Diamond Fashion Rings

What counts as a fashion ring?

Any ring worn for style rather than to mark an engagement or a wedding is a fashion ring. That covers right hand rings, stackable bands, cocktail styles and simple diamond accents worn on the index or middle finger. Because there is no fixed convention, you can wear one on any finger, on either hand, and pair it with your bridal set or keep it entirely separate. The practical difference is that a style ring seldom has to carry a large center stone, so designs can sit lower, weigh less and play more with shape.

Shopping for a proposal instead? The engagement ring catalog is built around choosing a center diamond.

Stacking thin bands

Stack two or three slim bands for the most versatile look, and mix textures before you mix metals. Stackable bands are thin rings made to be worn together, so a polished band, a pavé band and a milgrain edge can sit side by side without crowding each other. Several bands together can feel tighter than a single ring, so keep the whole stack in mind when you measure your size.

A band with diamonds all the way around, like the eternity rings, makes a strong anchor for a stack. Keep in mind that full eternity bands are hard or impossible to resize, so get the size right before you buy.

Settings that stand up to busy hands

If your hands are always busy, choose low settings and protective edges. A bezel, a thin rim of metal around the stone, is the most protective setting and suits active hands, giving up only a little light compared with prongs. Pavé holds small diamonds close along the band with tiny beads of metal, so it sits low and rarely catches. Tall prong settings show the most sparkle but snag more easily on knitwear and gloves. For a colored stone on a ring worn daily, sapphire and ruby are hard enough for everyday use, while emerald is softer and needs gentler treatment.

Sizing diamond fashion rings for another finger

Measure the exact finger the ring will live on, because sizes differ from finger to finger and between hands; the complimentary ring sizer Rare Carat sends makes that easy to do at home. A ring that fits your left ring finger may spin on the right or pinch on the index. Measure at the end of the day, when fingers are slightly fuller, and remember that wider designs feel snugger than slim ones. If the fit still turns out wrong, Rare Carat resizes rings free during the first year; the resizing policy has the details.