One BIG ring, or more smaller pieces??

charliefarlie

Touching the stars
Jan 6, 2009
3,929
4
It is DH and I's 10th wedding anniversary soon and he has given me a budget of £3500 - £4000 to spend!

I am torn between the two following options:

A: Blowing it all on this Blue Nile ring, and possibly a single Tiffany DBTY bracelet (in RG or Platinum, not decided)

Total after tax etc £3986.60

B: This smaller RG ring, Diamond Bracelet, Diamond studs, and a custom made aquamarine and diamond half eternity

Total after tax etc £3414 ish

Pros/cons of A; As DH Tells me, the only piece of jewellery I have ever wished for is a really nice full eternity. But I am a SAHM and don't live a flash lifestyle. Generally people I mix with a understated and don't wear much jewellery and I hate drawing attention to myself. Bigger diamonds don't seem as common in the UK as USA.
Also, would only get 1 item (though may be able to swing a DBTY bracelet)

Pros/Cons of B; I have the matching WG eternity ring and I like to stack so they would look good together I think. I will be getting a RG cuff and this is a good way of mixing RG in.
I don't have any diamond studs and I think they would be great for everyday, the bracelet too could be worn everyday as it is understated.
I love Aquamarine, plus it's my birthstone and I don't have it in a ring, only a bracelet (though I do favour full over half eternity's generally).
It does seem to be a lot of dis-jointed items, though I could wear them all everyday.

So WWYD? I have a very small jewellery collection at the moment, and I do like to switch my rings and bracelets around quite a bit.

Thank you!
 
Option B

.50 carat 18k RG full eternity ring
.63ct 18K white gold bracelet
.50ct Platinum studs
14k WG aquamarine and diamond half eternity
 

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I would choose B. From the sounds of it, you probably wouldn't feel comfortable wearing the flashy eternity band all the time, while you would wear ALL of your B choices daily.
 
B.
It seems like this option is more suitable for your lifestyle and won't draw as much uncomfortable attention. Diamond studs are perfect for wearing everyday without going over the top and can be dressed up or down. The combo of the items seem to really help diversify your jewelry box.
 
For a 10 year anniversary, I would go big on a single item. Option A is a good choice. Moreover it's the big items that are really worth as heirloom pieces.
 
I would choose B. From the sounds of it, you probably wouldn't feel comfortable wearing the flashy eternity band all the time, while you would wear ALL of your B choices daily.

Thanks faintly, that is my opinion too, will get lots of mileage from each of the pieces.

One BIG thing!

My Grandmother used to say, "buy ONE thing, but make it good!"

I'd rather have ONE stunning piece than many "less expensive" ones any day ;)

That is very true! Apart from my beautiful e ring (which I am scared to wear too often as it is 80 odd years old) I have no stand out piece of jewellery. Though I do have a RG cuff on order which I hope will be stunning.

Option A - it is gorgeous.

Thanks, that is DH's opinion too!

B.
It seems like this option is more suitable for your lifestyle and won't draw as much uncomfortable attention. Diamond studs are perfect for wearing everyday without going over the top and can be dressed up or down. The combo of the items seem to really help diversify your jewelry box.

Again, very good points! Thank you.

I have shown all the pics to DH and he thinks I should go for option A, I just don't know whats holding me back (probably greediness!)
 
I would normally say option A go big!

but option B has great everyday wearable pieces that I think you'll get lots of use out of and more enjoyment :biggrin:

Hahaha, so your vote is for both! :graucho:

For a 10 year anniversary, I would go big on a single item. Option A is a good choice. Moreover it's the big items that are really worth as heirloom pieces.

Heirloom is a very good point. I love the idea of passing things down to DD and maybe a future DIL as well as my niece. Though eternity rings can't be sized and there's no saying they will be the same ring size as me. I guess the stones could just be re-set.
 
I'm not sure anyone else can really help with this decision. If the big piece isn't suitable for your lifestyle or if you would be uncomfortable wearing it, then it will just sit in a jewelry box making you feel bad. That's no way to spend good money. If the other pieces will be worn more often, then those are probably the better choice for you.

On the other hand, I don't know that the eternity band is necessarily too blingy, especially if it is worn by itself. Sometimes rings aren't as noticeable to other people as we think they are, and an eternity band is a great way to wear a lot of carat weight without it looking as ostentatious as one very large stone.

It all comes down to what you really, truly want, and not what other people think. Don't get what other people think you should, and don't let what other people wear or don't wear be your barometer of what is right for you. You only have one 10 year anniversary!
 
I think both options include gorgeous pieces but the ones in B. do seem to fit better with your lifestyle and beautiful as the ring in A. is I can imagine you probably won't get to wear it that often. I have a diamond full eternity ring in platinum which was passed down to me from my grandmother and stunning as it is I am too scared to wear it often both because of what other people might think (bigger diamonds are not as common here in the UK like you say and I don't want people to think I am being ostentatious) and I also don't want to risk anything happening to it.

All the options under B. are stunning and are wearable pieces that will be staples in your everyday jewellery box. Diamond studs go with everything and the size you have chosen is a great one for everyday use - I just upgraded my diamond studs to 0.50 ones and absolutely love them. That rose gold diamond eternity ring is a beauty too, as is the bracelet and the aquamarine ring, you have great taste! :smile: Do you mind if I ask where the aquamarine ring is from and if they do any others? Only it is also my birthstone and I have been looking for a single stone aquamarine ring for ages :graucho:
 
One big thing!! Over the years, I amassed quite a collection of a variety of little things. Little things, though, do not make my heart go pitter-pat. I sold all of those things and am saving the money to put toward my next "big thing."