Need opinions on wedding band, please!

[jasonandlisa]

First, here's a few views of my engagement ring. It's a round diamond with 6 small channel-set diamonds on each side. The band is 18K white gold.

At first, I was thinking about just getting a plain, white gold band (which I still might do.) On the other hand, I also like the idea of a band with alternating channel-set diamonds and sapphires. My birthstone is diamond. DF's is sapphire. Plus, our wedding colors are blues. So it would be symbolic (and prettier than a plain band, I think!)

I haven't been able to find one that matches well in nearby jewelry stores (except for a fairly expensive one at Tiffany's that's platinum instead of white gold.) My engagement ring was custom-made. Getting a band custom-made to match the e-ring is an option, but I'd prefer to not spend that much.

A band I ordered from bluenile.com was just delivered today. It's very reasonably priced, but I'm not sure if the match is good enough. It's 18K white gold with 7 sapphires and 8 diamonds. Here's the ring:

And here are some shots of my hand with the two rings together:

This shot shows how much larger the e-ring stones are. The rings aren't centered correctly, though. The diamonds on the e-ring actually go down a little further on each side than the stones on the band, but the band stones still go down far enough to give the illusion that they go all the way around.

Here's the back of the rings. They're pretty close to the same width. The e-ring is just slightly wider. The thickness is about the same, but the surface of the band is flat, while the e-ring is rounded:

DF is a little wary of buying my band from the internet. He thinks it would be much better to buy from a local store or have it custom-made. I think this one might match well enough. It's not as perfect a match as a custom band would be, but I think it's good enough. Any opinions are welcome!!

 

[Disney71]

Jasonandlisa -

Your rings are beautiful! Congrats on your upcoming wedding

My e-ring is similar in concept to yours and we had the same problem picking out my wedding band. Our jeweler told us that going with similar size channel diamonds in the e-ring and wedding band gives it more of a "set" look... but maybe he was just trying to sell me a bigger priced item..

Maybe your DF is right, have your wedding band custom made so that it will work the way you are wanting it to with your e-ring. Don't get me wrong - the bluenile ring is beautiful, but I would assume (since you posted this inquiry) you are having doubts on how you think it looks. Just keep in mind that you will be wearing it, seeing it everyday, etc - so you need to be happy with it - after all, you will be wearing it a looooong time. Good luck on your decision!

 

[zetalove08]

I think you should go with your gut!

But since you asked for opinions... personally I think those rings together are beautiful and fit together really well!

Good luck on your decision!

 

[bumbershoot]

I think that all that matters is what YOU want.

I kept talking myself out of rings I liked, b/c I worried about what others might think. Silly silly silly. Once you're married awhile, most people really don't care what's on your finger, it becomes a non-issue, and then you're left with what YOU feel about it.

bluenile is a perfectly good company. Better than some of those mall jewelry stores, IMO!

My e-ring was custom made, and the process drove me insane. Hated it. So even if our jeweler hadn't retired in the almost 2 years we were engaged, we wouldn't have had anything custom made like that.

It's funny how people's levels of OK'ness with things is different...I'm superstitious enough that I NEVER put my wedding band on until the wedding...but now I'm replacing that wedding band (simple cheap uncomfortable (not "comfort fit" like DH's snazzy band is) band b/c I couldn't decide what I wanted!!!) with a tanzanite/diamond anniversary band from ice.com (bluenile doesn't have the gemstone variety I wanted), b/c I've decided that's what I want! Don't know if you'll be into that, some people get into the symbolism in a way I didn't (despite my superstitions), but it IS an option for the future.

 

[BrcsDisneyPrncs]

I personally think that it is beautiful, but the simple fact that you are questioning it, means it isn't "the" ring. If you do decide to go with this, yes its beautiful, and looks great with your e-ring. But if you are having doubts now, you will feel those doubts everytime you look at it! I would keep looking and considering until you find one that you are certain about!! Good Luck!! (beautiful e-ring btw!!!)

 

[jasonandlisa]

Thank you to everyone for the comments/opinions/advice. I've been wearing the ring for a while now and looking at it in different lights, at different angles, etc. I think I kinda like that it isn't a perfectly matched set and that the band is a little smaller/more delicate. At the same time, it would be nice to find a "wow", this is "the one" ring. Guess I'll just take a few days to see whether it grows on me.

My e-ring was custom made, and the process drove me insane. Hated it. So even if our jeweler hadn't retired in the almost 2 years we were engaged, we wouldn't have had anything custom made like that.

