Find your diamond
Find your jewelry
shape
carat
color
clarity

UPGRADES!!!

Status
Not open for further replies. Please create a new topic or request for this thread to be opened.
suzi

suzi

Shiny_Rock
Joined
May 29, 2006
Messages
162
I''ve been reading through the "Show Me The Ring" thread for several weeks. I think I''ve pretty much seen them all now...lol! So many beautiful rings!

Anway, from reading that thread, and browsing around through the other threads and links to threads (does it ever end?) I''ve begun to see that many of you have had upgrades on your rings. Some of you seem to have had multiple upgrades! Is that pretty common? Or is that a PS phenomenon? I don''t know too many people in the real world who''ve ugraded, and even fewer who''ve done so more than once. I myself have had the upgrade bug bite a time or two. I usually just buy a "new" ring...hehehe.

My questions on this subject are...how many of you have upgraded your diamond more than once? Why did you do it? Did you want a bigger size, a different shape, or a diamond of a better grade? How many of you have kept the same diamond and just upgraded the setting? How many of you have done both? And last but not least, when you upgraded either the diamond or the setting, did you keep the previous diamond/setting or did you start all over new?

I know there are many individual upgrade threads out there. But they are scattered all over PS, and I thought it might be fun to have a thread dedicated to upgrade stories all in one place, kind of like the "Show Me The Ring" thread. Would anyone be interested in sharing a brief synopsis of their upgrade story, and maybe sharing a link to your upgrade thread if you have one? I''d love to read them, and have some of my burning "why" questions about your upgrade sagas answered! Thanks in advance to anyone who is willing to share!
1.gif
 
Okay I''ll start. I''ve been married a long time so I''ve had plenty of opportunities for upgrades. We only had matching gold wedding bands when we got married.

First upgrade at one year anniversary was a 1/2 carat solitaire that I wore next to my band.

Second upgrade at 15 year anniversary I had the 1/2 carat diamond reset in a yellow gold bypass style ring with three small channel set diamonds on each side. I kept my old band but I never wear it anymore.

Third upgrade at 19 year anniversary I traded the 1/2 carat diamond in on a better quality 1 carat diamond and had it set in the same setting.

Fourth upgrade at 28 year anniversary I wanted a little more bling, I wanted ideal cut diamonds, and I wanted white gold or platinum. I got a whole new three stone ring with a pave shank in white gold. It has a 1.24 carat center stone and 1/2 carat sidestones. I kept my old 1 carat diamond and had it reset in a platinum setting that I wear on my right hand.

I''ve also had two upgrades on earrings!
2.gif
 
there actually is a thread about upgrades..

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/how-many-upgrades.39003/


just realized I never answered. I found PS because I wanted a new setting after 5 years of marriage. Then i learned more about diamonds and realized I wanted a ideal cut stone ( I had an OEC.) We just purchased a 1.5 round and I plan on keeping it for a long while. Of course, i wouldn't mind at all upgrading again at say 10 years
27.gif
 
I have had the same 1 ct. diamond for 29 years! I wanted to change my settings to wg or platinum, but my husband just said to get a new ring for our next anniversary! So I am not trading in my old diamond, but I am getting a new wedding set. The new diamond is 1.63 cts. I think it is more of a PS thing. Maybe the people who really like jewelry just find this site! But I don''t know people in my real life who''ve upgraded their e-rings. I take that back. I do know one but her new stone is still under a carat.
 
Sundial, you deserve a few upgrades for 28 years of marriage! Good for you!

Mrssalvo, I had seen that thread, but most of the people who talked about upgrades on that one either hadn''t had an upgrade, or really didn''t give much info about why they got an upgrade. That''s kind of what I was wanting to know...the reasons why people get so many upgrades! For instance, like you did it because you really wanted an ideal cut instead of an OEC. I know a lot of people do upgrade now, I''m just suprised at how many people have upgraded so many times. Especially the ones who don''t wait for 10 years or so like you plan to. Mara comes to mind, as an example. I think I read on one of her threads that she has upgraded a couple of times already? I was also under the impression she hadn''t been married too very long. That was interesting to me. I was wondering if people weren''t happy with their diamond purchases, like maybe changed their mind about the shape or wanted a bigger diamond. Or is it because people find PS and realize that they could have had a better/different/bigger diamond or ring? I''m very curious to know the reasons for multiple upgrades, especially the ones that occur in a relatively short span of time.

