Sterling Essentials Sterling Silver Cubic Zirconia Ring

I've had this ring for about a week. I typically wait for several weeks or even a couple of months to do a review to see how things will hold up, but as you read my review below, you'll understand why I'm not afraid of a "quality/will it last forever?" issue as I do not intend on wearing it as an every day ring. I know it's long, but I always appreciate thorough reviews so please read the whole thing so you can make the most informed choice possible! It appears to be true sterling silver, not just stamped or advertised that way (as some rings are). I'm rating it a 3. I recognize this is a $20-ish dollar ring so I did not expect perfection. Overall, it is a very pretty ring and I feel it's on par with other sterling silver rings you'd find at Kohl's, Target, JC Penney, etc. The stone is probably one of the prettiest, electric-type cobalt blues I've seen in a very long time; when the stone catches the light at a certain angle, it's simply gorgeous. The design concept is an absolute home run, the emerald-cut stones are just so classic, and the ring is very realistic looking... but the flaws are...well, they were unexpected and take away from the ring, IMHO. I was disappointed when I opened the box as there are several inaccuracies. The gem/created sapphire/blue CZ stone is NOT 5x7MM. After measuring, it is much closer to 4x6MM. May not seem like a big difference on paper, but in size/how the stone faces up, it's pretty significant. Also, the clear CZ's are SO small I did not believe they were even in there. I'm 27 so it's not like my eyes are bad/old and I really had to strain to see them. When I finally found a few of the CZ's, they looked rather dull/cloudy... but when I turned on my kitchen light (the perfect light that makes all of my rings go sparkle-crazy), I noticed a VERY light glimpse of them...I wouldn't say they really catch the light but rather add to the vague/general shininess (NOT sparkle) of the ring. Before the ring arrived, I was initially worried that some of the CZs might fall out if they truly were not prong set but of a pave/bead set manner.... even though the listing says prong set, I have a feeling they aren't but am not too worried since it would not be noticeable due to style of ring/how small they are. The width and length of the ring on top of the finger is NOT 14mm as stated, it's 15mm. Not a big difference here, but just found it odd the listing got nearly all info wrong on so many levels (even if it is slight). The band/shank width is NOT 2MM all the way around. It is only 2MM right where the "filigree" stops. The underside of the band is only 1MM. Again, seems like a small difference on paper but for durability, this too is pretty significant. Additionally, the bottom of the band arrived slightly bent. It's not very noticeable and I had to do a double take to notice what looked "off" about it... not a huuuge factor, but still disappointing. This is one of the reasons (1MM tapered shank) I will not wear it daily. Speaking of "filigree," it is not consistent. Now, I knew to expect this because it's a die cut piece and not hand-pierced. Just wanted to put it out there for someone who may not know! The filigree on the top looks to be fairly consistent... the problems show up at the shank on my ring (could be a fluke, who knows). On one side of the band, the piercing/cut out is complete and you can see through it (like you're supposed to) but the other side shows the indentation/impression mark that just didn't go all the way through. Also, there are a few, tiny bits of metal left in the cut-outs for the side of the ring (the "halo" around the stone). These things are not very noticeable so I'm not too terribly concerned as I partially expected it. Finally, the most noticeable (someone looking at your hand for 3-5 seconds would notice this) and biggest disappointment are the bent prongs on the main stone. It appears the stone is set fairly evenly/not crooked but the prongs are all facing/leaving towards one direction. They're all pretty straight just angled oddly. The prong heads are of two different sizes (2 normal looking size and 2 smallish ones on the opposite side). I used my jewelry pliers to make sure they were pressed down and secure so I'm not afraid of losing the stone, it's just an aesthetic issue. Since the ring is sterling silver, it is pretty lightweight. It's certainly NOT an every day ring due to the above inaccuracies and I'm still not totally comfortable with 1MM bottom band width. I could've just gotten a fluke, but I don't know. Even though I have a very discerning eye and most people wouldn't notice all of these things, I still wouldn't purchase it as a gift. Then again, I'm pretty fickle! I also probably would not re-purchase should something happen to mine... but while I have it, I'll DEFINITELY enjoy it. I would recommend to a friend AFTER telling them everything I wrote above so they could make a decision with as much unbiased info as possible. Oh, and shipping was impressive for being so cheap! It came from CA to IN. I ordered on a Sunday, it shipped ]that Monday, and I got it that Wednesday! Yes, OVERALL, it is a very pretty ring and I have looked down at it and smiled a few times. So, even with all of these issues/incorrect stats on the listing, I'm still giving it a 3 (average) simply because you don't see many sterling silver, reproduction/antique style rings on the market in the $20-ish range. Happy ring hunting!! :)

• How did the image on site compare with the actual product? Acceptable.
• How accurate was the sizing? Eh - so, so. Fairly accurate -- possibly a smidge on the small side (1/2 to barely 3/4 of a size smaller - just different enough to be annoying!). I ordered larger than my normal size thinking this might happen.
• Please tell us about the quality of the product. Quality is satisfactory. Not impressive but not horrible, either.

this ring was the best overall in the 3 I ordered!! the color and style are both excellent!!

• How did the image on site compare with the actual product? very well
• How accurate was the sizing? very accurate
• Please tell us about the quality of the product. seems to be excellent

this ring looks like an expensive ring!! Very nice!!!

• How did the image on site compare with the actual product? prettier than the pic
• How accurate was the sizing? very
• Please tell us about the quality of the product. looks really nice

It was a gift for my daughter and she loved it. I did not see the ring as she lives in another state.