Modern Goldsmith

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The visual difference between eternity band styles.
choices, choices, choices.

When shopping for an eternity band, many people wonder if they should buy a 1/2, 3/4, or full eternity band.

While each style has their own advantages, this post will talk about the pros and cons of each eternity band style.

Which Eternity Band Style is Best for Ring Sizing?

A chart showing which style eternity bands can be sized.
Know what to expect when it comes to sizing an eternity ring.

WINNER: 1/2 Eternity Band

1/2 eternity bands are the clear winner here.

With stones only going half way down the sides, there is plenty of room for sizing and alteration of the ring.

RUNNER UP: 3/4 Eternity Band

3/4 eternity bands are also a good choice if you want to leave the possibility of ring sizing open in the future.

Oftentimes referred to as a “sizing bar”, 3/4 eternity bands leave just enough space to account for sizing it larger or smaller in the future.

LAST PLACE: Full Eternity Band

The “Achilles heel” of full eternity rings is that they cannot be sized—at least, not easily. The stars pretty much have to align for a successful sizing.

The in-depth explanation:

While it’s not technically impossible to size an eternity ring, there are so many factors that make the task quite difficult.

For example, let’s say the ring is too tight and you want to increase the ring size by a half size larger. Making the eternity ring larger would mean adding an extra stone. The problem with this solution is that adding an extra stone will most likely make the ring larger than the half size you wanted. Now that’s a problem!

To make it work, you might need to add an even smaller stone—a solution which won’t look good at all. You don’t want the new stone to mismatch the original stones.

There is a chance that the extra stone will be the exact addition you need to make the ring fit, however that is pretty unlikely. Even the slightest variations in ring circumference can change the fit dramatically.

Another solution to sizing a full eternity ring larger would be to cut the ring open and add metal. This could work, but it certainly breaks the seamless “full eternity” look of the original design.

The unfortunate conclusion is that if you ever want to get your full eternity band sized up or down, the ring will most likely need to be remade completely.

When In Doubt, Ask A Goldsmith

Question: “I have an eternity band that does not fit anymore. Can it be sized?”

Answer: No, but it is possible to use your existing metal and stones toward a NEW eternity ring! Contact us for a free quote.

The “Pros and Cons” of 1/2 Eternity Bands

a 1/2 eternity band.
1/2 eternity bands have stones going half way down the sides of the ring.

PROS (1/2 Eternity)

  • Can be easily sized and adjusted.
  • 1/2 eternity bands are less expensive than 3/4 and full eternity bands due to there being less stones.
  • This style requires the least amount of maintenance of the three options.

CONS (1/2 Eternity)

  • 1/2 eternity bands are pretty far removed from the “eternity ring” symbolism. They are mostly referred to as “wedding” or “anniversary bands”.
  • If the ring spins (or tilts even slightly) when being worn, the metal part of the ring will be visible.

Are 3/4 Eternity Bands the Best Compromise?

a 3/4 eternity band.
3/4 eternity bands go almost all the way around, leaving just a small solid section at the bottom.

PROS (3/4 Eternity)

  • 3/4 eternity bands leave room for sizing. This small space is known as a sizing bar.
  • A 3/4 eternity band will have the same appearance as a full eternity ring when looking down at the ring. Even if you spread your fingers, or the ring spins slightly, you will still see stones.
  • Less overall maintenance. The bottom of the ring is a place that generally receives a lot wear and tear. The solid metal portion at the ring can absorb a lot of that force.

CONS (3/4 Eternity)

  • Nearly as expensive as a full eternity ring. Generally 25% less stones than a full eternity ring does not equate to 25% less expensive.
  • If the ring spins far enough, the metal sizing bar will be visible.
  • A proper ring fitting can combat spinning issues, but it does not guarantee that the ring will not spin. Sometimes getting a ring over a larger knuckle results in a ring that will always spin. This will vary from person to person. (us humans are unique!). We will cover this topic later in this post.

The “Pros and Cons” of Full Eternity Bands

a full eternity band.
Full eternity bands by very definition go all the way around the ring.

