To change engagement rings?

[NorthernAndNervy]

My engagement ring is a 18ct white gold, natural diamond but is quite small (.37ct)
would I be better getting a larger but lab grown diamond? The lab grown is actually cheaper than my ring (£1200 vs £845) which do you think looks nicer? Photos are mine vs one I’m looking at.

I don't think the money matters. Which one do you like best?

It’s up to you as you’ve got to wear this for the rest of your life.

Who chose the first ring? Personally I wouldn’t have chosen my engagement ring but my husband designed it which makes me love it and special to me so wouldn’t want to change a thing.

For me, the sentimental value of the ring chosen by my husband and given to me at the time of proposing is irreplaceable, and I also prefer a natural diamond, over a lab grown one. So I wouldn't change it, but you are the one wearing it for the rest of your life so do what makes you happy.

I just like the one you have so much better than the larger one. I know that jewellery is a very personal thing, but if your engagement ring was given in love, then keep it and maybe in the fullness of time, you will be able to have a larger real diamond ring.

Lab grown is more ethical and I prefer the look of it too - go for it!

I refer the smaller one. I think it's more classy and timeless.

That said, it should be a ring that you like. That's really what counts.

For me the value lies in the knowledge that DH picked it out for me. I’ve since received bigger and blingier and fancier jewels, rings that I wear on the same and/or other hand. But I’ll never change or replace that ring. I hope to pass it on to a granddaughter one day.

I like the small real one.

I don't like big rocks, my dream ting doesn't have a rock so I prefere the smaller one. But since you are looking at alternative rings, sounds like you want to change. So go for it.

Remember you won’t be wearing it on its own after you married so think about how they will look with the wedding ring too

Personally if you’re going to spend more money I’d go for a harder wearing metal like platinum. I do much prefer the 2nd though which is why we went to pick mine after he asked so I could decide

My ring wasnt chosen by DH; we decided we were going to get married and then we discussed a budget and I designed the ring, taking into account the full loom i wanted to achieve with the wedding ring - like you I've chosen a lab grown as its more ethical, and more beautiful, better clarity.

You're the one wearing the ring; if the "real" one was chosen by your DH then it may have sentimental value; otherwise change it; you dont have to get rid of the other, you're not throwing it away.

Your ring is lovely but I do think it’s a bit small for your hand. It would suit someone with really dainty fingers. DH and I chose my ring together (really I chose it) for this reason! I think it’s rare that men get it absolutely right.

Lab grown is great but choose somewhere other than warren James - it’s terrible quality and go do platinum if possible so it won’t fade to yellow.

I much prefer your original ring. The lab-grown diamond looks like it came out of a Christmas cracker (sorry!)

The original one is very pretty and a good size to match with a wedding ring, wear everyday and suits your finger.
The other is pretty too but much too big and flashy for my taste. I don’t like large engagement stones that over shadow a wedding ring and make them impractical for daily use. I’d keep the ring my fiancé chose.

You should have a ring you like to wear every day. If your fiancé is likely to be hurt by you changing it, then obviously take care with his feelings but nothing wrong with seeing the sentimental part as the agreement to marry, not the ring.

Thanks everyone! I think I might stick with mine for a while, I do love it but I just didn’t know if a bigger stone might’ve been better. I don’t think I’ll rush into getting the warren james one though, that was my worry in getting a bigger stone that I might look a bit like costume jewellery!

I prefer the smaller ring. You could have the band made larger. I find that rings with big stones tend to catch on clothing.

Me too

Did your fiancé not pick yours?

Ok I’ll be honest. I hate diamond solitaires and I think the smaller they are the worse they look. There’s just something soulless about them. So of the two I’d go for the larger as it “ pops “ more. But I’m not the one wearing it!

What do you mean by “would I be better….”?

Presumably the person you are engaged to and intend to marry gave you the ring so I feel it is an odd question. There is no way to say what is better in this context. Or, are you thinking which looks more expensive or which suits my hand better or what will other people notice more. If that is the case then go with the second one.

Do you not like the ring you were given? If so discuss with your fiancée and choose a replacement together otherwise it could look like you do not value the sentiment of the proposal.

.

What would be ‘better’ about it? The only way it could be ‘better’ is if it is more valuable.
The larger diamond would usually mean more money has been spent so the size shows its ‘worth’. That’s not true in this case. It’s just about aesthetic. So you pick the one you like to look at.

The large one looks a bit blingy/ tacky to me, I prefer your original one.

Actually think there’s something a bit weird about ditching the ring you got engaged/married with. The new one just isn’t your engagement or wedding ring -its just a new ring…