts, but the sapphire always "pops".

The one thing that I have noticed, is that I really can't wear red polish anymore...it's just too much color on my hand. Typically I only wear red polish during the holiday season, so it's not really a big deal for me, but I'm just saying........