I also had a bad experience getting my e-ring custom made. I absolutely HATED it when I first saw it. It was just all wrong. They fixed it to make it better, but it still took a little while for me to warm up to this ring (since it's fairly different from the one I thought I would get.) That experience is certainly making me hesitant to get something custom made...

 

[orangetiggs]

i love your band, i'm looking for a similar one with pink stones in, we were thinking of getting mine custom made but they are very expensive. I would say go with your heart if you like it thats all that matters

 

[Summer-Caitlin]

Okay Lisa, I'm going to give you my honest opinion here. Although the Blue Nile ring is beautiful, I think I would prefer to see either a plain wedding ring or a channel set plain diamond wedding ring. Now the reason for this is I feel that your engagement ring is beautiful on it's own, I don't think it really needs any other stones beside it, it detracts from the beauty of the engagement ring, imo.
Like others have said, if you are questioning it, there is obviously something niggling you. Go with your gut feeling, it never steers you wrong. If you love something, that is the main thing.

 

[Swmhc]

While I love the sapphire and diamond band, I have to agree with Summer, I think it takes away from the beauty of your e-ring. I think a plain, slim white-gold band would look more elegant. You could keep the sapphire and diamond one and wear it on your right hand for your "something blue" and still incorporate both of your birthstones (plus get more jewelry...which is ALWAYS a good thing ! )

 

[Missy Mouse]

If I am being completely honest, I think you need a wider wedding band. Your e-ring gives off the illusion of being wider than it really is. I also think you need the channel set stones in the band to be a little more spaced apart to match the size of the e-ring stones. You don't need to get bigger stones just a bigger frame around each section of the stone. However, your rings are gorgeous and if you decide to stick with that one you can't go wrong because your set is beautiful. It's really up to you, I just gave my honest $.02.

 

[JandJ]

Just my .02 I like a plain band. The sapphire-diamond ring is beautiful (I think that's what my BFF is doing actually but her e-ring has sapphire side stones so it will match really well) but a plain ring or a diamond only ring will look better with your gorgeous e-ring IMHO. My e-ring is a solitaire set in platinum and I have a simple platinum wedding band and I love the look.

 

[jasonandlisa]

Okay Lisa, I'm going to give you my honest opinion here. Although the Blue Nile ring is beautiful, I think I would prefer to see either a plain wedding ring or a channel set plain diamond wedding ring. Now the reason for this is I feel that your engagement ring is beautiful on it's own, I don't think it really needs any other stones beside it, it detracts from the beauty of the engagement ring, imo.
Like others have said, if you are questioning it, there is obviously something niggling you. Go with your gut feeling, it never steers you wrong. If you love something, that is the main thing.

Thanks for your honesty!! I think maybe I'm trying to force myself to like the sapphire ring because 1) then I'll have one less thing still to do and 2) because I really do love the blue color of sapphires.

While I love the sapphire and diamond band, I have to agree with Summer, I think it takes away from the beauty of your e-ring. I think a plain, slim white-gold band would look more elegant. You could keep the sapphire and diamond one and wear it on your right hand for your "something blue" and still incorporate both of your birthstones (plus get more jewelry...which is ALWAYS a good thing ! )

Tempting... but I'd feel a little guilty about keeping it. Plus, my right hand fingers are larger, so it doesn't fit.

If I am being completely honest, I think you need a wider wedding band. Your e-ring gives off the illusion of being wider than it really is. I also think you need the channel set stones in the band to be a little more spaced apart to match the size of the e-ring stones. You don't need to get bigger stones just a bigger frame around each section of the stone. However, your rings are gorgeous and if you decide to stick with that one you can't go wrong because your set is beautiful. It's really up to you, I just gave my honest $.02.

Love the honesty!! And thanks for the advice. This time yesterday I was leaning towards keeping it, but now I'm leaning towards returning it... guess I should sleep on it another night, just to make sure.

Just my .02 I like a plain band. The sapphire-diamond ring is beautiful (I think that's what my BFF is doing actually but her e-ring has sapphire side stones so it will match really well) but a plain ring or a diamond only ring will look better with your gorgeous e-ring IMHO. My e-ring is a solitaire set in platinum and I have a simple platinum wedding band and I love the look.

Thanks for yet another good opinion! Looks like I'm likely going to be doing some jewelry shopping this weekend. I'd still rather find one that have a custom ring designed.


I really appreciate everybody's help on this. It's great to hear a variety of perspectives!