E-rings: big versus proportional?

Engagment Ring Carat Size: Big or Befitting?

  • Bigger the better!

  • One that looks good on my hand is best

  • Not sure/Depends


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I think it depends. I initially wanted a 2ct, and it looked gorgeous on my hand..very proportional, but since quality is important for me, we decided to get the 1.76ct that had a better quality. I think for someone as petite as me, and as young, 3 cts would be my max...any bigger and people would definitely think it was fake. So maybe, when I'm older I can get an upgrade and wear bigger diamonds. But for now, I get lots of compliments on mine...and everyone tells me the size is just perfect! =)
 
I am married for almost 11 years. When we looked at e rings nearly 11 years ago, I remember the jeweler suggesting that he thought the larger stone was too big for my hand. Gasp!!! Thanks a lot! (I responded jokingly). I just wanted to tell him to shut his mouth.

I really think whatever you like is fine. Large, small, doesn't matter as long as the love is there.
 
Agreed. Culture plays into this a lot. In some areas of the country, 2-3 ct is "normal", while in others many women wear 1/3 ct. In the area I live, most older women do not wear a diamond at all, just a wedding band. And I still say that the style and setting of the ring means a lot, too. A 1.5 ct in a very high setting can appear more ostentatious than a 3 ct in a lower setting. Everyone has their own preferences and everyone has a picture in their head that they are accustomed to seeing. It differs for each person, and what one person sees as "huge" is perfectly proportional to another. There is no universal standard for "proportional". I've seen the pics of your ring, Swanky, and it is perfect.

I've read about this!
in larger cities like NYC, LA, MIAMI, Texas or Las Vegas etc,
the average ring size is supposed to be around 1.6 carats, but in smaller cities its less than .75 carats...
 
I say that if you can't see it from across the street.....why bother. Seriously.

:confused1:
You can see the fire of a .50 carat high quality stone from across the street and not see a 2+ carat low quality stone when it's so cloudy, dull, and doesn't sparkle. So you must mean size over proportion I guess. Seeing a stone from across the street has nothing to do with size over proportion it's about the quality of the stone.
 
I always wanted a huge engagement ring but when it came down to it, I only have tiny hands but size 6 fingers and when it came to trying solitaire rings I wasn't happy, iit was only when I tried on a 3 stone princess cut diamond ring that I new it was right for my hand. Its only tiny compared to all your rings on here but its perfect for me. I think its only about .80 total carat weight but the princess cut diamonds sparkle like anything.
 
I would not say the bigger the better. For me personally I wouldn't really even care for anything over 2 carats. But I am kind of wishing for an upgrade on my stone - to be closer to 1.5 range! Maybe before the wedding - as my jeweler has said that is rather common for a couple to upgrade before the wedding! But my ring and diamond is very high quality and I wouldnt want to sacrific in the quality department!
 
when i didn't know pricescope.... and before I went into "better quality" jewelry stores... I thought 1 ct was ginormous! After looking at a lot of rings and trying on a lot, 1 ct began to look smaller and now i am wishing for a 3.5 ct stone! It just looks right on my 6.5 size finger. Like many said already, what seems proportional and pretty is totally dependent on what you are used to seeing.
 
All other things being the same, big IS better in my book.

It's rarer, sparklier, more eye-catching and more valuable....Things we (or maybe just I...) look for in jewelry.
DSS sets in really quickly depending on the size one is already wearing IMO.
I didn't find 4-5 Cts awkward on myself before I hit the big 3-0 so if I could one day...I'd gladly put a skating rink on my finger if I could afford it!

As for fake-looking or not...Get the best cut/quality, put on your most confident smile, and just feel flattered someone thinks your natural stone is so perfect it could be unreal! :winkiss:
Hell, if someone guessed my boobs are fake I'd be over the moon....Too bad, I'm so darn flat that'll NEVER happen!
 
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I agree Pricescope and here are two sites you should not visit when you have a less than 1ct engagement ring - I really do feel inferior to everyone else out there showing off their 1ct and larger rings. Some are just incredible!!!

I also agree that culture has something to do with it. I live in a regional town in Australia and I find other things more important such as owning our own home and raising a family.
 
Aw, that makes me sad. Hopefully it's a personal issue and not others making you feel inferior. Everyone here doesn't have a huge ring and I can say that those who do aren't snubbing or thinking anyone else is "inferior".
And incidentally, we here in the US have the same priorities ;)
It's not a cultural thing so much as a personal thing. I'm sure you have people there that buy nice cars or items they shouldn't just like we do here. No?
I don't think most of us w/ larger than average rings have them by sacrificing a stable home or providing for our family.
 
I agree Pricescope and here are two sites you should not visit when you have a less than 1ct engagement ring - I really do feel inferior to everyone else out there showing off their 1ct and larger rings. Some are just incredible!!!

I also agree that culture has something to do with it. I live in a regional town in Australia and I find other things more important such as owning our own home and raising a family.

Hey hon - im a fellow Aussie and i know what you mean ... i live in Sydney, in a great house and have a good job but on this forum you feel like you might be a pauper cause my 1 carat is teeny in comparison.

I love it though (and the reality is that everyone around me has smaller stones so its not true) ... its just that when you hear some of the convos on this forum talking about 3 carat stones thats not really part of life in Aust!

(and in no way do i mean this to make anyone feel bad ... i LOVE seeing the pics ;-))
 
It's a very American thing to have large diamond engagement rings. They are definitely not as common in other countries. The diamond in my engagement ring is large by most standards but definitely small by tPF standards. I really enjoy seeing the larger, flashier rings on this forum, but it doesn't really comport with my personal style. I'm very small so I tend to gravitate towards the daintier styles.
 
i've traveled a little through asia and europe.. and always make a point to visit several different jewelry stores everywhere i go.. designer.. high end and even mom and pop jewelry stores. i've noticed that their prices always seem outrageous in comparison (almost 2 to 3 times more).. and it makes our prices here in the US almost seem like "wholesale" prices! if i'm not mistaken even tiffany & co.. is more expensive in europe and asia for the same exact items. although chanel is cheaper in europe *sigh*.. haha! just a thought :)
 
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