PROS (Full Eternity)

  • Seamless design. There is no beginning or end—a true eternity ring.
  • This style has the most brilliance of any of three options.
  • Full eternity bands are by far the best option if you are worried about the ring spinning on your finger.
  • Aesthetically pleasing.

CONS (Full Eternity)

  • Cannot be sized.
  • Greater chance of needing maintenance. Whichever stones are at the “bottom” of the ring when it’s being worn will be subjected to a lot more wear and tear. This increases the chances of the stones chipping or coming loose. To combat this, having the ring periodically inspected can go a long way in increasing the longevity of the ring.
  • The most expensive of the three options.

The Concern Over Ring Spinning

Eternity band spinning poll.
A poll taken from a “weddingbee” discussion board. (Source)

When searching the market for an eternity band, this is one of the questions I see many people agonize over.

This is completely understandable. A ring buyer wants to make sure they make the right choice. They don’t want to invest their money in a certain eternity band style only to regret their choice later down the road.

I’ve created a simple guide to help people decide.

STEP #1: Look at the poll shown above. Now think about which category YOU would fall under.

  • If the spinning will be annoying or drive you crazy—choose full eternity.
  • If the ability to size the ring in the future is your greatest concern—choose 1/2 or 3/4.
  • A spinning ring will not bother you at all—choose any of them.

Step #2: Know Your Finger (and knuckle!)

  • To minimize spinning in a ring, an exact finger size is needed to ensure a proper fit.
  • Sometimes our knuckles are above average in size, thus skewing what the proper ring size should be.
  • If there is more than a half size discrepancy between your knuckle and your finger, the ring WILL spin. If this concerns you, choose a full eternity ring.
  • Should you suspect you fall into the category of having a larger knuckle, a specialized finger sizer must be used to determine your knuckle size vs your finger size.

Note: Many jewelry stores will only carry the traditional finger sizing gauges, which are just solid metal rings that don’t open and close. The problem with this method is that the metal ring can feel tight going over the knuckle, but then loose once it passes the knuckle! They aren’t reading your actual finger size, rather your knuckle.

How To Measure Your Finger and Knuckle Correctly

I use ring size gauges that both open and close. This means I can measure the exact size a knuckle and the exact size of the finger itself.

For a DIY option, a plastic ring sizing gauge which tightens like a belt can also be used. Find one here on Amazon.

First tighten it around your finger. Then expand it if necessary and tighten it around the knuckle. Note the size difference, if any.

Once you know the difference between your finger and your knuckle, you can have a pretty good idea of what to expect.

guideline to how much a ring will spin.
Disclaimer: This chart is merely a general guideline and not a guarantee.

THE FINAL VERDICT

Full eternity band with lab grown diamonds.
Full eternity band with lab-grown diamonds.

This result is purely subjective. At the end of the day, each eternity ring style can be the right choice for someone.

From the perspective of a goldsmith, the full eternity band takes home the prize.

The very definition of an eternity band is a ring that has continuous stones all the way around, so how could it not win?

That being said, the 3/4 eternity band is the best of both worlds when it comes to aesthetics and sizing flexibility.

Want to work together to create an eternity ring? We would love to hear from you. Fill out our customization form to explore further.

So which style is your favorite? Let us know down in the comments below.

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Ring guard with and without and engagement ring
Custom made ring guard to fit an engagement ring.

Ring guards and wraps are an excellent way to add a beautiful accent to an engagement ring. They can also serve the purpose of the wedding band.

A ring guard is rightly named as such—it “guards” the engagement ring from one or both sides.

Ring guards are also referred to as “ring wraps” due to the way they enclose and wrap around an engagement ring.

In addition to ring guard and ring wrap, these rings are also called ring “jackets” or “enhancers.” To make things easy, we will mostly refer to them as ring guards in this post.

How To Choose The Right Ring Guard For Your Engagement Ring

Different ring guard styles
Ring guards vary greatly in shape and style.

I cannot stress the importance of this aspect enough. Most box-store jewelry retailers will carry a varied selection of ring guards and wraps, but finding the right fit for your ring can be a challenge.

It is very difficult to find a guard that works well for your engagement ring if the guard was not made specifically for your engagement ring.

