The Journal
Eternity rings and bands: full, half and five-stone, and how each wears
An eternity ring is a band set with a line of matching stones. The unbroken line is where the name comes from, and why it has long been given for anniversaries, the birth of a child, or worn beside an engagement ring as a wedding band. The choice that matters most is how far the stones go round, because it decides how the ring feels, how it is sized, and what can be done to it later.
In short
A full eternity ring has stones all the way round; a half eternity covers the top half; a five-stone ring sets five across the front. A full eternity usually cannot be resized, so measure carefully; a half eternity or five-stone ring can usually be adjusted a little. Any of them can be worn alone, as a wedding band, or beside an engagement ring.
Full eternity
The stones run all the way round the band. The ring sparkles from every angle, and it never matters if it turns on your finger.
Our Sage full eternity band sets 28 round stones of 2.2 mm all the way round; the Kiara sets 26 slightly larger round stones of 2.4 mm. The Raya emerald eternity band uses 19 emerald-cut stones, which read as a line of long, clean steps rather than a row of points.
The one thing to know before you order: a full eternity ring can't be resized. There is no plain metal left to cut or stretch without disturbing the stones. So size matters more here than with any other ring — measure carefully, at the end of the day when your fingers are at their largest, and ask us to help. How to find your ring size at home walks through it.
Half eternity
The stones run across the top half of the band, and the underside is plain metal. It is more comfortable if you wear it beside another ring, it usually costs less because it holds fewer stones, and the plain part is what makes a small resize possible.
Five-stone and other short rows
A shorter row of larger stones across the top — five is traditional. It is the boldest look of the three for the same total weight, because each stone is bigger. Our Caro five-stone band sets five oval stones of 6 × 4 mm. Rings like this can usually be altered a little; what the design allows is confirmed with you before we start.
Pavé, channel and prong: how the stones are held
- Pavé sets many very small stones close together, held by tiny beads of metal, so the surface looks paved with light.
- Prongs hold each stone with small claws and let the most light in, at the cost of standing a little higher.
- Channel settings hold stones between two walls of metal. They sit flush and snag on nothing, which suits hands that work.
More on each in Settings explained.
As an anniversary or wedding band
An eternity ring sits well against an engagement ring: a full or half eternity band of similar width, in the same metal, reads as a matched pair. If the two will be worn together every day, choose the same gold colour and karat, because harder and softer metals rubbing together wear the softer one.
Every design is made to order, in silver or 9K to 18K gold, with laboratory-grown diamonds or moissanite, and laboratory-grown main stones above 1 carat come with an IGI report.
Quick answers
- Can a full eternity ring be resized?
- No. Choose the size carefully, and we'll help you measure.
- Can a half eternity or five-stone ring be resized?
- Usually a little, within what the design allows. We confirm it with you before making starts. The terms are in Resizing & Care.
- Is a full eternity ring comfortable?
- Yes, if it is the right size. Stones on the underside can be felt between the fingers at first, which is why some people choose a half eternity for daily wear.
- Which finger is an eternity ring worn on?
- Most often the ring finger, on its own or beside an engagement ring, but there is no rule.