What an eternity ring is
An eternity ring is a ring with diamonds set in a row along the band. The name refers to the way the stones are set, not to a particular occasion. If the diamonds go all the way around, it is called a full eternity ring. If they only go halfway around, typically on the top, visible half, it is called a half eternity ring.
The difference between an eternity ring and an engagement ring is clear when you see them side by side. An engagement ring usually has one prominent centre stone, often a solitaire in a claw setting. The eternity ring instead has many smaller, identical diamonds distributed along the band, so the light is caught along the whole ring rather than in a single point. This gives a calmer and more even look, which many people choose because it is easy to wear every day and easy to combine with other rings.
At Longvé, eternity rings are available both as a full eternity ring and as a half eternity ring, in 14K gold and 14K white gold, and with either lab-grown or natural diamonds in the same design.
Eternity ring as a wedding ring
Many people use an eternity ring precisely as a wedding ring. The flat, continuous row of diamonds sits close up against an engagement ring and forms a matched set on the finger, and that is one of the reasons the style is so widely used for the wedding itself.
Today more people choose two rings, one engagement ring and one wedding ring, and here the eternity ring works well as one half of the pair. If you want to understand how the two rings differ, what is the difference between an engagement ring and a wedding ring covers it. If you are considering how much diamond you want on a wedding ring, how many carats for a wedding ring can help you set your expectations.
A half eternity ring is worth knowing in this context. Because the diamonds only sit on the upper half, the underside is a smooth band. This makes the ring more comfortable to wear against the neighbouring fingers and simpler to have adjusted later if the size needs to change.
Eternity or half eternity
The choice between a full and a half eternity ring is about how the ring should look from every angle, and how it should be worn.
A full eternity ring has diamonds all the way around. Seen from any side it sparkles the same, and there is no "front" to keep track of. On the other hand, diamonds on the underside can be felt against the neighbouring fingers, and the ring usually cannot be resized in the normal way, precisely because the stones take up the entire band.
A half eternity ring gathers the diamonds on the top, where they are seen. It sits more softly and is easier to get used to if you are not accustomed to wearing rings with stones.
At Longvé, the eternity ring is available in several diamond sizes, from a tiny eternity diamond ring at 0.28 carat up to a large eternity diamond ring at 1 carat. If you want a denser, double row of stones, there is also an eternity double diamond ring with two rows. For the half variant, the selection ranges from a tiny half eternity diamond ring at 0.14 carat to a large half eternity diamond ring at 0.50 carat. The entire selection is gathered in eternity rings.
Eternity ring in gold or white gold
The eternity rings at Longvé are carried by two metals. 14K gold gives a warm, yellow tone that highlights the diamonds with contrast. 14K white gold has a cool, silvery surface that blends more with the stones and makes them appear a touch larger in the overall look.
The same design is often available in both metals. Medium eternity diamond ring in 14K white gold at 0.80 carat has its yellow counterpart, so the choice of colour can be matched with the rings or jewellery you already wear. If you already have gold on your hands, a ring in the same tone fits in naturally. If you want to know more about what white gold is and how it differs, what is the difference between gold and white gold can be read first.
Whatever the colour, you can choose between lab-grown and natural diamonds in the same model. A lab-grown diamond rings looks the same next to one with natural diamonds and has the same hardness, since a diamond is 10 on the Mohs scale regardless of origin.
Which finger and hand do you wear the eternity ring on?
The eternity ring is most often worn on the ring finger together with the engagement or wedding ring. When used as a wedding ring, it follows the tradition for which hand the wedding ring sits on, and that varies from country to country. In Denmark, the wedding ring is traditionally worn on the right hand.
If, on the other hand, the eternity ring is intended as a gift or a piece of jewellery with no connection to a particular ceremony, there is no fixed rule. Many wear it on the opposite hand from their existing rings to give it room, or stack it together with other rings on the same finger.
The fixed traditions around hand and finger are gathered in which hand should the wedding ring be worn on.
How to find the right size
The eternity rings are available in sizes 48 to 60. The size corresponds to the ring's inner measurement, so 54 means an inner diameter of 17.2 millimetres.
For a full eternity ring, getting the size right from the start is especially important. Because the diamonds sit all the way around the band, the ring essentially cannot be made larger or smaller afterwards without breaking the row of stones. A half eternity ring has a smooth underside and is therefore easier to adjust if the need arises.
If you are unsure of your size, how to measure ring size goes through the methods. If you are buying the ring as a gift, it can help to measure a ring the recipient already wears on the correct finger.
The size of the diamonds and the look of the ring
The carat figure on an eternity ring tells the combined weight of all the diamonds together, not the weight of a single stone. The higher the figure, the larger or more numerous the stones, and the more striking the ring becomes.
A tiny model with 0.28 carat stays delicate and discreet and sits easily alongside an engagement ring without taking the attention. A medium at 0.80 carat or a large at 1 carat has noticeably larger stones that catch more light and stand more on their own. If you want a more unconventional look, there is an eternity emerald diamond ring, where the emerald-cut stones give long, calm flashes of light rather than the classic sparkle of brilliant-cut stones.
The choice of carat size is mostly about how the ring should play together with the rest of the hand. If you wear it alone, a larger stone can carry itself. If you wear it close up against several other rings, many choose a smaller one so the overall look does not become heavy. Several of the models are also available in diamond earrings as matching jewellery, if you want to put together a set.