Oh, and diamondseeker way to go! You''ve been married even longer than sundial! You also deserve a nice upgrade! Can''t wait to see some pictures! I did wonder if maybe this was a PS thing...that when people find this site and maybe learn more about diamonds than they knew when they got their original stone, they change their mind about what they might want. I also wondered if maybe seeing so many pictures of HUGE diamonds and so many fancy settings causes people to be discontent with the size or style of ring they already own, and it makes them want something "more".

I know that I have experienced quite a bit of awe seeing some of the rings pictured in the eye candy thread! Wowee! I didn''t even imagine so many different styles were even available. Most of the women I know have relatively simple solitaires. I''ve never even seen a halo setting in person, nor have I seen some of the different cuts...like an asscher or cushion. Most of the women I know have either rounds, pears, princess, or marquise cut stones. And most either have a fairly simple solitaire or wear a traditional type of wedding set. I know of only one person who even has a custom made setting. I don''t know even one person who has a "designer" setting. I''m beginning to think most of the people I know suffer from "diamond illiteracy"...myself included!

I had never even considered such a thing as diamond shrinkage until finding this forum, either! So far, I don''t think I''ve succumbed, but I can see how easily it might happen when I see pictures of 2, 3, and even 4+ carat stones! I have one of the larger diamonds I''ve ever seen, and mine is only 1.19! It even amazes me that I can refer to my diamond''s carat as "only" ...LOL! It STILL seem humongous to me, but by PS standards it''s pretty small...
6.gif
 
Sipper,
Great idea for a thread.
I found PS when I typed in a websearch on yahoo for upgrading my ering. I clicked on the link, and whamoo, I haven''t left!

I upgraded just my center stone because I wanted bigger size. I was willing to go down in color and clarity.
What I had: .74 vs2 F princess stone
What I got: 1.53 SI2 J radiant cut stone



I had wanted a princess, but honestly this Radiant looks like a princess in its pattern.....


I would have loved to have kept my old stone too but I didn''t have the money...


and here is the link to some pics!








https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/my-new-e-ring-upgrraded.35811/=
 
Thanks, sophie! I checked out your link...I LOVE your rings. I have a princess cut RH ring, and a princess cut channel set eternity band. I think square diamonds look awesome in channel settings! I am really liking the look of radiants better than princess cuts anymore for a center stone. I think you made a good choice! They seem to have a different type of sparkle than a princess, yet retain the same shape. I am a big lover of more fancy shapes over rounds. You did good, I think your rings are beautiful.
 
My upgrade process was kind of slow. It started out about a year ago when I decided to start rhodium plating my original yellow gold wedding ring. In addition to that, I have had problems with loosing the side diamonds on my ring. Basically, my original had been kind of high maintenance. So, we started out by looking around for new settings, but I couldn't find anything I liked. This went on for about 9 months. At some point, dh said "why don't you just get a new one?" I wasn't quite ready yet, but was intrigued by the idea. Everyone I know has an upgrade! Seriously! I don't know if it's because I live in CA or because I live in Orange County, CA, but my little 1ct. pear stands out like a sore thumb (ok, maybe not that bad!). Most recently my neighbor got a 3ct. for her birthday! Another neighbor has a 3 stone where the middle stone is 3cts, so you can only imagine how many cts. the side stones are, plus she has a diamond band to go with it. So, it's not unusual for me/us to run in to large upgrades. In July, I decided that getting a new stone would be my best bet as I just couldn't find any settings I liked for my pear. Shortly there after, I found a setting that I LOVED! I think it was on this site actually, the halo pear ring that a few members have. I kicked around that idea for a while. In the end, dh decided that I should get a new diamond as I am about to celebrate my 40th birthday. We will also be celebrating our 12 year anniversary 11 days after my birthday.

