What is your preference; solitaire or eternity band?

[Viola]

Hi folks,
I’m planning my 10 anniversary ring that will be worn as a stand alone on my left hand, (maybe with my thin red gold plain band).

I LOVE LOVE LOVE both looks, but can’t seem to make up my mind as to which one I want. So I thought it would be nice to have a poll to see what PS:ers prefer.

ETA: feel free to motivate your vote.

 

[lovedogs]

I personally prefer the look of an eternity for people who are wearing a stand alone (vs a solitaire). I love the look of eternity + solitaire, but if choosing one vs the other to wear alone my vote is eternity band. Can't wait to see what you choose since both options will be beautiful!

 

[Polabowla]

Tough choice, do you have pictures?

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I would have a hard time choosing one of those two, and I will tell you what changes I'd make to be able to choose if this was for myself.

With .35-.40 stones, I'd want a 5 stone band, because I think a full eternity that size wouldn't be all that comfortable, plus I'd be worried every time I picked up heavy things or grabbed a door handle that I might crack stones on the palm side of my hand.

For a solitaire, I'd rather have a higher color and clarity 2.5 ct stone than a 2.7 I SI1.

So of those choices, I'd rather have the large solitaire because it would be a more significant ring than a 5 stone band which I could get another time!

 

[AllAboardTheBlingTrain]

Do you have a solitaire ring already? Of a comparable-ish size?

I would get the solitaire if you don’t have one, because I feel like a solitaire is so easy to wear, dress up and down.

If you have a solitaire already, then I would get the eternity.

 

[uyalison]

You need both. And I am sure you will get both eventually anyways. It is a matter of what to get first.

I would get a big and beautiful super ideal cut solitaire over an eternity band first. It will be a higher price item, so check that off the list first. And IMHO it has a bigger WOW factor than an eternity band. Although both are beautiful in their different ways.

 

[Rons Wolfe]

Solitaire, hands down, at least IMHO. That might come from the fact that I cannot stand the feeling of diamonds coming all the way down the sides of the ring and especially to the underside.

That, and the thought of a 2.7 ct ACA.........

 

[Viola]

I personally prefer the look of an eternity for people who are wearing a stand alone (vs a solitaire). I love the look of eternity + solitaire, but if choosing one vs the other to wear alone my vote is eternity band. Can't wait to see what you choose since both options will be beautiful!

I have short fingers and small hands, so I don't believe stacking looks good on my fingers. I will however proooobably wear it with a 2mm plain gold band.

 

[Viola]

I would have a hard time choosing one of those two, and I will tell you what changes I'd make to be able to choose if this was for myself.

With .35-.40 stones, I'd want a 5 stone band, because I think a full eternity that size wouldn't be all that comfortable, plus I'd be worried every time I picked up heavy things or grabbed a door handle that I might crack stones on the palm side of my hand.

For a solitaire, I'd rather have a higher color and clarity 2.5 ct stone than a 2.7 I SI1.

So of those choices, I'd rather have the large solitaire because it would be a more significant ring than a 5 stone band which I could get another time!

@diamondseeker2006 Thank you for being the voice of reason, I just can't get away from loving the look of full eternity in that size, and at the same time I'm all about a ring being comfortable. So there is a large risk that I'll be annoyed with the ring and the possibility of the diamonds being scratched or chipped on the palm side. I have a pavé band from VC, and I've almost stopped wearing it because I don't want to ruin the ring. Hence going with a plain solitaire would give me the look of bling, but be very low maintenance in that sense. And I would like the ring or the diamond to be an heirloom piece for one of my kids.

I did have a look to see what's available in the range you mentioned, and there isn't much, so I couldn't really figure out the price point. I think we'll be buying in the second half of next year, so I'm in no rush. I have a generic 1.1ct I GIA Exc cut, and I've stopped wearing that aswell, as I don't love the size on my hand. But, I'm using it as a reference for color, and I've always thought the stone as "dark" but I can't see any yellow in it. So I'm not sure if its the color or the cut. But the diamond was hand picked by Mark T. at ERD so it shouldn't be the cut.

