Wedding band - match e-ring exactly ($$$), or not?

zazelle · April 2011

Our jeweler wants to charge us $1400 to make two wedding bands that wrap around my e-ring (no curve, just straight bands that match the width/gem settings exactly). However, my FI and I went to a local jeweler who can sell us two bands that match each other but that are slightly slimmer than my e-ring and don't match up to the diamonds on its band exactly - for about $800. My question is, if we go the cheaper route, is it going to look incredibly weird or silly that they don't match exactly with my e-ring? The difference is about .3-.5 millimeters, but that difference throws off the alignment of the diamonds on the wedding bands and those on the e-ring. Would love opinions here -thank you!

mpatt2122 · April 2011

I opted for a wedding band that was cheaper and didn't match exactly. To me it wasn't worth the money to have one made. It's just about personal preference. If it doesn't bother you that they don't match then go for it. It wont look silly. I don't think most people would even notice.

Elle1036 · April 2011

I see a lot of sets now where the wedding band doesn't quite match the e-ring, and they look just fine. However, you're the person who'll be looking at it most, so you need to like it.

feelslikeadream · April 2011

Mine don't match at all or sit flush against each other. My wedding band I got off Craigslist for $60 and Kay Jewelers sells the exact same thing for $750 brand new (white gold and 1/2 ct tw diamonds). I was so excited to have such a beautiful band even though it didn't go exactly together and not to mention even a place that buys jewelry told me they would give me $110 for it so I actually invested instead of spending

. (I took it there to make sure it was real).

Was it exactly what I wanted that would have made my ring look perfect to me..no. Do I still love it as now I have a wedding band to pass down to my daughter and it's actually a very nice diamond band..yes.

Go with what you will be happy with. If you would be happy with the one that costs more since you're already spending a good deal then get that. If the cheaper one you like better then go with that. If I was spending over $500 I would get what I wanted long term or forever.

heinz11msw · April 2011

I didn't get the wedding band that matches my e-ring because I think too matchy matchy is boring. I would go for the one that doesn't exactly match!

zazelle · April 2011

Thanks everyone!

Naturally, my mom wants me to "keep looking"... and find those perfect bands that match my e-ring, but don't cost as much. I am leaning towards the less expensive bands from the Charleston jeweler, especially if my FI ends up getting his ring from them, too. (Funny thing is, we don't live anywhere near SC - we're in NYC - but were there last weekened and randomly found this jewelry store. If you're ever in Charleston, stop in to Nice Ice and ask for Marilyn!)

I also think that the non-matching bands will work better with the idea that I have to get small eternity bands with my future children's birthstones to stack on the same finger. So anyway - thank you for the advice and reassurance!

breaness · April 2011

Without seeing pictures of what you're looking at it's hard to say.

My e-ring has diamonds on the band and every diamond wedding band I tried I hated. I ended up getting a plain white gold band.

Everyone I showed the diamond bands loved the look and thought it was beautiful, but what it came down to is what I liked best. Even if the white gold band were more expensive (instead of $1400 cheaper) I would have gone with it because I like the look that much more.

Don't look at it as a cost savings. This is your wedding ring (are your wedding rings) and you're going to wear them forever. Get what makes you happy. If you like the $800 rings, then great! Go with it. If it bothers YOU that they don't sit right with the ring, then go custom.

What I've learned during the lengthy process that I called the "wedding ring saga" I learned that no matter what great advice I got, and no matter how many compliments on I got on the all diamond set, it really came down to what I was happy with and what I liked.

breaness · April 2011

P.s. in case you want to see my set for reference, which yes, I did go back and forth on for almost 3 months before deciding on a white gold band and getting it custom made to the thickness I wanted

Here's the old set with the matching band. I decided that I didn't like the matchy look and I was NOT crazy about the diamond band. I felt like it dwarfed the center diamond, which is beautiful.

And here's the real deal: I got butterflies when I saw it the first time and knew it was "the set" that I will happily wear forever.

ETA: Wow, looking at these pictures side by side definitely shows the difference in impression of size of the center diamond. Looks much larger with the plain band even though it's the exact same e-ring (and nail polish color

) in both photos.

[Deleted User] · April 2011

I agree with PP, don't get hung up on a $600 difference in price for something you'll wear the rest of your life. But my wedding bands (FI bought 2, one for either side of my e-ring) are by the same designer made to go with my e-ring and are slimmer in width than my e-ring.

jemmini6 · April 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_attire-accessories_wedding-band-match-e-ring-exactly-not?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:15Discussion:02d851fa-8dfd-4619-b613-b384512df4a4Post:7ae88d1c-9ad5-4c1c-b04f-9206b72e35cb">Re: Wedding band - match e-ring exactly ($$$), or not?</a>:
[QUOTE]I agree with PP, don't get hung up on a $600 difference in price for something you'll wear the rest of your life. But my wedding bands (FI bought 2, one for either side of my e-ring) are by the same designer made to go with my e-ring and are slimmer in width than my e-ring.
Posted by kkellygrosz[/QUOTE]

This is what I did too. Pic is in my siggy and I love the way my set looks together.

badkittyct · April 2011

I work in a jewelery store and have been looking at bands since I got engaged in September. I finally picked one I like yesterday and it needs one more diamond in the band to match perfectly, but without having my fingers wide open you can't tell. It is perfect for me. Choose the ring that makes you happy and you feel is perfect.

PPs are right - I have tons of women buy bands that don't necassarily match (princess cut ring with a round diamond band, 5 diamonds across the band when their e-ring has diamonds halfway down, etc.)

[Deleted User] · April 2011

Nope. My e-ring is a princess cut solitare. My wedding band has round and baguette diamonds half way around the band. They are not a matching set but look really nice together. The jewelry store told me the band compliments my e-ring b/c the diamonds are different shapes. I think it makes my e-ring stand out more.

Wedding band - match e-ring exactly ($$$), or not?

Re: Wedding band - match e-ring exactly ($$$), or not?

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