Engagement Ring Advice

[littleowl33]

My long-term boyfriend and I are feeling like we're close to getting officially engaged (after knowing for a while that that was the eventual plan!). I recently found out that each of my grandmothers left me an engagement ring and I'm feeling so blessed to be able to choose one of them to wear.

Neither grandmother would be offended if I didn't choose her ring. I'm hoping some ladies with more jewelry experience than I can give some input!

Choice 1 is an old family ring that was re-set sometime in the early 2000s. It goes at least 4 or 5 generations back and I love the history of it.



I think I would have it re-set something like this:



Choice 2 was bought in the 1970's for my other grandmother. It appears larger in the image because it has a white gold band around it, but it is actually a bit bigger than the central stone in the other ring.



Again, I would have it re-set, probably either like this:



or like this:



I think they're both lovely and I'm having a really hard time choosing (I feel so spoiled even saying that...). Boyfriend wants whichever one I want. I do love the simplicity of the single stone (and it's so sparkly!) but I really connect with the history of the other one.

What your pure, unbiased opinion?


Also - has anyone ever shipped jewelry like this? Is it a terrible idea? Everything I'm reading says to go with USPS registered mail but it still makes me nervous. Unfortunately I won't be able to travel to pick up either ring from my Mom for about another 5 months and we're hoping to get the ball rolling sooner, particularly since it will take time to have it appraised and re-set.

[WCsweet<3]

Have you tried any of the styles on? I had an idea of what I wanted, but when I actually began trying rings on, I changed my mind. What I liked visually did not look right on my hand.

Personally I'm drawn to the last one. I really like non-diamond rings or at least non-diamond side stones.

[AOII Angel]

Honestly. Think about how your wedding ring will fit with the ring. That is a common unconsidered factor when choosing an engagement ring. Will you be able to buy a ring that fits against the engagement ring and doesn't have to be made a weird shape then soldered to the other ring so it doesn't look bizarre. When you don't buy a set, this gets tricky. It took me a while to find a wedding band, and I just have a Tiffany setting, but it has a really low setting. This may not make any difference to you, but when I started putting wedding bands next to my engagement ring, I flipped out!

[Sciencewoman]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

Honestly. Think about how your wedding ring will fit with the ring. That is a common unconsidered factor when choosing an engagement ring. Will you be able to buy a ring that fits against the engagement ring and doesn't have to be made a weird shape then soldered to the other ring so it doesn't look bizarre. When you don't buy a set, this gets tricky. It took me a while to find a wedding band, and I just have a Tiffany setting, but it has a really low setting. This may not make any difference to you, but when I started putting wedding bands next to my engagement ring, I flipped out!

This. I don't even have a wedding ring, because a regular one wouldn't work with my marquis stone/diamonds on the sides setting, and I didn't want a weird soldered one mucking up the setting of the engagement ring. I love my ring, but it still bugs me that I don't have an actual wedding ring.

That being said, I like the resetting of the first ring, and the long history it has in your family.

[AnchorAlumna]

Since you're doing a re-setting anyway, why not combine the stones from the two rings? A good jeweler should be able to advise and perform the work.

[thetalady]

Would you consider making the 2 smaller stones in the first ring into earrings? or does that just totally ruin the family heirloom value?

I definitely agree that you have to be sure that you know that your wedding ring will work with whatever you decide to do for the engagement ring...

Lucky girl to have this choice!

[PGD-GRAD]

A friend's daughter had two rings from grandmothers to choose from, and this is what she ended up doing. She took one ring and had the center and other larger stones re-fashioned into an updated but beautiful engagement ring.
She then took the stone from the other (it was a solitaire) and had it set as a diamond pendant. She not only wore it with her wedding gown, but wears it always. She felt that this was a way to use both rings and fashion them into jewelry that she would wear and not be put away in a jewelry box.

[thetalady]

PGD-Grad, that idea was exactly what I was thinking when I mentioned earrings. If I had this choice, I would love to have a way to wear those heirlooms every day

[summer_gphib]

What about using second ring to create the engagement ring, and then use the stones from the first one to create a beautiful wedding band? If you find the right jeweler, he/she could do something amazing.

[ElvisLover]

I think the first option brings more bling, but they're both lovely settings. My original engagement ring was set to fit into a chevron of diamonds ring guard. Later on, I had a jeweler solder both of my 10-year and 20-year anniversary diamond rings in the same shape to make it one piece, so there are many options out there for you. Like summergphib said, talk to a reputable jeweler about the design you want.

[AGDee]

Originally Posted by Sciencewoman

This. I don't even have a wedding ring, because a regular one wouldn't work with my marquis stone/diamonds on the sides setting, and I didn't want a weird soldered one mucking up the setting of the engagement ring. I love my ring, but it still bugs me that I don't have an actual wedding ring.

That being said, I like the resetting of the first ring, and the long history it has in your family.

I didn't have a wedding ring either, for the same reason. Makes me wonder if we had the same ring...lol. Definitely a late 80's/early 90's ring though.

I like the first option under the second ring, personally.

[UGAgirl93]

Originally Posted by summer_gphib

What about using second ring to create the engagement ring, and then use the stones from the first one to create a beautiful wedding band? If you find the right jeweler, he/she could do something amazing.

Exactly what I was thinking! I second this.

[Sciencewoman]

Originally Posted by AGDee

I didn't have a wedding ring either, for the same reason. Makes me wonder if we had the same ring...lol. Definitely a late 80's/early 90's ring though.

I like the first option under the second ring, personally.

You may be right on the ring...lol.

The more I look at them, I agree with you, Dee. The very first setting is a bit "blinged" out. That's the current style, which I like, but as we know, styles change. You don't see marquis diamonds much anymore. But I do still like the idea of using the older stones in the ring and keeping that tradition going.

[southbymidwest]

Congratulations! As to shipping, I would suggest FedEx over USPS one thousand times over. IF you do the shipping label online, you can track your package from the minute it is picked up by the FedEx delivery person to the end point. You can track it in transit, as to the last place it was handled. I have even talked to the very courteous depot supervisor when I was looking for a certain package and trying to determine when it might be delivered that day. You can also get e-mails when the item is picked up, if there is an exception, and when it is delivered. Info from USPS is not as available, and might be 24 hrs. delayed. From what I have seen, pricing is comparable between USPS and FedEx. Make sure you get the package insured.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by AnchorAlumna

Since you're doing a re-setting anyway, why not combine the stones from the two rings? A good jeweler should be able to advise and perform the work.

Yes please.

And if that's just TOO much bling for you, maybe he can work a diamond into his band as well.