Post # 1
Member
19 posts
Newbee
Good morning! This is my first post here so it’s all very exciting 🙂
My boyfriend and I just started looking at engagement rings together this past weekend. I’m going to pick a few settings and he’s going to choose from them and deal with the stone himself. I’ve decided on a solitaire on a plain band (maybe with some hidden details) but am wondering how you can tell if the wedding band will sit flush with a particular setting. We intend to have a pave wedding band. I would prefer not to have any gap at all and unfortunately do not like the curved bands that accommodate for low rings.
Does this mean I should only choose cathedral settings? And none of those north-south settings (where the prongs are at compass points rather than four corners)?
Specifically, I was looking at the below designs – sorry for the size, I don’t know how to make them smaller. Thank you!!
Post # 2
Member
9217 posts
Buzzing Beekeeper
cangal : how big of a stone are you planning? for something on the small side you can probably get away with most settings since the prongs won’t stick out very far, but anything over 1/2 carat and I would go for a higher setting so that the band sits flush under the diamond (that’s what I have).
Post # 3
Member
741 posts
Busy bee
I think only those last 2 rings would sit flush. I had to get my ring altered and completely re shanked to make mine sit flush
Post # 4
Member
19 posts
Newbee
LilliV : We are looking at between 0.75-1.0. I do not want anything over 1 carat. My ring size is 4.75 if that helps.
Does a higher setting mean a cathedral setting then? Or just basically a setting where the picture looks like the head has some extra metal separating it from your finger?
Post # 5
Member
819 posts
Busy bee
I have a half carat in a compass setting and am either going to get a curved band to sit flush, or just get a very low profile ring. I’ve tried it on with costume jewelry/cheap bands whenever I spot them in stores, and my setting is high enough (not a cathedral, though) that a low-profile, non-curved band works well enough.
Post # 6
Member
19 posts
Newbee
MrsKKtoBee : Thank you!! That’s exactly what I want to avoid just because I don’t want to have to deal with choosing a new setting (and disappointing him after he went to the trouble of choosing).
Post # 7
Member
1009 posts
Bumble bee
- Wedding: The Retreat at Bradley\'s Pond
Why not go back to the store and try on the ones you like with various bands? And ask if any of those come with matching bands? Otherwise I think the bottom 2 like PP said would be the easiest to fit. Plus, if you have a pave band there are various stone sizes that can come in and I think larger stones could effect how flush it could be. (does that make sense?)
Post # 8
Member
1701 posts
Bumble bee
No. No. Likely. Likely. The most common reason for a ring not being flush is that the gallery (basket) holding the stone sticks out beyond the edges of the shank and is too low for a band to tuck under. See pics below.PP is correct that this is more of a problem for a large stone than a smaller stone…but can affect both.
Cathedral describes the angle of the shoulder. So, #2,3,4 are cathedral and #1 is not. That has little to do with if a ring will fit flush.
Shortcut? See if the ring has a matching straight wedding band. If so, look at its height off the finger. If your band will be the same or lower, you are good. On your pave wedding band, just be aware that pave is the most fragile way to set a diamond and they are pretty intolerat of being re-sized.
Here’s a good thread to read. I just wrote a long explanation on setting of shoulder diamonds here: http://boards.weddingbee.com/topic/designing-engagement-ring-help/page/3
Post # 9
Member
19 posts
Newbee
tallahasseelassie : It does make sense – will keep that in mind when looking at wedding bands, i didn’t even think about how the size of the wedding band diamonds would affect it! The settings above are from Blue Nile so unfortunately I cannot try them on 🙁
Post # 10
Member
1009 posts
Bumble bee
- Wedding: The Retreat at Bradley\'s Pond
cangal : Ohhh hmmm! Well go to local stores to see how similar ones sit on you. Doesn’t BlueNile allow guests to post photos of their confirmed purchases? See how others paired it?
Otherwise the person above me wrote a FABULOUS explanation of why some rings do/not sit flush. Otherwise, you could always get a local private jewel to custom create a band with CAD software.
Post # 11
Member
19 posts
Newbee
glitterysala : This is very helpful – thank you! And the picture you sent is interesting because I would not have expected either rings to have permitted a flush setting.
Post # 12
Member
1023 posts
Bumble bee
My wedding band sits flsuh to my cathedral e ring, but we also got the wedding band custom made to ensure it would. It’s a straight band wedding band, it’s just fairly low.
Post # 13
Member
1701 posts
Bumble bee
cangal : Are you planning on buying the diamond from BlueNile? If so, there are much much better choices with better settings and diamonds. I’d stick with BrianGavin, ID Jewelery, GoodOldGold, B2Cjewels, and JamesAllen for the diamond. I have not been impressed with the diamonds from BlueNile recommneded by their gemologist. They also don’t give you ASETs.
When comparing diamonds, remember to look at size (mm) not carats (weight). If you want help finding and selecting the best performing diamonds, head over the Pricescope RockyTalk. Bottom line, Cut is king. GIA and AGS certified only (all others are softer in their grading), compromise color for better cut, you only need ‘eye-clean’ which can found at SI1 by the diligent prosumers over at PS.
Post # 14
Member
1701 posts
Bumble bee
Post # 15
Member
19 posts
Newbee
glitterysala : Thank you! We looked at a few stores in town but I insisted on an online purchase (even though the SO is worried it is not romantic) because of the value. I took a look at James Allen but could not find a setting I liked. I will check out those other websites you mentioned though so thanks!
I left it up to him to choose the actual diamond but gave him guidelines. Anything between 0.75-1 carat, VS1 and higher, G color and higher, very good cut and higher. He likes a round brilliant so that’s fine with me. I wouldn’t mind choosing the diamond myself actually lol because I want him to feel like he has some say, rather than me just choosing everything and him paying for it.