Engagement rings... how on earth did you pick...

[elle tee]

Bumping this- I need help!

As I posted in another thread, my bf and i are going to elope in the summer. When we decided, he asked me what kind of ring I wanted. I didn't even have to think about it- an eternity ring- roughly 3 carats. I have never been that excited about a traditional ring. I did research online, and then the other day went to try some on locally. The first one I didn't like but just thought it was a badly made ring. The store wasn't very nice, but I was just trying it on for size since I was going to order from The Facets Collection. So, today I went to a very nice store. I tried on almost the exact ring I was thinking of getting and it just looked wrong on my finger. I can't even explain it.

I started looking at some other rings-they have a great selection of antique as well as new items. I was drawn to the antique rings- Edwardian sapphire and diamond rings and Old European cuts. I loved the way they looked on, but they are SO different from what I was sure I wanted. My style tends to the more modern and fashion forward.
Did anyone end up with the complete opposite of what they thought they wanted? Where do I go from here?

I ended up with the opposite of what I thought I wanted, too. FI and I got engaged this summer. Originally, I wanted some kind of band- along the lines of the Cathy Waterman Perfect Murder ring, or a Cartier diamond Trinity ring. We went to Tiffany's together to start looking at styles and I didn't like any of their bands. I mean, I liked them, but not as much as I thought I would, and not as an e-ring. So we went upstairs to the "real" engagement rings. A lot of the rings that I tried on looked kind of puny in our price range, like the Classic, the three-stones, and the Legacy. Then the SA said she wanted to show me a ring that wasn't what I had asked to see but she thought I might like it. That was the Ribbon ring. It looked more substantial on my hand than the others, and I liked how it was a mix of modern and classic styling. But, I wasn't sold. The next day a friend took me to all the big jewelers- H.Stern, Cartier, Bulgari, etc. Of course I loved what I saw but they were way way above my budget. The next day the same friend took me to her jeweler, who showed me what he could make up within my budget. I had thought I would like a three-stone with emerald cut, or round with pear sides, but I just wasn't feeling it. After that I browsed tons of estate rings. The estate rings were just beautiful, but after a while, they started to all blend together in my mind. After 3 days and trying on probably 100 rings, the only one that stuck out in my mind (and was within our budget) was the Tiffany Ribbon ring. That's how I knew it was the one!!

My advice would be to look at lots of places and try on EVERYTHING, even if you don't think it's what you want. You may not know immediately when you try it on, so ask the jewelers for photos of rings you like and go home to think about it. The ring that you keep coming back to, keep thinking about, is the one that's right for you. That, and have fun!!

 

[triotrio]

Yeah, I ended up with a ring I didn't think I'd like.

When I was getting engaged 4 years ago, everyone was getting three stone diamond rings. Or diamond solitaires (which I never considered, too minimalist for me). So I was really like "Well I'm not getting a three stone ring as everyone has them".

But I hadn't a CLUE what I liked. Just what I didn't like!

I suspected it wouldn't be a diamond ring, as my skin colouring is pink and diamonds just make me look even colder, if that makes sense.

And I live in the EU where it's quite common to have a coloured stone. A lot of the Royals in Europe get rubies or sapphires.

So I trotted off (with my miniscule budget, we were sooooo poor - why yes, it was stressful having to discount 80% of the rings on the tray!) and just tried on every damn thing that I could afford.

I discovered straight away that I have terribly short fingers, and that if I wanted to wear a wedding ring at the same time, the E-ring band would have to be very thin.

For the same reason, I couldn't fit a wedding ring on with an E-ring with a Vertical set center stone. The stone would start to creep past my knuckle.

So Vertical set stones OUT! Thick bands OUT! 80% of the trays OUT! Diamond as main stone OUT!

I was discovering that on stumpy fingers like mine, the 3-stone setting was perfectly in proportion. So I just sighed and started looking for something in budget that wasn't too akin to my friends ones.

I tried on emeralds but meh.... Rubies were again, too cold on me. Sapphires all seemed so dark as to be black unless you were spending thousands.

Then after a month, when I was near a nervous breakdown over this DAMN RING, I spotted one in a window.

In Budget! It was an emerald cut sapphire in the center, with three wee diamond chips in the shape of a heart flanking it on either side. The sapphire was a created one, as you can imagine, but the colour! A proper deep dark BLUE!

I called DH and he came racing into town and bought it with me.

