Post # 1
Member
283 posts
Helper bee
My engagement ring is from Birks.. its a gorgeous three-stone diamond ring with channel set on the side.
The matching band is an 18k white gold channel set ring, with about 0.50 carats of channel set diamonds. It is also $2750.
While I know the diamonds are high quality, I am having trouble justifying $3000 on some gold with diamond chips in it.
What do you guys think? Could I find a sufficiently matching wedding band somewhere else for less? Any physical store recommendations?
My parents think that my engagement ring is spectacular on its own and needs only a plain wedding band. I still like the diamond channel set ring. No idea what to do.
Post # 3
Member
404 posts
Helper bee
@VictoriaK1990: Go and try different rings, I can’t suggest any stores, but I’d just have a day of wondow shopping, try everything, plain bands, channel bands, something completely different, etc. etc.
Any chance of a pic of your e-ring? (of course to help us know what you’re working with, but also because *sparkles*)
ETA: I do think you could find something almost the same, that only you would know wasn’t quite a set.
Post # 4
Member
283 posts
Helper bee
@Honeyblood: I don’t have any spectacular artsy pics of it.. but here is what I do have
@Honeyblood:
Post # 5
Member
3038 posts
Sugar bee
I also have a Birks Ering, which I love. I’ve looked on their wedding bands, and some are gorgeous, so I can understand why you want one! As far as I see, the bands from Birks are a little more than just “some gold with diamond chips” as the diamonds are from Canada. That was one of the main reasons we got my Ering there. That said, I decided on a significantly cheaper ring myself, that also happens to be adorned with nothing more than a pattern.
If your date is correct, you still have a lot of time before you need to make a final decision. I would visit different jewellers and try out different band to go with your ring. I know there’s a lot of chains that have cheaper options than Birks. What about something like this from Peoples?
Post # 6
Member
283 posts
Helper bee
@eocenia: I have seen Canadian diamond bands for a lot less than $3000 dollars though… I’m thinking of checking out a few stores and seeing about custom made because I want the diamond quality of the band to match the channel set on the e-ring (I’m afraid anything less than D-F will look slightly yellow in comparison). I just have a strange feeling I could save probably more than a thousand dollars going to another store. But then there’s the overall quality issue. You know what you’re getting from Birks.
Post # 7
Member
3099 posts
Sugar bee
@VictoriaK1990: Yes you can find something for less than that! Is this the type of ring you are talking about? The one in the picture is .54 carats channel set for $515. The link is for all their channel set bands. Just an idea.
http://www.moissaniteco.com/moissanite-wedding-bands-round-channel-wedding-bands-c-253_255.html
Post # 8
Member
283 posts
Helper bee
@ceebree: The band has to be diamond though, and I intend on spending the extra money for it to be 18K white gold as well. The diamonds also have to be Canadian mined and certified (it must be ethical. my engagement ring has Canadian diamonds). The other thing is, I don’t want to order online, unless I have been able to try the ring on in person. Channel set bands are everywhere, online and in actual jewellery stores. However, very few of them are of the appropriate size and quality to compliment my engagement ring.
Post # 9
Member
2490 posts
Buzzing bee
My engagement ring is also from Birks and while I absolutely love their stuff, they are definitely expensive. You are paying for quality though. Having said that, you will have no issues finding a wedding band from somewhere else that would look just as good with your e-ring as the Birks one. Channel set bands are pretty common and you should be able to find one almost anywhere that would work.
Post # 10
Member
4410 posts
Honey bee
- Wedding: December 2010 - Savannah, GA
@VictoriaK1990: There are some serious questions about whether Canadian diamonds are actually ethical. Here’s just one article that lays out the controversy of the mining process there.
http://www.greenkarat.com/education/diamond-mining/canadian-diamonds.asp