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Please help me pick my e-ring setting!!

kal2021

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Dec 21, 2010
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Long time lurker, first time poster! I currently have two engagement ring settings, and I am trying to decide which one I want to be my "permanent" (we will upgrade years down the road) setting before my wedding (July 2011). I fell in love with this wedding band from Tiffany, and I want my e-ring to compliment it well: http://www.tiffany.com/Shopping/item.aspx?sku=GRP01548&mcat=148204&search_params=s+5-p+3-c+288152-r+101323340+101323351-x+-n+6-ri+-ni+0-t&cid=288152&selectedsku=22534483&fromgrid=1...... I am basing my decision for my e-ring setting around this wedding band (as opposed to picking a wedding band that best suits my e-ring) because the band is something I will keep forever, and I plan to wear it on it's own a lot, while I know I will not have the same e-ring forever. Therefore I want to make sure I have a band that I love, and I have my heart set on this one! The two settings I have are night and day as you can see in the pics - one is mimicked after the Cartier 1895 Solitaire and it is platinum. The halo setting is very similar to the Tiffany legacy. Keep in mind that the diamond in the Cartier Setting is actually a 1.5 carat, but my current diamond is a 1 carat round brilliant (we went down in size for a whiter stone, which was when we decided to buy the halo setting). I kept the original Cartier like setting and I currently wear it with a tourmaline.
Anyway, I feel both settings have their pros and cons, which are of course debatable based on personal preference, but for me they are as follows: Cartier setting is platinum (pro), simple and classic (pro), with clean lines (pro), but not as blingy (possible con - I haven't decided!); the Halo Setting is white gold (con when compared to being able to have a platinum setting), it makes my center stone look bigger (pro), and has lots of sparkle because of the diamonds on the band (pro). Part of me really likes the look of the simple Cartier setting with the blingy wedding band, but I just don't know if the 1 carat without the halo will look too small to me after having it in the halo for the last couple of months. Another part of me likes the sparkle I get when wearing the Halo setting with diamonds on the band, along with all the diamonds on the wedding band, but the wedding band is slightly thicker with slightly bigger diamonds than the band on my e-ring halo setting, and I just don't want it to look obnoxious (I am also only a size 4.5 ring so the two together kinda take up my whole finger).
Sorry for all the rambling! All in all, I would love to hear your opinions on what look you prefer - classic solitaire with big diamond wedding band, or halo pave setting with big diamond wedding band! I know it is totally a personal taste thing, but that's what I'm looking for - personal opinions! TIA for any responses!!

Cartier%20Setting%202.jpgHalo%20Setting.jpg
 
I think both settings are beautiful and that band is to die for. However my choice is the solitaire, not the halo. It looks huge on your hand, very classic and elegant and the band will bling it up plenty!
 
Another vote for the platinum Cartier!
 
I think the Legacy would look really great with both, but I'm going to vote for the halo. :) I tried on the Legacy with my solitaire, and didn't like it as much as I thought I would. But then, I have a knife edge, so the Legacy might look a lot better with the Cartier.
 
OK, so two for the Cartier and 1 for the halo - thanks, ladies - keep em coming! I actually just stopped in Tiffany's on my lunch break (I swear that place is like a drug!), and I saw another setting I liked: http://www.tiffany.com/Shopping/item.aspx?sku=GRP00004&mcat=148204&search_params=s+5-p+7-c+288152-r+101323351-x+-n+6-ri+-ni+0-t&cid=288152&selectedsku=16026174&fromgrid=1 This is the medium size of the three half diamond shared prong wedding bands they carry. It's the same width as the Legacy band I love, but different look (I think the diamonds are about the same size, maybe slightly bigger on the shared prong setting). So now I need to decide which setting, with which band?! Thoughts?? Thanks so much!! You have no idea how helpful this is!
 
I really loved the look of the shared prong band, but after reading several threads here about prong damage caused by the two rings rubbing against each other, I decided against it. It's a gorgeous ring though. It looks as though the diamonds are just floating on your finger.
 
Sorry, I meant to say I saw another BAND I liked, not setting! Hmm, I didn't know shared prong rings could have problems with wear/rubbing...
 
rhbgirl24|1292967395|2803164 said:
I think both settings are beautiful and that band is to die for. However my choice is the solitaire, not the halo. It looks huge on your hand, very classic and elegant and the band will bling it up plenty!