I've just alway had this dream of owning a 3ct, and I'm realizing that I can't have that if I don't compromise on color and clarity, but can't figure out if the compromise will be worth it. I know you've owned ACAs, when compared to generic ideal cuts, do you see the difference between the cuts? I won't be able to see the stones irl before buying, so I can't compare myself.

 

[dk168]

My left hand ring finger is 8.25 US, fleshy and chubby, a solitaire has to be sizable about 8mm bezel set in a band at least 4mm at the time in order to provide good finger coverage. A 8mm mined diamond would be out of my reach, however, a lab/MMD OEC is doable.

However, I voted for an eternity band instead, as I believe it provides good finger coverage as well as being easier to wear for all occasions. Not that I would get one, as I prefer to wear a CS or pearl ring on my left hand.

Personal preferences and all that.

DK

 

[Viola]

Do you have a solitaire ring already? Of a comparable-ish size?

I would get the solitaire if you don’t have one, because I feel like a solitaire is so easy to wear, dress up and down.

If you have a solitaire already, then I would get the eternity.

I have a 3 stone with a 1.1ct round brilliant center and baguette sides. But I don't wear it because I don't love the size on my hand. So it's just sitting in the safe.

So, I just wear a plain band most of the time.

 

[Viola]

My left hand ring finger is 8.25 US, fleshy and chubby, a solitaire has to be sizable about 8mm bezel set in a band at least 4mm at the time in order to provide good finger coverage. A 8mm mined diamond would be out of my reach, however, a lab/MMD OEC is doable.

However, I voted for an eternity band instead, as I believe it provides good finger coverage as well as being easier to wear for all occasions. Not that I would get one, as I prefer to wear a CS or pearl ring on my left hand.

Personal preferences and all that.

DK

Thank you for your input. I realize finger size is crucial as well, I'm a size 4-4.5,

 

[Viola]

You need both. And I am sure you will get both eventually anyways. It is a matter of what to get first.

I would get a big and beautiful super ideal cut solitaire over an eternity band first. It will be a higher price item, so check that off the list first. And IMHO it has a bigger WOW factor than an eternity band. Although both are beautiful in their different ways.

Right? I think so too, at some point later down the road maybe I'll get a five stone aswell, if I start with the solitaire now.

 

[tyty333]

I wear a 7 stone 1.4 ctw a lot of times instead of my solitaire engagement ring. Its blingy without being in your face. Sort of understated
if you will (IMO)...See avatar. I got it for my 10 year anniversary to make a long story short. I also have my original solitaire and another
1.14 ACA that I wear.

Edit ...a 2.7-3 carat would be rather large for my neck of the woods. Maybe not for yours though!

 

[seaurchin]

I'd definitely pick the big solitaire, myself. But I'd get the one you think you'd get the most wear out of, if there's a difference.

For ex., if you'd feel out of place wearing a large solitaire in your usual surroundings, then I'd go with the eternity band.

If your fingers change size much (whether from weight fluctuations or swelling), then I'd pick the solitaire. It can be easily re-sized, unlike the eternity band. Also, diamonds between your fingers can be an awkward look/feel so maybe try a similar, inexpensive eternity ring first.

In fact, maybe wearing a sterling/CZ version of both for a while would help you decide which you prefer. Good luck!

 

[hmr_mama]

I have both! Well....almost. My ER is a 2.67/H/VS1 ACA and my eternity band is a 5.32 carat from ID jewelry. These are two very different rings. The solitaire is more wearable, but you need to make sure you're comfortable with the size. A 2.5+ carat solitaire is going to look BIG on your little finger, IMHO. I echo the sentiment of getting a CZ equivalent to make sure you're going to feel comfortable wearing it around town. The eternity band is glittery goodness. I'm completely smitten with my eternity but I rarely wear it. It sits in the safe most of the year. I did wear it for several years as my everyday ring but it took a beating. Loose stones and chipped girdles were the result. I too love the look of an eternity but my active lifestyle didn't do the ring any favors (I always take my rings off to do chores, shower, workout, etc.). Have you thought of a three stone? It's a very wearable option that would give you the "glittery goodness" I spoke of earlier.

