#2 My personal preference is alternating amethyst and diamonds. But I would have the top and point stones be amethyst and space accordingly the sides. I like the light that the diamonds allow into the center stone.

I like the second pic better. But the bottom line is the ring will be on your hand, not mine. You need to figure out what you love on your hand.

My opinion is a ring should complement size of your hand, the length of your fingers and your skin tone. I am not a fan of jewelry being the first thing you notice on a person. It should be something that you enjoy wearing and makes you smile.

Of the two, I prefer photo #2

Three for two!

These drawings make the ring look ginormous; believe me, it's not. It's not tiny, but it is quite modest on my hand. I can wear it with my plain wedding band, with room to spare, or by itself.

Raven, I thought about the bottom stone being an amethyst, but I hadn't considered matching the top center stone, too. Scott can re-size and work that in.

Thanks, ladies. Many eyes are better than just mine!

What is the significance of the amethysts? What is the significance of the diamond.

If you're going to do #2 the amethysts are going to appear like an afterthought or inconsequential - is that what you want.

I happen to like #1. but I'm obviously an outlier on this one..

BL, I want and appreciate all opinions!

The significance of the ring is to celebrate our 25th anniversary.

The loose diamond is significant because was given to me by my mother.

The amethysts are my birthstone and I love them.

I had asked for, and planned, a larger amethyst ring for this anniversary. After Mom gave me her diamond (and I certainly didn't need or want two rings) we decided to combine her diamond and my birthstone into one ring design that DH chose.

I asked Mom if she would prefer me to put amethysts, diamonds, or opals (her birthstone) around her diamond. She chose the amethysts.

DH's birthstone is emerald. He gave me a lovely emerald ring years, and years, and years ... ago. It's still beautiful.

I almost considered alternating amethysts and emeralds around the pear diamond, but one of my friends thought it was "too much." I tend to think "too much is not enough!"

They are both beautiful, but I prefer the second ring. I think the appearance is more balanced.

Do you already have the amethysts too? Or just the diamond? The reason I ask, is how about channel set amethysts into the band, and leave the diamond as a solitaire. If everything is already decided, I actually prefer the first one. The second one seems to take away the pear shape of the diamond. That's just me. : )

My preference is the first one, although they are both nice.

Rita! I like your idea. I would do the diamond as a solitaire and alternate the small amethysts with small diamonds for the wedding band.

But, getting back to choosing, I vote for the first one.

I prefer the first one as I think it creates a nice frame against which the center stone really stands out.

Note in the 1st pic, they aren't all amethysts...looks like it's alternating amethysts and garnets? or ruby?

#2

I like #1 with all amethyst around your diamond.

Thoughts...

The very first comment, by Raven, says something about how the smaller diamonds in photo #2 are allowing more light into the center stone. It's important to bear in mind that these are not photos of actual, finished, existing rings. They are CAD drawings of designs, so they can be manipulated to appear many different ways. If you look at the shanks of both rings, you can easily see that photo #1 is darker. If it had been rendered with the same exact color settings as ring #2, the center stone would appear to reflect more light, just like the second photo.

I agree wholeheartedly with Annie's comment that the amethysts in ring #1 aren't all the same color. This greatly, and adversely, affects the appearance of ring #1.

If the CAD color settings on ring #1 were set to match the CAD color settings on ring #2, and if the amethysts in ring #1 were all the same color (the color of the amethysts in ring #2), my preference would be ring #1.

In both photos, I don't like the way the stones are set. That is, I don't like the "prongs." They look like they are little gold balls (the "white" appearance is, I believe, supposed to indicate shine). They detract from the stones themselves. Why not use normal prongs? I think both rings would look better with normal prongs.

#1 ............ frames the center stone beautifully.

#2........ I think it is more graceful and the first is simply a pear-within-a-pear.

Lindsey made some wonderful comments! I completely agree about the "prongs". They detract from the beautiful of the stones. I also agree with Raven's point about the diamonds allowing more light on the center stone.

When we selected a setting for my 3-carat marquise diamond, we chose to have the main stone sitting higher (Tiffany-style setting) than the small diamonds on either side. That way, light can get under the diamond and give it more sparkle (also makes it easier to clean). Plus, the smaller stones don't detract from the larger stone. The original plan was to have the wedding band "nest" around the engagement ring, but I opted to not have a wedding band, as it would have been large (even though I have long fingers), but also because the wedding band might detract from the beauty of the engagement ring.

The bottom line is that the ring has to be what you and your husband like! I'm sure it will be gorgeous, and I can't wait to see pictures of it when it is done!

I can't visualize any of this without the actual size diamond on a proportional size band -- and actual size colored stones.

I see amethysts in a supportive role -- not competing with the diamond. I could see amethysts set into the band below the diamond. I could see a diamond raised over a small 'field' of amethysts.

I have seen heavy bands with various stones 'sprinkled' into them (not raised).

1

Everyone is correct! You are all kind to take time to help me worry and fuss to get the stones "just right!"

These are not actual photos, but CAD drawings snagged from the Internet and my jeweler.

Wanda - The actual prongs will be "normal," dainty, and sized to the small stones. I was concerned too, when I saw the first drawing.

ChiSue - The main stone is a three-quarter carat, quite modest but bigger than my other two diamonds rings. The stone measures 4.9 mm wide by 7.8 mm long and 3.7 mm deep.

The halo stones will be 2, 2.5, or 3 mm. He's drawing it out with each choice.

The back of the band is 4mm, rounded profile and comfort fit. It narrows toward the top.

Lindsey - You nailed the inherited problems of CAD vs. actual photos. Good eye. The darker bands were suppose to show "18k rose gold" and the other is "14k yellow gold."

Annie - The colored stones are all amethysts. If I go that route they will be color-matched. It's just the CAD drawing's variations.

Eld6161 - There won't be a matching wedding band. While this ring is an anniversary gift; it is not an "engagement" or "wedding ring" replacement. It's just a sparkly ring using elements we, mostly I, love.

DH caught a break when Mom gave me her diamond out of the blue more than a year ago.

--- Now, just to cause a group gasp...I considered alternating the amethysts (my birthstone) with emeralds (DH's birthstone) around the diamond.

I love purple and green. I love emeralds and amethysts. I love them together.

Let me have your honest opinions, but saying "you're a clown on meth" isn't really polite (and that has already been suggested to me.) LOL

Ok, don't be mad.....it looks a little Mardi Gras to me. But I love the sentiment.

Ahhhh, that warms my heart! How could I be mad at any suggestion; I asked for them.

"Marti Gras" is fun and lively.

"Clown on Meth" is just wrong! LOL

I still choose #1. It's like your birthstone is hugging your mom's diamond.

Although I do have to admit that the last one you posted is very pretty but it might become a tired look - maybe?

I immediately thought Mardi Gras which I love but not on your finger.

#1 gets my vote. To me it is classic and timeless. I kind of like the last one with the emeralds, but you may tire of it.......or not. Depends on your likes and personality.

I am voting for #2, or a variation on the theme. Compare images of 1) as is, 2) diamonds as the top and point stones, and 3) amethysts as the top and point stones. What a fun dilemma!

I wasn't clear. I need to *see* the elements in their actual proportions. The ones posted appear to feature larger than .75 carat diamonds, yet the bands still look over-sized to me.

#1

Hi ChiSUE, I should be able to get to the jeweler later this week for my "real" drawings that will be in the right proportions.

The photos above were snagged from the internet just to help me choose colored stones options.

#1, but I'm not a fan of the rose gold with those stones.