So, I got my new ring a week or so ago. A 1.58 round as seen in my avatar. I'm not wearing it yet. It sits in the safe until my birthday.

As for upgrading again -- yes, I will. I'm actually considering doing it again before I actually wear the ring. I really want something closer to 2cts. I'm trying to decide if I should look into turning it back in towards something larger now while I can still get full purchase price or if I should wait a few years to do it. Possibly for our 15th anniversary or something. We shall see.

ETA-I forgot to mention my original pear. I plan to reset it into a single shank halo with either diamonds or sapphires to wear as a rhr.
 
Great thread.

Well, I''ve been married almost 25 years. When hubs and I got engaged, we knew nothing about diamonds. So, we went in a store in town, I picked out what we could afford, which wasn''t much, about a .30ish round stone, ok cut. I wore that happily forever. I really didn''t begin to want a new one until one of my SIL''s got an upgrade. I still don''t know how big it is (around here, no one would dream of asking any specs), but I''m guessing about a 2.25 round. You don''t really see many of those here, it stood out. I was mesmerized by it, and the sparkles that flew in the air when she talked with her hands. But I never said anything, just wished.


Fast forward several years. I now only really wanted two things in life, an inground pool, and a new rock. And actually, in that order. I approached hubs about the pool, no go. I tried for 3 years to talk him into it, nope. So, I scratched that off the list and focused on my ring. He didn''t get it at first (they rarely do, lol), but eventually he did. Found Pricescope, learned a ton so I wouldn''t repeat what we did years ago. Long story short, I tried the B&M route, which proved frustrating, irritating and in the end down right scary. Finally bought online, and have never looked back. I''m too busy looking at my ring.
9.gif

New stone and setting, and this is it, I don''t want anything bigger. My old set stays in my jewelry box, for sentimental reasons.

Link to my ring (and earrings).

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/finally-my-upgrades.49892/
 
Thanks for sharing your upgrade story, Ellen. I love your ring. The d'vatche x-prong is one of my all time favorite settingss (my mom has one) and your diamond is killer!

I guess I should probably share my own upgrade story. Though I never really thought of it as an upgrade.

I've had a few diamond rings. I love diamonds, always have. I bought my first diamond when I was 18 and had my first job. It was just a small cluster ring with teeny tiny diamonds. I still have it.

My husband originally gave me a 1/2 carat marquise solitaire in yellow gold. He bought it at a mall store, and the only specs I have on it are that it is 1/2 carat and it is an H color SI1. It is apparently eye clean, because I've never seen any inclusions in it. It was my promise ring. So I started out married life with a 1/2 carat solitaire and a plain gold band. Later, I got a 5 stone band of round diamonds to wear as a wedding band. A few months ago, I decided that I wanted something a little bigger than 1/2 carat solitaire, so my husband said to start shopping around. During my search, I found Pricescope. And through pricescope I found a vendor that had the diamond I was looking for and I ended up with a 1.19 carat marquise I color and VS2 clarity. But I didn't know for sure what kind of setting I wanted, so I basically had it set in a temporary tiffany style solitaire. I've continued to lurk on PS for the past few months, trying to get some ideas of what kind of setting I wanted for a permanent home for my new diamond. I saw a thread about Woobug's marquise, and it inspiired me. Within a week I had found the setting of my dreams, and now my diamond has a lovely home. The setting has a high six prong platinum setting for the center stone, with two RB's on each side in basket settings set into a yellow gold band. It is perfectly matched to my 5 stone wedding ring. But to my delight, it also looks very nice with my princess cut channel set eternity band RHR! So I have a couple of different looks if I want.