 

[Viola]

I'd definitely pick the big solitaire, myself. But I'd get the one you think you'd get the most wear out of, if there's a difference.

For ex., if you'd feel out of place wearing a large solitaire in your usual surroundings, then I'd go with the eternity band.

If your fingers change size much (whether from weight fluctuations or swelling), then I'd pick the solitaire. It can be easily re-sized, unlike the eternity band. Also, diamonds between your fingers can be an awkward look/feel so maybe try a similar, inexpensive eternity ring first.

In fact, maybe wearing a sterling/CZ version of both for a while would help you decide which you prefer. Good luck!

I’m quite sure I’d wear the solitaire all hours of the day, cook, clean, at home, in my pjs etc. Whilst in theory I’d like to wear the eternity the same way, I KNOW for a fact that I probably wouldn’t. I’d wear it to work, social outings etc.

I’m in Sweden (Europe)..diamonds here are a new “fad”, so everyone who’s gotten engaged let’s say 5-10 yrs back don’t wear anything over 0,75ct. But newer engagement rings (the last 5yrs) can easily be around 1-1.2ct, I know three people in my social circle who have 1.7-2.2ct, but it’s def not the norm. I can’t recall having seen anything in that size range out and about except for those three.

Either way, I’m pretty sure a 2.5-3ct won’t get that much attention around here, people would just assume it’s either fake, or not notice it, and only a few acquaintances would probably notice the new ring, which they would with any new jewelry as we do talk about jewelry in general.

I don’t want the ring to be overly blingy, I love the look of a three stone and would def go with one if I lived somewhere where blingy rings were the norm, but I think a solitaire might be a bit more discreet, as most people here probably haven’t seen a 2.5+ct irl. I don’t want it to catch to much attention.

 

[m1918]

I’m quite sure I’d wear the solitaire all hours of the day, cook, clean, at home, in my pjs etc. Whilst in theory I’d like to wear the eternity the same way, I KNOW for a fact that I probably wouldn’t. I’d wear it to work, social outings etc.

I’m in Sweden (Europe)..diamonds here are a new “fad”, so everyone who’s gotten engaged let’s say 5-10 yrs back don’t wear anything over 0,75ct. But newer engagement rings (the last 5yrs) can easily be around 1-1.2ct, I know three people in my social circle who have 1.7-2.2ct, but it’s def not the norm. I can’t recall having seen anything in that size range out and about except for those three.

Either way, I’m pretty sure a 2.5-3ct won’t get that much attention around here, people would just assume it’s either fake, or not notice it, and only a few acquaintances would probably notice the new ring, which they would with any new jewelry as we do talk about jewelry in general.

I don’t want the ring to be overly blingy, I love the look of a three stone and would def go with one if I lived somewhere where blingy rings were the norm, but I think a solitaire might be a bit more discreet, as most people here probably haven’t seen a 2.5+ct irl. I don’t want it to catch to much attention.

It almost sounds like a three stone might be the way to go...it’s kind of in between a solitaire and an eternity band. I don’t think a three stone would be more bling-y than a 2.7-3 carat solitaire unless it was a three stone with a 3 carat center stone...

 

[AllAboardTheBlingTrain]

I have a 3 stone with a 1.1ct round brilliant center and baguette sides. But I don't wear it because I don't love the size on my hand. So it's just sitting in the safe.

So, I just wear a plain band most of the time.

I think especially because you already have a 3-stone (which has that “wall of bling” look) and you want a bigger look (which is what i understood your comment to mean), you should get the solitaire. You can use your center stone of the existing 3-stone as a pendant!

That’s what I would do, anyway. Good luck with what you decide!

 

[Un_Petit_Rayon_de_Soleil]

This is a tough one! I don't like the way full eternity rings feel on the bottom of my finger. It also gives me so much anxiety because I worry about damage. I would say a sizeable half eternity would look great but a solitaire that size will look beautiful. I guess I am no help. Lol.

