The most impractical engagement ring styles, according to a private jeweler

Business Insider spoke with Anna P. Jay, a private jeweler, about impractical engagement rings. Cavan Images / Samantha Joy/Getty Images/Cavan Images RF If you've ever admired someone's engagement ring, you've probably oohed and aahed over the size or shine of "the rock," as many like to call it.The diamond or other gem in an engagement ring is a key element, but it's important to remember the entire ring needs to be durable since it's typically worn every day.Unfortunately, some of the most popular engagement ring styles throw practicality out the window in favor of aesthetics.Business Insider spoke with private jeweler Anna P. Jay, who is based in Nantucket, Massachusetts, and Charleston, South Carolina, about engagement ring styles that may not stand the test of time.Thin bands aren't that durableCelebrities like Taylor Swift and Zendaya have been favoring chunkier engagement rings in recent years, but rings with very thin bands are still popular in the market. Jay said the latter can be a mistake."I don't like super-thin bands personally because sometimes they're not sturdy," Jay said.Though thin bands create a sleek look and can make a stone appear larger, they aren't as supportive, particularly if your ring has a large carat stone. Thin bands can be a mistake. Bryan Miguel/Getty Images "When you have a larger stone on the top, it becomes top-heavy, so it'll constantly be spinning," Jay said. Thin rings can also bend with use and might need more prongs to keep a stone in place since there is less base support.Jay said it's better to get a slightly thicker band so the ring will stand the test of time. Plus, an increased width isn't usually noticeable to the naked eye."A matter of tens of millimeters makes a huge difference," Jay said.More isn't always moreJay said the U-prong eternity band (colloquially called an infinity ring), which has become popular in recent years, isn't that practical either.The entire band of an eternity ring is covered in diamonds or another jewel. There are multiple styles of eternity rings, but the U-prong setting is especially popular because it has very little visible metal and focuses the attention on the gems. It's also the least practical, according to Jay."U-prong settings are incredibly impractical," Jay said. "People like them because of the lack of metal, but I'll make it, and I've had to reset or tighten prongs after a week of wear.""I think jewelry should be worn, and if you can't wear it because it's too fragile, what's the point?" she said. Eternity bands have drawbacks. Visoot Uthairam/Getty Images In addition, eternity rings cannot be resized because the entire band is set with diamonds or another stone.That's a problem, as most people's fingers change size throughout their lives, Jay said. Because it can't be easily resized, an eternity band may have to be reset entirely at some point.Jay recommends halfway or even three-quarter bands as an alternative, since a partially metal band makes it easy to resize.With all aspects of engagement rings, Jay advises people to have open conversations with their partner about what they expect from a ring."Make sure you do talk to your partner about what you want because it's not a cup of coffee," she said. "We can't just throw it away and start again.""This is often the most expensive piece of jewelry a lot of people will purchase, and it's the first piece of jewelry a lot of people will purchase," Jay added. "Let's make sure we nail it." Read next Samantha Grindell Pettyjohn is a Senior Reporter at Business Insider with more than seven years of experience in the lifestyle space.At Business Insider, Samantha's coverage focuses on unique living situations, interior design, style, and books. Her work includes features on multigenerational living and one-of-a-kind houses, timely articles on celebrity fashion, live coverage of award shows and pageants, and fun pieces about popular book series. Samantha also loves reporting on celebrities on her beats, from HGTV stars Christina Haack and Tarek El Moussa to authors such as Sarah J. Maas and Rebecca Yarros.Samantha appeared on Scripps News and CBS in 2022 as a result of her coverage of the royal family, and in 2023, she won an Anthem Award for her work on Business Insider's package "Better Me."Samantha received her B.A. in English from Birmingham-Southern College in 2017, graduating Summa Cum Laude. She later earned her M.S. in Publishing from New York University in 2019. Samantha was previously a staff writer at Romper, and her writing has appeared in Cosmopolitan, Mic, and Oprah.com. Today, Samantha lives in New York.Email her at sgrindell@businessinsider.com and follow her on X.ExpertiseHomes, celebrity style, the royal family, interior design, and multigenerational living.Popular ArticlesA family spent $69,000 turning their garage into an apartment so their son could live rent-free while launching his startupA family ditched their dining room and added a primary suite above the garage in a $1 million renovation of their homeShe moved across the country when her husband got into Harvard. Starting over was hard.Rebecca Yarros is working on the 4th 'Empyrean' novel. Here's everything the 'Fourth Wing' author has said about the book so far.Chip and Joanna Gaines' Magnolia Network pulls show after homeowners allege that makeovers ruined their houses Lifestyle Style Jewelry More wedding Weddings