So the diamond in my solitaire picture is actually a 1.5 carat, whereas the diamond I have now is a 1 carat. Do you still think the 1 carat will look big on my hand?
 
I personally love the halo. I love the shape and I think it will look beautiful with the legacy band. I don't think the solitare looks huge in that pic and you said the stone you have now is actually smaller.
 
My vote is for the solitaire!
 
I prefer the solitaire but like you said, it is completely a personal preference. And I don't necessarily think white gold is a con compared to platinum, I believe that is also a personal preference. I have tried on platinum rings before and I don't like how you can feel the weight of them on your finger. However, some people prefer that. The halo really is beautiful too and it does add finger coverage.

So you currently have your diamond in the halo setting? My suggestion would be to go to Tiffany and try your halo on with the Legacy band and also try it on with one of their 1 carat solitaire rings (since your solitaire currently holds a different stone). That way you can try it with your halo and at least get an idea of what it would look like with a solitaire, so you can really get a good comparison all at once. And if you're super indecisive like me, take your fiance or a friend with you for their opinion :cheeky:

Good luck and let us know what you decide!
 
Yes, I definitely agree that Plat vs White Gold is a personal preference for sure!

The stone in the halo is actually a 1 carat, so that would be the actual look if I were to leave it in the halo. I originally had a 1.5 carat in the solitaire setting (as seen in the pic), but we traded it in for a better quality 1 carat, which is now currently in the halo setting (and the one in the halo pic).

Haha, I laugh because I have done that exact thing at Tiffany's about 5 times now - alone, with my fiance, with friends, and I still cannot decide! I appreciate the suggestion though - great minds think alike. :) I feel like a crazy person, though, for not being able to decide, which is why I decided to finally post on here and see what objective people thought!
 
If you had a 1.5 carat and now a halo. I think you will feel a 1 carat no matter how well cut will not be giving you the finger coverage you are use to. I know that it would really be hard for me to go down in size. I think the halo is beautiful by the way. I love the bling-age.

:bigsmile:
 
kal2021 said:
Yes, I definitely agree that Plat vs White Gold is a personal preference for sure!

The stone in the halo is actually a 1 carat, so that would be the actual look if I were to leave it in the halo. I originally had a 1.5 carat in the solitaire setting (as seen in the pic), but we traded it in for a better quality 1 carat, which is now currently in the halo setting (and the one in the halo pic).

Haha, I laugh because I have done that exact thing at Tiffany's about 5 times now - alone, with my fiance, with friends, and I still cannot decide! I appreciate the suggestion though - great minds think alike. :) I feel like a crazy person, though, for not being able to decide, which is why I decided to finally post on here and see what objective people thought!

Ok, you definitely sound like me. I can't tell you how many times I've gone to my local jeweler to try on the same 2 diamond bands (I'm trying to decide on a wedding band) :loopy: Anyways, if you haven't already, maybe have the sales lady (or a friend) try the rings on so that you can look at them from a little farther away. The lady at my jewelry store did that and it really gives a better feel for how it looks, since it can be so in-your-face when its on your own hand.

I know its so hard to decide, especially since this is the piece of jewelry you will wear the most! But once again, good luck to you!
 
I prefer the solitaire, but it's totally whatever YOU want! I love that band though - it's absolutely gorgeous.
 
I think it would be hard to go from a halo to a solitare unless you are just really tired of the halo. For me...I would feel
like my stone shrunk :blackeye: . I would probably have to go to a 3 stone.

Both settings are nice and I think you are probably the only one who can answer that question. Can you go somewhere and
buy a cheap 1 carat solitaire (CZ or whatever) and wear that for a while to see if the 1 carat by itself works for you.
 
tyty333|1293026267|2803646 said:
I think it would be hard to go from a halo to a solitare unless you are just really tired of the halo. For me...I would feel
like my stone shrunk :blackeye: . I would probably have to go to a 3 stone.

Both settings are nice and I think you are probably the only one who can answer that question. Can you go somewhere and
buy a cheap 1 carat solitaire (CZ or whatever) and wear that for a while to see if the 1 carat by itself works for you.

