Traditional styles are easy to differentiate, it’s either a full eternity ring with stones all around or a half eternity ring with gems only on the top. However there are a few variations on these styles.

The Wishbone Eternity Ring

The first is called a wishbone eternity ring which comes to a point at the top. It still has no raised shank or larger central stones, but the V-shape is not the customary flat, wide band. Different styles based on a wishbone ring design are often used to allow two rings to fit together, especially in case of matching with a solitaire engagement ring. Sometimes the V creates a perfect space for the solitaire to rest, making the rest of the ring appear to be a continuous eternity style.

The French Baguette Eternity Ring

Another variation is called a baguette eternity ring (yes the same word used for French bread) and the usage of this word is no accident. The diamonds are in fact cut long and slender like a baguette! Although this style of eternity ring is not about the shape of the ring itself, the long cut of the diamond forces the baguette ring to be wider, especially if the stones are set vertically. These eternity rings are often quite expensive since baguette cut diamond are larger and the cut requires a certain amount of waste which you pay for.

Three Stones for Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

The next eternity ring I can suggest is one only has only three diamonds or gemstones. If these are bezel set, tension set or pave, they will be flush with the band like a true eternity ring, however, if they are prong set, and the stones are in a raised shank, then they are usually termed: three stone rings or sometimes trilogy rings. They are not genuine eternity bands, but their symbolism is in keeping with the theme, having one stone that represents the past, one for the present and one for the future, making this style a lovely wedding band, or a ring that can be both an engagement and wedding band together.

Choosing Your Own Eternity Ring Wedding Sets

It’s unfortunate that wedding sets very seldom incorporate an eternity ring as the wedding band. Therefore, if you are wanting your band to be an eternity ring, you’ll have to mix and match on your own. So that the engagement ring and the wedding band combine nicely, you must pay attention to these important factors: the color of the mountings and how the metal has been finished, polished, brushed, satin or engraved; the color, clarity and cut of the stones, how the diamonds are set, and how the two rings will fit together on your finger. Try to pair similar diamond cuts and don’t go for an engagement ring with a round stone and a band that’s emerald cut. It will look odd. Likewise try to select the same metal quality for the mountings so that they will wear evenly.

Don’t match a silver or white gold engagement ring with a titanium eternity ring and expect them to look like a set or to last the same way. You can however do one thing that’s a little sneaky. You can mix and match white gold and yellow gold, and if done properly, can be a wonderful two-tone set with an engagement ring in yellow gold and a white gold shank and likewise an eternity ring with white gold accents, or vice versa.

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