We went for a much-needed drink and I kept staring at it. It was wierd because I had bought it more because it ticked the boxes that were neccessary - not because I had fallen in love with it. But it looked so well - suited my finger and my personality - looked TONS more expensive than it was.....

I love it more every year. It's just so romantic looking without being old-lady. It gets compliments everywhere I go, which melts my heart. My DH loves how fond I am of it - he says that sometimes to me.

So that's my story. TRY ON EVERYTHING!

 

[musicscrip]

I have always dreamed of Tiffany engagement ring so it was easy for my fiancee and I to pick one out. It only took us about 30min to 1h in total in one visit to choose my e-ring

I think you just need to decide what kind of designs you like then you can work along that line. For example, I know I have always liked simple and clean look so the Tiffany setting was perfect for me! Also, knowing the budget would help too

 

[LabRatPhD]

I was very limited in what setting would work on my finger based on the carat size my fiance wanted to get me. I wear between a size 2.25 and 2.5 ring so halos and sidestones were out. We went with a classic solitaire, which I love, and suits my finger well!

 

[Brooke11]

Bumping this- I need help!

As I posted in another thread, my bf and i are going to elope in the summer. When we decided, he asked me what kind of ring I wanted. I didn't even have to think about it- an eternity ring- roughly 3 carats. I have never been that excited about a traditional ring. I did research online, and then the other day went to try some on locally. The first one I didn't like but just thought it was a badly made ring. The store wasn't very nice, but I was just trying it on for size since I was going to order from The Facets Collection. So, today I went to a very nice store. I tried on almost the exact ring I was thinking of getting and it just looked wrong on my finger. I can't even explain it.

I started looking at some other rings-they have a great selection of antique as well as new items. I was drawn to the antique rings- Edwardian sapphire and diamond rings and Old European cuts. I loved the way they looked on, but they are SO different from what I was sure I wanted. My style tends to the more modern and fashion forward.
Did anyone end up with the complete opposite of what they thought they wanted? Where do I go from here?

Congrats!!! deciding on a ring can be so hard... I say take your time and find one you REALLY love. It took us three years to find the perfect ring, which he bought pretty much right away, and then two years since then to buy the diamond... long process!!! I literally searched for three years like, all the time. I was always checking out rings online and stopping by jewelry stores. I came across 'my' ring on brides.com and just loved it... I hunted around and found it on tacori.com (with no price) and then found it through Bailey, Banks, & Biddle. When we went in to look at it, I KNEW. I never have that happen to me (like, I am so indecisive!) so I took it as a good sign. and two years later, it is still the most beautiful ring I've ever seen

 

[NYCBelle]

DF went alone to pick my stone and setting. he went with no one. he went to a couple of different spots in the diamond district here in NY then his boss referred him to his jeweler there and he liked the guy. so he picked out the stone and wanted a solitaire for me...he did great! =) i've always wanted a square princess cut...but i had always like the 3 stone but DF loved solitaire he said it was more elegant and nothing takes away from the attention of the stone. I LOVE my ring it's beautiful and perfect!!

 

[daluu]

i think if you look around too much, it will be harder for you to decide. i think it's best to figure out the shape and your budget and to try them on if possible. i've noticed that when bf and i went looking, budget and brand helped narrow down a lot of my choices.

 

[pinklipgloss33]

I am not engaged yet but I know that I want Emerald cut solitaire when that day comes.

 

[Epicure]

I'm also not engaged yet but my bf and I have been looking at rings. Before I started shopping and looking at rings ON my finger, I always wanted an antique/halo setting and a princess cut diamond. Now, I realize that doesn't suit my finger at all and I want a simple solitaire. I'm set on the Round but I am partial to Emerald, too. I already told my bf that I want emerald cut eternity ring for my anniversary ring.
...
I think he's concerned that i'm already thinking about what jewelry I would want 10 years from now when we're not even engaged yet.



But I agree with most of the people on this thread, TRY ON AS MANY AS YOU CAN!

 

[cakegirl]

I guess I was just shocked that a ring would not look good "on." It had never occurred to me! It was so clear when I started trying them that there was a particular kind that looked good-delicate, but with more width than height. I may still do a band of some sort, but not the eternity ring I was thinking. Maybe something bezel set, and I am really loving a few Tiffany bands and the Cartier Himalia ring in white gold with diamonds-for some reason i can't post a link.