 

[Petalouda]

I have a gorgeous emerald cut eternity band ( 6.3ctw. I believe each diamond is .3). I have a 2.15 ct solitaire and a 1.37 ct solitaire. I rotate the three rings out. Sometimes my eternity band just sings to me and I love the cohesive look and bling. Sometimes my smaller solitaire speaks to me and other days I wear my larger solitaire. Out of the three, my eternity band has the most WOW factor. It’s a hard choice and I agree with other posters to assess your lifestyle. If you’re very active, an eternity bad may not be ideal for everyday wear now.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

@diamondseeker2006 Thank you for being the voice of reason, I just can't get away from loving the look of full eternity in that size, and at the same time I'm all about a ring being comfortable. So there is a large risk that I'll be annoyed with the ring and the possibility of the diamonds being scratched or chipped on the palm side. I have a pavé band from VC, and I've almost stopped wearing it because I don't want to ruin the ring. Hence going with a plain solitaire would give me the look of bling, but be very low maintenance in that sense. And I would like the ring or the diamond to be an heirloom piece for one of my kids.

I did have a look to see what's available in the range you mentioned, and there isn't much, so I couldn't really figure out the price point. I think we'll be buying in the second half of next year, so I'm in no rush. I have a generic 1.1ct I GIA Exc cut, and I've stopped wearing that aswell, as I don't love the size on my hand. But, I'm using it as a reference for color, and I've always thought the stone as "dark" but I can't see any yellow in it. So I'm not sure if its the color or the cut. But the diamond was hand picked by Mark T. at ERD so it shouldn't be the cut.

I've just alway had this dream of owning a 3ct, and I'm realizing that I can't have that if I don't compromise on color and clarity, but can't figure out if the compromise will be worth it. I know you've owned ACAs, when compared to generic ideal cuts, do you see the difference between the cuts? I won't be able to see the stones irl before buying, so I can't compare myself.

After reading hmr_mama's confirmation about chipped stones on a large eternity, I'd just say no to that idea, because clearly those are special occasion rings. It sounds like you'd be happier with a larger solitaire anyway. I also live in an area where few people wear diamonds larger than 1 ct. I slowly upgraded from my 1 ct diamond to 1.6 and then 2.3. I felt very uncomfortable both times at first. My current diamond is definitely the largest of my local friends and extended family. I'd love to have a 2.5 ct diamond, but I am afraid that would really be too much for where I live.

To answer your question, I did sell my first 1.6 and get a 1.58 that was not superideal but a great deal. I think it mentally bothered me a little, but honestly, no one ever would have noticed I changed diamonds! After that I got the 2.3 AVR which is in my avatar picture and that was a big jump. I never mentioned it to anyone but one sister and my mother. I would have been embarrassed to say anything to my husband's side of the family. They already thought I had a larger diamond from the original anniversary upgrade, so they just didn't notice the later upgrade which suited me fine! In your case, with the largest diamonds of your friends being 1.7-2.2 cts and the fact that you have tiny fingers, an upgrade to 2.5 cts is going to be huge compared to everyone else. I personally wouldn't be comfortable having a ring that was significantly larger than everyone else's (as in 3 cts), but you may not feel that way, and that's fine! But as far as generic stones within the ideal range versus superideal cuts from a vendor like Whiteflash goes, I'd always favor the ACA when ordering a stone unseen that would be complicated to return. I also think many people end up wanting to upgrade size or color later, and that is the other reason I'd go with them. I'd contact them a couple of months before you are ready to buy and see what's coming in in the range you are looking at. Or they might be able to source one that meets your specs.

 

[rocks]

I have a three stone and five stone. Three stone is 1.75 with .63 sides. Five stone is .44/.45 each. My left hand is 4.75 and right is 5.75. My fingers aren’t short....

 

[RunningwithScissors]

What about planning on having both someday in the future and wearing one on your left hand and one on your right? That's what I'm planning to do.

I don't like stacking (on me) either. I already have a solitaire, I bought it first because I wanted one large beautiful diamond. Down the road I plan to buy a right hand band that's either eternity or 5/7 stone (I'm leaning towards a 7 stone.)

I like the look of one lovely ring on each hand. I can enjoy bothrings that way but they won't compete with each other and I can appreciate them separately.