Hmm, good suggestion! I just may have to try that - thanks! I also like the "have another friend try both on" suggestion...I have had friends try on my e-ring, and the band by itself, but not together so I will def try that, thanks!

Of the two bands I posted (Legacy vs 7-Stone Shared Prong), which do you all think is prettier (or a better choice), overall? I know they are so different looking, and both beautiful in their own way, and it's personal prefernce, but I am just curious to hear your opinions and see if you have heard of people having problems with either ring (or similar bands). This will be the biggest purchase I have made with my own money (as opposed to gifts from my parents!) on a single item so I want to get all the input I can!

BTW, I was telling my fiance all about the wonderful people on this site last night and how much I have enjoyed reading all of the posts. At the same time I was of course trying to educated him more on diamonds, too, as we all know most men (not all, of course) look at diamonds much differently than we do!
 
Both of the bands are very pretty. I think the Legacy goes better with your halo and either would look nice with the solitaire. My vote is for the legacy, I think its beautiful. And the diamonds won't rub on your e-ring like they might with the shared-prong...
 
My vote is for the solitaire too! especially if you want the band to be the star - the halo would out-bling the band i think?!

great decision for you to have to make =)
 
Blackpaw|1293057498|2804076 said:
My vote is for the solitaire too! especially if you want the band to be the star - the halo would out-bling the band i think?!

great decision for you to have to make =)

Thanks, Blackpaw! Which wedding band do you like better with the solitaire - the Legacy or the 7 stone shared prong?
 
I like the shared prong...but I think the legacy (which is also lovely) goes best with the halo setting.
 
Hi! First of all, congrats on your engagement! Secondly, I prefer the look of the solitaire over the halo. I think the lines of the 1895 are elegant and timeless. It would look great with any wedding band you choose and you can't go wrong with platinum! I like halo settings but I feel like your round diamond looks out of place in the Legacy-like setting. Personally, I like the look of the Legacy wedding band over the shared prong. I dont like the "roundness" of the diamonds in the shared prong setting. I think the Legacy band would fit more flush against the 1895 band. Also, I'm kind of biased since I have the Cartier 1895 and wear it with the matching 4-prong eternity band. I was afraid it wasn't "blingy" enough, too, but I've had my engagement ring a little over 2 years and it still makes me swoon when I look at it! The 3mm might be a little large for your 1 carat, I think you'd need to see it all together to properly decide. I definitely wouldnt go over 3mm.

Anyway, hope that helps! Let us know what you decide!
 
Well, after much deliberation, I have decided not only to go with the solitaire, but we are also upgrading my 1 carat back to a 1.5 carat! It will be of much better color and clarity than my original 1.5 carat which was actually a family stone that was given to us to trade in for something else, and I just couldn't decide what that something else should be. I have to say, this whole engagement ring process has been a bit crazy for me - I never thought I would be so indecisive about what I wanted. Picking my DF was cake, the ring on the other hand I just can't seem to settle on...but I think I am finally on the right track thanks to this website and all of your help - so THANK YOU very much! I am sure you will see me posting now about which diamond to choose, and then the right wedding band for my new diamond, of course! So excited.

Side note, as much as I love learning about diamonds, I sometimes miss the days when I thought that if a diamond sparkled and looked "clear", it must be good! Obviously there is so much more that goes into it, and I find myself becoming a bit obsessed with finding the "perfect" diamond, that sometimes I wish I didn't know all the things I know now! I guess it will all pay out in the end, though!

Ha, I'm watching 27 Dresses on FX and during the commercials the "host" of the movie is visiting the store where I got my wedding dress and dealing with my sales consultant! Kinda cool. :)

Ok, enough rambling! Thanks again everyone for your thoughtful opinions and help!
 
Great choice.

Though I have a halo, I personally prefer the look of engagement settings without halos much of the time. Of course, I prefer three stones to either solitaires or halos. But that's a different matter (which your FI will probably kill me for bringing up).
 
Gypsy|1293443165|2806820 said:
Of course, I prefer three stones to either solitaires or halos. But that's a different matter (which your FI will probably kill me for bringing up).

LOL, yes, he would! But trust me, a 3 stone has crossed my mind - anniversary someday maybe. ;)
 
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