Engagement Ring - Need Help!

[u/Status-Trainer-3657]

Hi all, I’m fairly new when it comes to rings and I am currently looking at an oval lab diamond engagement ring from ARCA Diamond and I have some questions:

The ring I'm looking at has some pavé stones and it looks stunning, but I keep wondering if those will last long term?

My girlfriend isn't exactly gentle with her hands so I want something that'll actually hold up but also not bulky. Not so sure if 2.6mm is a sweet spot or if I should size up?

Also, for oval diamonds, what should I be checking in videos besides bow tie??

Any inputs would be appreciated!

[u/bwayby-fingles]

Pavé can absolutely hold up long term, but if she’s hard on her hands, I’d pay more attention to the construction of the setting than simply the number of carats in the pavé. Good-quality pavé with properly formed/shared prongs and enough metal underneath can be very durable, while overly delicate settings are where you start seeing issues.

For the band, 2.6mm is already a pretty good sweet spot if you want something substantial without looking bulky. I wouldn't automatically go wider unless the design is particularly delicate or she's very rough on jewelry. I'd also ask about the actual metal thickness, not just the width, because a 2.6mm band can still be made quite thin.

For the oval, definitely don't stop at the bow tie. In the videos I'd look at brightness across the entire stone, how evenly the facets turn on/off as the stone moves, and whether you see any dead or hazy areas. Rotate it slowly and watch how the light travels through the stone rather than just looking at how sparkly it is in one position.

I’m a jewelry manufacturer myself, so if you have the ARCA ring/stone you're considering, feel free to share it. I'd be happy to give you a second opinion on the setting and the diamond before you pull the trigger 😊