I still have my original marquise promise ring. But I had it reset in a white gold solitaire. I plan to give that to my daughter someday, and she prefers white gold over yellow gold (which is my preference). I don't know how to post a link to the thread with my new diamond, but it's in the "Show Me The Ring" thread as well as the "Eye Candy" folder. Whenever I think I'm starting to come down with the "shinkage syndrome" thing...I pull out my 1/2 carat promise ring and wear it around for a day. It cures me very quickly, because my new diamond seems huge again when I put it back on!
1.gif


ETA: Oops! I forgot to say how long I've been married...15 years! My anniversary is coming up in 22 days. So it took me a while to get around to upgrading my diamond, too.
2.gif
After seeing the pictures of your earrings, Ellen, I think I know what my next upgrade is going to be. I wonder if I could talk my husband into some nice diamond studs for an anniversary present? LOL!
 
Here''s my story...

In 2002, Dh proposed to me with a .49ct round brilliant, L, Si2 set in a yellow gold tiffany setting. After some diamond education and research, he knew he got a not so good diamond. So, just for fun we went to a ''maul'' jewellery chain who were the only ones at the time to carry the Ekati H&A diamond (Aurias Diamond now).We were WOWed
30.gif
by the H&A and we''re totally sold on buying one someday...... However, I did change (upgrade) my setting from yg to wg. It did help make my L look less yellow. I was happy.

We got married in Aug.2004. In Nov.2004 for my belated wedding gift, we upgraded my diamond to an H&A .904ct, E, Si2. (see avatar) We set the original diamond into a pendant. After, learning and seeing all the BIG bling on PS, I kick myself for not taking up his offer when he said, "Are you sure you don''t want a bigger diamond?". I could have got 1.15 -1.25 ct. Dang!

Then for our 1st anniversary, he bought me a 3 stone, .45tcw E, SI anniversary band. Well, after a few months, I didn''t like the look of it with my solataire so we upgraded it to a 5 stone band - .75tcw, E, VS-SI. (see avatar) That was my quickest upgrade.

Dh doesn''t count the very first ring he gave me as anything significant/sentimental. I DO. The .904ct is more sentimental to him.

So, will I upgrade again? No. He won''t allow it but he will allow there to be an addition. We''ve been talking about a getting a stone in around the 2ct range. It won''t be for a years yet as we''re trying to start a family. But it won''t keep me from looking.
9.gif


For the time being, I will get myself some small pieces. I''m in the process of a RHR project. That will keep me going for awhile.
31.gif
 
Date: 8/29/2006 11:03:01 PM
Author: sipper
Thanks, sophie! I checked out your link...I LOVE your rings. I have a princess cut RH ring, and a princess cut channel set eternity band. I think square diamonds look awesome in channel settings! I am really liking the look of radiants better than princess cuts anymore for a center stone. I think you made a good choice! They seem to have a different type of sparkle than a princess, yet retain the same shape. I am a big lover of more fancy shapes over rounds. You did good, I think your rings are beautiful.
Click to expand...

aww, well thank you sipper!!!

when do we get to see pics of yours??
31.gif
31.gif
 
Date: 8/30/2006 12:33:59 PM
Author: Sophie

Date: 8/29/2006 11:03:01 PM
Author: sipper
Thanks, sophie! I checked out your link...I LOVE your rings. I have a princess cut RH ring, and a princess cut channel set eternity band. I think square diamonds look awesome in channel settings! I am really liking the look of radiants better than princess cuts anymore for a center stone. I think you made a good choice! They seem to have a different type of sparkle than a princess, yet retain the same shape. I am a big lover of more fancy shapes over rounds. You did good, I think your rings are beautiful.
Click to expand...

aww, well thank you sipper!!!

when do we get to see pics of yours??
31.gif
31.gif
Click to expand...

I don''t know how to post a link to the thread, but here''s a picture of the ering and the band together. I will try to upload a picture of the diamond before it was in the new setting later if I can find one.

ring&band.jpg
 
sipper, thanks.

Thanks for posting your story as well! And yes, studs are a must!


Also, if you''re using IE (that''s the only browser that lets you link on here I''m told), open your ring thread up, then go up to the address bar, right ckick on it, hit copy, go to where you want to post it, right click and hit paste. If it worked it will be underlined. You can also hit preview on your post and then see for sure. HTH!
 