Here is a list of common problems that arise:

  • Large gaps between the guard and the engagement ring
  • Engagement Ring is too large (or too small!) for the ring guard
  • Ring shoulders don’t line up properly
  • The “bars” at the bottom of the ring guard get in the way
  • The style of the ring guard simply does not match well

What’s The Solution?

There are really only two options: Try to find something pre-made out of the jewelry display case, or have a ring guard custom made.

Let’s start with the worst of the two options. While most “out of the box” ring guards are not good matches for existing engagement rings, there generally are ways to make them work.

I would know, I’ve done it countless times.

I’ve had contracts with big-box jewelry companies where they expected me to make these imperfect ring guards work (for the sake of the sale), and I got pretty good at it. Their customers were generally pleased with the result…that is unless I had to turn down the job completely.

Why did I have to turn down certain jobs? This generally occurred when inexperienced jewelry salespeople would sell a ring guard that simply would not work with the engagement ring.

Ring wrap bars which hold the jewelry together
The bars at the bottom of the ring guard join the two sides together.

Here are some of the ways I would alter ring guards to work with engagement rings:

  • Remove the bars at the bottom of the ring guard
  • Solder the guard to the engagement ring (if customer wanted)
  • Squeeze the guard together at the top to minimize gaps
  • Size the engagement ring larger than the guard so that the shoulders line up better
  • Ensure the engagement ring and guard were properly centered.

These techniques are passable, but there is a solution that is much better. That would be custom!

Custom Made Ring Guards and Wraps

Custom rose gold ring wrap or jacket
Custom 14KT rose gold ring guard with lab-grown accent diamonds.

That’s right. Custom, custom custom!

Having a ring guard made specifically for your engagement ring will always yield a better result.

Not only will the ring guard match up a lot better with the engagement ring, but it can also be designed to compliment it.

In addition, in some cases buying a pre-made ring wrap is downright impossible if your engagement ring has unique curves and lines. Nothing you find in the jewelry display case will work. Custom is the only answer.

To inquire about getting a custom ring guard made, please fill out our customization form!

How Custom Ring Guards and Wraps are Made

Contoured ring guard
Having a contoured ring guard is essential to a proper fit.

In order to achieve the best results for a custom ring guard or wrap, it is important for the goldsmith to have the engagement ring in hand to use as a starting point.

It might be difficult for some people to part with their engagement rings (understandably so), however making the sacrifice to live without it for a few weeks will end with beautiful results!

The new ring guard will be custom made to fit the engagement ring, and after the guard is cast in metal it can be adjusted and centered appropriately.

Did you know all of our jewelry shipments are fully insured? Enjoy peace of mind knowing your jewelry is protected and in good hands. Contact us here for more information.

Utilizing CAD To Design The Ring Guard

Cad rendering of a custom ring guard
CAD renderings show how the custom ring guard will fit with the engagement ring.

In order to get the best match for your engagement ring, computer aided design (CAD) is used to create the ring guard model.

Using a 3D scanner, the original engagement ring is scanned in to the software. After that, the new ring guard is modeled to wrap around the engagement ring!

How Much Do Custom Ring Guards and Wraps Cost?

lab grown diamond ring guard
Custom is always superior, but how much will it cost?

The final cost of a custom ring guard or wrap is entirely determined by the materials that are used.

For example, ring guards can be made in platinum, 18kt, 14kt, or 10kt gold, as well as silver. Each metal type has different prices associated with it.

Lastly, some ring wraps will have accent stones in them while others will be plain. The accent stones can be lab-grown diamonds, moissanite, or another stone entirely.

On average, a person can spend between $1,200-$2,800 on a custom ring guard.

Get a FREE QUOTE. Work one on one with a goldsmith to create a beautiful ring guard or wrap.

Engagement ring with ring enhancer
The engagement ring and ring guard should compliment each other.

It should be understood that custom ring guards will generally be a bit more expensive than a generic ring guard bought out of the case.

Generic ring guards are generally massed produced and imported, which equates to a lower cost than something that is custom made.

The trade off is that you risk the quality and fit of your wedding set. Custom ring guards and wraps offer a greater value in quality and cohesion. It’s well worth the investment!