Why Eternity?
One of the reasons I, for one, love eternity bands is because they can twist round and round on my finger and will always look perfect and feel comfortable. For so many years I’ve worn an engagement ring and wedding band set and it’s constantly getting twisted into uncomfortable positions. One ring will be turned halfway one direction and the other one will be turned halfway the other direction. I feel like I’m constantly messing with my rings. You can have your rings fused together, but this doesn’t stop the problem of the twisting and turning. With an eternity band, this problem is eliminated.
Every winter my engagement ring would get caught up inside the fingers of my gloves, and then get turned to one side so it would fit inside the glove at all. Wearing gloves is uncomfortable when your jewelry isn’t staying where it’s supposed to, and taking off your jewelry so you can put on gloves is a hassle.
Also, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had my finger bruised or even cut because I had reached for something and knocked the engagement ring back into my finger. I’ve been married now for 20 years, but instead of getting used to the problems with my rings, they simply get more annoying. Basically, it’s completely in the way and very uncomfortable to wear.
So, put these two issues together – the twisting and turning, and the inconvenience of the engagement ring that’s always in the way – and it’s clear that an eternity band is the simple, smart choice.
Granted, if you’re truly frugal, the cheapest, simplest, smartest choice would be a plain wedding band – but where’s the fun in that?
Be Prepared to Defend Your Decision
Usually when you walk into a jewelry store and inquire about eternity bands, the salesperson will look at you like you have three heads. I suppose you can’t blame them since I’m sure many people have purchased an eternity band without thinking about the fact that once you buy it, you can’t change the size, and then you come back in to their store to complain. Whatever size you’ve bought, that’s its size – eternity bands are not built to be re-sized. So, a conscientious salesperson will do their best to talk you out of your foolish notion to buy one. It’s their job and they do it well. They will tell you, “Oh, no, that’s not a good idea; as soon as you gain or lose any weight it will no longer fit, not to mention the fact that as you age your fingers and knuckles will change in size anyway and will cause problems with the ring not fitting well.
It’s true that making the decision to purchase an eternity band is not without its problems and frustrations, but once you’ve considered the potential issues and come to a reasonable conclusion, don’t let a well-meaning salesperson talk you out of your decision. After all, making any purchase – eternity band or any other purchase meant to last a long time – should require a lot of thought and investment of time and effort.
Types and Styles of Eternity Bands
One of the first things you need to do when thinking about buying an eternity band is to do some homework on the different types and styles of rings available. Maybe in the past there was only one type of eternity band available, but these days the sky’s the limit when it comes to style and price. Don’t assume that if you’ve looked at one online catalog you’ve seen it all, nor should you assume what one store has every other store will have, too.
The best place to start is with an online search so you can find the types of rings you like, and so you can start to get an idea of the cost involved. When you find something you like, print it out and mark down where you saw it and the price. This may come in handy later on when you’re at a jewelry store and you’re having difficulty explaining what it is you want.
There are so many options available, you may get overwhelmed by all the choices. Some of the options are: shared prong, open prong, bezel, milgrain prong, filigree prong, layered prong, double row prong, channel set, four prong, bar set, tiger claw set, pavé channel set, center band set, half bezel, round & baguette, princess & baguette, round & princess, oval prong, marquise prong, baguette prong or channel, and princess prong or channel set. That’s just to name a few. You should learn what they all mean after a few days of searching.
As you’re searching online, be careful: If it doesn’t say “eternity,” it’s not; and if it does say “eternity,” be suspicious. Some are “modified” eternity (meaning it can be sized); others are simply labeled incorrectly. Just because it “looks” like it’s an eternity band doesn’t mean that it is.
Once you have done your homework and have a few favorites (and know what your price range is), take some printouts and go to your favorite jewelry stores to ask questions. Ask them if they sell eternity bands, if they have any in-stock that you can look at and try on, or at least if they can order them. Usually they have catalogs with different eternity bands at the very least. Many stores don’t offer eternity bands in-stock at the store to look at and try on because they are considered a special-order item due to sizing limitations.
Make sure to shop around; definitely don’t buy the first thing you like. With all the different types and styles of eternity bands available, there’s no way for you to see it all from just a few store visits and looking at a few web sites. Be patient and thorough so once you’ve made your decision you’ll know it will be forever.
If you can’t find something you like, find a jewelry store that will make one for you. Some jewelry stores will even use the diamonds from your existing ring(s), to help keep the cost of the new ring down. Note that some custom jewelers will make you anything you can think up (at additional cost, of course), while others have a certain style they stick to – so if you don’t like their style, don’t hire them to make your ring.
