What is your carat limit and why?

[OneKuhlChic]

It’s a soft plan at this point. Meaning I haven’t committed or decided. A 7 is only 1.5 mm more then a 5 by spread. So I’m not sure that would be hugely different.

I went home this weekend actually, first time with ring. And no one even remotely noticed the size. Except my brother’s wife. She said it seemed a little bigger then my original e ring and asked if it was a 3 carat. My parents/aunt commented it was more sparkly then my original ring, and my mom asked me if there was an upgrade policy in case I wanted to go up.

We will live with the idea for a bit and see where it settles. Right now, he’s just periodically browsing the inventory to see if a stone interests him. His constraint isn’t financial. He just wants to find whatever he considers to be the right stone.

If the spread is only 1.5mm larger the upgrade may be barely noticable and you end up feeling dissatisfied with the results.

Please don't take umbrage with me, but after being cooped-up, due to COVID, you could be feeling bored and that's why you want to upgrade...

Maybe it's time to set your sights on something entirely different, like planning a trip to Fiji or the Galápagos Islands, or who knows, Glamping on Safari in Africa.

Make it the adventure of a lifetime!! Nothing stimulates the brain like experiencing exciting sights, sounds, and people of various cultures.

 

[OneKuhlChic]

My biggest diamond is a 1.94ct MRB that is set in a bangle as I don't like MRBs as rings. This was given to me by my mum with the intention to be set as a ring.

I would dearly love to have a 2ct OEC as a ring, however, I do not wish to buy a diamond (earth-mined or LGD) that can trump my 1.19ct E VS1 EC that I bought as a 40th birthday present for myself some years ago (it has huge sentimental value and a sob story attached to it).

I am eyeing LGD OECs around 1.1ct mark to be set as a RHR.

If and when I need bling power, I would reach for my CS and pearl rings as some of them are whoppers (to me at least).

The number of occasions to wear my nicer blings had been far and between in the past few years. However, this is likely to change as I have joined a big international charitable organisation that has lots of social functions, including formal dinners with black tie dress code.

DK

Hello.
Please don't laugh, but what is a diamond MRB? I can usually figure out the acronyms, but not this time.

 

[AllAboardTheBlingTrain]

Hello.
Please don't laugh, but what is a diamond MRB? I can usually figure out the acronyms, but not this time.

Modern round brilliant.

 

[MagpieMama]

Hello.
Please don't laugh, but what is a diamond MRB? I can usually figure out the acronyms, but not this time.

MRB = Modern Round Brilliant

 

[OneKuhlChic]

I personally believe lifestyle and social circle play a part in deciding what I am comfortable in wearing.

I would not feel comfortable wearing the 20ct+ EC posted by @missy to go grocery shopping in an old banger of a car, or to meet up with friends for drinks on Friday at a local watering hole dressed casually.

It would feel rather show off to me even if I can afford it.

DK

I hear you. Maybe ostentatious or nouveau riche is more like it... Concurrently, I wear what I want.

I will say that when someone gets engaged or married, I always look at their ring using my right hand, as I never want to show-up a young women's gorgeous engagement / wedding rings.

BTW: my e-ring is only 1.51 ct flanked by a couple of .37 ct marquis stones on each side - 2.25 ctw.

 

[OneKuhlChic]

MRB = Modern Round Brilliant

Oh, as opposed to OEC

The lady in question was kind of obnoxious too in her behaviours and mannerisms, very boostful, if you know what I mean.

DK

Now that seems nouveau riche!!!


... Thank you!!!

 

[OneKuhlChic]

My e-ring is a 2.25 ctw 3-stone that covers my ring finger left to right -- my side stones are marquis. I alao have large fingers; I wear a loose size 7.75 (fingers swell in summer).

I love my ring design, but if I upgraded, I wouldn't be able to have marquis stones on the side -- it's just too wide for my finger.

I've casually thought about upgrading but not seriously. If I did upgrade I'd want to go no larger than a 2.25 ct and it would need to be a solitaire.

 

[RosieR]

I think 4 carats would be my max, as I wear 3 carat total studs and 5 and a half carat tennis bracelet daily. My current solitaire is 2.6 carats. Right now there are other pieces of jewellery I’d like to add to my collection before worrying about an upgrade.

 

[weemie]

I think I’m at my limit. 1.61 OMC, plenty big for me. I’m in Europe and it’s definitely not a thing having big diamonds. In fact, I think I pull mine off without drawing too much attention as I have large fingers! I wear a 7.75-8. I love my ring, it brings me joy, but any bigger and I would feel uncomfortable. I’m a bit of a bargain hunter so any of my close friends/family would know I got good deals on any luxury goods I got! I also wear a 1.5ct transitional solitaire on my right hand. I love it and if I had a bigger diamond on my left then I’d have to give it up!

 

[dk168]

Oh I want one! From where? Maybe I’ll be the queen for Halloween!

It is an eBay store, however, I cannot see the listing of this shop at the moment for some reason, sorry!

It is called Maharajah Jewelers.

DK

 

[caolsen]

Late to the game, but can I play? It’s all about size and height and setting and cut and the interplay between those four factors to me.

I have a 2.67 pear, not that heavy but my pear is LONG. It look like a 3 plus carat stone face up, but it’s quite shallow. Given it’s set in a plain, low solitaire, she works and doesn’t get that many mentions. My 2 carat UV OMC - the opposite of a flat stone, puffy central, in a 3mm round diamond halo (the avatar) gets noticed, a lot.