Add me to the list of long-time married folks. Although I have always LOVED diamonds, when we got married (right out of high school!
23.gif
) we were dirt broke poor, so I went diamond-less and wore my mother''s w-ring happily for many years.

Flash forward to a few years ago... the kids are grown and educated
1.gif
, the house and cars are paid for, and we decided it was finally time for me to get my diamond!
30.gif


My first diamond was an AGS-0 1.53 RB - gorgeous! But the darn thing kept shrinking before my very eyes!!!
39.gif
So last year I upgraded to another AGS-0 RB, this time 2.36... also gorgeous! It''s shrinking, too... but thankfully not quiiiite as fast!

Will I ever upgrade again? Well, I would be LYING if I said I wouldn''t LOVE to own a honkin'' 3+er, but the reality is that we may have spent all I feel comfortable spending on a small chunk of decorative carbon. But who knows? Stay tuned!!!
9.gif


11a.jpg
 
I got married in 1981, right out of college. At the time when we got engaged I had a .48 ctw. round diamond solitaire in white gold (I was an aberration because everyone else had yellow gold) I always knew I wanted to upgrade some time way in the future. But along the way, I started accumulating a lot of other nice jewelry plus it seemed like there were always other things to spend money on. (kids for one-they certainly aren''t cheap-lol!) So when our 25th anniversary started approaching my DH knew he wouldn''t be able to hold off any longer. I now have a little over a 1 ct. round ideal cut diamond set in a pink diamond halo. Not big by PS standards but with the halo around it, it looks big. And the setting wasn''t inexpensive by any means. I knew I''d never upgrade again, so wanted my "dream" setting.
 
LYNN that picture of your stone nearly stopped my heart!!!!
30.gif


My upgrades...GOSH...where to start
9.gif
.

First stone was a 1.23c G VS1 for original engagement, that was too big table, too shallow depth.

Next stone, within a year from then...right before the wedding, was a 1.29c H SI1 from WF....when I finally learned to shop smart.

Third stone a year later, was a 1.60 J SI2 from WF. YUM.
30.gif
My first J!

Fourth stone...gulp...on 2 year wedding anniversary...my current stone is a 2.32 J SI1 that I just adore. I think I can hang with this stone for a while....
12.gif
Maybe.
 
HI:

Two rings in twenty one years--but same husband!

First: 1.46, F, VS1, RB.
Second: 5.01, H, VS1, Radiant set with two .56 traps on the side.

No ER upgrades, ever!! But I see some natural yellow radiant diamond earrings and a ruby ring in my future
3.gif
3.gif
. But that''s a whole other story.
2.gif


cheers--Sharon
 
Date: 8/30/2006 7:09:12 PM
Author: Mara

LYNN that picture of your stone nearly stopped my heart!!!!
30.gif


Click to expand...
Why thank you, my dear! Coming from YOU (Photographer Extraordinaire!) THAT is a REAL compliment!!!
1.gif
 
This is good thread! We upgraded recently so here''s my story:

June 2003 Original ering was a .79, D, SI2 (eye-clean), octillion shape
July 2004 Married
August 2006 Upgraded ering is 1.74, G, SI2 (eye-clean), radiant shape

I wanted an upgrade because our financial situation had changed, we moved to the "Gold Coast" (Southwestern CT), and wanted something a little more lavish. We bought an entirely new ering (diamond & setting) and kept the original for sentimental value.

I''m relatively young and my husband''s readied himself for the idea that I will get future upgrades later in life (he''s terribly sweet and resigned!!).

Thanks for letting me share!
4.gif
 
Date: 8/30/2006 7:09:12 PM
Author: Mara

LYNN that picture of your stone nearly stopped my heart!!!!
30.gif


My upgrades...GOSH...where to start
9.gif
.

First stone was a 1.23c G VS1 for original engagement, that was too big table, too shallow depth.

Next stone, within a year from then...right before the wedding, was a 1.29c H SI1 from WF....when I finally learned to shop smart.