Prices
Eternity bands don’t have to break the bank. A three-quarter Ct. TW diamond eternity band in size 6 with 14-kt white gold can cost less than $2,000. You can find them in white gold, rose gold, yellow gold, and two-tone gold, with varying degrees of gold purity, and also in platinum. That, along with the enormous variety and styles and quality of the diamonds will all impact the final price of your ring. The range can be as low as $500 and as high as $25,000 or more. The point is, you can find a ring you will love regardless of your budget because there are so many options available.
Most stores now offer trade-in policies. Some only for what you’ve bought at their store, while others will take trade-ins of jewelry no matter where you purchased it. Some require you to spend twice what the value of the trade-in was; some only require 50% more. To save money, you can get a cheaper ring (not twice the value of the trade-in) and ask the store to reduce the trade-in value.
Sizing
So let’s go ahead and get to the heart of the problem: Sizing. Yes, true eternity bands cannot be re-sized. Whatever size you buy it, that’s its size for life. As strict as this reality is, it doesn’t have to impede your desire to have an eternity band.
Because of the fact that an eternity band is meant to twist and turn as much as it wants to, you don’t have to be so strict about the size you get. If in doubt, order it a bit big. You don’t want it to fall off your finger, obviously, but beyond that safety concern, buy it as big as is comfortable. This eliminates a lot of the concern regarding the inability to re-size it later.
You should know that some eternity bands are not true eternity bands if there is a small space left for sizing. In my opinion, these bands are missing the point: You want it to look the same no matter what. If space is left on the ring for sizing, then it’s not an eternity band. Pure and simple.
Placing Your Order
Most stores will ask for a deposit when ordering, but if the eternity band comes in and you don’t like it or it doesn’t fit, you can usually use the deposit towards a different ring, or get a full refund.
Once you settle on the store, the ring style, and the price, then be ready for a wait. Special-orders can take up to a month or even more, depending on availability.
When the Ring Comes In
There are times when you can forego a warranty, but when it comes to a ring purchase, buy the warranty. Just because you won’t be re-sizing the ring doesn’t mean you don’t need a warranty. Sometimes the stones become loose, or the ring becomes damaged, and you’ll need someone to fix the problem without having to buy a new ring or you’ll have to walk around with it being damaged.
Don’t buy something you haven’t tried on. You can’t always try it on before you order it, but don’t buy it and leave the store without trying it on first (don’t let someone else pick up the order for you, in other words). And if you end up ordering a ring online, make sure they have a good Return Policy or make sure to try the ring on at an actual store before ordering it elsewhere. The reason for this is that different styles offer different levels of comfort. If the ring sticks up off your finger pretty high, that means it will also require that much space in-between your fingers, which may not be very comfortable. Don’t choose beauty over function; find a compromise so you can have both.
In-Store Shopping
I live in North Carolina so here are some of the actual stores that are available to me, which could vary greatly from what’s available in your local area. Regardless of where you live, you should be able to find at least a few jewelry stores that can help you out in your quest for a perfect eternity band.
Ross-Simons: (http://www.ross-simons.com)
Pro’s: Has good selection of in-stock, in-store eternity bands; only requires 50% over your trade-in value.
Con’s: Very expensive; only accepts trade-ins of Ross-Simons rings towards new ring purchase.
Kay Jewelers: (http://www.kay.com)
Pro’s: Has wonderful trade-in policy (will take rings you purchased at Kay’s, or from anywhere else – at a competitive price); Offers good selection of eternity bands through various in-store catalogs; Reasonable prices.
Con’s: Though not much of a “con,” they do have a 30-day wait for the ring to come in from special order, but this is probably typical no matter where you order it; 20% deposit (10% would be better); requires double trade-in (50% would be better).
GoldWorks: (http://www.goldworks-nc.com)
Pro’s: Offers three in-house jewelers that can custom-make any ring of your design, or in their own unique style; will use your own diamonds (for sentimental value, and/or cost savings).
Con’s: Very pricey; inconsistent customer service.
Online style-shopping
http://www.diamondharmony.com/pages/diamond_eternity_bands.html?gclid=CImWypONyqACFQKF7QodPA8TfQ
http://www.eternityweddingbands.com/View-All-Eternity-Rings-C25.aspx
http://store.debebians.com/eternity-wedding-rings.html
http://www.jamesallen.com/wedding-and-anniversary/eternity-bands/
http://www.25karats.com/eternity-wedding-bands
http://www.jewelbasket.com/diamond-eternity-wedding-bands.html
http://www.steindiamonds.com/wedding-and-anniversary/womens-diamond-bands/?gclid=CJOz8f-QyqACFRIcswod-zgOZg
http://www.sndgems.com/eternityrings.htm
I hope this article will get you started well on your way toward finding your dream eternity band that will bring you years and years of happiness. Although it will take some time and effort, the payoff is when you put that ring on for the first time and know you’ll love it forever.
