Eternity Ring Guide: Everything You Need to Know

Graduated diamond rings with different setting styles

What is an eternity ring?

An eternity ring features a continuous line of diamonds. Full eternity rings have diamonds all the way around the band, while half eternity rings have diamonds across the top only. Personal style, comfort, practicality or budget often guide the choice between a full or half eternity ring.

Between these styles sit three-quarter eternity rings that offer greater diamond coverage when you don’t want stones along the bottom of the ring. Diamonds can also be set to align precisely with another diamond-set band.

However, what truly defines an eternity ring is not just its aesthetic, but the meaning it carries. People buy eternity rings to mark something deeply significant — a loved one, a celebration, or a personal achievement. When meaning is woven into the design, it truly brings an eternity ring to life.

Eternity ring styles and settings

Full Eternity Ring

The most traditional form of eternity ring: a full band of diamonds offers maximum sparkle, symbolism and unity. This style cannot be resized.

Half Eternity Ring

A practical yet sparkly eternity ring: a half band of diamonds offers the flexibility of re-sizing and a smooth, comfortable ring base.

Shaped Eternity Ring

A modern style of eternity ring most commonly used as a wedding band to contour the edge of an engagement ring.

Graduated Eternity Ring

A style that has a classic and modern appeal. The diamonds are largest at the top and gradually get smaller around the band.

A Castle Setting

The metal is scalloped underneath the diamonds to hold them in place. With no metal along the sides, the diamond’s brilliance and sparkle is enhanced.

A Pavé Setting

Small metal ‘pips’ hold the diamonds in place, with a delicate thread of metal at the side. This gives a clean uniform look.

Shared Claw Setting

Two claws between each stone hold the diamonds in place. This keeps the metal work light yet secure, with maximum light passing around.

Scalloped Setting

A flowing line of metal scoops around the diamonds to seamlessly join them. This gives a smooth, grounded look.

Where to wear an eternity ring

Most people wear their eternity ring on the fourth finger of their right or left hand. If you’re married, you can stack your eternity ring with your engagement and wedding rings, or wear it as a standalone piece on your right. There’s no right or wrong way – it’s personal preference and what feels right to you.

The traditional order to wear your eternity ring in a stack is: your wedding ring, followed by your engagement ring, then your eternity ring. When your engagement or wedding ring has a diamond set band, it’s nice to use the same setting style. However if you plan to wear your eternity ring on your right hand, any setting style works well.

A wax-resin prototype

When stacking your eternity ring, we take measurements of your existing rings to ensure your new ring will sit nicely. We can also make a wax-resin prototype of your eternity ring for you to try on for fit and feel. This is particularly important for full eternity rings that cannot be resized without being completely remade.

When to buy an eternity ring

There’s no set time to buy an eternity ring. When you get the calling – and funds allow – go for it. Many eternity rings are brought to mark a milestone birthday, anniversary or achievement. They are also often the ‘next piece of jewellery’ after an engagement and wedding ring, particularly after the birth of a child. This is commonly known as a push present or baby ring.

Eternity rings are also a lovely piece of jewellery to buy if you would like to replace or upgrade your engagement and/or wedding ring. Often people can afford finer jewellery as they get older, and an eternity ring can honour continued marriage. If you want to replace your original wedding and eternity ring, you can include your existing stones in your eternity ring, depending on design (see remodelling jewellery).

An eternity ring as an engagement ring

Occasionally, people choose an eternity ring as both an engagement and wedding ring. For example, our New Bond Street Ring is bold enough to be adored as an engagement and wedding ring together.

Eternity Ring FAQs

All eternity rings sparkle. Some hold a subtle sparkle that radiates to you personally. Others catch eyes. The diamonds and setting style can effect how brightly and boldly a ring sparkles. We will help you choose aligned to your preferences and craft a refined, balanced design.

When stacking an eternity ring, the metal of the other ring is important. Platinum rings cannot be worn next to gold. If you plan to wear a white ring next to a gold ring, we recommend 18-carat white gold. We would also take the measurements of the ring that will be worn next to your eternity ring to ensure they sit well together.

We will always measure your ring size in person. For eternity rings that are bought as a gift, we recommend a half or three-quarter set eternity rings to allow for resizing. We provide one complimentary size adjustment.

We make all of our jewellery to last and to be worn everyday. However, if you are very active, a pavé or scalloped set eternity ring with metal around each stone might be best. A shared claw or castle setting may ‘catch’ more easily but is perfectly fine in most situations.

We recommend taking all eternity rings off at the gym (weight lifting) and for horse-riding.

We craft eternity rings in platinum or 18-carat while, yellow or rose gold. Platinum and white gold allow diamonds to shine in their most natural colour. Yellow gold may affect the diamonds’ colour slightly, but equally it can add a warm, modern touch which is becoming increasingly popular.

Blue sapphires, rubies or emerald can be set in an alternating pattern with diamonds to give a rhythmic, colourful look to an eternity ring. Alternatively, including one or two gemstones, such as blue and pink sapphires or birthstones, represent children wonderfully. Finally, a yellow or pink fancy diamond set within an eternity ring can elevate a ring’s meaning and admiration.

Different examples can be found in our bespoke gallery.

While all eternity rings have an heir of traditionalism, some designs migrate towards a contemporary take of a classic. For example, our graduated eternity rings are unique and different. Different stone shapes also give a traditional eternity ring a more modern look. Eternity rings are most often made with round brilliant diamonds but any diamond shape can be used – even baguette, marquise and heart-shaped diamonds.