ENGAGEMENT RINGS! What does yours look like?

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My mom gave me her ring right before she passed. I showed my jeweler and she mentioned that that the setting was dated and it was time to upgrade. It is a 5 carat center stone with smaller stones on either side set in platinum. It fits into a 14k gold band. She wore this every day. For fancy occasions she would pair the ring with a huge starburst guard. I gave the guard to my daughter since she always loved it. Me, not so much. Anyway, any suggestions on what I could do with it?
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My mom gave me her ring right before she passed. I showed my jeweler and she mentioned that that the setting was dated and it was time to upgrade. It is a 5 carat center stone with smaller stones on either side set in platinum. It fits into a 14k gold band. She wore this every day. For fancy occasions she would pair the ring with a huge starburst guard. I gave the guard to my daughter since she always loved it. Me, not so much. Anyway, any suggestions on what I could do with it?
Thank you for sharing the story and the connection to your mom. My hope is that whether you redesign the setting or not, you keep the ring within the family as it’s a memento of your mom. And it’s gorgeous! Re: the guard, would your daughter keep and use it?
 
I might be in a minority, but I knew for sure I did not want a diamond! My idea was always for a marquise or pear-shaped colored center stone with moissanite side/accent stones but the actual shape and configuration were up in the air until it got put together. I also wanted something on the more modest stone size but with a wider band - slim bands look out of scale on my wide fingers and while a lot of my clothes and costume jewelry might be bolder, for an engagement ring I wanted something a little quieter but more unique for daily use.

My fiance wanted to be sure I got exactly what I wanted, and I already had a local jewelry designer in mind from purchasing her fashion jewelry over the years and seeing that she did fine jewelry and custom/engagement pieces as well. At the point we were looking at buying and not just me dreaming about it, I knew I wanted Alexandrite. It's super unique (natural stones are "rarer than diamonds" though this is a lab stone) and changes color in different lighting, between a blue-green and a purple-red and my favorite color has always been purple.

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It has been impossible to capture the blue/green/teal shades on camera! I can look down and it looks completely bright teal and still photograph blurple haha. It also looks red-orange with flashes of green through my sunglasses, which I found out was due to a property unrelated to its color change - pleochroism and polarized light or something or other haha.

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Super happy with how it turned out and excited but also intimidated by the prospect of wedding planning. We got engaged earlier this year but are targeting Summer/Fall 2023 for our wedding.
Got married recently (9/16) and wanted to share an updated pic with my wedding band!
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Worked with the same local designer as I did for the engagement ring, it's also 14K WG with moissanite stones and a cool engraved pattern that sort of coordinates with my husband's band.

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His is 14K yellow gold from Gravure Commitment out of Canada, purchased through a local retailer.
 
My mom gave me her ring right before she passed. I showed my jeweler and she mentioned that that the setting was dated and it was time to upgrade. It is a 5 carat center stone with smaller stones on either side set in platinum. It fits into a 14k gold band. She wore this every day. For fancy occasions she would pair the ring with a huge starburst guard. I gave the guard to my daughter since she always loved it. Me, not so much. Anyway, any suggestions on what I could do with it?
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I actually really love it as it is! It is a retro, design-forward statement ring and that is very in style right now. If I were to change anything, it would be to push it slightly further in the same direction with even more distinctly step cut side stones to offset the center MRB. However, with the setting in mind, I would keep it as is; you already have the stone shape juxtaposition and I love the textured/brushed appearance of the gold.
 
My mom gave me her ring right before she passed. I showed my jeweler and she mentioned that that the setting was dated and it was time to upgrade. It is a 5 carat center stone with smaller stones on either side set in platinum. It fits into a 14k gold band. She wore this every day. For fancy occasions she would pair the ring with a huge starburst guard. I gave the guard to my daughter since she always loved it. Me, not so much. Anyway, any suggestions on what I could do with it?
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I also like it as is now. Really original and eye catching. Lovely story :)
 
Thank you for sharing the story and the connection to your mom. My hope is that whether you redesign the setting or not, you keep the ring within the family as it’s a memento of your mom. And it’s gorgeous! Re: the guard, would your daughter keep and use it?
My daughter loves the guard and wears it with her e-ring. It looks beautiful on her long thin finger! The ring will definately be going to her as well.
 
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I actually really love it as it is! It is a retro, design-forward statement ring and that is very in style right now. If I were to change anything, it would be to push it slightly further in the same direction with even more distinctly step cut side stones to offset the center MRB. However, with the setting in mind, I would keep it as is; you already have the stone shape juxtaposition and I love the textured/brushed appearance of the gold.
You know, I really like it too. It's unique like my mom. She purchased it on layaway in the 70's. She told me the owner of the store was super sweet to her and encourgaed her to push beyond her comfort zone to get the ring she really wanted, thus the layaway. My dad was the type of husband who just let her pick out what she wanted for her birthday, anniversary, etc. My mom, being the industrious person she was, figured out how to pay for it!
 
You know, I really like it too. It's unique like my mom. She purchased it on layaway in the 70's. She told me the owner of the store was super sweet to her and encourgaed her to push beyond her comfort zone to get the ring she really wanted, thus the layaway. My dad was the type of husband who just let her pick out what she wanted for her birthday, anniversary, etc. My mom, being the industrious person she was, figured out how to pay for it!
I love your ring as is! Why screw with perfection?
 
You know, I really like it too. It's unique like my mom. She purchased it on layaway in the 70's. She told me the owner of the store was super sweet to her and encourgaed her to push beyond her comfort zone to get the ring she really wanted, thus the layaway. My dad was the type of husband who just let her pick out what she wanted for her birthday, anniversary, etc. My mom, being the industrious person she was, figured out how to pay for it!
Do I understand correctly that the ring fits into the yellow gold wide band? Are they 2 separate pieces? If so, you could wear it with or without the gold band.
 
You know, I really like it too. It's unique like my mom. She purchased it on layaway in the 70's. She told me the owner of the store was super sweet to her and encourgaed her to push beyond her comfort zone to get the ring she really wanted, thus the layaway. My dad was the type of husband who just let her pick out what she wanted for her birthday, anniversary, etc. My mom, being the industrious person she was, figured out how to pay for it!
What a great story! Your mom was just as unique and bold as her ring!
 
Got married recently (9/16) and wanted to share an updated pic with my wedding band!
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Worked with the same local designer as I did for the engagement ring, it's also 14K WG with moissanite stones and a cool engraved pattern that sort of coordinates with my husband's band.

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His is 14K yellow gold from Gravure Commitment out of Canada, purchased through a local retailer.
Beautiful! Best wishes to you and your husband
 
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