Turquoise & Blue Topaz Eternity Band in White Gold
$$$
14k white gold, blue topaz, turquoise
B. wanted an eternity band combining two December birthstones — turquoise and blue topaz — as a personal, symbolic piece. When the studio raised durability concerns about the turquoise, she asked to keep both stones rather than substitute a different material, valuing the birthstone meaning over the alternative suggested. The finished ring alternates the two stones continuously around the band, and she confirmed she was excited to receive it.
'That's perfect! Thank you!' — on design approval
'Thank you Carrie! I'm excited!' — on delivery
Quick specs
Design type
Primary Metal
Shape / Cut
Primary Stone
Accent Stones
Style
Design Complexity
Intent: Certainty
Size
Ring size 8 US (18.14mm); band width 2mm.
How they made it distinctive
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01
Turquoise and blue topaz alternate continuously around the full band, both recognized December birthstones
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02
Client chose to keep both stones rather than switch to an all-blue-topaz design after a durability concern was raised
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03
2mm band width chosen specifically to keep the ring slim and stackable alongside other rings
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04
Shared-prong eternity setting creates continuous stone coverage with no plain gap in the pattern
How you'd make it yours
Stone pairing: this piece alternates turquoise and blue topaz; a new commission could use two shades of one stone, or swap turquoise for a harder stone like sapphire
Metal: this piece is 14k white gold; the same eternity design works in 14k or 18k yellow gold or rose gold
Band width: this piece is 2mm; a new commission could be made wider for a bolder stack piece
Engraving: the inside of the band can carry a new inscription on a fresh commission
One of a kind: this exact ring was designed for one client's stated size and stone choice and is not reproduced — a new commission is an original piece inspired by this one, not a copy
Design changes made
The client asked to keep both turquoise and blue topaz rather than switching to an all-blue-topaz design proposed for durability reasons, after raising concerns about losing the custom, birthstone-specific meaning of the piece.
Who this is for
This piece is for someone who wants their birthstone represented in a specific, personal way rather than settling for whatever is easiest to source. It's especially right if you already stack multiple rings and want a slim, continuous band that adds birthstone meaning without dominating the stack.
How it's made
Once the final design was approved, a wax model was produced using a 3D printer and mounted to a tree inside a casting flask. The flask was fired in a kiln to burn out the wax, leaving a hollow mold, and molten 14k white gold was poured into the mold under pressure to form the raw band. After cooling, the piece was removed from the tree and prepared for hand-finishing.
The band was cleaned up and polished to a bright white gold finish before stone setting began. Round faceted blue topaz and round cabochon turquoise stones were set in an alternating sequence using shared prongs around the full circumference of the band, a sequential process since each stone shares its prongs with its neighbors rather than sitting in an individual setting.
Key note
Because the turquoise and blue topaz alternate in a shared-prong eternity setting, each stone's prongs are shared with its neighbor, so the stones are set in a single continuous sequence around the band rather than independently.
Pricing guidance
A 14k white gold eternity band with two alternating gemstone types sits in the mid range for stackable bands of this complexity. Setting continuous stones around the full circumference, rather than partway, is the main driver of the labor cost. Stone type and hardness also affect sourcing and setting time, since softer stones require more careful handling.
Moves price up ↑
- ↑ Upgrading to 18k gold from 14k
- ↑ Using diamonds or sapphires in place of blue topaz for higher per-stone cost
- ↑ Widening the band beyond 2mm, which requires larger stones and more material
- ↑ Adding personal engraving to the inside of the band
- ↑ Using a single rarer gemstone throughout instead of two more available stones
Moves price down ↓
- ↓ Reducing stone coverage to a half-eternity design rather than full circumference
- ↓ Using only one stone type instead of alternating two
- ↓ Choosing a single more readily available stone such as blue topaz alone
- ↓ Selecting a narrower band width to reduce metal and stone-setting time
- ↓ Using lab-created stones where natural alternatives were specified
Questions people ask
Turquoise is a relatively soft stone, generally rating around 5 to 6 on the Mohs hardness scale, which is softer than sapphire or diamond. In a ring setting, especially on the sides and bottom of the band where it can strike other surfaces, it is more prone to chipping or cracking than harder gemstones. Many jewelers recommend removing turquoise rings before heavy manual activity, cleaning, or exercise. It can still be worn daily with reasonable care, but it will show wear over time more than a harder stone would.
Yes, alternating two stone types around a full eternity band is a common design request, especially when both stones share a birthstone or symbolic meaning. The stones are typically set using shared prongs so the pattern reads as continuous around the band. The main consideration is that both stones should be similar in size and durability profile to keep the setting secure and visually balanced. Softer and harder stones can be combined, but the wearer should be aware the softer stone will need more careful handling.
Both blue topaz and turquoise are recognized birthstones for December, but they have very different properties. Blue topaz is a faceted, transparent stone that is quite durable, generally rating around 8 on the Mohs hardness scale, making it well-suited for everyday wear. Turquoise is an opaque stone typically cut as a smooth cabochon, and it is much softer, so it requires more care to avoid chipping. Choosing both together, as in an alternating eternity band, lets a wearer combine both birthstone options in one piece.
A 14k white gold eternity band with two alternating gemstone types typically falls in the mid range for stackable custom bands. The main cost driver is setting stones continuously around the entire band rather than only across the top portion, which increases both labor and stone count. Stone choice also matters — softer or less commonly available stones can affect sourcing time and setting care. Band width and metal karat are the other primary variables that shift the price.
The design phase for a custom eternity band typically takes about a week, during which a 3D render is created and refined based on feedback. Once the design is approved and production begins, casting and stone setting typically take three to four weeks. A wax or resin model is usually produced first, followed by casting, finishing, and then the stone-setting process, which is more involved on eternity bands because stones are set continuously around the full circumference. Total turnaround from approved design to completion is usually around four to five weeks.
Eternity bands with continuous stone coverage are more difficult to resize than plain bands because the stones run the entire circumference of the ring, leaving no plain metal section to cut and rejoin. Some jewelers can resize eternity bands by a small amount using specialized techniques, but larger resizes may not be possible without disturbing the stone setting. It's worth confirming your ring size carefully before production, since eternity-style bands have less flexibility for adjustment after the fact compared to a standard band.
White gold is a popular choice for stackable eternity bands because it has a bright, neutral tone that pairs easily with other rings in a stack. Yellow gold and rose gold are also common alternatives and would work with the same stone-setting approach. The metal choice mainly affects the overall tone of the piece rather than the construction, since the stone-setting method stays the same across karat and color variations.
Yes, the alternating two-stone eternity format works with many stone combinations beyond turquoise and blue topaz. Common substitutions include using two shades of the same stone, or swapping a softer stone for a more durable one such as sapphire, diamond, or moissanite. The main constraints are that the stones should be similar in size for a balanced pattern, and any softer stone included should be something the wearer is comfortable maintaining with extra care.