Third stone a year later, was a 1.60 J SI2 from WF. YUM.
30.gif
My first J!

Fourth stone...gulp...on 2 year wedding anniversary...my current stone is a 2.32 J SI1 that I just adore. I think I can hang with this stone for a while....
12.gif
Maybe.
Click to expand...
Mara,

Do you have all of your diamonds or were you able to trade them in? Especially the first one as I''m assuming you didn''t buy it from WF?
 
I got married with a 1.29 princess cut. Very nice stone. After 6 years we got a new RB, 2.27. I love them both. Was going to sell the princess, talked to consigner jeweler and was pleased I could sell for what we paid (a rarity, I think prices must have gone up so much in recent years). But now I don''t know, so still have it. I got it sized to fit my right hand and sometimes I wear it like that, but not sure if that''s what it will stay with. I may reset into something, not sure, but will hold onto it for now.

I have read many PS ladies who sold their ring and then wished they had it back for a project. This is the princess.

1.29 E princess resize.jpg
 
Here is the upgrade

rv dian resize1.jpg
 
The past two pics were taken at the same time. The different rings reflect the same lighting conditions in quite different ways. The princess is E color, the RB F. I don''t think I will get a larger RB - of course never say never, but after a point, I dunno....I just feel funny.

But I will probably reset this one in the future, maybe a 3 stone. I love picking out the darn diamonds as much as wearing them. There is a real "thrill of the hunt" to diamond shopping. Bad, bad habit.
9.gif
 
1989: Got engaged with a 1.01 D SI1 Marquise in a yellow gold setting with baguette and marquise accent stones.
1990: Changed setting to white gold mounting with a baguette on each side of center stone
1991: Upgraded diamond to a 1.51 H SI1 Round (and put in same mounting -- head was changed to work for a round)
2000: Changed setting to a three-stone ring of all rounds -- flanked the 1.51 center stone w/ a 1.70 round and 1.71 round
2003: Upgraded diamond to a 3.29 H SI2 Round, mounted in solitaire setting
2004: Changed setting to three-stone, 3.29 center round flanked by trillions on each side, .75 tcw in trills
2009: Figure the 20 year anniversary is a good time for an upgrade!!! I''m thinking 4 ct cushion in a simple antique-style mounting


DO I NEED MY HEAD EXAMINED, OR WHAT???!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Date: 8/31/2006 12:17:42 AM
Author: headlight
,
DO I NEED MY HEAD EXAMINED, OR WHAT???!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Click to expand...
Only if it needs to be changed out to accomodate the size of your new upgrade! LMAO! Sorry, I couldn''t resist. Get it? your "head". I know, bad joke!

Thanks to everyone for sharing your upgrade stories. This is exactly what I wanted to hear. But some of you are holding out on me...share the pictures (or at least the links to the pictures)!
 
I am not answering the question as I have upgraded so many times I am ashamed
emembarrassed.gif
, but I wanted to say Sipper, that I love your username, it is most unusual and dainty
9.gif
I am more of a gulper meself...
41.gif
 
Date: 8/31/2006 7:37:38 AM
Author: sipper

Date: 8/31/2006 12:17:42 AM
Author: headlight
,
DO I NEED MY HEAD EXAMINED, OR WHAT???!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Click to expand...
Only if it needs to be changed out to accomodate the size of your new upgrade! LMAO! Sorry, I couldn''t resist. Get it? your ''head''. I know, bad joke!

Thanks to everyone for sharing your upgrade stories. This is exactly what I wanted to hear. But some of you are holding out on me...share the pictures (or at least the links to the pictures)!
Click to expand...
LOL!


And yeah, I''m with Lorelei, what''s sipping?
9.gif
2.gif
 
Status
Not open for further replies. Please create a new topic or request for this thread to be opened.
GET 3 FREE HCA RESULTS JOIN THE FORUM. ASK FOR HELP
Jewelry Blog
PriceScope-Concierge-Ad
Find prime cuts.
Top