My 2.15 carat RB Fancy yellow brown in a Harry Winston setting with 2 side stones is high off the finger and a rare rock given it’s a very saturated fancy diamond but a VS1 but NO ONE notices it. People aren’t looking for a diamond that color so they don’t see it…thing could be five carats and no one would bother with it.


My three stone emerald which is only 2.5 total, center stone is only 1.5 gets noticed almost every time I wear it. And those of us who have sapphire clusters knows that a Diana sapphire gets noticed, a lot.


So what is my point - I think how much a ring is noticed is much more than about size of the stone. Certain cuts, colors, and settings are more primed to get noticed. I think that’s what determines how ’big’ I would be willing to go.

 

[OneKuhlChic]

Late to the game, but can I play? It’s all about size and height and setting and cut and the interplay between those four factors to me.

I have a 2.67 pear, not that heavy but my pear is LONG. It look like a 3 plus carat stone face up, but it’s quite shallow. Given it’s set in a plain, low solitaire, she works and doesn’t get that many mentions. My 2 carat UV OMC - the opposite of a flat stone, puffy central, in a 3mm round diamond halo (the avatar) gets noticed, a lot.



My 2.15 carat RB Fancy yellow brown in a Harry Winston setting with 2 side stones is high off the finger and a rare rock given it’s a very saturated fancy diamond but a VS1 but NO ONE notices it. People aren’t looking for a diamond that color so they don’t see it…thing could be five carats and no one would bother with it.


My three stone emerald which is only 2.5 total, center stone is only 1.5 gets noticed almost every time I wear it. And those of us who have sapphire clusters knows that a Diana sapphire gets noticed, a lot.


So what is my point - I think how much a ring is noticed is much more than about size of the stone. Certain cuts, colors, and settings are more primed to get noticed. I think that’s what determines how ’big’ I would be willing to go.

How much of your finger is covered East /West by your EC 3-stone ring?

I ask as my MRB is 1.51 ct. with 3.7 ct. marquis side stones (.75 ctw) and it spans the width of my finger. Hence, one reason for not being interested in upgrading to a larger center stone.

BTW: I love, love, love your pear solitaire!!! It is literally to die for and the epitome of class as it stands out on its own!!!

 

[caolsen]

How much of your finger is covered East /West by your EC 3-stone ring?

I ask as my MRB is 1.51 ct. with 3.7 ct. marquis side stones (.75 ctw) and it spans the width of my finger. Hence, one reason for not being interested in upgrading to a larger center stone.

BTW: I love, love, love your pear solitaire!!! It is literally to die for and the epitome of class as it stands out on its own!!!

Thank you. The pear is stunning, David Klass did an amazing job. The three stone covers well, picture below. It’s a 6.5 size but I wear a 6 below my knuckle.

 

[OneKuhlChic]

Thank you. The pear is stunning, David Klass did an amazing job. The three stone covers well, picture below. It’s a 6.5 size but I wear a 6 below my knuckle.

You have lovely hands, your ring looks perfect. Whereas, I have Seinfeld 'man hands' especially without my gel nails!!

 

[FL_runner]

I think it's not just the carat size, but the finger real estate that gets taken up and how high it is, as well as the setting. My engagement ring is a 1.4 ct pear and gets comments where I work and socially. I have a lab 2ct MRB in a small halo and i feel like that is about the max for me right now size-wise. I could imagine going up to a solitaire stone that had a horizontal measurement of 10mm, but I think it would also depend on the setting. I haven't tried on anything larger than my current rings, though. I also feel I wouldn't wear it at work or in some social settings, so even if I loved it, it might not be worth it considering price per wear. Maybe someday, but there are other jewelry items on my wishlist I'd like to work towards I do feel like i could go bigger with colored stones!

 

[caolsen]

You have lovely hands, your ring looks perfect. Whereas, I have Seinfeld 'man hands' especially without my gel nails!!

Thank you!

 

[oncrutchesrightnow]

So I was deciding on a future purchase. I don’t tend to wear stones above 6mm with the one exception of my really pretty 1.21 ct LGD AVR (6.7mm). I love it so much I was thinking about getting a bigger one. But then I had to think about how often I would wear it and whether it would be worth the cost. I got a moissy “carat tester” and confirmed that no, spending money on size would not be a good use of funds. If money was no object I would wear big diamonds, just not every day.

Carat-tester moissy

I was deciding on a future purchase and needed to see if I would realistically wear a stone over 7mm. I got this sterling silver moissy “carat-tester“ ring off of Etsy and decided, no, I will not spend $$$ on size. But the tester ring is still pretty so figured why not post it. I will...

www.pricescope.com

 

[PearCraze]

So I was deciding on a future purchase. I don’t tend to wear stones above 6mm with the one exception of my really pretty 1.21 ct LGD AVR (6.7mm). I love it so much I was thinking about getting a bigger one. But then I had to think about how often I would wear it and whether it would be worth the cost. I got a moissy “carat tester” and confirmed that no, spending money on size would not be a good use of funds. If money was no object I would wear big diamonds, just not every day.

Carat-tester moissy

I was deciding on a future purchase and needed to see if I would realistically wear a stone over 7mm. I got this sterling silver moissy “carat-tester“ ring off of Etsy and decided, no, I will not spend $$$ on size. But the tester ring is still pretty so figured why not post it. I will...

www.pricescope.com

Thats a great idea! I bought two rings from maxine jewelry. Both much larger than my current ring to try out. It's definitely worth the price if it makes me understand my carat size boundaries. I think they get here in 10 days!