Most couples pick the center stone first and treat the wedding band as an afterthought. Shoppers comparing lab grown engagement rings now see eternity bands that carry more diamond weight than the ring itself. A heavy band can crowd the center stone, cover the finger and rub against a band already lined with diamonds. Three checks prevent all of these problems: proportion, metal contact and ring size. They apply to any ring, from ethical engagement rings to budget picks.

Weigh the Band Against Lab Grown Engagement Rings

A full eternity band spreads its diamonds around the whole finger, so it draws attention away from the center stone. Keep the center as the heaviest diamond in the stack. Many lab grown engagement rings now hold 3.00ct centers, and one Woodland Hills jeweler sells lab eternity bands from 1.00ctw (carat total weight) up to 9.00ctw. Its 9.00ctw oval eternity band costs $7,995 on sale, more than its 3.00ct IGI oval ring at $4,800. If the band’s total weight is higher than the center stone’s, pick a lighter band.

Pair Pavé Lab Grown Engagement Rings With Bezels

If the engagement ring already has diamonds along its band, pick a bezel wedding band. Diamond scores 10 on the Mohs hardness scale, so only another diamond can scratch it, and two diamond bands rubbing every day can chip stones and wear down prongs. Pavé lab grown engagement rings, where small diamonds line the band, include styles like a 4.50ct pear and a 2.00ct elongated cushion. A bezel band wraps a metal rim around each stone, so the two rings touch metal to metal instead of diamond to diamond. Try a 1.50ctw round and baguette bezel band, or a plain gold band.

Match Certificates on the Ring and Band

Small diamonds in a wedding band can run warmer in color than the center stone, and that difference makes the whole stack look uneven. Ask for the band’s color and clarity range before pairing it with an IGI certified lab grown center graded D or E. IGI grades certified lab diamonds on the same D to Z color scale that gemologists apply to mined stones. Jean Pierre Jewelers, for example, lists IGI or GIA certificates and D or E color for every center stone in its lab engagement collection. Get the band’s color range written on the receipt.

Keep Simulant Bands Away From Diamond Rings

Skip moissanite and cubic zirconia bands when the engagement ring holds diamonds. Moissanite is silicon carbide and cubic zirconia is zirconium dioxide, so neither shares a diamond’s pure carbon structure. Moissanite rates 9.25 on the Mohs scale and cubic zirconia rates 8 to 8.5, so a diamond center scratches a simulant band every time the two rub. Anyone comparing diamond simulants vs lab grown stones for a ring stack should factor in that difference in hardness. Keep diamond alternatives on another finger.

Size the Finger Before Buying Eternity Bands

A full eternity band has diamonds around the entire band, so a jeweler can’t cut or add much metal to resize it. Confirm the ring size before ordering one. The same store offers its 3.00ct oval hidden halo in sizes 4 to 9, and its 3.50ctw round lab eternity band sells for $3,675 on sale, a costly piece to replace if it won’t fit. Get measured late in the day, when fingers run largest, and pick a half eternity band if the size might still change.

Plan Custom Bands Around Lab Grown Engagement Rings

Order a custom band when no stock band sits flush against the ring. Jewelers who build custom engagement rings in CAD can design a band that curves or notches around the center stone and show a wax model before they cast any metal. Jean Pierre Jewelers says its lab centers often cost 30 to 40 percent less than comparable mined stones, and that gap lets buyers of affordable engagement rings still pay for a band made to fit. Bring the ring to the first appointment so the designer can measure the real setting height.

Lab grown engagement rings look best when the center stays the heaviest diamond in the stack. Scale the band, protect diamond lined bands with bezel or plain metal, and confirm the size before the band goes on order.

For more information about Lab Grown Bands and Lab Engagement Rings Please visit: Jean Pierre Jewelers.